Stiffback or Purlin?

[hausdok]

Braces? Waddayamean braces? Braces are for teeth !!!

Many thanks to Charlie Sessums

(User Name: charlieb)

Alpha Inspection

Brandon, MS

[carle3]

This has become an all to common find as of late. As a past framer I would have never attempted to use a strong backer as anything more than means to stiffen a truss gabled wall. To try to make these function as a structural element is not sound framing. My findings are that with truss construction a lot of framers are no longer trained in the art of stick framing a roof.

[Jim Katen]

It lacks the struts necessary to function as a purlin.

It's not stiff enough to function as a stiffback.

I'd call it a closet rod.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[ozofprev]

It's too big for hangers, you'll have to call it something else. Wasted lumber?

Originally posted by Jim Katen

It lacks the struts necessary to function as a purlin.

It's not stiff enough to function as a stiffback.

I'd call it a closet rod.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by ozofprev

It's too big for hangers, you'll have to call it something else. Wasted lumber?

Well, I'd use it to hang sausages to dry.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Focal Point]

Maybe they used it to keep the rafters from bowing until they could install the sheathing

[JerryM]

Don't you guys recognize a "roof rafter fistorus" when you see one? [:-crazy]