Floor Truss Buying Guide at Menards®

If you are starting a new construction project, you may be wondering what the best option for your floor system will be: floor trusses, I-joists, or dimensional lumber floor joists. Each type has its own strengths and limitations. Continue reading this buying guide for some guidance on what may work best for your project.

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If you are starting a new construction project, you may be wondering what the best option for your floor system will be: floor trusses, I-joists, or dimensional lumber floor joists. Each type has its own strengths and limitations. Continue reading this buying guide for some guidance on what may work best for your project.

Floor trusses can span farther between bearing points than I-joists, allowing for larger open rooms. This also reduces the need and cost for extra bearing posts, beams, and footings.

Floor trusses have built-in openings, which can be used to install HVAC ductwork, plumbing lines, and electrical wiring.

Custom-built floor trusses allow building designers to add extra loading for in-floor heat, heavy tile floors, heavy kitchen islands, quartz countertops, and high-traffic areas. I-joists are limited when it comes to accommodating extra loading.

Floor trusses offer four different bearing conditions for a wider variety of uses: bottom chord bearing, bottom chord bearing trimmable ends, top chord bearing, and mid-block bearing are all available. The multiple bearing conditions make matching existing floor heights much easier when using floor trusses. I-joists offer only one bearing condition.

Why Choose Floor Trusses?

• Floor trusses can span farther between bearing points than I-joists, allowing for larger open rooms. This also reduces the need and cost for extra bearing posts, beams, and footings.

• Floor trusses have built-in openings, which can be used to install HVAC ductwork, plumbing lines, and electrical wiring.

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• Custom-built floor trusses allow building designers to add extra loading for in-floor heat, heavy tile floors, heavy kitchen islands, quartz countertops, and high-traffic areas. I-joists are limited when it comes to accommodating extra loading.

• Floor trusses offer four different bearing conditions for a wider variety of uses: bottom chord bearing, bottom chord bearing trimmable ends, top chord bearing, and mid-block bearing are all available. The multiple bearing conditions make matching existing floor heights much easier when using floor trusses. I-joists offer only one bottom chord bearing condition.

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Duct Chart

When it comes to installing plumbing, wiring, and ductwork, the setup of a truss (especially an open-web truss) makes it relatively simple to get the job done. In contrast, I-joists are subject to building code restrictions that make it much harder to run wiring, ductwork, and pipes through them. For example, there are some restrictions as to how big of a hole can be drilled or cut into an I-joist. This can limit the size and placement of the ductwork and pipes.

Ductwork is usually installed under I-joists, requiring dropped ceilings or boxed soffits if the basement is to be finished. This in turn requires 9-foot high basement walls to allow for an 8-foot finished ceiling. Using floor trusses allows you to utilize 8-foot basement walls, as the ductwork is installed within the openings of the floor truss. Additionally, having the mechanicals and ductwork hidden within the web openings of the floor truss allows for the easy installation of drywall to the bottom chord of the floor truss to finish off a ceiling.

Click to view full chart

When it comes to installing plumbing, wiring, and ductwork, the setup of a truss (especially an open-web truss) makes it relatively simple to get the job done. In contrast, I-joists are subject to building code restrictions that make it much harder to run wiring, ductwork, and pipes through them. For example, there are some restrictions as to how big of a hole can be drilled or cut into an I-joist. This can limit the size and placement of the ductwork and pipes.Ductwork is usually installed under I-joists, requiring dropped ceilings or boxed soffits if the basement is to be finished. This in turn requires 9-foot high basement walls to allow for an 8-foot finished ceiling. Using floor trusses allows you to utilize 8-foot basement walls, as the ductwork is installed within the openings of the floor truss. Additionally, having the mechanicals and ductwork hidden within the web openings of the floor truss allows for the easy installation of drywall to the bottom chord of the floor truss to finish off a ceiling.

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