Truss Roof Repair

Prepare Work Area

• 1

  Bring a battery operated lantern or flashlight into the attic if there is no attic window. Lay scrap lumber across the rafters to provide a safe walking or flat surface for sitting on while performing the work.

• 2

  Measure the truss that requires repair. Measure the length and the width of the truss to get accurate sizing for the pieces you will need to cut. If the width is 5.5 inches, you will need 2-by-6 lumber, while if the width is 7.5 inches, you will need 2-by-8 lumber.

• 3

  Cut two 4-foot pieces of lumber from the correct size of board using a hand saw or circular saw; wear safety goggles while cutting the lumber. These are the pieces of wood you will use for your truss repair. Drill six holes into the wood that are the same diameter as your bolts. These holes should be one to two inches apart and not in a straight line, but configured in a V shape.

• 4

  Center one 4-foot piece of lumber around the area of damage. Make sure that the broken area of the truss is evenly covered by the new piece of wood. Use a clamp on each end of the piece of lumber to hold the lumber to the flat side of the broken truss. Insert the bolt into the wood, aligning the bolt with the washers and nut.

• 5

  Attach the second 4-foot piece of lumber to the other flat side of the broken truss with three bolts. Affix the nuts to the bolts. Hammer the bolts into the wood if necessary. After tightening the bolts, remove both clamps.