Are these pole barn trusses defective, or are they okay to use?

[Cord]

the black mold is what i am having issues with. (no clue about the lumber itself)

some of the black stuff might be grease or something and obtained from fork lift or the trailer or chains to strap it to trailer, but some of it looks like mold. and guessing lumber seating in wet damp building. and causing mold growth.

I don't see any mold in the pictures that he posted. I only see minor signs of water staining.

 

[arkydog]

i had a barn built years ago and every time i go to barn almost every day i see something i "settled" for in workmanship. you are the one that writes the check so you are the one that has to be satisfied, not them. never pay in full until you are satisfied. i have found out its "ok to be a pain in the a**", its your money!!!

 

[TomSeller]

I would reject the ones with obvious issues. I see what looks like 3 rows of spikes exposed on the one truss. As has been mentioned, if you don't you will be looking up at those trusses every time you go inside. Since when is quality product an 80% rule?

 

[/pine]

All wood used in the fabrication of engineer certified roof/floor trusses etc...is graded and specified...
The rules for grading structural grade lumber is fairly strict...complete engineering is available from the manufacturer and two copies are usually included with the truss delivery...in most southern (anyway) jurisdictions where building codes are enforced a copy of said engineering must remain on site with the permits etc...

...The size/degree of the wanes that caused the exposed gang nail teeth are obviously allowed for the particular member...and are not an issue...The split/fracture looks like it was caused by a fork lift..not a cause for concern...

There is an obvious dichotomy in the opinions on the OP's questions...on one side there is the professional contractor/ builder opinion that the trusses are fine and look much like the hundreds/thousands of trusses they have seen/dealt with in their careers...(and know how to deal with minor issues)...
...on the other hand there is the amateur builders that have likely taken on some decent size projects and have played the part of a contractor and (generally made life miserable for their hired professional workforce) don't really have a grasp of what is considered acceptable...

Granted...materials etc. do get damaged in loading, transport and delivery and trusses are no exception...but they are not pianos...!...No competent framing contractor is going to set trusses they are not confident will support the intended application...

The pictures of the trusses in the OP are going to be typical of every stack of similar trusses in whatever yard that made them and and hardly any different from any stack in any comparable manufacturer's yard...The pictures show the typical state of the art for production roof trusses...

 

[TomSeller]

..
...on the other hand there is the amateur builders that have likely taken on some decent size projects and have played the part of a contractor and (generally made life miserable for their hired professional workforce) don't really have a grasp of what is considered acceptable...
..

Well I guess you could lump me into this class and I wouldn't care if you did.

Shoddy product is shoddy product and "professional" contractors scam homeowners all the time if they can get away with it. I do most work myself but occasionally have to hire out and they get paid when they give me the product they sold me. When they show you pictures of their "best" work and deliver "mediocre" work you have every right to reject it. How many of your "professional" contractors would show prospective clients pictures of those trusses as an example of the product they install? The answer is none so why accept it.

 

[rustydollar]

I don't see any mold in the pictures that he posted. I only see minor signs of water staining.

Very observant boggen, this was the first thing I noticed as well the trusses are loaded with black mold.

If you're able to wrap the trusses in an air tight plastic wrap give em the Ozone treatment, or spray them down with silver nitrate.or add a tube of this Silver Shield to a gallon of paint used to control mold and mildew.

Silver Shield Antibacterial Paint Additive to make 1 Gallon of Anti Mold & Mildew Paint Silver Shield Antibacterial Paint Additive to make 1 Gallon of Anti Mold & Mildew Paint - - Amazon.com

 

[Streetcar]

Well I guess you could lump me into this class and I wouldn't care if you did.

Shoddy product is shoddy product and "professional" contractors scam homeowners all the time if they can get away with it. I do most work myself but occasionally have to hire out and they get paid when they give me the product they sold me. When they show you pictures of their "best" work and deliver "mediocre" work you have every right to reject it. How many of your "professional" contractors would show prospective clients pictures of those trusses as an example of the product they install? The answer is none so why accept it.

Tomseller
You can not pay chevy prices and expect to receive a Cadillac. As /pine states there are acceptable defects allowed in the rated trusses.
Others have questioned the mold. Lumber has internal moisture so treating the lumber would be a extra cost

 

[LD1]

Excellent post slash.

Alot of people dont understand grading.

99% of lumber isnt perfect. The grading system is simply how many (and how large) the allowable defects are. Knots, Wane (what the complaint here is about), etc.

Even #1 grade lumber is allowed alot more wane than most would think. And structurally it is still just fine.

As to the mold. I dont see any mold. What I see is blue-stain. And it is nothing to be worried about. Dont make a mountain out of a mole-hill.
Blue Stain FAQs - Southern Pine

What you have are trusses designed and rated to handle the loads in your area (or the loads that you specified). If you want better trusses, spec better trusses, and pay more for them.

 

[Oldoak]

Excellent post slash.

Alot of people dont understand grading.

99% of lumber isnt perfect. The grading system is simply how many (and how large) the allowable defects are. Knots, Wane (what the complaint here is about), etc.

Even #1 grade lumber is allowed alot more wane than most would think. And structurally it is still just fine.

As to the mold. I dont see any mold. What I see is blue-stain. And it is nothing to be worried about. Dont make a mountain out of a mole-hill.
Blue Stain FAQs - Southern Pine

What you have are trusses designed and rated to handle the loads in your area (or the loads that you specified). If you want better trusses, spec better trusses, and pay more for them.

:thumbsup:

Excellent article on Blue Stain too.

 

[fried1765]

All wood used in the fabrication of engineer certified roof/floor trusses etc...is graded and specified...
The rules for grading structural grade lumber is fairly strict...complete engineering is available from the manufacturer and two copies are usually included with the truss delivery...in most southern (anyway) jurisdictions where building codes are enforced a copy of said engineering must remain on site with the permits etc...

...The size/degree of the wanes that caused the exposed gang nail teeth are obviously allowed for the particular member...and are not an issue...The split/fracture looks like it was caused by a fork lift..not a cause for concern...

There is an obvious dichotomy in the opinions on the OP's questions...on one side there is the professional contractor/ builder opinion that the trusses are fine and look much like the hundreds/thousands of trusses they have seen/dealt with in their careers...(and know how to deal with minor issues)...
...on the other hand there is the amateur builders that have likely taken on some decent size projects and have played the part of a contractor and (generally made life miserable for their hired professional workforce) don't really have a grasp of what is considered acceptable...

Granted...materials etc. do get damaged in loading, transport and delivery and trusses are no exception...but they are not pianos...!...No competent framing contractor is going to set trusses they are not confident will support the intended application...

The pictures of the trusses in the OP are going to be typical of every stack of similar trusses in whatever yard that made them and and hardly any different from any stack in any comparable manufacturer's yard...The pictures show the typical state of the art for production roof trusses...

If I am paying for those trusses, they need to meet...... MY standards!
Chances are good that in the fabrication process, those pieces of lumber with significant wane at the ends could have been used elsewhere in the truss, where there would not have been an issue.
No time was spent (needed just a quick glance) to make certain that plated butt lumber was full dimension.
Hasty, sloppy workmanship!
If the truss supplier will not replace the ones you do not like.....tell him to come and pick up the whole lot, because you are not going to pay for them!
I have 21- 5/12 attic trusses that are 50' long, and they are nearly perfect!