We are going to list our house in a few weeks so I need to go ahead and fix a broken rafter so it is one less thing on the home inspection report.

I assume this happened when we had our new roof put on but of course I did not notice it. My question to you guys is what is the best solution for this?

I was thinking about sistering a board up against it but as you can see in the pic some of the 2x6 splintered off. IMO I think it would be ok but would love some of you guy's opinion.

Yes, you can sister a rafter up against it. I would make it as long as possible.

If you wanted to be anal about it you could put one on each side...

If possible, sister a full length board, from top plate up to ridge beam, next to it. Toenail down into the top plate and into the ridge beam and nail to the existing rafter.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
Yes, you can sister a rafter up against it. I would make it as long as possible.

If you wanted to be anal about it you could put one on each side...

I did this with a broken, vertical, truss support. Worked fine and wasn't even mentioned by the home inspector.

Here's how we ran some sister stringers on my roof when we re-shingled. I had removed some walls in the interior and ran micro-lams for support. We had a few dips in some places. When we finally got around to re-shingeling we wanted to shore them up. Ran from the top plate to the ridge beam.

Thanks for all the replies guys, I got two boards so there are no questions about strength. I know what I am doing tomorrow or the next day

Make sure to use enough nails. In my experience most engineer's letters for this call for two nails every 4-6 inches.

Unless you have a nail gun, I'd consider screws.

I hate beating on something like that with a hammer.

quote:

Originally posted by Muddflap:
Unless you have a nail gun, I'd consider screws.

I hate beating on something like that with a hammer.

THIS! If house is old, consider pre drilling also. Use Torx screws. Everything else sucks.

I would use some construction adhesive as well.

All of the above. Double, screws, adhesive.

But then, I am pretty anal about overbuilding...

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I am going to use HeadLOK structural screws they replace 3/8" lag screws, probably overkill.

This is overkill. Bolts. 1/2” by 5-1/2” half a dozen on each side of the break.
Guaranteed never to rip, tear, or give an inch!

I don't know how construction adhesives compare to wood glue. But I've never gone wrong with Titebond III. The wood will rip apart before the glue gives way.

Bolts and screws too. Belt and suspenders. Rain coat and umbrella. EDC and BUG.

One is none.

I would sister a board on each side and use massive bolts to bolt it all together.

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
I don't know how construction adhesives compare to wood glue. But I've never gone wrong with Titebond III. The wood will rip apart before the glue gives way.

I think I'd use Titebond also but sand the old rafter surface first to get to solid wood. Pre drill the new rafter than screw them tight together.

sister boards,

nail or screw, would prefer nails

don't use decking type screws (tend to be brittle)

no need to get all crazy with the glue and bolts,

Crazy is fun. And nothing ever broke because it was over-engineered.

Keep in mind that the existing rafter is already loaded up with stress from the weight of the roof and shingles above it, and it has taken on a deflected shape.

When you add the new sister rafters to it, they will only take the burden of future loads on your roof, for example snow or wind.

For a roof rafter the dead loads are light compared to the wind and snow loads, so your repair is ok.

However, keep in mind if you were strengthening a column in your basement it might be good idea to relieve the load from above it before strengthening the column itself. Because the column would have a lot of dead load on it.

Is that vermiculite insulation? Did it come from Libby, Montana? Might want to get it tested.

We got burned when we sold our 50's era house and had to pay for remediation before we could sell.