Truss Damage! What do I do?

Things happen, it could be from mishap, material issues, job-site damage or installation or repair damage.

Truss Damage at knots

Gusset Plate lifting

FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO CORRECT DAMAGE, JOB- SITE MODIFICATIONS OR INSTALLATION ERRORS

If a Truss is damaged, altered or improperly installed:

1. Temporarily brace or support the Truss to prevent further damage to the Truss and danger to workers.

2. Report damage, alterations or installation errors to the Truss Manufacturer immediately.

3. Do not attempt to repair the Truss without a Repair Detail from the Building Designer, Truss Designer or Truss Manufacturer.

4. Prior to beginning the repair, lay the Truss flat on a solid, level surface. If the Truss is already installed, shore up the Truss to relieve any Load.

5. Repair the Truss by following the information provided in the Repair Detail exactly. Make sure to use the correct materials as specified. Seek professional guidance if anything is unclear.

6. Keep the Repair Detail in case the Building Official, Building Designer or Owner requests it.

7. If the Repair Detail is not for the specific field condition you are repairing, do not use it. Always follow the Repair Detail prepared for your specific situation.

8. If the designed repair cannot be accomplished, call the Building Designer, Truss Designer or Truss Manufacturer.

Per SBCA- COMMON REPAIR TECHNIQUES
Each Repair Detail is generated on a case-by-case basis, since Trusses and the type of damage vary considerably.

Some of the more common repairs specified by Truss Designers include:

• Plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) gussets over damaged plates or joints

• Metal nail-on plates

• Lumber scabs or repair frames over broken chords and/or Webs

• Truss Plates installed by a portable press

As a home inspector I am going to always recommend engineering for repairs. If you can find who the truss manufacturer is this will be the best way and most likely the cheapest way to get a qualified repair. If a engineered is employed he or she will need to run full calculations and obviously this will be more costly.

“Any man is liable to err, only a fool persists in error.”

Marcus Tullius Cicero

If you find any errors or have additional information that would expand on any code, building standards or manufacturer requirements please let me know.

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

Instructor- Fundamentals of Home Inspection-  Bellingham Technical College

WA Home Inspector Advisory Licensing Board

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                                   509-670-9572

You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and on my website Blog.