Cut diagonal brace - can I repair it?

[alexluckham]

I'm currently looking at getting solar installed, however I'm a shared owner and my landlord has given me permission based on the following criteria:

• A report from a structural engineer confirming the roof can take the additional weight – we have had experience within where this wasn’t done, and it meant that the property suffered from roof spread.
• installer must be MSC certified
• additional smoke detection equipment is installed in the loft to offset the increased fire risk
• an emergency shut off/isolation switch is installed.- Emergency shut offs are also referred to as Isolation switches and these should be installed as a standard – one for the board and one for the inverter – there should be no issues with installing these
• If permission is granted, then we would need copies of any certification they provide you e.g. installation certificate etc.

So the issue I have is with the structural engineer report. I went up in the loft to take some pictures to submit to Octopus to give me a quote, and I remembered when my brother in law did some boarding in the loft for us, he cut a diagonal brace and said it was just a 'guide' brace left in from construction, I was a bit annoyed at the time but didn't think much of it. However it looks to me to actually be a diagonal wind brace. With it being cut like this, im certain no structural engineer would sign it off. My question is can I do a 'sistering' repair? I would use C24 graded timber, make sure it overlaps the gap by at least a metre each side and use 3.1mm x 75mm galvanised nails (2 per truss). Would this make the repair 'good'?

 

[denso13]

Yes, no problem, just span it over 3 trusses. But, those braces aren't doing anything, it's the ones to the outside, under the roofing membrane which are actually diagonal bracing timbers.

 

[alexluckham]

Yes, no problem, just span it over 3 trusses. But, those braces aren't doing anything, it's the ones to the outside, under the roofing membrane which are actually diagonal bracing timbers.

Thank you for your reply. So that brace isn't actually related to anything structural?

 

[denso13]

So that brace isn't actually related to anything structural?

No, not those internal ones.

 

[^woody^]

and it meant that the property suffered from roof spread

A trussed roof can't spread, so that would negate the landlords reasoning for a SE report.

Your installer should arrange any inspection and confirm that their proposed install will be OK on the trusses. That should be enough for the landlord

A brace is structural. It braces the trusses!

Fit some 4x1 over the existing braces, lap it halfway between the two adjacent trusses, two nails into each truss and two 6mm bolts into each lap.

Ideally, have the inverter and all controls fitted downstairs somewhere. If fitted in the roof void, ensure they are fitted in full accordance with the manufacturer's guidance - typically on a "fire proof structure", not just on a board on the trusses.

 

[stevie888]

No decent SE will query that brace.