Replies

1. 
   woodguy99 | Oct 13, 2003 05:29pm | #1

   The only thing collar ties would do on your house is help keep the roof from flying apart in a hurricane or tornado.  There are Simpson connectors which can do the same thing.

   But who am I to disagree with an inspector?

2. 
   goldhiller | Oct 13, 2003 07:03pm | #2

   Sounds to me like this inspector was hired by an interested party.....???....if you get my drift. Or was this inspector hired by your realty agency? Or by the interested party's loan institution?

   Around here (NW Illinois) I've never heard of collar ties being required on a roof such as you describe.

   Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
3. 
   Tryit | Oct 13, 2003 07:41pm | #3

   A number of people on this forum have stated taht collar ties should be no more than 1/3 of teh way up from the ceiling to the ridge.  In your case where the total rise is three feet that would not make much sense.

   However as a previous responder to your thread stated, tieing the rafters together would aid in upleft (vs spread which is what collar ties are designed for).  In this case jsut short stock placed just below the ridge pole would do that trick.

   Are you the buyer or the seller?  If buying ignore him, JMHO.  If selling, I still think the inspectors remarks are just suggestions will no weight (you are not responsible to bring a home up to current codes).  If selling a buyer is bocking, see if the short stock trick is what the inspector is talking about.  Cut 40 peices in your guarge in 30 minutes and be in and out of the attic in 2 hours (with only three feet of clearance . . . maybe four hours, what a bear).

4. 
   CapnMac | Oct 13, 2003 10:14pm | #4

   I strongly suspicion that the inspector actually thinks you are lacking "rafter" ties (they would be about 12" below the ridge (the better to conk attic visitors clean in the head).  If uplift or lateral forces are an issue, then a diagonal brace would likely be better all around.

   Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
1. 
   dIrishInMe | Oct 14, 2003 12:19am | #5

   Sorry to contradict a few of the above, however collar ties are horizontal members that tie the rafters pairs on either side of the ridge together.  They are normally 2x4s. Their purpose is to hold the rafter pair together at the ridge.  Look at this link for a picture:   http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/company/wind/images/306.1.4a.html they are sometimes, but less commonly called rafter ties.  Generally, rafter ties go in the lower portion of the roof framing.

   For stick framed roofs, the flavor of the IRC we use here in NC requires collar ties on every third rafter pair, and the are required to be installed in the upper third of the rafter pair.

   A rafter tie gives a firm connection between the ceiling joist/wall and the rafter, in 2 different configurations:  In the case of a hip roof or other roof where rafters run perpendicular to the ceiling joists: see this link for a picture: http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/company/wind/codinterp/3124.html  These keep the walls from spreading.  The second config, is when the rafter runs parallel to the ceiling joist and is a short 2x4 (normally) nailed between and tieing together the ceiling joist and the rafter.   I could not find a clear pic for this one.  There are metal straps that serve a similar purpose too http://shop.cornerhardware.com/item_264430/Hardware/Framing-Hardware/United-Steel-Rafter-Tie.html  These are also known as hurricane ties.

   To answer to the original question: an old house can not be required to be built to current building codes, unless it is being modified.  A home inspector can write anything in his report that he wants; it is just his opinion.  Unfortunately, some of the information provided in a home inspection may be more toward making who ever is paying for the inspection feel like he/she got their money's worth... and common sense may not be a factor in the equation ie:  You said the house has been in this configuration for 45 years - really though, it's a 30 minute fix for someone who knows what he is doing, although going in that small of an attic would be a nasty job.

5. 
   BossHog | Oct 14, 2003 02:24pm | #6

   Collar ties are designed to keep the roof from opening up like a clamshell in high winds.

   Whether or not they're "necessary" depends on whom you talk to. And what people on the internet think isn't going to help you sell the house. (Assuming that's what you're trying to do)

   I'd look at it more from a cost/benefit point of view. If you can put 'em in and it helps you sell the house, why not?

   BTW - What part of Illinois are you in?

   Politics doesn't make strange bedfellows, marriage does.