WHY TRUSS D&E?
Costs and Time. Let’s compare the cost to design an “L” style residential house using standard structural software and Truss D&E.
Total number of trusses in project: Total number of trusses = 22 each
Gable truss @ main area — 1 each
Hip roof trusses @ main area — 9 each
Gable truss @ “L” area — 1 each
Hip roof trusses @ “L” area — 11 each
Standard Structural Software Design Costs
Engineer cost per hour – $150
Time to design one truss — 3.5 to 6.0 hours
Time to prepare simple shop drawing — 0.5 hours per truss
Time to prepare cost estimate for project — 2.0 hours
Total cost for project:
Design — 22 * 3.5 hours = 77.0 hours
Shop Drawings 22 * .5 hours = 11.0 hours
Cost estimate = 2.0 hours
Total Cost = 90.0 hours * $150 = $13,500
Truss D&E software
Gather design information, input and design first gable truss — 1.5 hours
Design Complete hip roof — 2 minutes
Review and summarize all truss designs — 1 hour
Total cost for project:
Design, estimate, summarize = 2.5hours * $150 = $375.00
Cost difference = $13,500 – $375.00 = $13,125.00
Time difference = 90 hours – 2.5 hours = 87.5 hours
Total Saved $13,125.00 and 87.5 hours!!!!!!
You could pay for the Truss D&E software in the design of the first house! Also, Truss D&E designed all the truss to truss connections, truss to support connections and truss to truss lateral bracing. The real question here is why wouldn’t you use Truss D&E?