Framing question–specs for rafter ties?
We’re about to start stick framing a roof that was orginally designed with trusses in mind.
The city code checker is big on ridge beams so if we ask for his thoughts he’ll automatically have us putting up LVLs all over the place, with the accompanying load bearing posts, which were not built into the original plans and would require some rearanging of the rooms below.
The architect gave us the go-ahead to stick build it as we see fit as long as it is within IRC. The architects OK is all the city needs for code documentation so we don’t have to submit our framing plan, but it needs to be correct. This arch. is not a structural guy and he recommends that we consult with a structural engineer if we have any questions, which seems silly given the simple nature of the question.
The roof is 10/12 pitch with 7’3″ walls and ceiling height of 8’10”. The portion of roof in question is only 16′ between the walls. This seems like a logical place for rafter ties set directly above the 8’10” ceiling height.
I couldn’t find squat about rafter tie requirements in the IRC.
Does anyone know any guildelines about rafter ties from a source other than uncle Bob or “that’s how we did it in the old days.” This seems like a no-brainer and I have no doubt that #2 dougfir 2×6″ 16″oc will work just fine, but we need something to back up our use and placement of the rafter ties.
Thanks a bunch!
Replies
If your stick building it cause you want to then you need to contact some kind of engineer to design. If it's the architects choice to stick build then he needs to contact an engineer and get it designed.
If it's your house then start tomorrow with your plan and let common sense be your guide.
You could probably build a perfectly fine solution, with your background in framing, but then you have to ask yourself what if something doesn't work or if something happens two or three years from now, who are they going to look to for blame? If you build it to architects drawings or some engineers design then, if it fails in any way, the fault( read responsibility) is on the architect or engineer not you. Just for that reason alone, let them take on the role of martyr.