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Great product - Wrong Use!

Is it peculiar to this area of TN or are any of you other HI seeing builders using TJ's (Truss Joists) for girders below the house. I started seeing it about two years ago and it is very slowly gaining popularity. I for one think that the TJ's make a great floor system but they are not approved by the manufacturer to be used as girders.

The standard installation in this area is to put three truss joists below the floor system as a girder. It looks impressive, thats a lot of bulk. Over time though, the TJ's used as girders will allow a minor amount of deflection just as they leave the support columns. This produces minor elevation changes in the interior floors and is especially hard on ceramic tile floor installation.

I have a concern that something similar to what happened with the synthetic stucco (E.I.F.S.) product may end up happening with the engineered lumber. A total lack of over-site and education by the manufacturer towards the installers equals a great product with improper installation and the resulting problems. The end result: A fine product with a bad name.

Posted by Paul A. Perry, Home Inspector - Crossville, TN on 07/17/2007 01:59 PM

Comments (9)

truss joists, builders, home inspectors, building products

Post is included in group: Ask the Home Inspector

9 Comments on Great product - Wrong Use!

JUL

2007

Paul, You are way over my head...or under...just wanted to say Hi. Haven't seen you around AR. Looking

forward to reading you again, Pam :)

Paul I can see the deflections being a real nuisance. Can't you write to the County or have lunch with the building commisioner and point this out? At least on a local level I'm sure you can make a difference!

JUL

2007

Paul,

Who would have approved this installation? Where is the building official?

As you may already know a product such as TJ is not usually covered by building codes. It is most often per manufactures specs. They have accepted the liability for the installation of their product.

So first is the manufacturer aware of this use of their product and if so have they approved it? The building official may just assume that it has been approved for this application. Of course if he does assume anything then he's not very thorough. Were the architects plans drawn with the TJs used in this application and approved accordingly?

You sound like you are onto something that may be a big potential problem. You could contact the manufacturer and speak with them about this use of their product. They may be completely unaware. This could lead to some new business for you.

Good luck and keep us posted.

James,

There are no building codes, officials or and type of enforcement in this area. I am in the process of contacting the right personnel from the manufacturer at this time.

Paul,

No codes or building officials! Wow, you must be a busy guy. Again I would be very interested in knowing how this turns out.

I doubt that the manufacturer would approve that use as they make products for just that purpose.

David,

That is correct. The manufacturers have header and girder products as well as laminated beams for support purposes. My reason for contacting the manufacturer is two fold; 1. To let them know what is being done to their product and eventually their reputation. 2. In the absence of building codes and inspectors I need firm verification that the manufacturer does not approve this installation. Without that it comes down to; I say it's wrong and the builder says it's right. I'll win in the end but I like to avoid the argument if I can.

JUL

2007

When I used TJs in my projects here in SE Michigan, I would turn the prints over to the lumber yard who would supply the package. They in turn would send the prints to the manufacturer who would size the materials and ship to the jobsite. There were always engineered drawings provided with the package, as well as an approved construction plan if there were different size units. Maybe that's a MI thing, but I would talk to a couple of local suppliers, not the manufacturers, and see what they say.

JUL

2007

Very interesting, haven't seen this in Ct but you can bet this is not a manufacturers approved usage. Probably a builder with some left over tji's. There would have to be engineered specs and stamped plans for this to be ok even then the moisture levels in this application might be a concern and lack of additional beefing up of the tji's.

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