Caribbean Disaster
Mitigation Project
Implemented by the Organization of American States
Unit of Sustainable Development and Environment
for the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Caribbean Regional Program
CONNECTIONS
TIMBER WALLS
In timber houses the rafters or trusses are connected to a wall plate which is supported by the vertical posts.
Two connections need to be considered.
1. The first is the connection between the plate and the uprights which, should be made using metal straps. The conventional solution is a mortise and tenon joint (Figure A) using glue and sometimes dowel pins. Suction forces on the roof may cause this joint to fail.
2. The second connection is that between the rafter and the plate. The standard solution is to nail or spike the rafter to the wall plate. Under high suction forces these nails or spikes may pull out. It is strongly recommended that hurricane straps (or metal connectors) be used for these connections. The connectors may either be purchased off the shelf or made up on site using 20 gauge galvanized sheet metal.