Metal trusses for pole barn

[747driver]

Has anyone used this style of truss ? Sure gives you complete openness to the roof where as wood trusses take that space up. Still looking at all my options for structures. I have a Red Iron quote from Renegade Steel for a 30x50x16 for $20,000 installation not included.

2x4x12 Steel Truss Pole Barn Part 2 How We Install Trusses And Purlins - YouTube

Thanks

 

[nikdfish]

The local Builders Discount Center (Builder's Discount Center | Steel Trusses) has pole barn packages with metal trusses. Their package consists of metal trusses, 6x6 posts, 25 year metal roofing, nails & screws. A 30'x48' package is currently $4504 in their flyer. 40'x60' is $8162.

I think they are pretty much piedmont/eastern NC & VA, but there may be someone equivalent near you.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I love those Armour Metal videos, watching guys build a 40x20 building with a circular saw, tin snips, power screwdriver and a pencil. I watch and I say, "I could do that!"

But I look at the buildings and there's no way they would stand up to a snow load. The standard here is 30 pounds per square foot. With a 20 foot span and 10 foot spacing each pole is supporting 100 square feet, or 3,000 pounds of snow and each truss is supporting twice that, plus the weight of the building. I can't find it now but I recall reading on their website something like "consult an engineer if you have snow loads."

Metal trusses are commonly used for poultry houses, and if you Google "poultry house snow collapse" you'll get lots of hits.

For the snow loads we get you'd need substantial footings under each post -- probably 18" squares or 20" circles. Which isn't impossible, but kind of takes away from the simple idea of digging a hole and sticking a post in it. Watching the video the guys just drill the hole and drop the post in, which makes me think they aren't expecting much load on the roof.

 

[fried1765]

I love those Armour Metal videos, watching guys build a 40x20 building with a circular saw, tin snips, power screwdriver and a pencil. I watch and I say, "I could do that!"

But I look at the buildings and there's no way they would stand up to a snow load. The standard here is 30 pounds per square foot. With a 20 foot span and 10 foot spacing each pole is supporting 100 square feet, or 3,000 pounds of snow and each truss is supporting twice that, plus the weight of the building. I can't find it now but I recall reading on their website something like "consult an engineer if you have snow loads."

Metal trusses are commonly used for poultry houses, and if you Google "poultry house snow collapse" you'll get lots of hits.

For the snow loads we get you'd need substantial footings under each post -- probably 18" squares or 20" circles. Which isn't impossible, but kind of takes away from the simple idea of digging a hole and sticking a post in it. Watching the video the guys just drill the hole and drop the post in, which makes me think they aren't expecting much load on the roof.

I have a Morton Building, somewhat East of you, - in Massachusetts.
Morton drilled 16"(?) diameter holes, and dumped two bags of Sakrete in each hole - dry!
Put the 6x6 posts in the hole, filled the hole, and built the building (36' x 48')
That was 34 years ago.
Building is just as good today as it was then.

 

[LD1]

Posts bearing the weight is no different just because a metal truss is used. Its all in the footing under the post....and what the soil will bear. Concrete.....be it a 16" diameter "cookie" , a 24" diameter....or a ???? is all taken into accound based on load and soil type.

Same goes for a deck....that must support X number of people.....plus snow....and not sink.

So nothing new there.

As to the trusses....they are typically more $$$ than a engineered wood truss, they are harder to insulate and "finish" the inside of the building if that is your end game.

Not saying it cannot be done, just more difficult....

But if the openness is what you are after....they are good for that.

But then also keep in mind if you want to heat the structure...vaulted ceilings suck.....thats where all the heat goes

 

[747driver]

I have a Morton Building, somewhat East of you, - in Massachusetts.
Morton drilled 16"(?) diameter holes, and dumped two bags of Sakrete in each hole - dry!
Put the 6x6 posts in the hole, filled the hole, and built the building (36' x 48')
That was 34 years ago.
Building is just as good today as it was then.

Morton really builds a nice pole barn. One of the few manufactures that makes all there own trusses, metal etc and has its own crews erect them. The quote I got from them was $38,000 for a 30x50x16.

 

[747driver]

Posts bearing the weight is no different just because a metal truss is used. Its all in the footing under the post....and what the soil will bear. Concrete.....be it a 16" diameter "cookie" , a 24" diameter....or a ???? is all taken into accound based on load and soil type.

Same goes for a deck....that must support X number of people.....plus snow....and not sink.

So nothing new there.

As to the trusses....they are typically more $$$ than a engineered wood truss, they are harder to insulate and "finish" the inside of the building if that is your end game.

Not saying it cannot be done, just more difficult....

But if the openness is what you are after....they are good for that.

But then also keep in mind if you want to heat the structure...vaulted ceilings suck.....thats where all the heat goes

Not going to be finished inside. Used for storage of rv and tractor with equipment. I would put the metal trusses on 8' centers. Your correct...its all about the bearing post you install. We don't get much snow here so a snow load is minimal. I just hate to see all that above space be filled with wood trusses !!!

 

[Peter 315]

You can get wood scissor trusses I built a small barn with them

 

[Stimw]

I needed 2- 24' long for a pole building I used to have.
They were called "Bar Joists" and I could not find any for sale reasonable so I made my own using angle iron for the top and bottom and round rod for the field.
They were very easy to make!

 

[sandman2234]

I needed 2- 24' long for a pole building I used to have.
They were called "Bar Joists" and I could not find any for sale reasonable so I made my own using angle iron for the top and bottom and round rod for the field.
They were very easy to make!

Ironic, because I have a bunch of 24' bar joists out back along with some 14 and 18 (14 with a cantilever) foot ones. Could have probably fixed you up back then.
David from jax