The Roof Truss System

7th in 2014 New Vienna House Series

Waving his hand to the crane operator, the engine roared and the roof truss rose into the air…

Like most of modern day construction, the roof truss sections are actually built off site to specific design specs. Building them offsite in a controlled environment allows the engineer to ensure they are built 100% accurately.

These arrived on a truck a week or so before installation and are stacked up in order so that the onsite carpenters and crane operator can lift them into place, add bracing, and eventually the plywood sheathing.

These 2 x 6 planks might look long and wobbly, but when put together create a roof that can carry extreme weight (like snow and ice) and won’t fail in hurricane force winds. (falling space rocks are excluded)

But the really exciting part is when the crane lifts them up into place and they get secured by the carpenters.

Quick lift into place

As the day rolls on and the carpenters mark where each truss will be set, a crane sets up to lift them into place. It looks too simple, but the building industry has established systems to build these things “to spec” and then make it easy for the carpenters to set in place.

Overall, it is pretty cool to me.

How tall can a house be in Vienna?

For those of you considering relocating to Vienna from places where homes may have a “third floor”, know that you can find homes or design homes with a third floor loft room here too. The X-factor in Vienna is the building height maximum.

The Town of Vienna Building Setback Summary states height limits are “2 1/2 stories but not to exceed 35 feet as measured from finished grade at the front wall of the principal building closest to front building line (4-14-2011).”

These are issues that are calculated when your new house is submitted to the office for approval. If your contractor deviates from the county and town approved plan then construction may be halted completely requiring the plans to be resubmitted for approval.

 

The house has come a long way so far, but there is plenty to get done. The next blog post will show the house really looking like a house with additional shots inside and from the back yard. Did you know that I have been adding photos all along? You can see them by clicking the green link below.

See about 150 photos of the custom build project in Vienna right now!

Click to see the Vienna House Construction photos