With the hard part of lifting the trusses up to the loft done, we could now start installing roof trusses by hand. We started with the first truss on the loft. Having a stable floor to work on should make it easier. The first truss has outriggers to hold the fly rafter that hangs out over the edge. The first truss needed to be notched so the outriggers could span the first two trusses with the fly rafter attached.

With no scaffold or crane, we built this on the loft so we could just lift it in place. After it was built, we secured 2×4’s to the exterior wall so when we stood it up it didn’t topple to the ground.

Once the first truss was up we quickly raised the second and braced them together so they were more sturdy.

With the two trusses up and secured on the loft, it was time to tackle the front of the cabin. Unlike the loft, the front on the cabin was thirty feet away without a stable platform. We did build a temporary platform to work on, but it only had a foot wide plank to walk across to get there. We also needed to get the trusses over to that side.

Installing Roof Trusses by Hand

With one edge of the truss on the loft, the other resting on the wall I dragged the first roof truss along the plank. With the truss dragged to the temporary platform, it was simply a matter of repeating the same process at the front as we did at the back.

Standing the rest of the trusses up offered it’s own challenges. I marked on the top of the wall where each truss should go then lifted the center, walking up a step ladder to get it standing up. Sharon stood at the edge and helped with the lifting. I then asked her if it was still on the mark. She replied “I don’t know, my eyes are closed”.  Apparently she is afraid of heights.

This is going to be a really long day…