Ceiling Options for Clubhouse

[bigtiller]

I put a drop (false or suspended) ceiling in a garage years ago and I don't recommend it. Every time the door was opened the wind would blow a couple panels next to the wall, up and into the attic. Sometimes I could see the entire suspended ceiling raise up a bit and come back down when the door closed or some panels blew into the attic.

My Morton building has posts and rafters on 7.5' centers with a metal ceiling screwed to directly to the ceiling joists and 15" of blown-in insulation on it. No stringers were involved.

 

[dstig1]

Do you know a good lumberyard in the area? The kind that the contractors use more so than the retail Joe Schmo? Stop in and tell them your situation. They will have truss builders in the area that they use, and those guys have engineers on staff that design trusses for the jobs they get from that lumberyard (and others). They don't typically charge for their services as it is all rolled into the overhead of the job cost. So make nice with one of the lumberyard dudes, explain the situation, and ask if they can help or have a contact that can help. My guess is that what you are looking at is VERY well known and the truss engineer would just answer the question for you right off the bat. The lumberyard guy, if he is experienced enough, may also know the answer for you. Odds are they will answer your questions as it is probably pretty easy so they will do it for the goodwill and hoping you will buy the ceiling stuff from them (heck, ask what they might recommend for that too!).

This gives you the answer from a knowledgeable truss engineer without the expense of hiring one. The other option would be to find roof truss manufacturers in your area and try calling them direct. Better chance of a response if the lumberyard, being a good ongoing customer, calls them. If you call direct you might get the "well I'd have to see it or can't comment if it isn't our design" as they don't know you and don't want to be responsible for something out of left field.

Start with the easy stuff first. Ask a lumberyard!