Gable Roof Truss Bracing

In the attic go to the gable end and examine the area where the triangular wall meets the rectangular wall below.

Gable roof truss bracing. The number of trusses clustered depends on building span and truss spacing. There are several methods for making these types of connections. Using the same 24 inch on center measurements that you marked on the wall plates earlier mark each truss for bracing. Wind bracing should be placed at 30 60 angles.

Gable end walls need to be well connected to the wall below and to the roof structure or ceiling diaphragm. Manufactured gable ends are actually frames even though they are often referred to as trusses. Slide the rest of the truss up using a 2x4 as a ramp if necessary. Gable end bracing retrofitting gable ends to improve their resistance to hurricanes the following prescriptive methods are intended for applications where the gable end wall framing is provided by a wood gable end wall truss or a conventionally framed rafter system.

Diagonal rafter bracing should be approximately 45 to the rafters on plan. The webs are studs oriented vertically and usually spaced at 12 16 or 24 in. Bracing for roofs less than 6 6m wide on detached or staggered stepped buildings. Bracing for roofs that are approximately square.

Then nail the brace securely to the other trusses. The gable end frame is designed to transfer vertical loads from the roof to the continuous bearing wall below. Nail braces vertically every 4 feet along the top and bottom of a gable truss. It is best to brace the inside of the trusses before handling them.

Use a t brace to support the truss vertically. The images below show these critical components and their recommended placement. Wind bracing truss clusters at both gable ends and at least every 20 add wind bracing green for truss clusters. Lifting trusses higher than one story may require a crane.

Bracing for larger roofs. Gable end walls and the roof sheathing at the gable end can take a tremendous beating during a hurricane and if not properly attached and braced they fail. To assist the building designer in determining the bracing requirements to transfer lateral loads from the gable end frame into the roof and or ceiling diaphragm many truss designers provide standard design tables and details based on typical design assumptions used by building designers figure 12. Turn the truss upside down and place on corner on the roof surface.

When several trusses are in place nail the end of the brace over the second gable end truss.