Cut A Truss? Never. Almost

Tim Garrison PE

To add a bit more clarity...

The truss I cut was about a foot from a bearing wall, so the repair included kickers down to that wall. I also strapped horizontally across several members all the way to the heel to take the bottom chord tension (which is the primary force in bottom chords.)

There are always several ways to repair a cut truss and if the truss manufacture supplies one, it is probably the best choice.

Regarding stick framed vs trussed roofs, my house has a lot of both. I used stick framing where dormers and habitable "attic" space precluded trusses. In general, being a cheapskate, I spec trusses wherever possible simply because they're cheaper.

TimelessQuality

Welcome to the forum Tim! Sorry to sound a little harsh here...


but...



If you had hired me to GC your little addition, the floor height would have matched the house...

So next time your in doubt, call an OVERPRICED GENERAL CONTRACTOR



Sorry, that was just mean.. I do hope you stick around.

__________________
-Steve

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." ~ Albert Einstein

Project_Pat

One issue that i have run into out here is that to pay a truss company to send out a engineer and a crew with a portable hydraulic press to cut a truss , strengthen and re install metal gusset plates costs almost as much as just replacing the truss with new ones in remodeling situations where the roof decking has to come off anyway.

Tim Garrison PE

This brings up a good point. There are options when a truss must be cut - hiring a truss company to do the repair is one. Of course they will use metal gussets, etc. native to their line of work. Expensive.

A better option, in my opinion, is to hire a local engineer, who, if he's worth his salt, will design a repair with plywood gussets and Simpson strapping. Should be cheaper.

There's nothing magical about gang nail plates. There was a time in the history of trusses when they didn't even exist. Does anyone remember shear rings?