Handbuilt Clear Span Trusses, Anyone In The NW Want Work?

BattleRidge

So I was asked to bid this project with 80 foot clear span trusses, and I could use some help considering I've never built clearspans before. I know how I just havent done it. They also have to be set on 40 foot tall walls. I just want someone that wants to work on it with me with some experience. Anyone interested?

cleveman

If you need an engineer's approval, get it. I've submitted drawings of trusses here to the building dept. and had the drawings approved. Then I built the trusses. My design was a copy of what is out there on the market. I'm not an engineer, but I build 2x4 walls with studs 16" oc and they get approved without a stamp as well.

But they sure as hay weren't spanning 80'. It doesn't matter. If they are approved and they work, they are good.

I don't care how high they are. You're not going to reach the moon with them.

BattleRidge

I will probably hire an engineer, theres no code or dept here so its kinda just whatever flys. I just know when Im in over my head just need someone thats slow that wants work.

joasis

Any specific reason you are doing wood instead of steel?

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TimelessQuality

That's big... Maybe a factory built two piece truss assembled onsite?..


80' span w/ wood... I gotta have pics!

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Joe Carola

Probably hire an engineer? How can you not hire an engineer? Without one how would you or anyone else you hire be able to design 80' clear span trusses and think or trust that they will work.

That's even worse. These are 80' clear span trusses, there's no way you can just hire someone to build these unless they were an engineer who designed them.

You are way in over your head and hiring someone other than an engineer who is slow at work will cost you big time with 80' clear span trusses if they fail.

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Joe Carola

cleveman

Get yourself into some gymnasiums or horse arenas, etc. and check them out. The pole barn people around here are probably doing 80' spans on some stuff. I guess airplane hangars are pretty large as well, but they are going to be metal.

Who knows about the NW however. Are you guys still forming up concrete with wood forms out there?

neolitic

Something that large must
have been drawn by an
architect right?
He should have to at least
provide a truss detail?
What kind of building is it?

Any Mormons involved?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_Tabernacle

Blimps maybe?
http://www.americanheritage.com/arti...20_print.shtml

There is precident, but lordy....

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D.Foster

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72chevy4x4

around my area, I've got a truss manufacturer who after forwarding my drawings, he bids out the truss with engineered specs. Even if your project doesn't require an engineered truss (i.e. commercial purposes-people inside of structure) I would still recommend getting speced trusses. If the truss were to fail due to poorly designed construction, the onus would be on YOU. From previous research, an 80' span would be two 40's put together on site.

BattleRidge

They are exposed. I have someone that has done wood clearspan alot before, this just came on my plate yesterday. I have plenty of time to prepare. They are exposed in the ceiling of a church on an indian reservation. The span is 70ft with 5 ft overhangs on both sides. I know a guy that can do it, but its my girlfriends dad and he pretty much hates me, Ive seen picks of his work doing some huge spans, and I just sheetrocked a 60 footer a few months ago with wood.

BuriedHammer

Wow. No way I would attempt handbuilding those with that span. Just imagine the liability, let that go back on a truss company. Besides, they can engineer them so they won't fail. ESPECIALLY as this is a commercial project! A church? A tractor shed or horse barn, maybe (nah, not even then). But a church?!? Just bid it with manufactured trusses and a crane, all problems solved.

edit: don't forget to follow the manufacturer's bracing instructions for handling large trusses! Don't ask me why I know this!!

cleveman

Google the information on some exhibition center just outside of Chicago, maybe Lombard?

I remember seeing something about the construction on a tv show called something like amazing catastrophes. They put up wood trusses and the entire building fell down because of a lack of bracing.

So they rebuilt it using the exact same plans to prove that there was nothing wrong with the original idea.

neolitic

Too bad about the relationship,
for a lot of reasons I'm sure.
But I'd think you options for experienced guys
would be pretty limited.
Hand built monster truss is surely a
pretty specialized skill.

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Brock

Death is the first word that comes to mind.

WarnerConstInc.

I've been in a few half quonset hut things that were all wood beam-trussy archy-kind of things. They were super neat, and I think there was always some sort of metal calbe involved.

If it is for a Morman Church, count me in. Got to start somewhere.

BattleRidge

It does suck actually since he has been contracting and building for 30 years I could definitely us the input. But he is also the only guy I know that had built trusses this size. I figured there would be a hungry old guy on here maybe. I will probably go to an engineer. I am meeting a engineer on Monday, I will see where that takes me. I dont think the people building this realized what its going to cost either.

precisionbuild

80' is a big span even for a truss company. Not impossible at all, but 80' is a big deal.

Also, don't forget, you're going to need to use a "BIG" spreader bar for the trusses. You'll break them right in half or more pieces before you even get them up there with a smaller spreader. I've used wood trusses 70+' before. It's not what you think if you haven't ever done it.

hatchet

I would definatly get an engineer - not only for the trusses but for the 40' tall walls and the footings to hold it all. Let someone else take the liability for that stuff. Our local truss mfg has done an 80' span just recently. Their major problem is shipping them. I've seen a couple 40 and 60 multi-ply trusses out of rough-sawn 2x8's - they were both engineered.
I'm in the process right now of having a ROM done for a set of 100' clear span wood trusses done for a horse arena. The pole builder who quoted us the project was around 200k - I know even with paying an engineer I can be cheaper than that. I think I'm mostly paying for the "kit" they produce.

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Mitchell Const.

80' is pretty common around here lots of pole barns & such, but they need to be engineered by a truss manufacturer. the manufacturer will also provide all the info on bracing properly! Good Luck!

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