Clark,

Unfortunately, VMI's ancient e-mail system makes it difficult for me to intrepret what you're trying to do with your problem brace.

Let me pose a few questions and see if I can understand what you want to do.

1. How is the brace in the way? Does it extend too far along the ceiling, or too far down the post?

2. What orientation to the frame is the brace? Along an exterior wall, or perpendicular to an exterior wall?

3. What is the cladding to be for the frame?

4. Are you changing the brace from the standard 45 degrees?

Let me know and I'l see if I can help.

Grigg Mullen