Hello,
Just about to embark on building my own house and I wanted to get some feedback. In our area, my stick built roof will be less expensive then the truss equivalent. I know there are considerations like more waste, but purely from a cost / performance ratio, is going stick built ok? What are the pros and cons of each? It’s probably 15 – 20% cheaper to go stick built – is it worth it? Thanks again for all your help!
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Replies
It's probably 15 - 20% cheaper to go stick built - is it worth it? Thanks again for all your help!
If stick building is 15-20% cheaper, why would it not be worth it? Stick built roofs are built every day. Is is a complicated roof that might be hard for you to cut?
What type of house are you building? How many extra sets of hands are at your disposal?
Just about to embark on building my own house and I wanted to get some feedback.
What do you mean by "building my own house"? Where do you fit in? What experience do you have as a carpenter?
I ask these questions because there's more to making the decision about trusses vs stick framing the roof than just $$.
If it was my house, I'd stick build it, just for the pleasure of cutting and raising rafters. And for the emotion that comes from living inside my best work.
Sorry I should have been more clear. I am contracting out the "build" of my house. I will be doing some flooring and trim work, painting, etc. and I hope that should be it. The reason I posted the question is that I would prefer a stick built house. The price difference is an installed difference. Everyone around here is using trusses, so the price keeps going up. I wanted to make sure that there wasn't other things to consider when comparing the two.
Thanks again.
The reason I posted the question is that I would prefer a stick built house.
Good choice. Besides the aesthetics, stick building promotes and preserves carpentry skills. Someone on the framing crew will learn something or refine a skill.
As the proper engineering of trusses and stick building are equally strong, there's no reason not to build you roof on site.
I wanted to make sure that there wasn't other things to consider when comparing the two.
You have to consider that if you stick build, you will have to put bearing walls or beams to support the ceiling or roof load compared to trusses that can span farther than stick built and you can eliminate some walls or beams.Joe Carola
15 - 20% cheaper to go stick built
Are you talking material costs only, or does that include labor?
If you are subbing out the framing- stick framed roofs do involve more labor.
Absolutly nothing wrong with a stick framed roof from a structural or performance point of view.
Terry
I built my own house 1.5 years ago and I trussed the main house and stick framed the 1400sqft in porches. The porches were not cost effective and doing it this way it saved alot of time that was needed very much to get to dry in within 3 weeks. I also got a cathedral ceiling and a tray ceiling that I was not going to get stick framed due to time.
A trussed roof goes on in one day with a crane. Even a good crew of 5 could not have done it faster than trusses with a crane.
See attached photos...
One other thing to consider with trusses is the "ceiling quirk" that comes using them... The quirk is that in the winter your ceiling may lift away from your walls and molding as it dries out and shrinks. I've read that in some cases, there's as much as 3/4" gap as the trusses lift the ceiling....
Bill
Another consideration is attic space. Truss designs can really limit the amount of attic storage you will have. Not sure if that is something that interests you or your customer (they may have an air handler, etc. that needs room). Unless of course you are doing all cathedral.. then the attic space wouldnt come into play... there wouldnt be any.
As a career firefighter I can pass on one major deficiency that truss roofs have. If the unfortunate happens and you experience a fire, a truss roof will fail much more quickly than one that is stick built. This is based somewhat on the size of the lumber that is used, but primarily the problem is with the gusset plates holding the trusses together. Just something else to consider.
I almost hate to get into thread like this. Opinions can get pretty heated on some of the stuff brought up here. But here's my take on things:Advantages to trusses:Faster erection timeStronger than stick framing (In general, and in my opioin)
Less interior bearing walls
Less skilled labor erquired.Advantages to stick framing:Availability (You can get the lumber anywhere + anytime)
More attic space.So which one is best? People who use trusses all the time swear they're better. People that stick frame all the time thing it's better. So take your pick.IMHO, neither is the best answer in every situation. To some degree it depends on the style of the house. .Someone mentioned truss uplift. I don't consider that a serious issue. It can be prevented with adequate attic ventilation and proper drywall application..As for trusses and fires - That's mostly hype passed around by a few in the fire service. I've studied the issue at length, and don't consider it to be a serious problem.But it's hard to have a civil conversation with anyone in the fire service, as it's a pretty emotional issue.
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Faster erection time Do trusses require you to take a little blue pill? Is that why they are stronger?
Hard to say.(-:
The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of my employer, and are probably not necessary.
grandchat27
Have you considered options other than stick building? I'm refering to either ICF's or SIP's ..
I'll assume that you aren't familar with them but if you are skip the next paragraph..
The advantage of alternative building is the money that you will save on energy costs.. costs which are certain to dramatically increase in the future.. Currantly ICF's cost about the same as stick building, while SIP's still have a premium the advantage of ICF's is a quetier much more durable house that has a 2 hour fire rating and is cpabable of withstanding a 200 mph wind..plus totally unaffected by insects such as termits. The advantage of SIPs are a quieter house that's 200% stronger than a stick built home. IN addition SIP's offer greater fire protection than stick built.
Energy savings vary but using the same furnace in a home that's twice as large I spend nearly $400 less per month during Dec.& Jan. heating my home.. Now that's in Minnesota and your savings will vary but with either SIP's or ICF's you can spend about 1/3 as much as a stick built home uses..
With stick built homes you have a 1 1/2" thermal bridge every sixteen inches in many places they are doubled up or even more. SIP's or ICF's don't suffer from thermal bridging..
Stick building has been around a very long time.. SIP's have been in use since WW2 and ICF's since the 1970's
Building with 2x material is like buying a Ford Model T. Certainly romantic but not terribly efficent.
I've been on several jobs where we've had to alter the trusses to box out openings for ductwork, attic access, and whatever else needed to be addressed. As most of us know, an engineer has to review the work to be done send out a plan to make the alterations. Most of the time we have a screw, nail, and glue schedule that the inspectors pay close attention to. And some of the subs (electricians, plumbers, and mechanical contractors) don't understand why things are framed and supported certain ways. And just because it's easier for them to run what they need to where a truss is...out come the sawzalls and holesaws and more harm than good is done. Instead of going to the GC and coming up with a sensible alternative. Trusses should be laid out accordingly, but change happens. I'm not a big fan of trusses for reasons that have already been stated. You'll probably have to use 5/8 sheetrock on the ceilings if the trusses are going to be 24" o.c. 1/2 sheetrock on the ceilings will be too wavy.
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