steel truss frame building

[PacersDad]

I am partial to these steel truss designs for the vertical wall and roof frames. I am currently waiting for some feedback on a gambrel roof building frame.
Has anybody just used the available online designs to build their own? Seems like angle iron, stick welder, either torch or chopsaw.

 

[soilsailor]

If by build you mean erect, then yes I have built my own steel truss building.

If you mean fabricate the individual trusses, then no.

I worked with Worldwide Steel Buildings out of Pecular, MO for the design. They fab'd all the trusses and a couple buddies and I put it up.

This building uses open trusses, not the heavy 'red iron' solid I beams used by some.

 

[BHD]

my son welded up his own building truss or beams, from drop that he was given permission to take home.

 

[Raspy]

Mine were made by Miracle Steel. Very impressive, and they could certainly be made with a cutoff and a welder. In fact, I am going to make some for my detached carport.

Only problem I see is if you need a certification for a building permit.

Here are a couple of pix, that I happened to have with me, of the steel, and a picture of Sandy just for fun.

 

[Jim Timber]

Where are you finding plans for these trusses?

 

[Ed of all trades]

Just a word to the wise. I built a small shop and because it was that small I did not need a building permit so I built my own wood trusses. Now I want to add on to the building and because the size will be over 200 sq ft I need a permit and engineering on the trusses. The engineer was supposed to get back with me 2 weeks ago and he said it is going to cost between $300 and $500 to get that little paper to show the inspector. Other engineers wanted more than that,they started at $500. So make sure you are going to save money in the long run. I could buy new trusses for the old part and the new part and save money but I don't want no roof over my tools. Ed

 

[franklin2]

Just a word to the wise. I built a small shop and because it was that small I did not need a building permit so I built my own wood trusses. Now I want to add on to the building and because the size will be over 200 sq ft I need a permit and engineering on the trusses. The engineer was supposed to get back with me 2 weeks ago and he said it is going to cost between $300 and $500 to get that little paper to show the inspector. Other engineers wanted more than that,they started at $500. So make sure you are going to save money in the long run. I could buy new trusses for the old part and the new part and save money but I don't want no roof over my tools. Ed

We know most of us can build trusses and buildings with non-standard parts and be fine as far as structural strength, but I have the same problem in my area, it needs to be permitted and they need the official numbers or a engineer's stamp of approval.

I was going to build a shop using those tall metal warehouse legs for the walls. If you have ever seen the weight they put on those things you know they would hold a building. I was going to bolt them together end to end, bolt a couple of2x6's on top and use conventional wood trusses for the roof. No way would they have given me a permit though.

Here's another link to a building like you are contemplating. Build A Barn LLC

 

[BHD]

Just a word to the wise. I built a small shop and because it was that small I did not need a building permit so I built my own wood trusses. Now I want to add on to the building and because the size will be over 200 sq ft I need a permit and engineering on the trusses. The engineer was supposed to get back with me 2 weeks ago and he said it is going to cost between $300 and $500 to get that little paper to show the inspector. Other engineers wanted more than that,they started at $500. So make sure you are going to save money in the long run. I could buy new trusses for the old part and the new part and save money but I don't want no roof over my tools. Ed

these plans were university produced, and put out by the USDA as well, the few I opened showed design specifications,
https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension-aben/buildingplans/construction

Agricultural Building and Equipment Plan List

Free Truss Plans

they should pass for an engineered

plan.

 

[BHD]

I could buy new trusses for the old part and the new part and save money but I don't want no roof over my tools. Ed

can you build the new part 6" away from the old building, get it approved, and then tear off the old roof and rebuild and then join the two buildings together, once one has the new part build move or store the tools in the new part when rebuilding.

 

[flusher]

I am partial to these steel truss designs for the vertical wall and roof frames. I am currently waiting for some feedback on a gambrel roof building frame.
Has anybody just used the available online designs to build their own? Seems like angle iron, stick welder, either torch or chopsaw.

Don't know where you are located, but in Tehama County CA, where I had my ranch, any building (non-residential, non-commercial, non-industrial) over 120 sq ft requires a building permit. Cost: 750 sf or less is $65.50. Over 750 sf is $362.50.

There are exemptions for agricultural buildings.
If your place is less than 10 acres and the building is less than 600 sf and less than 15 ft high, the permit costs $65.50.
If your place is more than 10 acres and the building is less than 12,000 sf and less than 25 ft high, the permit costs $65.50.

Otherwise you pay the full price for the permit.

Also, any trusses require two sets of truss engineering calculation documents to be included in the permit application. These documents have to be wet stamped and signed by a licensed civil engineer.
And the trusses have to be manufactured by a licensed fabricator.

Don't know how it is where you live, but DIY trusses would be impossible to get permitted in this county.

Have you considered steel arch buildings. Assembly can't get much simpler than that. My 1000 sf shop at the ranch is a 24x42 ft steel frame and panel design with 12 ft walls. If I had to do it over again, I'd go with a steel arch building that I could erect myself. I could have bought a 35x50 ft steel arch building for what I paid for that 24x42 ft shop. Live and learn.

Good luck.