Installing the sway brace. On a
typical roof, I’ll install three regular trusses, then
install a sway brace to rack the whole assembly plumb. (If I
wait too long, there will be too many trusses and the roof will
be hard to rack.) First I pull up the drywall backing that was
precut for the gable end wall and nail that down to the top
plate. Then I nail the 45-degree end of the sway brace on top
of the backing and rest its other end on a nail placed in the
side of the last ridge block I installed, the one between the
second and third trusses. Finally I rack the end truss plumb
and nail the sway brace to the ridge block.
At this point, I like to change gears and install the barge
rafters. After the barges are hung, I continue standing the
remaining trusses (Figure 5).
| Figure
5. With the efficiency that comes from good
preparation, an eaves block is installed (top),
then the next truss is rolled up and nailed off
(below). |
|
In a production situation, it is important to establish a
rhythm and a steady pace: Stand and align a truss, nail it to
the top 1x4, pull up and nail in the eaves block as well as the
ceiling drywall backing, pull up another 1x4 for the next set
of trusses, install an eaves vent every fourth bay. With all
the trusses raised, plumb and brace the remaining end truss and
install the barge rafters on that side.