setting trusses with only 2?

mopower440 · Mar 3, 2004

Everyone, i need your help now more than ever, i am VERY VERY concerned with something, i was up in the trusses tonight nailing on some more purlins, i only have the ones on each side of the peak and on the very eaves left to do, i was right in the center at the peak of the trusses towards the center of the building, i tried shaking the building real hard, it seems to rock back and forth from gable end to gable end more than i like, now, i have built this thing straightforward according to the book i got and with all you guys help, braced everything right, i dont know what else i can do to stop this and stiffen it up, i mean, i couldnt make it fall down or nothing, but it rocks from front to back more than i think it should, i know that if i used wood siding that it would stiffen it right up, but i am leaning more towards 29 gauge metal, wich i dont see tightening it up being thin metal..i am really upset about this seeing as i have so much money in it already and i dont know what to do about this, most of the posts are 4' in the ground, yes, i hit rock on a few and those posts are only 6" to 2' in the ground, but according to the pole barn book i got, you can set ALL the posts right on top of the ground if you live where it doesnt freeze..so im guessing thats not the problem, and as i said, most are 4' in the ground..can you guys help me out again please? just very concerned about it, maybe its normal, but i dont know..?
thanks again all!

NIXON · Mar 3, 2004

Mowpower .
Ibelieve you used4x4's right ? If so you'll see alot of sway .
Especially as it's not yet roofed . One thing you can do once you get the metal on the roof is to Stitch the seams on the metal roofing . By that I mean where the two pieces overlap , Run in a screw . Do it at the same spacing as the purlins .
When you do it go easy , as you can strip out the metal .
This also works for steel siding . Also double check all your diagonal ,and wind bracing . John

mopower440 · Mar 3, 2004

no, i used 4x6's, dont understand what you mean by stitching? its not the trusses, its the whole frame..?

KiotiDK35 · Mar 3, 2004

Mopower440,

When you get your sheeting on the side walls it will stiffen up rock solid.

NIXON · Mar 3, 2004

dont understand what you mean by stitching? its not the trusses, its the whole frame..? )</font>

It's not at all uncommon to get a fair bit of movement until the roof and sides are on .
By stitching I meant that you run screws into the seams where the metal overlaps the next piece of steel . It effectively make the roof /siding act like one big sheet of metal . Hope I expressed it a little more clearly this time . John

Evasive1 · Mar 3, 2004

Kioti is right,

Right now it is normal for there to be some movement.

Once you get the roof and sides on the only way you are going to get it to shake is to run your tractor into it. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

DUMBDOG · Mar 4, 2004

I do not remember it it has been mentioned here before, but my pole barn has a 2 X 4 between the first and second post on each corner, the ends are cut at an angle and inserted between the two posts and nailed for additional wind bracing. This prevents and movement at all once the purlings are on.

mopower440 · Mar 4, 2004

so you all are saying that EVEN though im going to use 29 gauge metal for roofing and siding, that it will tighten it up solid, even though its thin metal? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

crb478 · Mar 4, 2004

There should still be some movement, use this to your advantage to pull the roof perfectly square by measuring the diagianals and pulling it square with a come a long. It helps to hook one end high against the rafters and the other near the ground. This will make the sheets go on much easier, otherwise you will end up with a saw tooth pattern. Once it is roofed and sided it shouldn't move anymore.

TBone · Mar 4, 2004

Glenn,

I'm not too far away acually. I'm in Clarke county (Between Meridian and Laurel). I know where Lawrence county is - I got stuck (literally - in the mud trying to get to a drilling rig) near Silver Creek and spent a week there one night. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

TBone

skid mark · Mar 4, 2004

I've recently met with a structural engineer to discuss a building that I am putting up and he did mention that metal siding cannot be used as a shear wall.

It'll add some rigidity, but under a heavy load could fold up.

Mark

EddieWalker · Mar 4, 2004

Don't worry about the building swaying. This is normal on all frame type structures. Especially square and rectangle shapes. It doesn't matter how deep your posts are or how thick they are, it will move or sway until you get your siding on. Have you noticed new construction on homes uses plywood or OSB on the corners? This locks everything together. You'll be fine once you start sheeting, either metal or wood.

To get an idea of prices, I go to www.muellerinc.com and look at their online catalog. They are too far away for you, but at least you can see whats available and use it to compare.

Good luck,
Eddie

mopower440 · Mar 4, 2004

I dont know, i just dont see metal siding tightening it up that much, ill probably end up using the T1-11 plywood siding now, i know it will tighten it up for sure, just hate to have to paint it, but..anyways, im going to get the metal for the roofing and get it up there, but first i still have to deal with anchoring that one side wall to the ground because those few posts are only 6" in the ground and like i said, im afraid that if i sheath the roof and then wait for a bit before i get to sheathing the walls, a strong wind from one of those strong spring storms we get here might lift the wall up, i need some more ideas on how to anchor those few posts, i REALLY dont want to mess with drilling those rocks to anchor the poles to, i went looking at lowes for some of those mobil home anchors but didnt see any, im needing as many ideas as possible on doing this as easy as possible, it will only have to last for a short time till i get the floor poured..HELP!!

Egon · Mar 4, 2004

Put in some cross bracing.

Egon

mopower440 · Mar 4, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Put in some cross bracing.

Egon )</font>
Egon, explain where and how?

Egon · Mar 4, 2004

You probably need some strapes nailed onto the posts so they form triangles.

Egon

chucko · Mar 5, 2004

x-brace it like this

chucko · Mar 5, 2004

or bracke it like this

chucko · Mar 5, 2004

or even like this

EddieWalker · Mar 5, 2004

If you're not happy with the posts only six inches deep and feel they need to be secured, then you really have no choice but to drill and fasten them to the rock.

From what I've read, you are doing a really good job and are concerned about the finished product. Drill the holes and anchor it correctly.

I've seen the moble home anchors at Home Depot in the rebar section. I wouldn't use them for your project. Just too much BS in fastening them to the walls.

I'd drill some half inch holes off either side of the posts into the rock, epoxy in some galvalnized threaded rod. Get some L shaped brackets that are also galvanized and bolt everything together. I'd put two brackets at the base of each post.

Don't worry about drilling the rock, it takes time, but isn't all that hard. Get a good bit and a hammer drill.

Good Luck,
Eddie