Jeramie Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 we are adding on a couple of bedrooms for our girls as well as a new bathroom for them to share when they hit the teen years. We poured the slab last weekend (12.5 yards). It was a long weekend. I had to put up the forms, level and add screenings, sweat the copper fittings, tie in the PVC sceptic lines, set the flange, put down 3-mil plastic, and go back and tie all of the rebar. Between me and the wife we did it all on Friday. She went to bed at midnight. I stayed up and worked until 2:10 am. I was back up at 5:30 and headed to the rental place for a bull float, trowles, and a finish machine. we were pouring mud by 9:00...... long weekend. Anyway, we were going to order our trusses this week. However, I got to looking at our trusses and when I checked the slope to see what we needed to order they came out nominal?! the guy that built our house was a home builder and he built this house for himself. He built the trusses himself to save money. The slope is about 5.5/12. Im not even 100% sure its 5.5. could be something even more off the wall. The front roof line has to add up but the back isnt as important. Still, its hard to tell the truss company to build between a 5.5 /12 to a 5.625 /12.... We are now toying with just building the trusses onsite. I dont expect we will save that much money but that way we can match what this guy built... Anyone build their own? its pretty simple in theory but im going with a 40' span (load bearing walls in the center) and overhangs. Being what it is there may be no other choice... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 Think you would be fine building them Jeramie, especially with your experience. Dunno if you are doing all your work yourself or not, but I will tell you the loader on the tractor is a real handy tool, used mine when I set the trusses on my garage and worked great. Thinking yours would be a great help for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 Yeah, we are doing all of the work because we are paying for this out of pocket. I had planned on building trusses but a guy I know that builds houses told me yesterday to just cut them in and not to build them on the ground, especially because I will have load bearing walls. Apparently that is the only way to fly, especially when trying to match an existing slope... And the tractor has been SO handy so far. We hauled in two truck loads of screenings to level for the pad. Not one single load ever saw a wheel barrel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 For no more than trusses actually cot now a days from menards or some place like that i would not build them myself. For the work you put in it and the amount of materials i would just buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 We dont have a Menards. Our local truss companies want just shy of $1,000 for 7- trusses. Thats not too bad but matching the slope is going to be next to impossible because the guy that built our house cut them in. If I could save the time I would buy them and set them with the tractor! that would make my life a lot easier but cant happen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Far as building them, would not be a big deal, but think Mike is probably right on time and money. Lowes and other local places here like ace and a one lumber all use the same truss company. Wonder if you contacted the company that is used by your local big name stores if they would get someone out to measure and match what you have? Might be worth checking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 All of the lowes stores are at least 35 miles from me. We do however have truss companies all over. Pryor Truss is the closest. I called two. They were almost identical minus the freight charges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 They surely can build them to match your existing pitch can"t they??? I am almost positive I have ordered trusses that way before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 They surely can build them to match your existing pitch can"t they??? I am almost positive I have ordered trusses that way before. They can but it can be a crap shoot to get the match exactly. Its somewhere between 5 1/2 and 5 5/8. If I miss it at all it will be really bad where it is suppose to line up at the peak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 I assume you are adding on to a gable end??? You shuld be able to strip the siding off the gable and measure from the bottom of the bottom cord to the peak at the middle of of the truss. The manufacturer should send one of there in house engineers to come out and do the measuring and hit them real close. Stick building an entire roof is no fun and quite time consuming, done alot of it over the years and I try to avoid it at all possible. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Yeah, I hear you.... And yes, we are adding on to the gable end. The existing house is 20' wide and I am actually adding on 40' wide. It will line up across the front and then the ridge will extend past the existing ridge. The back will be offset. I could measure from the plate to the center of the ridge, lay it out in autocad, and do the math but its pretty imperative that they match up. The real world applications are just a hair different for numerous reasons and I’m too dang worried about how it will work out. I did think about stick framing the first truss and buying the other 6. I could take out any difference with the first and probably line them up much closer. I may still do that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted May 14, 2011 Report Share Posted May 14, 2011 I see what your saying. Your right about sticking the first then, you would have 4ft to make up any difference. Just makes sure your heel heighth at the plate is the same, and your height 20ft in is correct and have the rest built. We home built trusses for my folks's 40'x50' garage and it took forever. I always do whatever it takes to order them for my jobs. They have really come along ways with what they can do with truss systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted May 19, 2011 Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 I would just do a cut roof. You could match the pitch exactly that way with no trouble. It will be a bit more labor intensive, but it would look better in the end. Do you know how to do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 Yep, ive been around construction forever. My father-in-law also builds houses for a living and has done it for 30+ years. He wont be able to get on the roof but he is going to chime in.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted May 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 Come to think of it John, school is out this week for most of us... That means youre a free man. Feel free to drive across the line and lend a hand. Ill buy you a cheese burger and everything..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I'm actually still on our house. We've had some problems with some (all but one) subcontractors. I'm now convinced that that the vast majority of subcontractors are lazy, stupid, lying son's o.................. :angry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 We've had some problems with some (all but one) subcontractors. I'm now convinced that that the vast majority of subcontractors are lazy, stupid, lying son's o.................. :angry: Feel your pain John. Definitely had our dealings with liars and cheats on our home, that for the most part associated with the person who sold us our materials who was also supposed to have been a friend of my parents. Turned out to be probably the biggest liar I have ever met. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.