rafter ties are in the lower third of the raafter near the ceiling joists.

The big difference is that rafter ties and color ties is: Are Collar Ties and Rafter Ties The Same?Ĭollar ties and rafter ties are different and serve different purposes. Collar Tie SpacingĬollar ties spacing should be no more than four feet apart or alternating every second rafter. Installing them lower causes them to strain and not properly prevent rafter and ridge separation as intended. Collar Tie PositionĬollar ties should be placed in the upper third of the rafters near the roof’s ridge. Being over-engineered is always better than the alternative when it comes to your house’s support structure. Most builders prefer to use 2×4 (nominal) lumber, giving a lot more stability and strength. The smallest collar tie can be 1×4 (nominal) lumber, which is not very thick. You need to plan for the roof’s weight and the added weight of snow if that’s a concern. The maximum size of a collar tie is not clearly defined, and the size of the collar tie overall needs to be determined by calculating the total amount of weight that the roof may have to carry.

In the following few sections, I’ll take a more in-depth look at the three main code restrictions regarding collar ties. These are the three main characteristics of collar tie design that you should pay special attention to when planning: However, collar ties have three standard building practices that affect how you install the collar ties for your home.

The 2018 International Residential Code does not require collar ties. Collar ties, contrary to popular belief, do not keep walls from spreading.Where necessary, they should be installed on every other rafter where rafter spacing is 24 inches apart. Collar ties must be at least 1 x 4 nominal lumber, with a spacing of no more than 4 feet apart.Collar ties are not required by the 2018 International Residential Code.What are Collar TiesĬollar ties are tension ties in the upper third of opposing gable rafters used to resist rafter separation from the ridge beam when the roof is under unbalanced loads, such as wind uplift or snow. When you plan to build an addition to your own home, or you want to know how your builders have to do something, you will need to see a lot more. In 24 inch rafter spacing, collar ties are on every other pair of rafters or 48 inches apart. Collar ties should be no smaller than 1×4 nominal lumber and should be near or in the upper third of the rafter span. Something that leaves many people scratching their heads is the use of collar ties and the regulations accompanying them.Ī collar tie prevents rafter framing from separating from the ridge board under unbalanced loads. When planning your home, you will have to learn to carefully consider the materials and locations of things you never knew existed.

Roof framing rafter ties