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Lew Hartswick

Lloyd E. Sponenburgh wrote:

stryped fired this volley in news:80401bcf-e992-
:

Also, instead of purchasing trusses, could I just make a 2x4 ridge
board and run 2x4 rafters down from that?

Forgot to answer that part:

You can, but you need collar ties between the rim beams to hold the ridge
up (think "ceiling rafters"). Remember that a ridge board doesn't hold
_anything_ up unless it's on center-posts, it is _held_up_ by the
rafters, which, if allowed to spread at the walls, will sag. Ridge
boards are just convenient nailing surfaces for the rafter tops, and a
way to longitudinally brace the rafters at the same time.

For that small a job, I'd be tempted to make up my own trusses with
gusset-glue-n-nail. They're not code anywhere anymore, but simple to
make, and plenty strong enough for a simple pole barn.

By the time you get a ridge board and all those collar ties in place,
you'd have spent more than for trusses.

LLoyd

I built one about 30 years ago. Built my own trusses just as Lloyd said.
Used SYP (Southern Yellow Pine) on 2 ft centers used that Onduline
stuff for the sides and roof. Had to replace it a few years ago.
this time used V grove steel. Posts are 4 x 6 on 10 ft ctrs.
Square is a pair of 2 x 10. Forget what the spacing of the purlins
is and its in PA while I'm in NM so cant go out and look. :-)
...lew...