I am considering building my own floor trusses for a 2 story garage I’m building (plywood gussets glued and nailed to 2×4 cords and webs). I have read concerns over the sheer strength of plywood for this application. Has anyone done this? Is there a better way?
Thanks in advance for reply!
Doug
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Replies
Doug, I've built roof trusses like that but not any floor trusses. I would imagine that if your gussets were big enough you could glue and nail the hell out of it. I would talk to an eng. or building insp.
Dave
One experience.
Designed a 25 foot plywood 2X6 truss to hold up my brothers 2nd floor and roof above that. 30" high, 3 2x6 each side, all glued, 3/4 webs, prewired, etc. Spent 2 hours on finite element program designing it and getting loads defined.
When it was all done, brother said for all the work and time it took for him to build it, he'd been better off simply buying a glulam per lumberyard computer printout and renting a crane.
Is there a better way?
Yes. Have a truss manufacturer design and build them for you. The savings in liability is priceless. Besides, they don't charge that much.
918 Contracting - Residential Construction
I'm with the other guys on this.
Do you want to make your own shoes and build your own cars too?
No way can you compete with the factory.
I'm with the other guys - No way would I consider doing your own trusses. Too many things to consider - Too many things that can go wrong. One mistake/oversight and you could have serious problems with them. Imagine how expensive/difficult it would be to fix them after they're in place.
Thanks for the replies guys, I'm dialing the truss company!
Doug