We use bolts from 5/8" thru 1-1/2" diameter - Most trusses use 3/4" thru 1" bolts. The heads are usually oversize and the nuts are also oversize. We have all the bolts hot dipped galvanized. In the past we have had requests for plain bolts and stainless steel, which we can provide at extra cost. We can consult with you on all the plusses and minuses of bolt materials with you at the time of design and ordering.
The bolt structural value is determined by our professional engineer. We use the best American bolts available. You ask, "Wait a minute. Can I have a special bolt with a special head size?" No problem. If you or your architect want a special head size or design, we can provide it. "Yea, yea, but can you do that along with the plates?" Of course we can. We have full capabilities of providing any plate design that you might desire. Remember, we design and fabricate all our own plates, right here in the factory!
The normal size plates are 1/4", 3/8 and 1/2" thick. The plates length and width are determined by the size of the lumber and the requirements of the professional engineer after the engineer calculates the plate thickness. Sometimes a customer wants a thicker plate for looks. This is reviewed by the engineer and in almost all cases done. To give you an idea of sizes we have had on jobs, a simple single web connector could range in size from 3" to 10" wide and 10" to 20" long.
A complex plate could be up to 8 feet at the base, have multiple legs and various angles and take up to 4 people to move it in to place.
We did a small job for an restaurant one time. The job was composed of 9 trusses. Two of them were 58 feet long, one 40 feet long, one 30 feet long and five smaller trusses ranging from 9 to 20 feet in length. This job required 10,564 pounds of plates, 1,230 bolts 1" X 10" long. And there is still the weight of the lumber to consider after all that.
Douglas Fir and Southern Yellow Pine timbers come in the following sizes:
Please note 12x12 is the maximum size that is normally available. However, with a lot of effort, a 12x16 can be obtained. Remember, a 12x12 is three times larger than a railroad tie. A railroad tie is 6x8. This results in a square inch area of 48 inches and a 12x12 is 144 square inches. This is a huge piece of lumber, especially when it is 60 feet long!
We can get any size glue-lam lumber which you might desire. If you want a 4 foot high piece of lumber 12"x48"x60 feet, we can do it. Glue-lams come just like dimensional lumber in 2x6 thru 2x12 and then get glued together under pressure. Glue-lams come in Douglas Fir or Southern Yellow Pine, which ever you prefer.