Strengthening Trusses

[DarrenSL]

After having the roof tiles replaced on my house the builder commented that the roof wasn't sturdy and needed diagonal braces to strengthen it. Sounded like an easy enough DIY job to me. Can anyone give me any tips how I should fit these?

Or ... do you think he was just trying to get some extra work out of me!!? (especially considering that the entire estate has the same type of roof construction and I have never seen any with a collapsed roof)

Probably worth pointing out that my roof is a single apex with two gable ends (i.e. average 70s detached property) with 'fink' type trusses.

 

[masona]

Can you do a photo?

 

[Nige F]

I`m not a chippy, but I`ve seen the diag. braces holding trusses.........they`re aprox. 5x1 inch sawn timber.and they go from the ceiling level @ one end of the row of trusses to the ridge @ the opposite end ....One each on front and back of roof..inside the roofspace...Basically they stop the row of trusses going down like dominoes .That`s the best explanation I can do. Can`t send photo, and my house is trad. roof

 

[chappers]

this pretty much shows the bracing you should have it is usually 4x1 timber. As a retro fit you may have to use much shorter timbers to get them in amongst the trusses. make sure they overlap over at least 2 trusses. www.tra.org.uk/pdf_files/pds4.pdf

 

[DarrenSL]

Excellent responses, just what I was looking for. Thanks very much!