setting trusses with only 2?

[htiek126]

You should be able to lift the trusses into place from inside the structure in the upside down position. To flip the truss right side up, we use 2x4's rigged into a "Y" shape, so that you can stand inside the structure and push the tip of the truss up. The other guy ties the truss into existing trusses with a 2x4 scabbed near the peak. Set the end trusses first and brace them to the ground to prevent tipping. Mark the top of your walls for the remaining trusses and pull a string between one side of the end trusses to even up the ends of the remaining trusses. Then add trusses starting from one end, tack them into place with 2x4s near the peak of the already installed trusses to keep them upright and properly spaced. When you get towards the end of the structure, you will have to lift and raise the remaining trusses before setting them, otherwise, you will run out room to tip them right side up.

Good luck,

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Harv, always helpful, good post.

 

[crb478]

First you can slide the trusses on top and then let them flip upside down and then slide them to near wher they need to go and then flip them back up with the help of a 2x4. Mark your locations on the top plates where the bottoms of the trusses will go beforehand, this will usually be on 2 foot centers. Then get some 1x4's and mark them on 2 foot centers to match. Put the first truss up and slide it to the far end and support it in place with some 2x4's that are nailed vertically upward from the back wall. Nail off the bottoms on you layout lines and attach a short 1x4 either to a inside upper cord on the truss or to the top with one nail. Slide the next truss down and nail the 1x4 from the first truss to the second truss at the 2 foot mark and nail with one nail. Then nail the bottoms down on the layout marks. Keep doing this until you get about 2/3 of the trusses up. At this point you will need to put the remaining trusses up and slide them against the last standing truss because you will not have room flip them all back upright if you don't. Slide those trusses one by one to their places and nail them off working back from the front wall. Go back and make sure that all of the trusses are plumb and spcaced correctly. Then brace everything with diagonally with 1x4's on both sides or you may have to do it again if a storm comes up.
I usually put the sheeting and gable ladders on the end trusses before I put them but to save weight mark and cut out the sheeting and gable ladders while the end trusses are on the ground and then nail it up there later. This will save you a lot of fitting issues in the air later.
You can do the whole job from ladders without ever getting on the roof or walls. Hope this helps, its a hard days work but its not all that bad with only two poeple.

 

[gotrocks]

Just one note regarding the suggestions of raising the trusses upside down.
I'm assuming they are gable trusses, and if so I have seen two instances where the weight of the trusses acting as a wedge collapsed the two outside wall that were suppose to hold the trusses.

Mechanical advantage works both ways, helpful and distructive.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I got mine, hope you got yours.

 

[boustany]

It depends on how big the trusses are.
If they span, say 30' or so, it should be doable without too much grief.

Most framing books show techniques for getting trusses on top of the walls. Usually you either bring them in upside down and flip them upright, or sort of slide them up a temporary ramp installed on an exterior wall. Once they are up top, you start installing them.

The first truss is the hardest - once that one is up and braced the others can be moved into place without too much effort, especially if you have a couple of scaffolds to work on. Basically you slide them along and flip them upright.

My brother and I did my whole house, which is 4,000 sq foot on one floor. In that case, I rented a crane, which placed the bundles of trusses on the corners, so we only had to flip them up (some were about 45 or so foot span). The crane was a good $300 investment.

As it happened, I was short shipped one common truss. with a 30 foot span. I installed it myself, but it is a lot easier to slot a truss in between two other trusses (which was what I had to do in this case).

One word to the wise. Make sure the trusses are exactly spaced (for example) 2' on center ALL THE WAY TO THE PEAK and at least temporarily braced with the proper spacing (usually a 2x6 x 16') Installing the sheathing goes much easier - at least until they start selling 8' 2" plywood sheets!

 

[NIXON]

Mopower .
I've read this thread .And You've gotten some good advice .
But , I think if you try to stand trusses with just two people , one , or both of you will get hurt . My reason is not that it can't be done . But, it's that You've never done it . Get at least 4 people ( including yourself ) . 24' trusses don't weigh much. But, if they start moving in the wrong direction they can pick up a lot of momentum in a hurry . You certainly don't want a hand , let alone a head in the way if you find the truss slipping or falling . I'm sure you feel pressed for time , money.
But if you or your helper(s) get hurt.... Well what's that worth ? John

 

[8NTX]

I recently hung some 18' span trusses (3/12) with one other person. I used aluminum truss hangers that were nailed into place on the beams before we set each truss upright. It held them up real well until one of us could get up there to nail the purlins on. Might be harder on a windy day, though.

 

[SPIKER]

Hey MoPO:

I would hire a few amish if there are any near by. I know about where you live and don't know if thre are any there or not... anyhow like others said 2 people job if done the right way. I've seen the local amish crew do it with one on the ground and one up on top . slideing the truss up the side wall on the vacant side and then lift with rope the maned end into place. they stacked them all on one end and then picked and walked one at a time to the far end nailed and set into place with a 3rd guy up on top setting the purlins & rat boards. while other two were setting the trusses.

other method I've seen was using long 2x4 with a strap nailed in one end with a V notch out of it. they took strap to HOLD the truss into the V notch and lifted all of them into place from the ground. and set each one after that, in both cases the trusses were not flipped as some times the truss will snap/break when attempting to flip and like others said the walls can push out if you get the truss flipped and the weight of it sliding out forces the walls appart.

If you decde to put them up upside down, then when flipping you HAVE to support the center of the truss or risk a major truss problem when it breaks at a joint. the biggest risk is when the truss is laying FLAT 90 degrees to it's natural orrientation.

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[mopower440]

well, the trusses are up!! My Dad came over this morning andi had a friend here, we got about 3 up, then my brother in law came over and we finished it up, got them all up and braced in 2 hours with no problems!! Got 3 rows of purlins up and it was getting late and i was wore out and hungry so quit for the day..sorry, no pics, dont have a digital camera, ill have to take some and then scan them. Thanks to all of you for the guidance through this.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Thanks to all of you for the guidance through this.)</font>

It was our pleasure.

But there is a price.

You have to pass it on. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif