Two part question:
1. I am in the process of planning my own home and have fell in love with heavy timber trusses. I am planning on using heavy timber trusses on ICF walls.It will be a 12/12 pitch roof, with a 24' clear span width. What is the "rule of thumb" optimal distance between trusses? I would like to base the floorplans footprint on it.
2.In the spirit of tradition I am considering using locally sawn native timbers taken from my property. They would be yellow (tulip) poplar. I know many old homes/barns here in VA were built with poplar beams. From what I have read it appears to be comparable to white pine in weight and strength when dry. Has anyone worked with poplar and if so what advise have they for or against?
Thanks!
