Tension or
Compression?
To the Editor:
I have just seen Harris Hyman's
article, "Removing Collar Ties"
(4/92), for the second time. I did
not write after the first publication
because I felt sure that someone else
would express the same surprise that
I felt. Since no one has, here I am.
In conventional "stick"
construction, it is the job only of
the attic floor joists to act as ties to
prevent the spread of the sidewalls.
Clearly, if the sidewalls are firmly
tied by the joists, then any sag in
the rafters will put a collar in
compression. This is the true
function of the collars; to prevent a
swayback ridge. The "real effect" of
removing collars in a structure