The Right Way To Store Any Truss Type On Construction Sites
You might think the hard part is now done since the trusses you ordered for your construction project have been delivered onsite. But think again. Now it’s time for you to figure out where to safely store these trusses and that can feel difficult all over again.
After all, trusses - the floor or the roof kind - are a valuable investment that your project needs to fast-track construction. You cannot risk damaging them, which means you have to figure out the best possible storage location and strategy so they can stay intact till it’s time to use them.
In this blog, we will give you some valuable truss storage tips that are no less than industry secrets. Let’s begin!
Essential Truss Storage Tips for Construction Sites
1. Choose the least busy location
Construction sites are busy, no doubt, but they have sections that are not frequented. If you find a spot that’s flat and enjoys good drainage while being a noticeable distance away from the busiest parts of the site, haul your trusses there. But before you keep them there, do a quick scan. Do you find debris? Perhaps a pile of rocks? Remove all potential hazards so that your trusses can rest safely there without the risk of damage. All you need is firm, dry, and solid ground.
2. Keep them elevated
Even if the ground you’ve chosen to keep your floor trusses is dry, there’s no way you can keep them safe from water when the weather gods strike. Unless you keep them elevated. You can use wooden blocks for this purpose. They’re solid and can handle the weight of the trusses. If you’ve got wooden crates onsite, don’t throw them away. Use them to keep your trusses off the ground, at least 12 to 18 inches above.
3. Cover them with tarp
Be it moisture or nature’s other elements, trusses can bear the brunt of them if left exposed. Especially if subjected to prolonged exposure. Do the wise thing by covering your trusses with an adequately sized sheet of tarp or water-repelling plastic that is breathable. Air circulation is critical as tight coverings can trap condensation, leading to issues such as warping.
4. Label your trusses
Once your trusses are stowed away under the tarp, it’s going to be difficult to distinguish the roof trusses from their floor counterpart. It might also be difficult to know which roof truss type goes where if you’re building a multi-unit residential complex with varying roof sizes. Hence, label each of them and organize them in a way so you can easily access the ones to be used first without disturbing the rest of the truss stack.
5. Make them easily accessible
To lift and place trusses into position, you need to use either a crane or an aerial lift platform. Both are big devices, which means your trusses should be kept in an easily accessible place where either one of them can reach. This will not only help you reduce construction delays but will also ensure your trusses are not damaged during lifting and installation. Our advice? If you can find a dry, clutter-free storage spot near the installation, you will be able to manage site traffic better without compromising on the trusses’ mobility.
6. Offer wind protection
Trusses can tip over if the winds are strong around your construction site. They might shift or suffer wind damage too, thus requiring suitable wind protection. Bracing is one way to go. Alternatively, you can block stacked trusses securely with other onsite equipment. We also recommend placing sandbags or ground anchors around the base of the trusses so they don’t move when strong gusts hit.
Conclusion
You should also regularly inspect your trusses to ensure they’re in mint condition, especially if there’s a delay in installation timelines due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. If you notice signs of water damage, warping, or pest infestation, take prompt action to address them.
That said, storing and checking your trusses, though crucial, is next to ensuring you get high-quality trusses in the first place. If you don’t know where to look, be assured that you will find them at Fonthill Lumber Inc. Our decades of experience allow us to create custom trusses of all shapes and sizes. Contact us to get precision-built trusses now.
