What to do about "collar ties" on roof truss in attic?
 

I have a decent size attic, however, those collar ties are a nuisance. I'm going to put padding around them. Any other ideas on how to avoid them. BTW...I keep a hard hat at the top of the attic stairs. A good low cost investment to reduce head bumps.

You learn to duck down real quick. At least I did in my previous house.

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.

So what determines the size of the plywood triangles I would be installing?

Caution, replacing, or changing structural members can result in insurance claims being denied - just saying, an hurricane is coming.

I am NOT saying the advice is not sound, it is, but insurance companies pay people (like my son) to find ways to avoid paying claims.

I have only been on a ladder to the garage attic to put a couple things up there but it was hot up there so no plans to ever go back up. I have never looked up it the house attic.