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Building a Shouse | Purlin Prep + Details | Part 4

Updated: Dec 19, 2023


wall preparation

This is part four of our shouse series and it is all about purlins. We have two 80-foot sidewalls and a 160-foot end wall all framed up and done. We have left an end wall open in order to drive in and put our trusses up unless because we are not having a crane come in. Being that this building is 60 feet wide, we have the whole 60-foot wall framed out. Now we're going to mark out all of our purlins, pre-drilling all the holes, getting all of our nails started, and all the purlins leaned up in the bays so we are ready to go. Sixty feet is a pretty good span, so I don't want to waste any time just messing around. I want to get them up, get the purlins on, and get the building locked down as fast as I can. So let's get going.


We are going to measure for our purlins, get them all pre-drilled and nail started. A couple of things to consider when you're measuring: we're starting on right side of the building, and on the opposite side, the columns should match. However, we are going to check. I mean, I'm guessing that we might have one off by a quarter-inch or something, but we're still going to check to make sure that they match pretty close to this side.

Precise measuring for purlins

Another thing to consider, I always measure at the bottom because I know the bottom, all the posts are where they need to be. So I know if I take that measurement and extend it up to the top, my top should be where it needs to be. So, make sure, if you don't have your grade board on, you're adding that inch and a half. I have my grade board on, so I'm just going to hook on the end there. Then I'm going to go to the center of my post because that's where my truss sits. So I'm going to look here, and we are eight feet to the center of this post. I'm going to write that down and we will do that all the way down.


We also discovered slight differences between measurements on one side of the building compared to the other side. To address this, we'll split the difference and aim for consistency, ensuring the purlins are marked accurately.


Marking and pre-drilling purlins

Next, we move on to marking the purlins themselves. Using a 2x4 and stakes, we square up the purlins and mark them at the correct intervals. Once they are marked, you can go through and pre-drill holes for your purlins.This process helps us create a straight line for drilling and installing the purlins, making the subsequent steps much more manageable.


In summary, by taking these precise measurements and marking the purlins consistently, we're ensuring that the subsequent steps of installing trusses and purlins will go smoothly. The goal is to have everything ready and organized so that we can efficiently proceed with the construction.


Thank you,

MR Post Frame



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