Setting 16 Trusses Alone - Build a 20x30 Workshop

[@jllaine]

Manhandling the trusses by yourself with great success, this was amazing.

[@sethcraftworkshop]

It certainly got hot inside of that workshop oven. But I managed to get all of those trusses swung into place. Having the H1 clips installed beforehand makes all the difference.

[@DeLuini985]

Thanks a lot man, our church is currently building a man's house walls out of wood and osb because he lost his home in an earthquake. I know something about drywall building but not nearly enough about osb building. The spacing methods, window cutout and the trusses bearings were priceless. God bless you brother

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Nice to hear that the church has the ability to build the house! Thank you for your work. happy to help with these videos.

[@PickingYou]

An engineer told me -- these clips should be nailed on the outside and through the sheathing. He was invited to a Simpson Strong Tie extended credit class. They demonstrated the correct application process with 2 identical structures in wind tunnels. The one (like you suggest) blew apart within seconds. Appreciate your info -- offering clarity to save others.

[@michael.phelps]

What's the correct approach?

[@PickingYou]

@@michael.phelps Install on the outside of the exterior sheathing. Nail into top plate and studs.

[@hopenavajo1391]

Many people have their own opinions,that is what I don't like, people having their own opinions.

[@GovenorMcLovin]

​@@hopenavajo1391I'm going to listen to the engineers who designed this on this one.

[@TomLinehan-d7d]

Use the h1 and use the proper screw from the inside which an inspection can see

[@KennethFinnegan]

The $30 palm nailer at Harbor Freight is amazing for driving hanger nails.

[@sethcraftworkshop]

That would have been nice. There is a Harbor freight about an hour from my house. I've not been to one of those in almost 15 years.

[@floridagunrat1625]

@KennethFinnegan I have tried the various guns like the "strap shooter," and it seems we always end up falling back to the Palm nailer. It just gets the job done. It's simple, there's no special nails, it is much faster than hand driving, and it is not much slower than a dedicated strap gun.

[@christiangarrett8297]

A true man can handle all of this construction and the trusses by himself! Love your videos and am definitely taking notes and learning a lot from you. Can’t wait to see it finished!

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Doing all the work alone is possible for sure. Filming it and working alone does take 3x longer though. Looks like I have enough 1 a week videos to last through December! Then the building will be done.

[@fastfreddie54]

Oh really? I've got two girls that would have set all 16 trusses in about 2 hours, in another hour they'd have been plumbed, braced, and ready for roof ply, and the look-outs would have been framed by noon! I guess that'd make them real true men, eh'. but don't tell 'em that, they'd kick your ass!

[@timrxn5414]

Great that you have girls like that. Hoping my step daughter develops a taste for real work. She’d be killer

[@affordabledesertliving3487]

This is excellent! This gives me a lot of insight into putting up my own trusses in a few weeks. Thank you.

[@joelalleman9591]

where there is a will , there is a way !!!! a lot of work for 1 man , great effort , thanks for sharing !!!

[@kennethstout5616]

For your next truss project, you can align the trusses by installing both end trusses and then stretch a string from one end to the other to align the remaining trusses.

[@sethcraftworkshop]

I have seen that done! Great idea. I dont have any builds planned but I will keep this in mind for the next one.

[@JB-di6ui]

Build a makeshift scaffolding on each wall, that allows for easy work on the sides. Screw 2 boards together and make a longer pusher stick. Setting trusses on something like this is 1 day job by yourself.

[@ELPeeDubYou]

Walk the top plate... you set up planks down the center of building to nail Ridge blocks to trusses

[@Gmoneygrip1960]

Nice video good stuff as soon as I saw your car I immediatly said OH MY GOD!

[@KevinJonasx11]

I was looking into truss roofs for a garage, this is exactly what I needed. great video!

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Happy to help. Setting trusses is not so bad. Much easier with two people.

[@car24dude]

You’re a smart strong man, I would have set them 16 inches apart double them every 8 foot apart. Makes it easier to join the 4x8 boards on top

[@garyring8306]

Or you nail on a doubler on that 8 foot truss. Allot cheaper than another truss.😊

[@jimmyyounger618]

"Took about a week longer than I anticipated." Super Relatable! It took me decades to figure out and admit that if I take the amount of time I estimate something *should* take, and then multiply it by 3, that's likely to be much closer to the amount of time it *will* take. 😄

[@mikemerheb7038]

🤣🤣🤣 I can relate

[@phillipware9681]

That goes for estimating the size of for example, a shop that you need.Figure out how much you want and then multiply it by two or three and that's what you need. 😁🤣

[@jimmyyounger618]

@@phillipware9681 True! My dream shop is the size of a Walmart. 😆

[@jimherchak7505]

You were very generous to your truss supplier, considering they totalled your car!

[@sethcraftworkshop]

The young man that totaled my car, totaled another vehicle right after that and was fired. The trust is themselves seem to be good product.

[@davepelfrey3958]

​@@sethcraftworkshop, talk about having a bad day. Totals 2 vehicles and gets fired, in the same day. Wow! 😮😮😮

[@kingsknight2112]

To get your 1 foot overhang I would screw a temp block on one side to make it easier

[@swm-sm6cu]

I'll be setting trusses by myself soon. They will be 32 feet long, but I'll have a crane set them up on the second floor walls. All that I will have to do is stand them up and I will have walls that I can stand on for most of it, and can build temporary ones for another section that is mostly open. The gables will be tricky. I'll set a 2x4 on the outside standing up fairly high, going from the wall to where I can tie them loosely on the truss. That way I can adjust the tails to where they are overhanging the same on each side. I'll do both gables first and then run a string across where all the tails will be, but about 1/8 inch away. Then I can set all the regular inside trusses, back that 1/8 inch. It will be a pain having to climb down and back up the ladder to get each truss set right, but that is what I will have to do unless I can find some inexpensive help. I got a price to frame the whole house for $9 per square foot. I earned a lot of my money framing for $1.50 to $2.00 per square foot years ago, so I don't want to pay the prices that people charge today. I'm 70 years old and have lost some weight (now about 120 pounds) and become somewhat weaker since a surgery I had (cut out a foot of my small intestines), but I feel quite confident that I can handle the job. More of a problem for me will be getting the OSB board on the gables and then up on the roof and across the trusses. But I am motivated by all the money I will save!

[@swm-sm6cu]

In the past we would put the sheathing and the drywall nailer on the gable trusses before we stood them up, but that was for 28 foot trusses. I could stand them by myself but I had help to put them in place once they got up there. I probably could handle that but if I'm wrong I don't want to have something too heavy to lift!

[@chuckstarwar7890]

I like the way you even use a hammer to hit nails, excellent teaching

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Thank you. This was a fun project. Turned out well.

[@nic6754]

Huge effort by yourself, Seth! As always, cool vid and very nice work bro and well done to the effort involved there!

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Thank you. The trusses were heavy but that 2x4 swing up method worked very well.

[@TheDustbinofHistory]

Lot of work, glad you did not get injured. I am doing similar, but will install 2 at a time, assembled on the ground, cross-braced and tabbed for plywood sheathing, before lifting with telehandler. A lot safer. Must cross brace (make a triangle between trusses) or risk the entire roof folding over.

[@michaelbarrett8803]

I just did a garage and it was helpful to line up all the trusses along the top before nailing them into tthruss i hangers. A couple of mine the were off. It is also very important to check that all the trusses are plum and properly spaced or you will have a hard time with the decking. If the trusses centers is not exactly 24" and parallel from it's neighbors putting the decking panels is going to be a pain.

[@floridagunrat1625]

I've set a lot of trusses like these working alone I like to install the two gable ends and get them exactly where I want them. Then I will run a string from Peak to Peak to align all the trusses. Also, you could have installed your cross pieces at the peak of the truss to become the ridge blocking. That would kill two birds with one stone. Looks like a good job!

[@aday1637]

You say you can't build 20 foot trusses? Why not. Just lay em out on the floor, then transfer the angles to you 2x4's and fasten them together wtih plywood rectangles or triangles using screws. Use web pieces to sturdy them up for compression etc and use the same layout on the floor and transfer the angles to the web pieces and fasten them them together with plywood pieces. Stand em up and install em. 20 foot 80 foot etc can easily be built this way. And using strong ties is irrelevant. you can use scrap 2x4 pieces on the top plate to fasten the trusses to it. Hurricane clips are also optional depending on where you live. I've built countless structures by myself using this method. I used to work in a truss plant, but was building these myself long before that. My father showed me how to lay out a pattern on the floor with a pencil. Draw it on paper first if you need to. Trusses were used long before there were truss plants. You be wasting time and money. You can build a 20 foot truss for a few bucks. Just count how many you need and use the same pattern to make the rest and they'll all be identical. I can't believe anyone would pay $1700 or $1900 or whatever you said. You can build all for a couple hundred in a day.

[@rocknral]

In Australia, all components including trusses have to have an engineers certificate. Also, for the price, it's about the same to buy the materials to make them or buy them pre-made. (Timber is ridiculously priced here) Truss plants are getting materials way cheaper than anyone else. Trusses are dead easy to make for simple roofs, but if it's a complex roof, easier just to hand pitch it.

[@garyring8306]

This shop is not being inspected as it has numerous fails in its construction from general building codes in the states. That said here like was said its easy to layout on his wood floor, put down stop blocks, cut the wood and nail it up using 1/2 plywood doublers. I know out back first had you get helatious winds there at time requiring engineer approved trusses. My shop plans have an engineer approving the stress loads using specific matarials, for me, it's easier to let a truss company build my 40 foot trusses.

[@shawnbryant60]

That was inspiring, I had the pleasure of doin one of those, 36 foot span, then roll it up, set it to a outside string, and nail it, its great to be able to do things like this by yourself! Great job!!

[@normbograham]

A 2x4 screwed into each truss, can help hold them up and secure them against a strong wind. You can put it where you can just leave it.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

I appreciate you working in the hot weather. I can work all day in the cool weather. But when it's 95 F everyone needs to take precautions.

[@floridagunrat1625]

I'm 60 and I just spent 12 hours on a roof today setting trusses for an addition and decking. Temp on the high 90's, no cloud cover, and heat index of 107. I'm getting to old for this!!!

[@lonnieclemens8028]

@@floridagunrat1625 Please be careful. We are the same age.

[@floridagunrat1625]

@lonnieclemens8028 Thanks! Yes, my days of doing this are coming to a close.I started this job with 7 people, and in a couple of days, I was down to three. It's hard to find good help.

[@billstmaxx]

Aren't you suppose to land the truss on the same location as the stud in the wall?

[@njmaghan]

2ft oc meets his 16in oc spacing every other truss. Double top plate allows the wall to support the trusses that don't line up. Single top plate would require truss spacing to match stud spacing to transfer loads correctly.

[@jonathancristobal4724]

Is called diy for a reason great job getting it done ✅

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Thank you. It was a lot of work but paid off in the end.

[@richdobbs6595]

That looks great. But being a bit more conservative, I guess I would have a sixteen foot 2x4 that I could wedge in there before I tried to climb the ladder.

[@rustycalvera977]

is the h1 clip all there is to support the trusses vertically. ..is that enough to hold them upright.

[@EngineersHomestead]

You are super chill about that car being totalled lol, I would be livid. Do you plan to nail some longer boards between the diagonal webs or on top of the bottom chord to help lock the trusses together?

[@sethcraftworkshop]

To be honest, I knew the car was on its way out. For about 4 years, the bottom of it was resting pretty bad so I had been saving up for the past 4 years to purchase a new vehicle. As for locking the trusses together, I've added more blocking and also attach the OSB to the roof. On the inside, I have interior walls. That also help lock the trusses together.

[@gthree0239]

I feel like I’m watching myself build this building. I pretty much work solo all the time. Getting ready to add onto my current 12x16 shed. It’ll most likely be solo. My wife has, however, been cool with me buying things like air nailers to make working alone a little bit easier and quicker. Also, saving up four years to buy a truck sounds like something I’d do as well. Hopefully the truss company gave you a fair amount for the smashed car.

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Sometimes building alone is the only way. Sure does go by quicker when working with a partner though. A nailer would make this type build better. Saving up for a truck is allowed for no payments! That old car was worth $1500 before c19. After I got $4k for it! Wild.

[@NCSDFL]

Your work is amazing. I am going to try and do this. I want the same dimensions.

[@sethcraftworkshop]

This build was great. Nice to have it finished. Just big enough to build alone but way better with help.

[@chrissscottt]

Well done!

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Thank you!

[@alijabos]

You probably state other places.. but what did it cost to DIY this garage - not including the foundatuon and slab

[@ColonelAngus4her]

I hope you put an angled cross brace from the bottom of one truss to the top of the next truss on the center vertical support, this is vitally important and critical in giving strength and rigidity to the roof system. Without this, the trusses and fold over in a stiff wind.

[@floridagunrat1625]

@nikisrevenge You are completely right about Gable end bracing to a point. It is required by code here to meet our hurricane wind loading. Just today, I was working on a house in Palm Bay, Florida, setting trusses for an addition. The original House was built in 1973, and when we opened up the roof deck, we saw that there was zero gable end bracing installed. This house is over 50 years old and has gone through dozens of hurricanes without a failure. Once the complete roof system is finished, loads can be transferred and supported through the roof deck to other trusses. Certainly, it is a weak spot, and gable end bracing should always be done, but it doesn't mean that the building will just fold over in a stiff wind.

[@kwlowboy7838]

You nail it 👍🏻

[@alimanfi3793]

Would love to see some detailing on steel structure if that’s part of your field

[@sethcraftworkshop]

I have not worked with steel at all.

[@Rob-to4mu]

I like to use my cordless palm nailer for those tricky bracket nails as opposed to a hammer. It's easier and faster for me.

[@LamMa-dj6hh]

Next time use a string line to center the trusses. String from gable end to end.

[@sethcraftworkshop]

That would save some time if I had waited to lock down each truss after they were all up.

[@damamazaway]

what's the pitch of this roof?

[@Dag12324]

looks like you are 3/4 of an inch off on your first truss spacing by how you marked it

[@sethcraftworkshop]

It could be. But when I installed the osb it all seemed to fit together correctly.

[@jHORIZON2400]

Did you get engineered plans? If so where’d you get them done at? I want to build this exact size building but on a concrete slab.

[@sethcraftworkshop]

The trusses I purchased from a local truss manufacturer. I think the final cost for all of them was $1900. Its been a while.

[@jHORIZON2400]

@@sethcraftworkshop I found trusses like those locally for 1275$. I’m trying to find engineered plans for the building to give to my city for a permit. Unfortunately I live in city limits.

[@45valk]

Is that a concrete filled tire retaining wall? 👍

[@sethcraftworkshop]

The wall is packed dirt. Took several weeks but I was able to pack over 180 tires. It is holding up well!

[@silentline7698]

Thank you for your content. :)

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Happy to help. The roof is one of my favorite parts of a build.

[@abdelilahhoumim460]

I love ur vedeo thank you very much

[@toddmiller7876]

It always pays to have a few friends.

[@sethcraftworkshop]

That is true! A second person makes this type build a lot faster.

[@bobbynip66]

I actually think ‘alone time’ is underrated 😂

[@realonerussell]

Hey bro, wondering what hardware you used to secure the 'end’ truss (gable truss) to the top plate?

[@sethcraftworkshop]

I think that I just put a lot of 3.5" screws into the gable end into the top plate.

[@ETofAZ]

How did you prevent the Simpson ties from bending?

[@sethcraftworkshop]

These 22 foot long trusses were not that heavy. 80 pounds. So 40 on each end. Not enough to bend the fasteners.

[@JohnMcRory-c1w]

Great work, I'm really impressed. Quick question, how did you get the trusses into the clips when you flipped the truss, or did they just slot in?

[@sethcraftworkshop]

The trusses kind of magically fall into place if you flip them up at the right spot. A few needed a little push to get into the h clip.

[@rohitdahatonde1130]

What’s the total measurements of king post of trust?

[@sethcraftworkshop]

I am not sure. I never did measure that. These were engineered and delivered.

[@donatop1971]

How tall are the walls?

[@MrLeram12]

Okay, buddy, what's with the tires?

[@sethcraftworkshop]

The hill behind the shop was pulled back and the tire wall is a cheap method of retaining the hill. This style is popular in New Mexico.

[@josephsuti6905]

Not only in New Mexico 😂😂😂 here in Tijuana is common to see stairs and retaining walls built with tires

[@markseifried3959]

Every handyman needs a shop. I didn't understand the comment about 2 by 4's and the builders' recommendations. Don't be afraid of using a round hat to protect you from skin cancer. Thx

[@thatguythatdoesstuff7448]

He used ratchet straps to pull the bow out of the walls. He was told it would have been better to nail 2x4s across the top plates to ensure the two long walls were parallel.

[@sharonjohnson8423]

Great job!! Can we ask for help please? 😂❤❤❤❤

[@bubbaredneck75]

i know yer pain dude. im at this step on my house build. yer calves r gunna b killing u tonight lol. nice job solo tho.i only have help on the weekends as the wife works

[@pablokozanostra5499]

Excellent Job 👍🏼👍🏼 Hi Guys, I'm looking for farmhouses like yours for my roof. Which company supplied you? Please

[@sethcraftworkshop]

The materials for the building in this series were purchased from two local hardware stores and lowes.

[@sethcraftworkshop]

The trusses were from a local truss building company.

[@ThatEEguy2818]

"Hitler,... has only got one ball." WWII students get it. 😂

[@dudleydooright6181]

I don’t understand why your walls are not lined.

[@joserubiogonzalez2526]

¡Music genial!

[@adamnonnenmacher7774]

Why are there like 1000 blocks in the walls

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Whenever a wall is greater than eight feet tall, you need to put fire blocks in. This also provides a place for the osb to attach in the middle of the wall.

[@adamnonnenmacher7774]

@@sethcraftworkshopask your inspector to show what part of code requires that. I build homes. I double checked the IRC and it says every 10ft and at the bottom/top of floors. You can use a mid span block to stiffen the wall some, but optional. You put two blocks in each stud cavity? Talk about a huge wasted time suck. You never have to fasten the middle edges of sheathing unless your structure has to be designed to some special wall sheathing strength. You also can install sheathing vertically unless you’re in a hurricane or high winds area and engineer requires it horizontally.

[@45valk]

You definitely don’t need the gym after all this. Great job…

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Yes it's a good workout!

[@AlBlasi]

The bridge on kwei !!!

[@fastfreddie54]

Yeah. no shit! I guess he never heard of Tico nails, so he might want to add a couple 1/2" through bolts to the four 16's holding the truss clips on, the way he did it a 450 MPH wind coupled with a 7.5 quake might tear them loose! A single 16 penny nail will hold one ton! JEEEZUS!

[@floridagunrat1625]

@@fastfreddie54 LOL! You should see what they make us do down here to meet hurricane code!

[@skeetorkiftwon]

It cost those guys about $5k to charge you $1,700 to make you those trusses. Reminds me of a motor builder that sent my buddy 4 engines to replace one, and had to pay him each time their motors failed. Making money the hard way, making it leave.

[@greghoxeyville2265]

The best way to set trusses without heavy equipment is to use a gin pole.

[@davidb7699]

Great video and a sweet build,,if you only had a hanger nail gun,,,10x faster then by hand nailing them,,,Nice drown footage seth

[@normaromero2117]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@MarkHeadrick-lm6kx]

Winch might be safer

[@garyring8306]

A six foot fall from a ladder on to concrete you reach terminal velosity and constitutes the min height you need for a fatal fall. I am a retired engineer, certified OSHA floor rep from a major aerospace company. He is a lucky dude but his luck is running out trust me.

[@neweyes7975]

Safety first! Get someone to hold your ladder and OSHA rules would require you to tie off any free standing ladder. Ignore these rules and pay the price. Lost 3 months in a sling and got 10 pins and a plate in my arm to show for it.

[@RaulRodriguez-m1r]

Where's the neighbor lol

[@gordonharper9126]

Why would you not take your software all the way to your gable trust. I don't understand why your gable trust has to be smaller. It doesn't seem to make any sense to me.

[@sethcraftworkshop]

The smaller gabel truss allows the ladder for the eves to be on top of the truss. Provides much more support for snow load.

[@kellymiller9273]

thanks for not playing the contractor game of lets just talk about it and not show you how its done up close and use distance more than 1/2 the videos on here are flat out old contractors not telling folks a dam thing and as an old contractor i am fed tf up with them so im' opening up my own channel lol SCREW EM btw GREAT VIDEO

[@sethcraftworkshop]

It is common to see those videos. My guess is that the more the contractor knows the faster he wants the job done and less is shown on video. I like to show step by step.

[@kuttmowf]

Im doing my own 2 story addition by myself as well. Tryna figure out how I'm gunna get 20 ft trusses up a 20 foot wall. Lol. But I wanted to say awesome job but damn that tyvek is ugly as sin lol jk.

[@garyring8306]

Watching you do this i just cringe, the board your using needs a y crook on it to cradle the 2x so it does not slip off and come flying back around clocking you and knock you dead. All i can say is beginners luck because I've seen experienced people doing this and get knocked for a loop trying to do things solo here. like watching you on this project, but dude, the clock is at 11:59 your luck is going to run out doing this stuff solo. 😢

[@aarond2136]

my momna said truss no one

[@YoutubeTime-sd1jz]

hard hat

[@trufamilia1731]

Not a framer r you? I noticed you didn’t straighten your walls first I don’t recommend doing it like this at all it’s dangerous but fun to play carpenter

[@garyring8306]

I called him on an earlier vid of his he did not stagger his obs panels, no pressure treated mudsil and never squared his walls just relied on the straight studs he got to get him close nailing on his doubler with a few screws anve tying down his shear panels to his founation joists.

[@ericanthony3446]

Most unfourtunate your ordered materials ruin your car😮

[@sethcraftworkshop]

It was a sad day. However I purchased a truck and that has been great.

[@mikeyjohnson1696]

I spent 350$ to build 15 32’ trusses. Shoulda built them. That gable is horrible

[@kylevogel7385]

No you didn’t.

[@garyring8306]

​@@kylevogel7385maybe you should take a harder look and lumber pricing he is in the ballpark correct material cost wise. 😊

[@mikeybiggunz3]

hard to watch

[@sethcraftworkshop]

This video is not for everyone.

[@1oxyoke]

Seth, I admire your tenacity and self reliant attitude, but putting up the trusses by yourself was very risky and dangerous. If anything had gone wrong you could have been injured and even killed. I have known people who have had a ladder knocked out from under them or fallen off a ladder. One was injured badly and the other one was killed. Also, just working alone is not safe. One little mishap can have serious, long term consequences.

[@phillipware9681]

Congrats on the video. I can appreciate the fact you did it yourself. Same here. It takes a LOT longer. 🫡 obviously

[@sethcraftworkshop]

Building alone takes a long time. Filming all the steps and working alone takes 3x the time.