Finished Attic With Exposed Collar Ties

This will cause them to dig in as the rafter pushes out.

Finished attic with exposed collar ties.

The exposed beam ceiling look is one that many owners of conventional flat ceilings desperately want. The 2015 international residential code does not require collar ties or collar beams. Collar ties or ridge straps to resist wind uplift shall be connected in the upper third of the attic space and of a a minimum of 1x4 spaced no more than 4 feet on center. This often happens by exposing the collar beams also called collar ties.

You can get away with removing two out of every three collar ties because the eaves wall plate acts as a horizontal beam. Desperately enough in fact to consider making the major step of pulling down ceiling drywall to expose joists above. I m in the process of fixing up the attic of our house built originally in 1941 and the ceiling is exposed. This article describes and illustrates the different types of support that prevents roof sagging and wall bulging at buildings including definitions of collar ties rafter ties and structural ridge beams.

There are collar ties the 1 x 1 5 horizontal beams you can see in the photos nailed in roughly. Rafter ties resist the forces caused by gravity loads that would otherwise cause the roof to pancake and push out the sidewalls. Bolts are the best fasteners for the rafter collar tie connection. Collar ties or ridge straps to resist wind uplift shall be connected in the upper third of the attic space in accordance with table r602 3 1.

Stately attractive and open. Another possible solution is building dormers to increase the ceiling height in select areas which has a similar effect. Exposed rafter ties or attic joists should be cheaper than a vaulted or cathedral ceiling that would require a large ridge beam with posts down to the foundation assuming the finishing costs are similar but it would depend on the actual design. In this how it works article managing editor debra judge silber explains the role of collar and rafter ties in the framing of a roof.

Collar ties are necessary to prevent separation of the roof at the ridge due to wind uplift. Fortuitously exposed beams are a very popular interior design trend and also make master bedrooms feel much larger than they actually are. What the poster may have be referring to are rafter ties which are placed lower in the attic. Collar ties rafter ties tension beams structural ridge beams.

Collar ties may take up space in the attic of your home but they are there for a reason. Some of these can support the roof and prevent ridge sagging and wall spreading.