In the feature photograph we see where an excavation was performed near a wall. The excavation is nearly alongside the wall and extends well below the bottom of the wall footing, which was about three feet below grade. This type… Read More
Category Archives: Structural terms
What Can Happen to Unbraced Wood Truss Web Members?
So, what happens when the web members of a wood truss are not braced laterally as specified by the truss manufacturer? When a wood truss is designed and constructed by a truss manufacturer, the manufacturer commonly provides drawings that show… Read More
Which wood framed structure would you expect to be stronger?
Which wood framed structure would you expect to be stronger? Number 1 or Number 2? Wood framed construction built in accordance with prescriptive framing methods. (Prescriptive framing methods are established upon rule of thumb guidelines that have developed from the… Read More
What is Creep?
Creep is a permanent sag in the wood member (it may also occur in concrete or masonry) caused by the stretching and adjusting of the wood fibers to the sustained weight on them, that is, the weight of the member… Read More
Collar Ties Vs. Rafter Ties
In common rafter framing the rafters support the weight of the roof construction and snow or live load by pushing against the opposing rafters (at the ridge plate at the peak), pushing horizontally outward at the top of the supporting… Read More
Happy New Year 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you know that the term “engineer” is from the Anglo-French word “enginer” which means to devise or construct? Some etymological sources state that “engineer” proceeded from the Latin word “ingeniare” which also means to contrive or devise. From these roots we… Read More
The Structural Fascia Board
“It is our professional opinion that it is poor construction practice to support roof joists on the fascia board at the ends of the roof rafters.” We have rendered this professional opinion with minor variations more than few times. The… Read More