Over the last few years I have been debating whether to use a truss joist and roof truss system on a house that I want to build for my wife and I, once I find a suitable piece of land. Today I will tell you why I am thinking about this type of house system. I would love to have someone let me know if I am on the right track with this article.

When you are stick building a house with dimension lumber and conventionally framed roof you need bearing walls usually in the center of the building to transfer the load to the basement. That means that in the basement every 8 feet along the bearing wall you need column and also a concrete pier below it to support the column. The ceiling joists will also have to rest on a bearing wall. The roof rafters have to be cut and installed with a ridge. The partitions have to be installed before you go to the next floor or install the joist above.

Another item that I just thought of is the cost of all the cutting and framing conventionally. Extra work for piers in the basement for columns, cutting rafters, if you want to change your layout and change partition with conventional framing you have to work around the bearing wall.

When you build a house using truss joist system you can have truss joists designed for the load you need in the house, they are also less expensive to install and most of the times you send a drawing to the truss manufacturer and they will cut them to size for you and give you the layout you need on center. They will also layout the joist system to miss any bathroom plumbing and other utilities going through the floor system. Then you install the tongue and groove flooring system over the floor trusses with a good panel adhesive on the truss joists to stop squeaking. The basement will not need any lally columns in the basement, also there is no need for a bearing wall on each of the floors all the bearing is on the outside walls.

The roof trusses are also economical to buy and install, the only problem with trusses is that most of the time you need some sort of hosting equipment to install the trusses. Another very crucial part of installing roof trusses safely is to make sure that you have the first truss you install anchored so that it will not fall when you start installing the other trusses. Once you have about 9 roof trusses installed you should stop and brace that section according to the manufacturers recommendations for safety reasons, then finish installing the remainder. The trusses can be installed 2 feet on center with a h clip in center span between the trusses for support. 5/8 inch roof sheathing that should be used.

The exterior walls can be 2x6 joists 2 feet on center to match the roof trusses layout with ½” sheathing laying out the window and door rough openings as prescribed by the building code in the area you’re working in.

In closing this is my view on using floor trusses and roof trusses on a home. I think it is less expensive and you can be more versatile with the layout inside. It is also a fast way