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I’m building a new garage and would like to use a metal product I thought I read about several years ago, but cannot find now. The product was let into sidewall construction by simply kerfing along a diagnal straight edge and then nailing the metal channel from the top plate to the bottom plate.
Is this product still available and where?
Do to the detailing of the wall I’m trying to avoid both 1×4 let in bracing and plywood sheathing.
Replies
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Yes, I have used the product and it is commonly available here in Canada. We call it metal corner bracing and purchase it in 10' lengths. I have used aluminum angle when my lumberyard is out of stock.
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Try here.
http://www.strongtie.com/catalogs.htm
*we use it here also, though it has a very low bracing rating of 1kn/mtre as opposed to 4kn/metre for ply.
*Mark,I think that I can reasonably assume that kn is the abbreviation for kangaroo, but what is a mtre and how is it different from a metre?
*Bob. Metal bracing, whether the let-in you mention, or flat metal straps are no better than wood let-in bracing.Simpson Strong Tie--mentioned by Mike, warns against the use of its metal bracing for any use other than preventing racking during construction. They are not designed to replace the let-in brace structural sheathing combination. GeneL.
*Mike,KN is an abbreviation for "Know Not" and mtre is 4/5 of a metre. :)
*MikeThat would be mitre. . . one 'roo per mitre. . . it's an Oz thing. . .. they're all a bit barmy. . . lack of oxygen, water drains the wrong way, etc.,-pm
*Drats..nothing gets past you Patrick.
*We've been using metal "t" braces for twenty some years here in Michigan.Put your fears to rest, there have been zero building collapses attributed to metal bracing.And we don't have qillions of blocking in the walls either!Metal braces have passed the test of time contrary to the opinion of the experts. One rhetorical question. Why would Simson market a product that basically would be replacing a simple stick of lumber that could be easily nailed on, and also easily removed and reused?blue
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Blue. The answer to your question about Simpson is self evident. Flat metal straps don't need inletting. Simpson's TWB brace needs only a saw kerf. But the wood let-in has to be inletted,not just nailed.
Remember the experts in saying that let-in bracing does not work, and neither does metal bracing, are not saying there will be wholesale collapsing of walls.The worse that will occur is cracked plaster and drywall, hard to open and close fenestration.
The Uniform Building Code,Section 2322.11.3 does not allow let-in bracing in Seismic Zones2B, 3 and 4. It says nothing about metal bracing and that usually means not allowed. My article goes into some depth on the testing results.
Finally The Canadian Building Code for Part 9 structures permits the use of RFBI on the exterior without any corner bracing as long as the interior of the exterior walls studs are secured with GWB, plywood, OSB or fiberboard. However, in a recent talk with the head structural engineer of the UBC code, he warned that there is some testing that shows under some conditions the contribution to wall stiffening with GWB is nil and could be dangerous.GeneL.
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Years back, I saw a crew use T-straps on a house across the street from one of my jobs in NJ. They apparently didn't know about kerfing the studs, so they nailed on the straps with the leg of the T faced out. They then sheathed over the straps with foam, and vinyl sided the place. The diagonal lines of the straps stuck out like sore thumbs. We just watched, thinking that an adult would eventually show up and correct matters. It took about a month for someone to fix it.
*Andy, if I was building a brick veneer home for myself, and was sheeting with foam, I'd do it that way!Anything to save a second or two,blue
*You know Gene, sometimes it takes me awhile.Gabe has mentioned several times that corner bracing is not required in the code. He never added that there had to be structural shething of some sort in it's stead! DUH!!!So, let me get this straight. RFBI? GWB?Blue
*BleuThe question is. . . would you define horizontally applied d/wall as i structural sheathing???RFBI = Right, F**kin Booger ItGWB = Gawd Whadda Boogeri (just fer you. . . are ya smilin?)-pm
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Blue, et al. In the Canadian Building Code for Part 9 buildings, national and provincial building codes do not require bracing where exterior walls will have one of the following interior finished: gypsum board with taped joints,, plywood, hardboard, insulating fibreboard, particleboard, waferboard or strand board. That means RFBI on the exterior without bracing is permitted as long as one of the listed interior fisnihes is applied. Although USA codes recognize some contribution from GWB but not to the extent as permitted by Canadian Code.GeneL
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I'm building a new garage and would like to use a metal product I thought I read about several years ago, but cannot find now. The product was let into sidewall construction by simply kerfing along a diagnal straight edge and then nailing the metal channel from the top plate to the bottom plate.
Is this product still available and where?
Do to the detailing of the wall I'm trying to avoid both 1x4 let in bracing and plywood sheathing.