Missing Brace on Truss
#1
11-06-14, 07:40 PM
Missing Brace on Truss
Whoever installed the HVAC system in my cut out a brace on one of the trusses so he could run duct work. Now that I am trying to sell the house the buyer wants that brace put back in the truss.
Because the HVAC guy put the duct box in the path of where the brace was supposed to go, I am not sure how to go about fixing it.
In the contract it says we it has to be professionally installed, but says nothing about needing a structural engineer. However, everyone we call wants to charge us $800 to bring in an engineer to draw up plans and to repair the truss.
It seems a little high to nail a 2x4 back into place. I can't go after hvac guy, because it happened before I bought house. The idiot installed a unit too small for the house as well, so I had to replace it anyway when the system was only a year old. Moron.
Looking at the image is the type of truss I have. The brace circled in red has been cut out.
What type of contractor should I call about getting this fixed? Will I really need a structural engineer?
Thanks.
Because the HVAC guy put the duct box in the path of where the brace was supposed to go, I am not sure how to go about fixing it.
In the contract it says we it has to be professionally installed, but says nothing about needing a structural engineer. However, everyone we call wants to charge us $800 to bring in an engineer to draw up plans and to repair the truss.
It seems a little high to nail a 2x4 back into place. I can't go after hvac guy, because it happened before I bought house. The idiot installed a unit too small for the house as well, so I had to replace it anyway when the system was only a year old. Moron.
Looking at the image is the type of truss I have. The brace circled in red has been cut out.
What type of contractor should I call about getting this fixed? Will I really need a structural engineer?
Thanks.
#2
11-06-14, 08:35 PM
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
So is the new unit still sitting in the same spot so it still needs to be left out?
No company name and or info stamped on the trusses so you could contact them for some redesign ideas?
No company name and or info stamped on the trusses so you could contact them for some redesign ideas?
#3
11-06-14, 08:49 PM
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wet side of Washington state.
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Will I really need a structural engineer?
As to who to call to actually make the repair, I don't know. I would think that anyone (including yourself) could make the repair as long as the engineer's specifications and instructions were followed.
#4
11-06-14, 09:31 PM
Group Moderator
If it's going right back in where it was... and if it was my house, I'd get a nice piece of structural grade 2x4 and some mending plates that are comparable in size to those on the opposite side (sold in the aisle with the joist hangers) and put it in myself.
If it looks like a professional did it, then it was "professionally done".
If it looks like a professional did it, then it was "professionally done".
#5
11-06-14, 10:33 PM
So is the new unit still sitting in the same spot so it still needs to be left out?
If I was to angle the brace upwards another 10-15 degrees or so it would miss the box. However, by the book it wouldn't be as structurally sound, so some sort of redesign might be needed. Of course that brace as been off for 6 years, so its not like the roof is going anywhere anyways.
Im tempted just to run the 2x4 right through the duct work. Lol. Think the buyer would complain?
