Putting the sexy back in trusses.
Posted on September 27th, 2007 – 10:14 PMBy Jason Hammond
After the rather remarkable progress of the first floor walls going up, the last three days have seen the less visually remarkable steps of floor trusses and deck sheeting going in. The second floor decking is obviously a crucial step so by no means do I mean to minimize the importance of this stage of the progress but it seems to lack the “sex appeal” of walls. However all that changed today, as my single favorite element to-date was installed — the steel floor trusses.
Although we had planned to have exposed, open web-floor trusses in our main living room, we were forced to make a pivot when the supplier discontinued the product. We searched for vendors all around the country and for one reason or another we’re unable to come up with a solution that met our needs. Just when we believed that we had exhausted every resources we turned to our engineer and fabricating friend Grant Leum from Leum Engineering. We were confident that Grant could design and fabricate the appropriate structural supports but what appeared to be a rather straight forward and relatively industrial element, has become a thing of beauty. Although the beams are wonderful the cross bracing has become a true piece of art. When someone takes great pride in what they do it shows in every little detail. It’s clear that this can be said for what Grant created for our cross bracing.
It would have been easiest to have just done simple “X” shaped braces but instead the braces have been designed to carry our circular theme one level further. After seeing the beauty of Grants work on something as simple as our floor trusses, I can’t wait to see our stairs and deck rails completed.
The 18″ x 20′ trusses arrive on site.
One of the cross braces with the circular center element.
The trusses and cross bracing in place in the living room.
8 Responses to "Putting the sexy back in trusses."
That is awesome. I’m a little jealous that I don’t have the opportunity to use something like this in my addition (it’s finished already). Can’t wait to see what else you’re going to pull out of your bag of tricks as the house goes up.
It’s funny how sometimes the things that appear to be a challenge really turn out to be a great opportunity.
Jason
Trusses are great. If it is all going to be exposed, are you going to just paint the plywood deck? If so, I wish you had used a higher grade plywood so all those knots wouldn’t show through on your ceiling. Otherwise, I hope you are going to skin it with something so it doesn’t detract from the really lovely trusses.
Wow, those really are some sexy trusses. I couldn’t imagine them before I saw them in place, but they look marvelous. I love that (unlike so many people working in the “modern” style) you are really serious about honest and functional design.
Thanks Sabrina,
I take that as a great compliment.
Jason
Gasp. Who knew trusses could be so beautiful?
My house is under construction right now and I am looking for new products and uniquew ideas to use in the house, it will be a beach modern style home and we love the design.
We will have a two story celing in the living room and I was trying to come up with a unique idea to put in the celing. I love the trusses idea, I would love to use it. Regarding budget, is it resnobale price? do you have other unique ideas for around the house?
Nina,
the trusses we did were a fair bit more expensive but we had them custom built. You can find lots of companies that make standard sized metal trusses that are very affordable and very cool.
Check out the rest of my blog, there are some cool alternative products like plywood flooring and concrete backer board in various forms.
Jason
Jason.
