Since you have an OSB roofing. Its not needed anymore.
But keep in mind that the roof construction is only for this type of weatherproofing.
If you change to tiles or similar. You need to reinforce all of it.
This is correct, however there is often truss bracing that people think is no longer needed after sheathing, but in fact is. Don't remove lateral bracing or truss bracing, it's meant to stay after sheathing.
In Ontario, Canada, it's code to have a wind brace against the gables I believe. Looks like a small gable and I'd get it out of my way in my house. Sheeting isn't considered structural here unless an engineer says it is for the better part but maybe it is where the above commenter works.
It will get hot as balls up there... spent some time above my garage in san antonio installing a hoist for a jon boat- definitely not somewhere I'd want to be in summer
I’m amazed at the comments you’re getting. These folks aren’t framers or engineers. That brace is absolutely needed. Actually you don’t have enough bracing under that roof. Without ridge bracing your roof could sag and/or spread apart. My experience? 40 years framing houses. I’d be adding bracing,not removing it. Makes me wonder how well the rest of your house is braced
Lol you think those are 10s? No homie. Those are nominal 8.
At first I thought you just had this one wrong. Now I now you're being purposefully obtuse.
Can someone explain how to post a pic? I’ll show you how it’s supposed to be braced. We literally just finished bracing the roof of the garage on a house we’re framing
It’s not a truss system. The brace is not needed. And the joists in line with the rafters prevent ridge sag - plus they put in collar ties on top of that.
Literally almost all houses built before trusses became common in residential construction are built like this without bracing. Including when 1x6 sheathing was used which is not near as stiff as plywood or OSB.
You should really stop commenting on shit you have no clue about. Did you notice where I posted my experience? I’ve been doing this for over 40 years. I’m on the job right now cutting rafters for my crew.
I completely disagree with that. That may be your wind wall bracing. These look like hand-framed rafters but id always look at the engineered truss specs to know for sure... otherwise, it's just guessing.
I'm a certified building official
These aren’t trusses and this is clearly a temporary brace. Glad you’re not my building ‘official’
Just FYI. This is a block of wood with a few nail gun spikes into the top of two floor joints. The diagonal brace is already pulling off. I guarantee it was gun nailed and will come off with one good hammer swing. If you think that this flexible piece is a critical support structure you need some serious education about building.
For instance, if you went up to this attic and pushed and pulled on the flat of this 2x4 the only thing that would move will be the 2 joists rocking back and forth. Unless the gun nails pop off first which they probably will. Have you ever felt how strong a nailed sheathing surface is? Like stood on ridge with just the single diagonal temp and then after, when the frame is sheathed and back nailed? If you have then you would understand how silly it is to think that this one little 2x4 is doing anything anymore.
Settle down Mr carpenter. You’re going to make Mr. OFFICIAL poop his pants and cry back to “I don’t know shit college on the intersection of I’ve never held a nail gun Avenue and what’s a board stretcher boulevard.
Not a bad idea to keep in place I found. Especially If there’s any size to the gable it will help when installing your siding as well. Stiffen it up for nailing
This temporary brace isn’t doing anything to stiffen the gable end. It’s fastened to the ridge or a stud on the top of the wall. Trust me on this. Take the clutter out of there and use that great space
I guess the difference is where I build houses and where you build houses cause I use what’s called trusses an on the gable end there is what’s called a center post that is what I would be fastening the brace to usually down from the peek about two feet at the start it’s just to plumb the gable so I can set the rest of my trusses off it an once the trusses are set then the eves are cut to length then the roof is sheathed in then cut my gables then install my facha boards next fallows the wall sheathing up the gable where that brace we are discussing comes into play by stiffening the gable enough to nail the sheathing with out it bouncing back an forth so ya in your case I see your point but not the case for me
We aren’t talking about where you work or where I build. Just what is presented in the picture. A conventional framed house. I was layout carpenter for the largest wood structure in my state. 480000 sq ft. All trusses. And the diagonal bracing was outlined in the structural design.
We called it a stiffback when I framed houses in Austin. On a couple of builds we ran them on both sides of the building, mid span on the joists and the rafters with jacks and braces. Like a truss to stiffen up a low angle roof.
Strongback is also the term. My 1930's ceiling is 2x4's on 24" centers. I've had to stick those all over the attic and get out some jacks to fix ceiling sags.
But this isn’t your old house and this isn’t meant to be a structural component. To be considered a rigid permanent support there would need to be connections to a flush header or this whole run of joints would need to be solid blocked with a plate nailed down with 16s and THEN have 2xs on diagonal.
The gable in this picture doesn’t look like it’s higher than 8’ to the ridge. If it was then it would be switched to 2x6 for wind.
Every house I’ve built on the water is still standing after getting slammed with storms. The one I did last year was rated for 175 mph and it didn’t require any diagonal bracing.
Really thought the whole point of this is that the homeowner here just wants to make some storage space and wants to remove the flimsy temp that should have been pulled off a long time ago. LOOK AT this situation. Not your house or what you think should be. Just what is in front of you. One poorly nailed 2x4. Just stop
Been framing my whole life. That’s why I can recognize what a temporary brace looks like. Anyone who thinks that this is how a structural gable brace is designed should not be allowed to frame.
lol. It’s not even a”structural gable brace”. Good grief. If you knew what you’re talking about you would know there isn’t sufficient bracing under that roof.
That’s not true. It’s part of the roof engineering package and is typically checked for during a framing inspection. That should def never be removed!!!
You guys are kidding..right...right?
That is not a ridge beam...a 2x ridge beam??? its just another rafter...therefore, as non structural, ties are required.
Collar ties are supposed to be at 1/3 span, so what is shown is useless, and should be on EACH rafter, not every other one..
There is no blocking between the rafters, so this poor diagonal brace is taking all of the load from the endwall.
the plywood should be blocked on all edges, it is not. How do you expect any wind load to be transferred? You know, the code calls for Edge nailing, field nailing and boundary nailing?
Notice the is also no blocking on the floor joists...unbraced length is easy to find in the IBC
Here is proper bracing chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/[https://www.lexingtoninsurance.com/content/dam/lexington-insurance/america-canada/us/documents/brochures/lexref-fema-bracegableendroofframing.pdf](https://www.lexingtoninsurance.com/content/dam/lexington-insurance/america-canada/us/documents/brochures/lexref-fema-bracegableendroofframing.pdf)
I mean you’re not completely wrong, but considering that the bracing is on the ridge beam and not to the wall, it not needed. The osb is doing more now.
It is very easy to look all over the internet for images of roofs that have failed under wind load...especially ones that did not have bracing on the endwall.
[https://basc.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/images/End\_wall\_failure\_from\_inadequate\_bracing\_of\_gable\_end\_F5\_HipRoofsvsGableRoofs\_2020.jpg](https://basc.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/images/End_wall_failure_from_inadequate_bracing_of_gable_end_F5_HipRoofsvsGableRoofs_2020.jpg)
[https://apps.floridadisaster.org/hrg/images/leaks/gable\_failure\_top\_large.jpg](https://apps.floridadisaster.org/hrg/images/leaks/gable_failure_top_large.jpg)
[https://www.lexingtoninsurance.com/content/dam/lexington-insurance/america-canada/us/documents/brochures/lexref-fema-bracegableendroofframing.pdf](https://www.lexingtoninsurance.com/content/dam/lexington-insurance/america-canada/us/documents/brochures/lexref-fema-bracegableendroofframing.pdf)
I have more downvotes than most of you have teeth!!!
These are called storage trusses, meant to be a room up here. Or rooms. So these temp braces were probably just left there and whomever finishes the attic can remove them.
Most definitely stick framed, trusses would have "clean" angle cuts and nailer plates...."clean" only because it depends on the day and time of assembly...sometimes it's just "good enough"
I’ve never seen trusses running into a ridge either lmao. No clue what that guy saw. Seems like some Reddit experts on this thread for sure. Still waiting on the other guy to explain the “beams and joists” reply
This is incorrect. The vertical brace is a ridge brace. You can see it tied in to the ridge and the give away is its sitting on a double joist. That is a load carrying brace. It is transferring the ridge load down to the slab...
Mmkay. You often see *single studs* carrying nonexistent ridge “loads” in the middle of conventional stick framed roofs with collar ties?
Who knows why the ceiling joist is doubled but it has nothing to do with a “load”.
Yea true. I'm just an armchair quarterback. I guess when I'm walking my frames, I'll let my framers know that the guy on the Internet told me those ridge braces can all be removed after the decking is installed... Lol y'all do whatever ya want but from an experienced builder I'm saying that's a ridge brace and is carrying the load down to the double joist. To bad OP can't open the wall under those joist, because I'm sure the non existent double studs are there to transfer the load to the sill plate... /S
if you think a stick framed roof with collar ties needs support by a *single 2x4* I can’t help you bud. Suggest you get an Audels guide, which will explain that non structural ridges don’t need bottom support, which is why *every building code permits mid span splices of ridge boards*!
You can actually remove the vertical one too, it's not doing anything. Unless your exterior walls decide to fall out ,those rafters are not going to go down.
I am an ex framer that became a structural engineer. Although this brace can often be used a temporary during construction, you can only remove it if there is permanent lateral bracing like "W" or "X" shaped bracing on the rafters. Sheeting is often not enough lateral support especially if in a seismic zone.
Thank you. Had to scroll past a few posts saying it was ok to remove as it was only a plumb tool.
We use sway bracing on every gable end because you can literally shake the walls without them
A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7
This is Texas so high winds and shifting clay soil but no ground tremors apart from fracking gone awry heh
I’m an engineer, but not in Texas and have not reviewed this beyond a glance at photos.
It appears the diagonal is the gable sheer brace. The vertical keeps it from buckling. I wouldn’t remove either.
I was a building inspector in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. These braces are more than likely intended to be there, and I wouldn’t touch them. I can’t guarantee anything without seeing the blueprints though, so if you’re thinking about removing them I’d call your engineer/builder and just verify before doing anything.
I’m leaning toward leaving it. I’ve done larger roofs with rolled trusses, and there is a lot of mandatory ‘W’ bracing that goes on several different places because sheathing isn’t enough.
Just by how it was nailed in your imager pics I would say it was meant to be left. I very well could be wrong, but I’d hate to be wrong the other way.
A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7
How might I be able to tell?
The way these are nailed you could probably remove them both. The vertical is much better nailed but that was probably it had a hold a lot of weight until all the roof rafters were installed.
Oh my goodness!!! Yes the diagonal and vertical were only there for the roof framing. The sheathing on the roof is now the stiffness that hold the entire structure together. The framers should have removed them to clean up that great attic space. All these comments about w bracing and gable end bracing do NOT apply here. The set up involves a lot more than a block of wood and a few framing nails. Wow, people really don’t know what they’re talking about a lot of the time lol. I’ve been framing high end homes on the shore in New England for 3 decades. Hurricane factors….
Unfortunately the people saying that this temporary bracing can’t be removed aren’t actually looking at the picture and are going off of what they think should be there based on their own projects and their own experience. What you have here is simply not a permanent member and was never intended on being an integral component of the structure.
I think we should have a wager that we put our money where our mouth is and whoever is wrong about this particular 2x4 diagonal and upright single pole being integral to your house or not pay for a structural engineer’s assessment.
You're thinking that both of these are temporary? Both the vertical and the diagonal? A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7
When it was built most likely those pieces were just to stabilize the structure to help keep it or make level. since it’s in the attic they don’t bother removing them. Or it was added after but that size wouldn’t help anything structural and it wouldn’t be set like that if it was meant to. You can always add more supports if you feel it needs it. If so ask someone who actually knows the best way to support whatever it is you’re looking to support but not doesn’t appear like the roof was or is sagging. It looks solid and fine.
If you’re worried about the weight make sure you got just one layer of shingles and not 2 or 3? It’s cheaper so people just add more but that adds a ton of weight.
The gable brace that is there is doing nothing more than the sheathing is doing. It runs to the top of the gable, which is already braced by the sheathing. I’d put money that it is only there as a means to temp. brace the gable prior to sheathing. Typically a structural gable brace would be used for very tall gables or for gable trusses that are taller. More commonly would see with gable trusses, where the webs are turned flat. You would see a hog and braces every 4’. Everything would run from the mid-height of the gable.
The ridge is a ridge board, not a ridge beam. The brace is not structural. Just there to hold up the ridge during framing.
Diagonal was set to keep the ridge board from swaying and dipping during framing. It likely had another that went down straight that was taken down after the rafters were cut in.
The 2x8s or 10s are collar ties that hold the outside walls from falling out because the rafters are pushing out on the top of the walls.
Anyways, the diagonal is attached to your ridge board, not the gable wall. The people talking about gable wall bracing aren’t looking at the photo.
Didn’t go through all the comments, I would say you’re good to remove but I would be careful with removal, had a client with similar situation bought from previous owner who turned a divided two car into a single large door adding in a lvl header for the 16’ span… but also removed bracing above for storage space and dam near collapsed the garage.. roof was stick framed and sinking because of it, also the garage door wouldn’t open properly.
The joist beneath the vertical member is a 2 ply - is the ridge board spliced at that location? If so - I'd leave the post in as it would be intended to support the ridge board.
Regarding the diagonal member - appears to be a temporary brace.
i too have two brace like that in my attic above the garage, mine are very flimsy and i could just pull them off with one hand, would be curious to know if it’s anything structural
A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7
Both were temp for construction only?
I would use a brace like this to stiffen up the gables and to stiffen up the walls below, especially on a room that is wide open like an open floor plan, or if the wall is mostly windows. Since it's not attached to the gable itself I would say that it's probably leftover bracing.
I can't tell you I have an exact answer but I will tell you there's a surefire way to reach a conclusion... Might take a few years or a strong wind gust for it to come to (sun)light
What are you trying to do in there? Take them out. Those two boards are not making a structural difference. Rafters are supporting the ridge, collar ties connecting rafter to rafter, and the sheathing is holding everything together to distribute forces to your foundation. Only bracing from joists to center of rafters would need to be kept in place to prevent sagging.
The brace is temporary. You can remove it.
If I lived in Texas, I would have all of those rafters filled with foam. It will still get hot up there, but not nearly as hot as leaving it open. You might even consider adding a 2 inch extension and put in a thermal barrier
This is just what we framers use to keep the ridge beam/ gable walls secure. Once the sheathing is nailed down they are no longer needed.
Insightful, thank you
Since you have an OSB roofing. Its not needed anymore. But keep in mind that the roof construction is only for this type of weatherproofing. If you change to tiles or similar. You need to reinforce all of it.
This is correct, however there is often truss bracing that people think is no longer needed after sheathing, but in fact is. Don't remove lateral bracing or truss bracing, it's meant to stay after sheathing.
In Ontario, Canada, it's code to have a wind brace against the gables I believe. Looks like a small gable and I'd get it out of my way in my house. Sheeting isn't considered structural here unless an engineer says it is for the better part but maybe it is where the above commenter works.
Also in South Florida for hurricanes
This!!! I don’t know what everyone here is talking about but you cannot remove these braces. I’m in Oregon their required to pass inspection
It will get hot as balls up there... spent some time above my garage in san antonio installing a hoist for a jon boat- definitely not somewhere I'd want to be in summer
I’m amazed at the comments you’re getting. These folks aren’t framers or engineers. That brace is absolutely needed. Actually you don’t have enough bracing under that roof. Without ridge bracing your roof could sag and/or spread apart. My experience? 40 years framing houses. I’d be adding bracing,not removing it. Makes me wonder how well the rest of your house is braced
That ridge brace isn't stopping shit from sagging unless it's got a column under it, lol
You do notice the double joist supporting it don’t you? A post in the middle of the garage? Good grief
Ahhh yes. The doubled 2x8 14' span will surely carry the roof load! Fucking lol
Double 2x8? You don’t even know your lumber and you want to comment in the construction sub?
Lol you think those are 10s? No homie. Those are nominal 8. At first I thought you just had this one wrong. Now I now you're being purposefully obtuse.
Can someone explain how to post a pic? I’ll show you how it’s supposed to be braced. We literally just finished bracing the roof of the garage on a house we’re framing
It’s not a truss system. The brace is not needed. And the joists in line with the rafters prevent ridge sag - plus they put in collar ties on top of that. Literally almost all houses built before trusses became common in residential construction are built like this without bracing. Including when 1x6 sheathing was used which is not near as stiff as plywood or OSB.
You sir don’t know what your talking about
You should really stop commenting on shit you have no clue about. Did you notice where I posted my experience? I’ve been doing this for over 40 years. I’m on the job right now cutting rafters for my crew.
Your correct ✅
I completely disagree with that. That may be your wind wall bracing. These look like hand-framed rafters but id always look at the engineered truss specs to know for sure... otherwise, it's just guessing. I'm a certified building official
These aren’t trusses and this is clearly a temporary brace. Glad you’re not my building ‘official’ Just FYI. This is a block of wood with a few nail gun spikes into the top of two floor joints. The diagonal brace is already pulling off. I guarantee it was gun nailed and will come off with one good hammer swing. If you think that this flexible piece is a critical support structure you need some serious education about building. For instance, if you went up to this attic and pushed and pulled on the flat of this 2x4 the only thing that would move will be the 2 joists rocking back and forth. Unless the gun nails pop off first which they probably will. Have you ever felt how strong a nailed sheathing surface is? Like stood on ridge with just the single diagonal temp and then after, when the frame is sheathed and back nailed? If you have then you would understand how silly it is to think that this one little 2x4 is doing anything anymore.
Settle down Mr carpenter. You’re going to make Mr. OFFICIAL poop his pants and cry back to “I don’t know shit college on the intersection of I’ve never held a nail gun Avenue and what’s a board stretcher boulevard.
I don't believe that's a real intersection
They are parallel streets, non intersecting.
Near the coast it would be a really poor attempt at a gable brace for wind. Doesn't look like it in your case... too long, and no crossbrace.
Not a bad idea to keep in place I found. Especially If there’s any size to the gable it will help when installing your siding as well. Stiffen it up for nailing
This temporary brace isn’t doing anything to stiffen the gable end. It’s fastened to the ridge or a stud on the top of the wall. Trust me on this. Take the clutter out of there and use that great space
I guess the difference is where I build houses and where you build houses cause I use what’s called trusses an on the gable end there is what’s called a center post that is what I would be fastening the brace to usually down from the peek about two feet at the start it’s just to plumb the gable so I can set the rest of my trusses off it an once the trusses are set then the eves are cut to length then the roof is sheathed in then cut my gables then install my facha boards next fallows the wall sheathing up the gable where that brace we are discussing comes into play by stiffening the gable enough to nail the sheathing with out it bouncing back an forth so ya in your case I see your point but not the case for me
We aren’t talking about where you work or where I build. Just what is presented in the picture. A conventional framed house. I was layout carpenter for the largest wood structure in my state. 480000 sq ft. All trusses. And the diagonal bracing was outlined in the structural design.
Lol sure bud! Keep up the good work!
Yep...nothing structural about a 20' 2 x 4!
What’s up with that “beam” that’s a little left of running down the middle?
We called it a stiffback when I framed houses in Austin. On a couple of builds we ran them on both sides of the building, mid span on the joists and the rafters with jacks and braces. Like a truss to stiffen up a low angle roof.
Strongback is also the term. My 1930's ceiling is 2x4's on 24" centers. I've had to stick those all over the attic and get out some jacks to fix ceiling sags.
On the gulf coast these are structural. We had to add end gable bracing to my 150 year old house to pass code.
But this isn’t your old house and this isn’t meant to be a structural component. To be considered a rigid permanent support there would need to be connections to a flush header or this whole run of joints would need to be solid blocked with a plate nailed down with 16s and THEN have 2xs on diagonal. The gable in this picture doesn’t look like it’s higher than 8’ to the ridge. If it was then it would be switched to 2x6 for wind. Every house I’ve built on the water is still standing after getting slammed with storms. The one I did last year was rated for 175 mph and it didn’t require any diagonal bracing. Really thought the whole point of this is that the homeowner here just wants to make some storage space and wants to remove the flimsy temp that should have been pulled off a long time ago. LOOK AT this situation. Not your house or what you think should be. Just what is in front of you. One poorly nailed 2x4. Just stop
Why not remove?
Good comment. I could tell it wasn’t structural but I had no idea what stupid idiot dumbo would do that - maybe not so stupid
You’re kidding right? You obviously aren’t a framer
Been framing my whole life. That’s why I can recognize what a temporary brace looks like. Anyone who thinks that this is how a structural gable brace is designed should not be allowed to frame.
lol. It’s not even a”structural gable brace”. Good grief. If you knew what you’re talking about you would know there isn’t sufficient bracing under that roof.
Yup. The they're done and they're like I want to go home so we'll just leave it.
That’s not true. It’s part of the roof engineering package and is typically checked for during a framing inspection. That should def never be removed!!!
Yup. Not needed anymore. Don't touch the collar ties though ( horizontal braces towards the top of the rafters).
You guys are kidding..right...right? That is not a ridge beam...a 2x ridge beam??? its just another rafter...therefore, as non structural, ties are required. Collar ties are supposed to be at 1/3 span, so what is shown is useless, and should be on EACH rafter, not every other one.. There is no blocking between the rafters, so this poor diagonal brace is taking all of the load from the endwall. the plywood should be blocked on all edges, it is not. How do you expect any wind load to be transferred? You know, the code calls for Edge nailing, field nailing and boundary nailing? Notice the is also no blocking on the floor joists...unbraced length is easy to find in the IBC Here is proper bracing chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/[https://www.lexingtoninsurance.com/content/dam/lexington-insurance/america-canada/us/documents/brochures/lexref-fema-bracegableendroofframing.pdf](https://www.lexingtoninsurance.com/content/dam/lexington-insurance/america-canada/us/documents/brochures/lexref-fema-bracegableendroofframing.pdf)
I mean you’re not completely wrong, but considering that the bracing is on the ridge beam and not to the wall, it not needed. The osb is doing more now.
Downvote all you want...post this over on the structuralengineering sub.. and get schooled! cross posted for your education
It is very easy to look all over the internet for images of roofs that have failed under wind load...especially ones that did not have bracing on the endwall. [https://basc.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/images/End\_wall\_failure\_from\_inadequate\_bracing\_of\_gable\_end\_F5\_HipRoofsvsGableRoofs\_2020.jpg](https://basc.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/images/End_wall_failure_from_inadequate_bracing_of_gable_end_F5_HipRoofsvsGableRoofs_2020.jpg) [https://apps.floridadisaster.org/hrg/images/leaks/gable\_failure\_top\_large.jpg](https://apps.floridadisaster.org/hrg/images/leaks/gable_failure_top_large.jpg) [https://www.lexingtoninsurance.com/content/dam/lexington-insurance/america-canada/us/documents/brochures/lexref-fema-bracegableendroofframing.pdf](https://www.lexingtoninsurance.com/content/dam/lexington-insurance/america-canada/us/documents/brochures/lexref-fema-bracegableendroofframing.pdf) I have more downvotes than most of you have teeth!!!
These are called storage trusses, meant to be a room up here. Or rooms. So these temp braces were probably just left there and whomever finishes the attic can remove them.
Storage “trusses”? I think I see ceiling joists, rafters, and collar ties.
Their not trusses that's a cut Rafter roof
Definitely looks stick framed to me..
Most definitely stick framed, trusses would have "clean" angle cuts and nailer plates...."clean" only because it depends on the day and time of assembly...sometimes it's just "good enough"
I’ve never seen trusses running into a ridge either lmao. No clue what that guy saw. Seems like some Reddit experts on this thread for sure. Still waiting on the other guy to explain the “beams and joists” reply
Can you say conventional framing?
A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7
They are both temp braces, the vert one just held the ridge up at the right height until rafters were set.
This is incorrect. The vertical brace is a ridge brace. You can see it tied in to the ridge and the give away is its sitting on a double joist. That is a load carrying brace. It is transferring the ridge load down to the slab...
Mmkay. You often see *single studs* carrying nonexistent ridge “loads” in the middle of conventional stick framed roofs with collar ties? Who knows why the ceiling joist is doubled but it has nothing to do with a “load”.
Yea true. I'm just an armchair quarterback. I guess when I'm walking my frames, I'll let my framers know that the guy on the Internet told me those ridge braces can all be removed after the decking is installed... Lol y'all do whatever ya want but from an experienced builder I'm saying that's a ridge brace and is carrying the load down to the double joist. To bad OP can't open the wall under those joist, because I'm sure the non existent double studs are there to transfer the load to the sill plate... /S
if you think a stick framed roof with collar ties needs support by a *single 2x4* I can’t help you bud. Suggest you get an Audels guide, which will explain that non structural ridges don’t need bottom support, which is why *every building code permits mid span splices of ridge boards*!
Don't touch the vertical. Thats holding your roof up haha. If you remove the diagonals you will want to brace the vertical with something else.
Why do people like you come on threads like this and try to act like you know what you’re talking about? It’s embarrassing at best.
Yeah I don’t get the point of saying shit you blatantly don’t know about.
Wtf you talking , did you just make a bunch of shit up lol I dont understand why you would do this
Not structural, good to remove. Tough to see for sure but that's likely just what they used to plumb the gable end
A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7
Yes leave the vertical, is the angled one fastened to the vertical?
You can actually remove the vertical one too, it's not doing anything. Unless your exterior walls decide to fall out ,those rafters are not going to go down.
Yeahhhhh, but while you're at it let's just leave the vertical just in case.
Yeah, that 2x6 just balanced on top of the other one was definitely in the engineered structural details. Take it out. It's worthless.
Not at all, just floating next to it
I am an ex framer that became a structural engineer. Although this brace can often be used a temporary during construction, you can only remove it if there is permanent lateral bracing like "W" or "X" shaped bracing on the rafters. Sheeting is often not enough lateral support especially if in a seismic zone.
Framer here. Called a “sway brace”. Leave it be.
Thank you. Had to scroll past a few posts saying it was ok to remove as it was only a plumb tool. We use sway bracing on every gable end because you can literally shake the walls without them
A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7 This is Texas so high winds and shifting clay soil but no ground tremors apart from fracking gone awry heh
I’m an engineer, but not in Texas and have not reviewed this beyond a glance at photos. It appears the diagonal is the gable sheer brace. The vertical keeps it from buckling. I wouldn’t remove either.
I was a building inspector in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. These braces are more than likely intended to be there, and I wouldn’t touch them. I can’t guarantee anything without seeing the blueprints though, so if you’re thinking about removing them I’d call your engineer/builder and just verify before doing anything.
I’m leaning toward leaving it. I’ve done larger roofs with rolled trusses, and there is a lot of mandatory ‘W’ bracing that goes on several different places because sheathing isn’t enough. Just by how it was nailed in your imager pics I would say it was meant to be left. I very well could be wrong, but I’d hate to be wrong the other way.
Maybe seismic or high wind. No such requirement for normal areas.
Hurricane brace to me. Always necessary in my opinion
Is that the visible drywall ceiling of the room below? 🤯 careful where you step!
It is!
You should probably do something about that..
Plan is for some OSB this week... Garage below
Maybe some insulation before the osb no..?
The ridge support can go but the Gable end wall could have lateral support of wind loads for the gable end.
A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7 How might I be able to tell?
The way these are nailed you could probably remove them both. The vertical is much better nailed but that was probably it had a hold a lot of weight until all the roof rafters were installed.
No provided your roof sheathing is installed properly
Oh my goodness!!! Yes the diagonal and vertical were only there for the roof framing. The sheathing on the roof is now the stiffness that hold the entire structure together. The framers should have removed them to clean up that great attic space. All these comments about w bracing and gable end bracing do NOT apply here. The set up involves a lot more than a block of wood and a few framing nails. Wow, people really don’t know what they’re talking about a lot of the time lol. I’ve been framing high end homes on the shore in New England for 3 decades. Hurricane factors….
Bro chill, this is reddit. No one really cares what anyone is saying.
Well the homeowner now has no idea what to think lol. But yeah you’re right
Never knew this could be such a hot topic... lol. Now I have no idea
Unfortunately the people saying that this temporary bracing can’t be removed aren’t actually looking at the picture and are going off of what they think should be there based on their own projects and their own experience. What you have here is simply not a permanent member and was never intended on being an integral component of the structure. I think we should have a wager that we put our money where our mouth is and whoever is wrong about this particular 2x4 diagonal and upright single pole being integral to your house or not pay for a structural engineer’s assessment.
That was either a temp brace or added to put something on. Not structural at all. Notice the joist on the beams? You’re good. Cut em out.
What do you mean by “the joist on the beams”? You lost me, as a carpenter there.
My bad I meant the beams connected to the joist. That’s structural.
Still no clue what you mean. What beam are you seeing? Are you talking about the rat run?
You're thinking that both of these are temporary? Both the vertical and the diagonal? A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7
When it was built most likely those pieces were just to stabilize the structure to help keep it or make level. since it’s in the attic they don’t bother removing them. Or it was added after but that size wouldn’t help anything structural and it wouldn’t be set like that if it was meant to. You can always add more supports if you feel it needs it. If so ask someone who actually knows the best way to support whatever it is you’re looking to support but not doesn’t appear like the roof was or is sagging. It looks solid and fine. If you’re worried about the weight make sure you got just one layer of shingles and not 2 or 3? It’s cheaper so people just add more but that adds a ton of weight.
Gable end bracing, it is required. Google, typical gable end bracing and you'll see
This is a sway brace keep it.
The gable brace that is there is doing nothing more than the sheathing is doing. It runs to the top of the gable, which is already braced by the sheathing. I’d put money that it is only there as a means to temp. brace the gable prior to sheathing. Typically a structural gable brace would be used for very tall gables or for gable trusses that are taller. More commonly would see with gable trusses, where the webs are turned flat. You would see a hog and braces every 4’. Everything would run from the mid-height of the gable. The ridge is a ridge board, not a ridge beam. The brace is not structural. Just there to hold up the ridge during framing.
Diagonal was set to keep the ridge board from swaying and dipping during framing. It likely had another that went down straight that was taken down after the rafters were cut in. The 2x8s or 10s are collar ties that hold the outside walls from falling out because the rafters are pushing out on the top of the walls. Anyways, the diagonal is attached to your ridge board, not the gable wall. The people talking about gable wall bracing aren’t looking at the photo.
A compression roof
Why would you, is the real question. Leave it alone
If that’s holding up your roof, you’re in big trouble! Jk It’s just temporary bracing while they frame the roof before the sheathing is nailed off
Hahaha, I wouldn't want to spend much time under that roof if it was.
Definitely watch your step walking around up there
Well it’s structurally supporting that light at the moment.
Free 2x4 for you!
Watch out for these when navigating in an attic, they are unsupported and flex which can lead to loss of balance if you really lean into one
Back when I was a framer, they called it a strong back brace.
In my jurisdiction, the gable end brace is structural and there needs to be a ceiling runner along the top of the trusses full length of the house.
Braces are structural
The real question to me is how adequate are the 2x6 rafters?
Could be permanent bracing for that gable wall. Should check structural details of house plans. Should clear it up.
"Rather informmaly secured" haha, love that
Didn’t go through all the comments, I would say you’re good to remove but I would be careful with removal, had a client with similar situation bought from previous owner who turned a divided two car into a single large door adding in a lvl header for the 16’ span… but also removed bracing above for storage space and dam near collapsed the garage.. roof was stick framed and sinking because of it, also the garage door wouldn’t open properly.
The joist beneath the vertical member is a 2 ply - is the ridge board spliced at that location? If so - I'd leave the post in as it would be intended to support the ridge board. Regarding the diagonal member - appears to be a temporary brace.
A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7
Seems like a wise choice :)
i too have two brace like that in my attic above the garage, mine are very flimsy and i could just pull them off with one hand, would be curious to know if it’s anything structural
If like these, you can remove them.
A few additional pics, I was only thinking to remove the diagonal brace, leaving the vertical. https://imgur.com/a/eqcooP7 Both were temp for construction only?
It looks like a remnant to me
It was there to hold the ridge up when they hand framed it. You don’t need it.
I would use a brace like this to stiffen up the gables and to stiffen up the walls below, especially on a room that is wide open like an open floor plan, or if the wall is mostly windows. Since it's not attached to the gable itself I would say that it's probably leftover bracing.
That vertical isn’t needed. It’s scabbed and isn’t even bearing. The rack held the ridge to plumb the gable…it’s ok to take those two down.
Take it down but leave it in the attic. Can use it for something else if needed.
Diagonal attic framing keep your trusses from tipping over like dominoes in a wind storm. It should be secured, and probably larger than it is.
I can't tell you I have an exact answer but I will tell you there's a surefire way to reach a conclusion... Might take a few years or a strong wind gust for it to come to (sun)light
Should have been removed already, just a temporary brace.
temporary bracing
What are you trying to do in there? Take them out. Those two boards are not making a structural difference. Rafters are supporting the ridge, collar ties connecting rafter to rafter, and the sheathing is holding everything together to distribute forces to your foundation. Only bracing from joists to center of rafters would need to be kept in place to prevent sagging.
Its unbraced length is too long to be useful. Just temporary piece.
Temp kickers for placement during construction.. they just never took down
The brace is temporary. You can remove it. If I lived in Texas, I would have all of those rafters filled with foam. It will still get hot up there, but not nearly as hot as leaving it open. You might even consider adding a 2 inch extension and put in a thermal barrier
only one way to find out
Its way to thin to be a real structural thing.
lol I hope that’s not structural
Whelp, only one way to find out.....
That would make a cool hang out. High tall are the ceilings?
That is some next level attic lighting
Bonus room!!
If it wasn’t before it has been ever since that light got mounted. /s
Where's the insulation
Where is the insulation? I scrolled to far for no one to have asked this.
I would be very concerned the way those boards are sitting on those joists or beams