Looking for advice from existing truss design consultants.
Looking for advice from existing truss design consultants.
(OP)
Hello everyone, I am a truss design tech and I am considering doing independent design work rather than being attached to a specific manufacturer. I am just starting to do some research to see if this is viable for me and I have a number of questions that I need to have answered before I can decide whether I am going to attempt this or not. Any advice from people who are independent consultants or from people who have worked with them would be sincerely appreciated.
-I did a thread search looking for methods of billing. The only thing I really found was a discussion on the possibility of billing by the board foot. Personally I prefer the idea of billing by the hour but if it is an industry standard to do it the other way then I would consider it.
-What kind of liability is incurred when an independent designer makes an error and is there a certain type of insurance required? (links would be appreciated)
-Do independent designers typically negotiate a contract with manufacturers to do x number of jobs per week or is it usually just a matter of taking what work that is given to you?
Any advice at all would be sincerely appreciated.
Thanks
-I did a thread search looking for methods of billing. The only thing I really found was a discussion on the possibility of billing by the board foot. Personally I prefer the idea of billing by the hour but if it is an industry standard to do it the other way then I would consider it.
-What kind of liability is incurred when an independent designer makes an error and is there a certain type of insurance required? (links would be appreciated)
-Do independent designers typically negotiate a contract with manufacturers to do x number of jobs per week or is it usually just a matter of taking what work that is given to you?
Any advice at all would be sincerely appreciated.
Thanks





RE: Looking for advice from existing truss design consultants.
RE: Looking for advice from existing truss design consultants.
RE: Looking for advice from existing truss design consultants.
Also - you would need your PE, insurance, etc., etc.
RE: Looking for advice from existing truss design consultants.
Greg Robinson
RE: Looking for advice from existing truss design consultants.
RE: Looking for advice from existing truss design consultants.
For residential projects, a PE may not be required.
RE: Looking for advice from existing truss design consultants.
I live in Grande Prairie Alberta (Canada). Sealed drawings are not required for residential jobs here though they are in neighboring provinces. Anything that would need to be stamped would be stamped by whatever engineer the manutfacturer uses at their cost.
I have somewhat put this idea to the wayside for the time being as every truss plant I have spoken with is laying off design staff.
One thing I am looking at is potentially doing private truss installation inspections. In my entire career I have not been to one jobsite where the trusses where installed entirely correctly. My only purpose would be to make sure that the trusses were installed to the manufacturers specifications. The inspections would be enitrely residential and more piece of mind for the home owner (or educational for the builder) than anything else. At the end of the inspection I would prepare a report calling out deficiencies from which point the manufacturer would be come involved. I would be interested to hear what people think of that idea.
Thanks,
RE: Looking for advice from existing truss design consultants.