Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - What to do about "collar ties" on roof truss in attic?
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Old 07-03-2021, 06:57 AM
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Collar ties are not installed for vertical loads, they are installed to re-inforce the rafters and roof structure from upward wind pressure and roof loads that can cause rafters to spread apart outward.

To illustrate: Take 2 playing cards, or 2 books, and lean them end to end to form an "A"....Where is the weight load? At the peak and at the bottoms. They support each other....there is no downward or vertical weight load under the areas of the 'A' form.

So if the lower collar ties bother you, it's possible to add higher to the peak ties and remove the lower. As the new ties will have more stress on them use triangle shaped 3/4 plywood sandwiching the 2X4.

The lower 2X4 ties in TV homes are used to save manufacturing costs vice higher priced, fitted plywood ties.

Nothing magical about lower collar ties, just an acceptable cost savings measure that virtually no one notices.

Last edited by Toymeister; 07-03-2021 at 09:29 AM.