2 x 4 Trusses in Hurricane country [RE-wrenches]

[Jeff Clearwater]

<x-flowed>
Hi Good Colleagues,

I want to revisit a topic we've discussed quite extensively before - 
always wanting to fine tune our methods.

Using 3" lags in 2 x 4 based trusses on 4' centers has always been 
suspect to me (especially in the New England Hurricane path)  so we 
have used either blocking or a 2 x 6" sister nailed to the 2 x 4 to 
ensure good grab.  Not only are 2 x 4's often warped or punky but 
penetrating a member under tensile load more than half way with the 
lag is questionable on a structural level as well.

I'm wondering what others regularly do and how confident you are in 
your methods.  With increased hurricane likelihood, I'm still having 
my crews nail 2 x 6 sisters to the 2 x 4s - or put blocking in on new 
construction.   Do others consider this overkill? or are we in line 
with other's concerns as well.

Thanks,

Jeff C.
-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jeff Clearwater
Village Power Design Associates
Sustainable Energy & Water Solutions for Home & Village
http://www.villagepower.com
gosolar at villagepower.com

530-470-9166
877-SOLARVillage
877-765-2784
425 Nimrod St.
Nevada City, CA 95959
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`~

</x-flowed>