laying trusses

[BillDaley]

I am just wondering how much work it would be to brace 4 or 5 trusses together on the ground, and lift together. I know I have seen pics of someone on some site lifting the whole roof at once, I don't want that, just maybe an easier way than I personally do it.

[dmwyatt]

I almost always do it this way:

1. Put some 2x10's on the ground and shim them until they're level and in plane.
2. Stand the gable, truss1, and truss2 on the 2x10's
3. Do a lot of internal bracing and put my outriggers and fly rafters on.
4. Put as much roof sheathing on as is practical.
5. Lift the whole shebang into place with the crane I use to set the rest of the trusses.

I find this method to be safer than many other methods.

[gman396]

We shake out all the gable ends and set them off to the sides. Then we load a bunch of trusses on one fork and spread them on the walls. Each one is layed flat right on layout. The gables are sheeted, papered and the over hang installed. Chop a hole near the top run a cable though and swing it up. Leave the skytrack hooked up to the gable and roll about 5-6 trusses in place. Then install the sway braces leveling the gable. Then un hook the gable and grab the other end. repeat. The last 5 trusses on the other end need to be stacked on top of each other. set the gable roll the stack and slide the last one back on layout. Brace. And then jump on the garage. We set our hips the same way as Dustin. Very fast and safe.

[blueox]

BillDaley sorry I can't help you with any suggestions I don't do many trusses although most of my work is framing. The builders I do work for stick frame the roofs, I think this is mainly a cost issue. I think dmwyatt has a decent method, I never really felt comfortable until 5 -6 trusses were set and then you could get some decent braces on the gable so I would like to hear some other ideas. I now have some Brazilian framers who will work for me so I am bidding on some townhome and commercial projects that will be using trusses. Hopefully some others will offer support. There is usually not a shortage of opinions.

[BillDaley]

Thanks for the input guys.
Blueox, we don't do much truss framing either, mostly stick that is why I had been wondering if there was an easier way with trusses.
I don't know if it was on this forum or another one or just some random site on the internet saying that stick framing is hardly done at all anymore. It's done a lot in NJ! In fact we just finished a housing development were all the roofs were stick framed. So maybe it's only in certain parts of the country.

[Railman]

I worked for my brother (12 to 20 crews) for 20 years framing, & 99% were trusses. We had as many as 3 of our own cranes, along with high lifts. We typically set gables, spread trusses, & then set trusses. This method used the least amount of crane time, & labor tie up. On small spans, we just leaned trusses against gable, & spread at wall marks. On big spans, we set gables, braced heavily, & stacked 4 to 6 trusses (depending on truss ht) out away from gable. Then we set trusses from opposite gable & worked back to stack. Then we leaned stacked trusses against either gable, or against set trusses. Then finish setting last few.

The trick is to brace gables well. Three braces, center, & 1/3 span, tied to floor. We then added with a center brace kicker run back to wall at top of studs. On some we also added a second kick from center of brace, back to the bottom of wall stud, which in effect formed a trussed brace when complete. The blocks on the floor were shot gunned to floor joist, since they were usually the weakest link.

If you want to set trusses on the fly, stick with 2, pre stayed at a time. The problem with lifting more than 2 trusses pre stayed, is that it's awkward to set trusses to string line, & is more suseptable to wind problems.

dymwyatt's method sounds interesting, but would require a pretty good size crane for a long reach job. I also wonder how straight of a truss run you could keep using that method, as it would be difficult to match wall square, to truss assembly square.

Joe

[dmwyatt]

Originally Posted by Railman

dymwyatt's method sounds interesting, but would require a pretty good size crane for a long reach job. I also wonder how straight of a truss run you could keep using that method, as it would be difficult to match wall square, to truss assembly square.

Keeping the truss run straight is an issue to keep in mind. I'll typically cross square across the bottom chords if at all possible.

I haven't ever had a problem with it that I couldn't correct with a little "tweaking".

[hughjazz]

this is how I usually set trusses. I set up a square platform. 2x10 or tgi or whatever.

[BillDaley]

Originally Posted by hughjazz

this is how I usually set trusses. I set up a square platform. 2x10 or tgi or whatever.

Hughjazz for some reason this site is not letting me view the attachments, I sign in but after I click on the thumbnail it tells me to sign in again. I can only see it in that tiny thumbnail and it looks like the whole roof system is being lifted at once. Am I correct?

[hughjazz]

normally I do 16' sections. The gable end, then 8 trusses.
I ensure the platform is square and level, then assemble,brace.

to lift I nail a 16' 2x6 along the peaks. 4 nails per truss. The crane operator has always been okay with this.


In each 16' section I make sure that it is self supporting. meaning it is able to stand on it's own. which means the bottom chord bracing is done, and I cross brace from the bottom chord up to the gable end peak.

I use 1x4 on the top chords to space the trusses. I'm in a rush right now, but if you want I can post more pics, or explain better when I get home tonight.

[blueox]

hughjazz that is pretty impressive I will look at setting trusses differently in the future. Like I said in my earlier post I have not had the oppurtunity to set trusses in quite sometime (4 or 5 years). What is the main benefit using this system besides saving on crane time. The crane companies here have a half day minimum, surely your method would not take a half day. How many guys do you have assembling the sections? Looks like a very professional way to set truss roofs and I am all about professionalism. Where are you from? and do you own a framing company? Post some more pictures if you have time.

[hughjazz]

well, I have to admit that I have never hand built a roof. nobody around here does. (calgary canada) I would actually like to learn..


In my opinion the main benefits to building a roof like this are,

1. It's safer to build on the ground.
2.depending on the roof it's faster to set up on the ground.
3.I will generally build the roof in 2 main sections, then because the sections are braced and self supporting, We are able to get the crane to lift the sheathing onto the built sections once they are on the roof.

We are a crew of 2, so usually 1 day for assembly on the ground.

Last house I had the roof lifted, the garage walls placed, The partition studs and plates put onto the deck, and the roof sheathing put on the trusses in about 2.5 hours. plus 1hr travel. = $450- $500

these first 2 are sections ready to be lifted

[hughjazz]

other view

[hughjazz]

some more pics

[hughjazz]

even more pics