Roof Cross Braces (Replacing Head Bangers)

This photo records a spectrum of cross bracing found in a home. Bracing is often set at every-other roof joist pair for misunderstood code compliance at not less than one-third the distance from peak to floor, to resist spreading, where walls are not held together by an attic floor. The practical reason to employ cross, or “collar” bracing, is to restrain separation at the peak, under hurricane conditions. This roof had “real” braces of 1x8 shiplap by the misunderstood code except above the found attic ladder. The “real” braces are unbearably obtrusive. not just above storage areas. A smaller wood brace would split at nails under hurricane conditions. A steel angle hangs from a couple of silly nails.

I will remove the silly or obtrusive braces, and will install steel straps at every roof-joist pair, as secure protection against roof unzipping. Straps will be placed as high as possible.

Simpson LSTA24, light strap, 20 gauge, 24” length, 1 1/4” width, price paid for one: $1.35.

Trial installation is with two #7x1 1/4 screws. More screws would be appropriate, however I found that the brace would buckle a large distance, nearly an inch, where the second screw, off center to inside, piloted the plate to alignment with the screw. This happened twice. Then I learned to set off-center to outside, where piloting pulled the strap into tension. Each fastener thereafter that would bear tension load, must be well-centered in its hole. Strap nail holes are of diameter 11/64”, 0.172”, 4.3 mm. I will attach straps with three 10d x 1 1/2” nails at each end, 0.148” diameter, still with concern that piloting must pull tension in the strap. The local Home Depot in fact did not stock LSTA24 straps.