finding those rafters... [RE-wrenches]

[Tom Simko]

IF the attic is accessible from the inside, or if it is new construction and
they call me early enough, I prefer to run 6" solid blocking between the
trusses. As long as I know how far down, or up, the roof I am going to
install the PV or thermal panels,  this gives me a lot bigger target to hit
later then a 1 1/2" truss. And again, if I have access, I through bolt
instead of lags. For the blocking I use 2 pieces of Versa Rim or better yet
MicroLam, well nailed into the trusses. As the nails securing the blocking
are in shear it is very strong. I have also fabbed steel 2" pipe welded to a
flang, bolted to solid blocking,that goes up through the roofing using a
standard roof jack. This gets me out of the attic and needs no caulk. I've
used this for large thermal panel installs, and just cap the pipe off until
needed. Of course its also a good way to get the supply and return lines in
and out. If installed during construction and never used due to a change in
plans they just look like a plumbing stack.

Tom Simko
Skyline Solar   

on 3/24/03 8:01 PM, Todd Cory, Mt. Shasta Energy Services at
toddcory at finestplanet.com wrote:

> Yes... hitting rafters ON CENTER is the predominate thing when mounting PV's
> on a
> roof. Does anyone have any special tricks in locating them other than
> meticulously
> measuring from the end of the roof? Stud finders are pretty useless on roofs.
> 
> Todd
> 
> 
> Joel Davidson wrote:
> 
>> Hi Bill,
>> I had nothing to do with any systems at PVUSA. SMUD probably decided to use
>> the
>> screws-into-plywood method because they liked it. Now that UniRac offers
>> slotted
>> rails so you can hit the rafters with sliding feet, lag bolts are a lot
>> easier
>> and stronger when they hit a nice solid rafter on center.
>> Best regards,
>> Joel Davidson
> 
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