Trusses delivered - problems

[teejk]

Mostly, I agree with what you have said. You will find differences in how they build however. Fastener sizes, air nails, hammered nails, clipped head vs full head, fastener type with PT lumber, nail patterns, blocking to support purlins that in turn help support trusses, vertical roof purlins vs "flat" roof purlins, PT lumber grade and/or treatment type, steel gauge, uplift ressitance on the posts, poured post pads vs precast, concrete around the posts or not, glue lam posts vs full PT, screw length and pattern, yadda, yadda, yadda. There is indeed a difference.

When it comes to pole barns, do not expect anything not in writing. Steel quage, trim, rat guard, overhangs, ridge vent, eave vents, door hardware, top and bottom, etc., etc. Your best bet is to ask to see other area barns built by the same builder if you are new at this.

Though I have seen alot of barns go up, it never ceases to amaze me how fast a good crew is. There is a barn going up near me that is maybe 40x80x16 high. It has gone from bundles of lumber on the ground last week to most of the tin on this afternoon. Hint: there are a number of workers with straw hats and women with bonnets serving up food among other chores. Tough to compete with that.

I hear you...no shortage of straw hats and bonnets around here. And all the points to look for in choosing a builder are well noted. My builder was related to a friend. He priced high but I knew him and trusted him. I got rat guards and everything else you mentioned (other than the doors and windows were cheap builder quality but it is a modified pole barn and not so sure higher quality would matter). This building was somewhat unique...built on slab because I wanted radiant in-floor heat and the slab went down first. He was in the business for years and quite frankly I don't recall seeing a nail gun (I do have a few left-over 6" ring shank nails that he used to set the purlins). Will have to find the pix on the build. Btw, I appended the deal to get bright white steel and wall insulation on the interior. He refused to use "liner" steel and insisted on using the thicker stuff...guess it was easier to move around without kinking it...the ceiling is 2 sheets 24' and 16' to cover 40'. I think the only thing I would do differently is to add trusses to a 4' span instead of the 8'.

 

[TheMan419]

Yes my builder has been very reasonable. The crew has straw hats, but the women in bonnets are not around. Their driver sleeps in the car all day.

 

[MossRoad]

Yes my builder has been very reasonable. The crew has straw hats, but the women in bonnets are not around. Their driver sleeps in the car all day.

About 20 years ago we had an Amish company roof and side our house. One of them drove, so I'm thinking maybe he was Mennonite. Anyhow, they'd be out in front of the house drinking coffee at 6:55am. When I'd leave for work at 7:00 they were already working on the house. And they'd be cleaning up when I got home a little after 5. They were from Nappannee as I recall.

 

[teejk]

About 20 years ago we had an Amish company roof and side our house. One of them drove, so I'm thinking maybe he was Mennonite. Anyhow, they'd be out in front of the house drinking coffee at 6:55am. When I'd leave for work at 7:00 they were already working on the house. And they'd be cleaning up when I got home a little after 5. They were from Nappannee as I recall.

yeah...well...many of the "rules" are set by the local elders...and we have more than a few speed boats on the local lakes being operated by people in straw hats (they just need a way to hide them when they are done for the day). Now in their defense, unlike what many people believe, they play by the same rules as everybody else when it comes to taxes and such. Now the fact that they tend to deal in cash (it's a Swiss thing, the Amish being the Swiss arm of that Anabaptist movement that would include Mennonites and Hutterites) they might have a little more "flexibility" in complying with those rules.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I need to get some pics of the barn I mentioned (about 40x80x16high). No windows, two sliders, one on one end and one on the side out of the wind, maybe two feet of clear siding up top of the side walls for some interior lighting during daylight. Four days to just about finished! They have a space for what looks like a man door next to the end sliders that did not have tin to the roof over it yet but other than that it looks complete. I saw the crew moving down the road about a mile or so to another site at maybe 4:30. They were back at the big barn today pouring concrete floors while the second site, maybe 30x40 had framed posts but no trusses yet.

Wife and I were on our back from going out for dinner tonight about dark and we saw the crew on their way out for the day. You do that kind of work for a living, you better come from hardy stock!

 

[TheMan419]

So i have not been good about keeping up posting on this thread.

Update is the trusses were all inspected. One or two needed repairs. The truss company has provided drawings of the repairs. Final inspection should be next week or week after due to holidays.

This weekend (if the snow is not too bad) will consist of clean up. Rented dumpster should arrive at the house today. Bunch of friends coming over Sunday to help out. We will grill and drink beers after, so all is good.