Wood Truss & Wall Panels

Two identical 2,600 sq. ft. homes. One framed conventionally and the other built with engineered components.

"Building with components, I went from having 25 men to 8 men on the jobsite, and I doubled my dollar volume. Every hour I take out of the field decreases my liability, overhead, and worker's compensation. There's no trash to pick up. A clean jobsite makes a safe jobsite. I was a firm believer in stick framing for years, but I'll never go back."

-Rick Thompson, Rick Thompson & Sons, Princeton, IL

Using Wood Trusses and Wall Panels vs. Stick Framing

WTCA (Wood Truss Council), in cooperation with the Building Systems Council of NAHB (National Home Builders), sponsored the Framing the American Dream® project to better understand wood framing. It was the first time two identical house plans were completely framed using two different methods - one stick built, and the other with wood trusses and wall panels (structural building components). Here's what we learned:

Craftsmanship Through Engineering

• Every building is an engineered structure. The moment a nail is driven into two boards, load transfers from one board to the other, so designing and engineering all structures is important. A house using components is fully engineered.
• Each component is designed specifically for your building.
• Each component location is defined, making components easy to use in the field.
• All the loads go where they belong. You won't have uneven floors, or windows and doors that don't close property - no surprises!
• Classic Truss engineers each component with computer software making craftsmanship, and gives you design flexibility.

Craftsmanship Through Manufacturing

• Classic Truss' facility creates quality components, starting with computer-controlled saws, which make accurate compound cuts simple. All component joints fit together tightly in precision jigs. Using our new laser-guided setup even the manufacturing is computer controlled for faster setup times and efficient production.
• Weather is not a factor. Production can continue day and night, providing consistent quality.
• Material shortage delays are less likely, since the entire system is supplied in one package.
• Callbacks are reduced. Components made with dry lumber are less likely to shrink, warp and twist.
• Components are rarely stolen from the jobsite.

Floor Truss Framing

• Floor trusses can be manufactured in long spans, reducing or eliminating the need for intermediate bearing walls, beams, columns or footings.
• The open wens allow for easy passage of ducts, plumbing and electrical wires within the system. No cutting of webs is required and you don't need to fur down to hide mechanicals.
• Special bearing, cantilever and balcony details are easily built in.
• Stiffness can be designed into the floor truss, creating a more solid floor.
• Labor costs for mechanical contractors are lower.
• The 3 1/2-inch width allows for quick gluing and accurate nailing or screwing.
• Cold air returns can be eliminated by using the open web system as a plenum for air distribution.

Roof Truss Framing

• Complex roof and ceiling profiles are easy to design with today's software.
• Hip and valley roof systems are much easier to build using trusses than with even conventional framing.
• Roof trusses can easily be used with a variety of on-center spacing, to optimize strength and lumber resources.
• Long clear spans are easy to create, reducing or eliminating the need for interior bering walls, beams and columns.
• Structures are dried in more quickly, saving time and avoiding weather-related delays.
• Your imagination is the only limit when you design with trusses.

Wall Panel Framing

• Wall lumber use can be optimized with studs designed at the optimum spacing for the applied roof and floor truss loads. Generally, less lumber is required.
• Placement plans are generated and delivered with each framing package, picking up all bearing locations and showing correct locations, for easy setting. Each wall panel is marked accordingly.
• High quality material is used.
• Walls are square.
• Proper nailing patterns are used.
• Studs and headers are designed to support applied loads.
• Sheathing can be applied in the factory, saving time in the field.

Environmental Responsibility

• Nearly five million trees are planted every day. Wood is the only renewable building material.
• Wasting wood is costly. At Classic Truss, cut-offs and short lengths can be used to the maximum, which reduces waste. Most waste wood is ground up and sold, so less goes to the landfill.

What did we learn here?

• Use of wood trusses and wall panels resulted in a 16% saving in total and material costs.

"You have to look at the bottom line, and the bottom line is that you save money with building components. You pay more for a truss, but you can put it in so much faster.

Time and man power are very difficult to come by. Using components, you can take the same man power and do so much more work"

- Roy Wilder, Wilder Construction, Middlesboro, KY