Replies

1. 
   kcoyner_ | Oct 24, 2000 03:45am | #1

   *
   Phlip,

   Trusses should be designed for attic storage. You may be asking for trouble if your's aren't. Many times I've had the bottom chords of trusses break of have the gang nails come lose with only my weight on them. Chances are nothing will happen if you do what you describe and put a few light weight boxes up there, but they should be designed for the load.

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Oct 24, 2000 03:51am | #2

   *IF they're a conventional truss, with a 42' span (?) don't do it.. if they were designed as an (attic) truss, then you can do light storage.. there may be a rating certificate stapled to them..

1. 
   Boss_Hog | Oct 24, 2000 12:51pm | #3

   *Typically trusses aren't designed for storage, but you can get away with sticking a few boxes up there. Just don't over-do it. Christmas decorations and a few clothes are O.K. If you're thinking about stacking boxes several layers deep, then I would say you're overloading the trusses. kcoyner -> Many times I've had the bottom chords of trusses break of have the gang nails come lose with only my weight on them.How much do you weigh, anyway ? Truss plates shouldn't pull out with that little weight. (Unless you look like Mama Cass) You either got a bad truss or a bad truss company.

1. 
   David_Thomas | Oct 24, 2000 09:40pm | #4

   *Ron: Do you realize that if Mama Cass had given Karen Carpenter half her sandwich, they might both be alive today?

1. 
   kcoyner_ | Oct 25, 2000 01:21am | #5

   *Ron,I'm 6'4" tall and weigh 185 lbs. That isn't to bad is it? I was refering more to the crappy way they are manufactured. Sometimes the plates aren't set right and with a big span they give away when they aren't supposed to. If they cross walls, even if they aren't bearing walls, they will keep the plates in place. It's standard procedure to beat a few truss plates around here though. Just poor craftsmanship.kcoyner

2. 
   philip_drew | Oct 25, 2000 08:14am | #6

   *thanks for the advice everyone. this confirms my concerns.

3. 
   Boss_Hog | Oct 26, 2000 03:11am | #7

   *> if Mama Cass had given Karen Carpenter half her sandwich, they might both be alive today? ROFL - That's kinky, but funny. I like it.

4. 
   Boss_Hog | Oct 26, 2000 03:17am | #8

   *> Just poor craftsmanship. That's kind of what I expected. I guess there are bad truss plants like any other company. But - there are plenty more out there, if one is producing poor quality. What part of the country are you from, anyway ?

5. 
   kcoyner_ | Oct 28, 2000 04:11am | #9

   *Ron,I'm in VA. We have 3 or 4 sources for trusses. There is a Shoffner plant here but it's like asking for a handout to get a quote, and there prices are 10 to 20% higher than the competition. I guess they have plenty of business. There is one that still builds trusses the old fashioned way with plywood gussets. I've used them all and found the quality to be equally poor at some point. I imagine their workers work on a production bonus basis and that may account for the quality being poor at times. kcoyner

2. 
   philip_drew | Oct 28, 2000 04:11am | #10

   *
   I would like to put down 3/4" decking in the attic space over our garage, for storage. There are 2"x4"x42' trusses, 24" O.C., up there. How much weight can I put on these trusses?