Rafter Hangers Pro's & Con's

stagger19

Hi, I was wondering if I could get some advise on framing rafters.

What are the pro/con's with conventional nailing rafters to the ridge board, VS using the rafter hangers they make?

JustaFramer

They are required by code in some parts. That is the pro the con is simpson has found another way to make a few pennys like a worm virus skimming a few cents here and there to make millions.

Teetorbilt

I have always reinforced this connection, usually with plywood. Just the way that I was taught.

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stagger19

Teetorbilt, what do you mean by reinforced by using plywood?

maj

Here's my guess.... Rafters sit on top of the ridge beam. Plywood gussets are cut to fit both opposing slopes, (like an inverted V).

I have done this when using I-joists for rafters.

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reveivl

Stagger is talking ridge board not ridge beam. I've never bothered with the hangers at this connection I have always nailed the first rafter straight through the ridge and the second one through the ridge from either side of the one just fastened. Get that? You've got lots of room to put lots of nails. The joint is in compression except for wind uplift, if you're concerned about that you can put a strap over the top of both rafters. If you're still concerned, let the engineer tell you what to use.

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maj

I understand that, and I do exactly as you stated when using ridge boards. I guess I stepped out of line by answering staggers question to teetorbuilt.

I would be interested to see how teetor uses plywood then for reinforcing the joint when rafters but into a ridge board.

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IHI

Pro's for standard old school nailing of rafters is a quick fast build that with tight joints and proper construction will last for years and years and years.

We used rafter brackets to reinforce one job with a pickey inspector, they were not code, but he was insisting they were so instead of arguing we just installed them. PITA since you have to get your joist hanger nail gun up in there and when framing 16" oc rafters it gets kinda fun when your hanger gun is big and bulky. but on the other side of the coin there is no way it's going anywhere when you compound an already tight framing joint and then couple it with metal hangers.

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Joe Carola

If you are in a zone where they are required by code then you need them. Like what I read on forums about California and all the hardware that they use for framing is amazing and necessary out there, but we don't use anything like they do.

If your asking because you have a choice whether to use them or not, then there's no need for them at all and it's a waste of time because the rafters aren't going anywhere. I live in NJ and have never once put a hanger on a rafter nailed into a ridge.

It sounds to me that you have a choice because if it was required it would already be on any plan you get.

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JustaFramer

We used to be required to just pressure block the ridge and nail the sheathing into the ridge. But that is now not good enough. It is required to put a simpson yadda yadda yadda rafter to ridge connection bracket. Which is basicly a upside down medium or heavy duty hanger. Installation is putting the hanger upside down on the ridge and nailing it into the rafters on each side. Last I checked they didn't make them for beam ridged so LS70 or LS90 are used. Talk about a few boxes of postive placement nails.

Joe Carola

What's pressure blocking a ridge?

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JustaFramer

Just a 2x block in between every bay. Usually some thing a lil smaller that the ridge material.


Edit: 2x blocks are nailed flat to the ridge and then rafters back nailed to the block.

stagger19

I live in NJ also, so they are not code, but I was just asking because I thought maybe they were easier.

I would think with a nail gun, it would be faster to NOT use them since u can nail from the ends into the rafters, as oppose to the sides where the frame gun wont fit nicely between 16" OC

I think the plywood method for reinforcment is simalir to gussetts.

I figure the rafter ties will stop the rafters from going anywheres.

Joe Carola

Right, they are not code.Toenailing rafters isn't a problem at all with a gun in between 16" centers. I never nail through the ends anyway. I will just do shoot one nail in sometimes to set a rafter but I always toenail them. Don't worry about not having rafter ties because the rafters aren't going anywhere. Maybe where neighbors.

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Cole

I thought I was the only one who knew what pressure blocking is.

We dont do it anymore because of code, but we used too all the time.

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A+Carpenter

LMFAO pressure blocking has been around for ages.

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A+Carpenter

Yea well we use G35's here in Texas for 2x and LS90. I still do pressure blocking also.

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Cole

You still, can get away with it?

I knew people knew what pressure blocking is, but you never know how other people know it as.

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Joe Carola

I've never seen or heard of that before even on other forums. I've done that sometimes where the joint lands between the rafters on the ridge I would put a block between but that's because some inspector wanted it. Other than that this is the first time I've heard of this.

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JustaFramer

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