When I got the plan for the Edwards Residence, a two story home in Midland, Texas, the Architect had already worked with a Structural Engineer to come up with a framing plan. I worked closely with Siboney Diaz-Sanchez with Overland Partners Architects to be sure that our truss designs would meet all of their design criteria. With OPA acting as a go-between, I also worked with Richard Manning with Smith Engineering Company to replace some of the specified framing conditions with trusses.
The structural plan called for a combination of trusses and conventional framing; namely they were planning to scab on a three and a half foot cantilever on the second floor and also scab on a six foot overhang on the roof.
The cantilever on the second floor was at one corner of the house and cantilevered out two sides; this is always a complicated design. Fortunately they had steel beams above to support the roof.
There were several beams in the floor system that were to be carrying framing from above; the Builder (Terry and Coyet Copeland with JCC Partners) asked if it would be possible to replace them with girder trusses. To devise a solution, I utilized flat trusses (as opposed to a “normal” system 42 floor truss), replaced the beams with girders, and built the 2x10 cantilever into the system.
There was a large room (for mechanical and storage) above the second floor; it was called out to be conventionally framed. I pointed out that I could build that into the roof truss (and actually give them a larger space) and also build in the six foot 2x10 overhangs so they wouldn’t need to be scabbed on.
Working closely with the Architect, Engineer, and Builder, I was able to present my ideas for their review and approval and ultimately come up with a fully trussed floor and roof system for the whole house. Our salesman, Finus Nolte, was able to sell the package to the builder because the process eliminated the need for all but a small amount of field framing, thereby saving them time, materials, and money.
I had the privilege of walking the job site after the second floor had been set (they were framing the second floor walls when I was there) and took some pictures of the progress to that point. I don't get out to job sites often, but when I do, it's great to see firsthand how everything goes together in the field.