Cross Bracing is this it?

ScoobieGirl

Apparently I need to cross brace my roof. Am I right in thinking that all I have to do is nail two planks of wood across the sloping wooden bits (sorry the proper name is escaping me now - I know I'll kick myself when someone reminds me) with one going from top left to bottom right and the other going from top right to bottom left if viewed from the front of the house?

tomstickland

rafters.
What you propose will stiffen the structure, yes.

mikey-mike_2

the battens make each side of the roof into a "sheet" which is pretty strong. Do you mean cross bracing between the front and back of the roof?

ScoobieGirl

Mikey-mike I'm not 100% sure I've understood you but I don't think that's what I'm planning to do!

The apex of my house runs parallel to the front (and back!) of the house - i.e. the triangles of rafters (thank you tomstrickland) are laid front to back of the house. I was planning to join them diagonally with planks that join up each of the rafters rather than reinforce the individual rafters which I think is what you were asking.

My reason for querying if this was it, is if it's that easy why did none of the previous occupants do it I suspect thier surveyors would have recommended it too I thought I might have missed something

tomstickland

Most people are lazy.

roswell

I noticed thsi has been done in my grans house, nothing excitting a nail in each rafter and the wood is about 1 inch and a half by 2 inch to be honest i dont think its going to make a major differance as stated earlier theres cross bars anyway across the roof.