Metal Trusses

[quicksandfarmer]

The reason I asked was because the wood trusses are so much cheaper and are easier to attach things too. We built an 80x100 building for much cheaper than we could even buy the metal for. If the building suits your needs, meets or exceeds your local codes and fits your budget, I don't see a problem with it.

My impression -- and I'm by no means an expert -- is that wooden trusses are generally used with much smaller spacing than steel, like 4' instead of 10' or 12'. Which means you need more of them, more poles, etc. In the end the cost comes out comparable. For example, looking at the Menards website a 30' wooden truss is $138 and a 30' metal from Armour metal is $245 -- but you're going to need twice as many of the wooden ones. If you look at these kits for wooden truss pole barns: Pole Barn Kits | Pole Barns Direct they are in the same ballpark as the Armour Metals ones.

I realize there are a ton of variables in construction so it's hard to do an apples-to-apples comparison. For instance, unlike Armour that site actually provides a snow rating (25 PSF). My gut is that 4' truss spacing is going to be sturdier than 12' spacing, no matter what you do.

My impression is that metal trusses are pretty much the lowest cost option for putting up a lot of roof in not a lot of time.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

My impression -- and I'm by no means an expert -- is that wooden trusses are generally used with much smaller spacing than steel, like 4' instead of 10' or 12'. Which means you need more of them, more poles, etc. In the end the cost comes out comparable. For example, looking at the Menards website a 30' wooden truss is $138 and a 30' metal from Armour metal is $245 -- but you're going to need twice as many of the wooden ones. If you look at these kits for wooden truss pole barns: Pole Barn Kits | Pole Barns Direct they are in the same ballpark as the Armour Metals ones.

I realize there are a ton of variables in construction so it's hard to do an apples-to-apples comparison. For instance, unlike Armour that site actually provides a snow rating (25 PSF). My gut is that 4' truss spacing is going to be sturdier than 12' spacing, no matter what you do.

My impression is that metal trusses are pretty much the lowest cost option for putting up a lot of roof in not a lot of time.

I compared with general steel for a complete building and it was the any where close. You are right about the 4' spacing, however, I had a crew put up the building for less than half the cost of a comparable size material cost of a steel building. The Amish don't work with steel to much for the framing but it was impossible to argue with the final numbers in our situation.

 

[LD1]

My impression -- and I'm by no means an expert -- is that wooden trusses are generally used with much smaller spacing than steel, like 4' instead of 10' or 12'. Which means you need more of them, more poles, etc. In the end the cost comes out comparable. For example, looking at the Menards website a 30' wooden truss is $138 and a 30' metal from Armour metal is $245 -- but you're going to need twice as many of the wooden ones. If you look at these kits for wooden truss pole barns: Pole Barn Kits | Pole Barns Direct they are in the same ballpark as the Armour Metals ones.

I realize there are a ton of variables in construction so it's hard to do an apples-to-apples comparison. For instance, unlike Armour that site actually provides a snow rating (25 PSF). My gut is that 4' truss spacing is going to be sturdier than 12' spacing, no matter what you do.

My impression is that metal trusses are pretty much the lowest cost option for putting up a lot of roof in not a lot of time.

Menards pole barn trusses are typically rated to 9' OC. And are NOT the best place to buy trusses from.

I got 40' trusses, 4' OC span, for $140 delivered. So 19 of them for my 40x72 building was $2660 total.
I could have gotten 8' OC trusses for $200 delivered
And 12' OC wood trusses for $270 delivered.

Would have needed 10 if going 8', so $2000 for trusses. If going 12', would have needed 7, so $1890 total.

When I was still pricing "pole-barn" style, either going 8' or 12' trusses, I would have used purlin saddle hangers and sat the purlins in-between the trusses. The 8' trusses would have required 216 2x4x8' purlins, and 192 double purlin hangers, and 48 single hangers.
The 2x4's @ $2.30, double hangers @ $2, and single hangers at $1. So "roof structure" for 8' OC wood would have been $2000 + $948 + (tax on $948) so ~$3000.

For 12' trusses, need to up to 2x6 purlins. But would only need 144 of them, and the bigger 2x6 hangers are $2.5 for the doubles and $1.5 for the singles. Would need 120 doubles and 48 singles. So 2x6x12's @ $5.98ea......Total would be $1890 + $1233 + Tax on $1233 = ~$3200

So ~$3000-$3200 for a roof "structure". 1092' of metal required to cover the roof. Painted metal @ $1.85/ft....roof metal = $2020 for metal.
Ridge cap $108, corner caps (full length) = $128, Screws = $75.

Total roof "I" would have installed if going pole barn style.....~$5400-$5600.

I couldnt find metal trusses by themself as I mentioned. Everyone wanted to sell me a package including what I listed above. Trusses + Purlins + metal + ridge and gable corner trim + screws. The best quotes I was getting were ~$9000

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Menards pole barn trusses are typically rated to 9' OC. And are NOT the best place to buy trusses from.

I got 40' trusses, 4' OC span, for $140 delivered. So 19 of them for my 40x72 building was $2660 total.
I could have gotten 8' OC trusses for $200 delivered
And 12' OC wood trusses for $270 delivered.

Would have needed 10 if going 8', so $2000 for trusses. If going 12', would have needed 7, so $1890 total.

When I was still pricing "pole-barn" style, either going 8' or 12' trusses, I would have used purlin saddle hangers and sat the purlins in-between the trusses. The 8' trusses would have required 216 2x4x8' purlins, and 192 double purlin hangers, and 48 single hangers.
The 2x4's @ $2.30, double hangers @ $2, and single hangers at $1. So "roof structure" for 8' OC wood would have been $2000 + $948 + (tax on $948) so ~$3000.

For 12' trusses, need to up to 2x6 purlins. But would only need 144 of them, and the bigger 2x6 hangers are $2.5 for the doubles and $1.5 for the singles. Would need 120 doubles and 48 singles. So 2x6x12's @ $5.98ea......Total would be $1890 + $1233 + Tax on $1233 = ~$3200

So ~$3000-$3200 for a roof "structure". 1092' of metal required to cover the roof. Painted metal @ $1.85/ft....roof metal = $2020 for metal.
Ridge cap $108, corner caps (full length) = $128, Screws = $75.

Total roof "I" would have installed if going pole barn style.....~$5400-$5600.

I couldnt find metal trusses by themself as I mentioned. Everyone wanted to sell me a package including what I listed above. Trusses + Purlins + metal + ridge and gable corner trim + screws. The best quotes I was getting were ~$9000

I appreciate the real-world numbers, it grounds the conversation in reality. In particular, thanks for showing the cost for different configurations, what's interesting is how little variation there is in the final price.

For the sake of comparison, Armour Metals sells a 40 foot truss for $351, vs. $270 that you were quoted for wood. But the metal joist has built-in purlin hangers. For a 72-foot barn it's $2457 for seven metal trusses, versus $1890 for seven wooden trusses plus $342 for the hangers, total $2232. Purlins and roofing are the same. So metal is about $225 more, which is not nothing but also a pretty modest difference.

Interesting observation on the kit price. Armour offers an "economy" 40x72 with open walls for $7704. Comparing your numbers the one that jumps out at me is the cost of painted metal panels, you're quoting $1.85/sf and Armour lists it as $2.35. So right there is about $500. I'm not sure where the other $1500 or so is.

(I don't have any particular affinity for Armour, I just like that they show pricing on their website).

 

[LD1]

If doing a comparison, the whole building needs to be accounted for as well.

While there wasn't much price difference in a 12'oc roof vs a 8' OC roof....there ehas when EVERYTHING was considered.
If going 12', my posts would have also been 12'. Meaning fewer post holes, fewer bacs of concrete for the posts, and being able to clear 12' door openings without a header. Going 8' trusses would have required either 8' OC posts ( more posts, more concrete, more drilling) or sticking with 12' posts would require a super strong header all the way around in the eves.

As to metal...the cist of finishing the interior. Metal liner paanels, 12" insulation, etc. No real good way to do it, and once done the result would be a gable ceiling inside that is harder to heat.

If I was going to build pole style, it would be 12' OC posts with 12' OC conventional trusses with an easy to finish inferior.

As it is, I opted for 4' trusses on top of a conventional stick built wall setting on a 6 course block foundation

 

[LD1]

And the metal.....call around. I got prices anywhere from $1.85 to $2.20. But the huge difference was in trim prices. The place I went was an Amish outfit that he makes his own trim as well. Which is nice getting custom lengths. Like the corner caps that seal up the gable ends of the roof....got them full 22' length as opposed to two pieces and a seam.

I couldn't find anywhere that would sell only metal trusses. They all wanted to sell a package. YMMV

 

[quicksandfarmer]

As it is, I opted for 4' trusses on top of a conventional stick built wall setting on a 6 course block foundation

I think that's the way I would go too. Is that six courses underground or above ground? Did you hire it out or do it yourself? How does it compare cost-wise to post construction?

Thanks.

 

[Blaze08]

And the metal.....call around. I got prices anywhere from $1.85 to $2.20. But the huge difference was in trim prices. The place I went was an Amish outfit that he makes his own trim as well. Which is nice getting custom lengths. Like the corner caps that seal up the gable ends of the roof....got them full 22' length as opposed to two pieces and a seam.

I couldn't find anywhere that would sell only metal trusses. They all wanted to sell a package. YMMV

You're talking about a full building, right? Not just a pole barn as I posted the picture of?

Was that $9000 an installed price?

 

[LD1]

I think that's the way I would go too. Is that six courses underground or above ground? Did you hire it out or do it yourself? How does it compare cost-wise to post construction?

Thanks.

6 courses total. About 4 or 4-1/2 block in the ground setting on top of a 8" footer. That leaves 1 to 1-1/2 block above grade so nothing else gets in contact with the dirt.

Cost was about the same as post frame all things considered.

when pricing block, mortar, concrete for footer, rod & fill, 2x6 wall studs @ 24" OC, OSB sheathing, then metal siding vs
6x6 posts, concrete for the holes, wall girts, metal, etc the the cost difference was very minimal. I dont have all the speadsheets I used for comparing anymore. But for something like 10-11k material, there wasnt but maybe $500 difference either way.

The big difference if you hire it done is the labor. Digging a footer, poring the concrete in, laying block, then rod and fill + j-bolts is a lot more labor intensive than sticking post in the ground. But I did all the work myself. So I ended up with same cost + alot more labor.

Here is the build if interested http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/345632-pictures-my-garage-build.html More detail and prices in there

You're talking about a full building, right? Not just a pole barn as I posted the picture of?

Was that $9000 an installed price?

No. That was just the roof structure. Trusses, purlins, metal, trim, and screws. Thats it.

 

[Blaze08]

No. That was just the roof structure. Trusses, purlins, metal, trim, and screws. Thats it.

Oh ok, I've seen around 3500-4000 for a 30x40x12. Then around 3400 to add 2, 12' lean-tos that are the full length. That's everything, delivered.

I guess I need to decide if I'm able to do it myself with some volunteer help. That's why I was curious about setting the trussea.