After a residential kitchen fire, we were asked to evaluate how badly each structural member was damaged, and whether the trusses could be scabbed onto to salvage them. While several could be sistered, some were too far gone to save, and needed complete replacement with trusses from a distant supplier. But the pandemic was causing a projected 12-week delay, putting the whole project on hold while the homeowner was marooned in a hotel. Was there a faster way to proceed?
We came back out and reevaluated the situation. Our team determined that the small size of the house, and the presence of an existing load-bearing masonry wall at its center, allowed us to redesign the trusses using conventional framing to duplicate their functionality. Our design called for ceiling joists and roof rafters using materials that were readily available at the local Home Depot. Thanks to our innovative solution, the project quickly got back on track.
