Architecturally Exposed Lightgage Roof Trusses

[Atomic25]

Has anyone ever seen this? I've always thought the things looked pretty ugly, but an architect seems to think they'll be great painted in a large open common room. Bottom chord only at 12'.

 

[LowLax]

Sounds pretty ugly to me too. I've never seen exposed wood roof trusses either (the 2x4 plate connected kind). At 24" o.c. I don't think it's going to feel like a wide open space. I know there are companies that produce their own light gauges shapes for trusses. Maybe there are some that look good?

 

[concretemasonry]

Even been to a chain restaurant? - Applebees, Chilis, etc.

It is strictly an interior architecturaltreatment to lose the ceiling if they are black. If they are high, white gives airiness and interesting shadows.

Some people even paint the ceilings in the basement black to lose the mess and utilities.

Nothing structural unless you are an engineer unless you have nothing else to do except analyze the structural system.

 

[hokie66]

Just remember to advise the light gauge truss designer/manufacturer that there will be no ceiling to brace the bottom chords.

 

[RARWOOD]

I see exposed wood plated trusses a lot. I agree in most cases they are ugly. However as concretemasonry mentioned above exposed trusses are very common in fast food restaurants.

 

[DarthSoilsGuy]

I worked on a project where the arch design was to take a not too old (70's to 80's) factory bldg or warehouse to convert to a public library. They opened up the ceiling all over the bldg to give air and show the structure.

If you're going to celebrate the "structure" you should start with new bldgs. joist bridging all over the place, random peaces of torched metal sticking out, steel members shimmed up, field splices with big gorilla welds, sheet metal scraps thrown down and puddle welded, bent bridging, a couple of heavily dinged joists . never saw it after they finished but it wasn't pretty when i saw it.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Like I tell my wife "I don't do colors" I'll paint it - I'll install it, whatever. Don't ask me if it looks good. Thats why I am an engineer and not an architect.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

 

[csd72]

We have specified double trusses in an architecturally exposed condition.

We put spacers between and a 6"x2 laid flat across the bottom to provide lateral buckling capacity of the bottom chord.

The good thing about the spacers between is that small holes can be drilled through the 6 by between the trusses for light fitting chords.

csd