Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Timber Engineering knee bracing and earthquakes

Just a quick update here. I hired an engineer experienced with post and beam and straw bale. He has even built his own structures so that sealed the deal. He recommends removing all of my knee braces and will engineer in some straps for lateral bracing that will be hidden in the walls. I'm happy with the decision. Those knee braces were kind of hard to design our floor plan around - head bonkers in places etc...plus this will save lumber and labor. tx

Hi Paul,

Alarm bells are ringing in my head already !

Regards

Ken Hume P.Eng.

Hi Ken,

Tell me more!

Apparently, knee braces are no longer in the building code around here as a recommended method for lateral stability. The building code is all about sheathing and "strapping". Every engineer I have talked to has pushed me away from using knee braces.

tx

have fun at the raising......