Expert: Dan Griffin - 1/12/2008

Question
Have a large span vaulted ceiling in a great room of a 1 sty 1500 sq ft home new construction with ICF walls. Our architect touted his design for LVL and I joists and only one engineered truss. we are wanting to panel the cieling with t&G board for a wood look. Local truss companies are telling us he's crazy and their manufactured trusses will be $1000's cheaper. Can you possibly explain? Maybe the truss folks say that because they trusses? They tell us LVL is very expensive. Or is the crane, etc. needed for trusses going to add so much to the truss costs to make LVL and I joists actually less expensive overall?

Answer
I don't feel competent to answer your question.

Do you have a builder?
It would seem that you are at the architect/engineer design stage.  A good builder should be able to sort these issues out for you.

I do know that small changes in design can add or subtract major dollars to any project.  I am a bit confused about what is causing your confusion.  If you have a design in LVL or glulam or steel, why are you second guessing with a truss manufacturer?  Have you simply asked your design man why he used LVL or if he considered alternate materials?

A single story truss install does not require a crane, although  there can be reasons to do so.   An LVL or steel beam would be more likely to require a crane in my opinion.  If you want the absolute maximum ceiling, the LVL type install will give more height as I believe the truss people will need to create a scissors truss.  Insulation, ducting, wiring, and thermal/moisture problems can all be easier with scissor trusses.

I have not been in the competitive market for several years so my price information has little value.