Help with walls please

[Karla]

Greetings ~ Thank you in advanced. All advice appreciated (even "I told you so" advice if it is something we can use). We are hoping to not have to take everything apart.

Background
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My husband and son are building a 38 x 60 foot wood framed garage (my job is to run around and hand tools and bring cold drinks). The two 16 foot garage door openings are set back to back on the 60 foot side so that you can pull through them (i.e. we can pull a boat through instead of backing in). The walls are up and all of the trusses are up, and the walls are square. Sheathing is up on the walls, but the spacers between the trusses are only partly done, and none of the roof decking has been put up.

Issue
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One of the long walls (with the 16 foot opening)wants to start leaning out

Questions
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1. What caused this? (The other wall with the 16 foot opening is not having this issue)
2. Will finishing tying in the trusses fix this?
3. Otherwise, how could we fix this?
4. We do want to section off part of the garage where there is no garage door and make a room - should we put those walls in now and tie it to the trusses?

Thanks again. HH6 Karla

 

[TommyK]

The walls should have been straightened and braced prior to the trusses going up. Was this done? The bracing needs to stay in until the rest of the structure is 100% complete.

Post pics if possible.

 

[C_F]

Welcome to the forum!
I agree, bracing the walls on both inside & outside will keep them from moving. Here's a thread with some example photos...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=298920&page=19

Get a couple come-alongs & winch the wall straight again, then brace it. Make sure you aren't moving the other three walls as you winch the one wall straight. Then brace all four walls.

 

[manwithtools]

A come-along or two will allow you to pull the top of the wall back into plumb if the trusses are not all anchored to the top plate yet. The come-alongs need to anchor to the bottom of the opposing wall, not the top. Otherwise you will just bow in the opposite wall.

Where in Middle TN are you? if you are close to Nashville, I'd be happy to drive by and take a look.

 

[theoldwizard1]

... but the spacers between the trusses are only partly done, and none of the roof decking has been put up.

Issue
--------------
One of the long walls (with the 16 foot opening)wants to start leaning out

Questions
--------------
1. What caused this?

Weak/improper connection between the trusses and the walls. Use Simpson H1Z1 hurricane ties similar to these.

2. Will finishing tying in the trusses fix this?

If it is just the spacer BETWEEN the trusses, NO ! Unless the drawing calls for it, spacers are not required as the roof sheathing will hold it in place.

3. Otherwise, how could we fix this?[/quote[
Unfasten the trusses in the area that is out of plumb. Spring boards on the outside (like the pictures). More likely multiple come-a-longs and steel cables. All wall need to be plumb AND square (check Google for how to square a wall). If the walls are out of square, the sheathing will have to be removed.

4. We do want to section off part of the garage where there is no garage door and make a room - should we put those walls in now and tie it to the trusses?

Interior walls will be connected to the bottom cord of the truss, but this will not correct the problem.

 

[Farmall450]

Where in Middle TN are you? if you are close to Nashville, I'd be happy to drive by and take a look.

Hell of an offer, won't see that too many other places online.

 

[pstnbly]

Way not enough bracing on those walls, and the bracing that is there is at too steep an angle to be effective. Those walls need to be properly braced and straightened using string lines before anymore trusses are installed. Dead men and spring braces can be put on the inside of the building and adjustable wall braces can be rented. Do it now before a strong wind puts that building on the ground.

 

[manwithtools]

Way not enough bracing on those walls, and the bracing that is there is at too steep an angle to be effective. Those walls need to be properly braced and straightened using string lines before anymore trusses are installed. Dead men and spring braces can be put on the inside of the building and adjustable wall braces can be rented. Do it now before a strong wind puts that building on the ground.

You do realize that pic is not the OP's?

I'm not even sure why that picture is in this thread..... It contributes nothing....other than confusion.

How do I know that, the OP said "and all of the trusses are up". That picture is so misleading.

 

[manwithtools]

All wall need to be plumb AND square (check Google for how to square a wall). If the walls are out of square, the sheathing will have to be removed.

Seems they have already squared the walls "The walls are up and all of the trusses are up, and the walls are square"

 

[pstnbly]

Actually, no I did not. I scrolled down to the pic and was shocked at the level of bracing on that building. As a builder for 40 yrs I've seen more than my share of grossly under braced construction projects.

 

[C_F]

You do realize that pic is not the OP's?

I'm not even sure why that picture is in this thread..... It contributes nothing....other than confusion.

How do I know that, the OP said "and all of the trusses are up". That picture is so misleading.

Sorry, I thought I'd show an example of bracing. Offending pic has been removed.

 

[Karla]

Thank you! Yes, were braced, but we took out a few to maneuver around. As we've been tightening things down, walls seem to be coming back into alignment.

 

[Karla]

Sorry, fat fingered and posted before I actually finished... It looks like we're gonna be OK. Thanks you all.

1. We started out with a lot more bracing, but had taken some off so we could maneuver - they've been replaced. We've put up even more bracing and braced across the garage door openings. That seems to have help. PSTNBLY, I suspect we were at least slightly under braced, but hopefully not grossly.

2. We are using the same brackets that OldWizard1 showed in his post - we had nailed them to the top of the wall, but not to the trusses - thinking we might need to adjust the trusses. As we double checked each truss measurement and nailed them in place, the walls magically came back into alignment So, yes, not letting your wall slide around under the trusses is probably a good idea!

3. We did use a strap and a tractor to put tension on the strap to hold the wall - thanks for the suggestion.

4. ManWithTools - We're an hour south on the 24 - thanks for your offer, but I think we're under control now.

5. We've checked square and plum about a million times. Mostly because, while I am not actually doing real work on the project, I do a lot of nagging. But at least I bring gatorade and coca-cola to the guys who are doing the sweating. And I learned how to load a nail gun. So I'm not totally useless. And I was smart enough to find you all.

Anyway, much thanks for all of your posts!

 

[rburke65]

Karla...welcome to The Garage Journal. And you are correct...you were smart enough to find US on TGJ and don't cut yourself short. You bringing the drinks, nagging, loading the nail gun...all that helps believe me. There have been many times I wished I had a Karla around for just those things. If ya need something else, just yell.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Karla, there is lots of knowledge on this site, so ask away.

 

[Roberts210]

Here's my house being built:
Once the walls were vertical and checked for plumb, braces immediately went up.

Then the trusses were then nailed down on completely vertical walls.

If this was not done on your build you'll have to pull the fasteners that are holding the trusses to the out-of-plumb walls, re-plumb the walls, BRACE THEM, and then re-nail the trusses in place.

 

[Karla]

You folks are awesome. I think part of the problem was that the long walls are 60 foot with a 16 foot open area for the garage door - and we did not brace sufficiently. We have become fans of "over brace!" We are plumb, level, and square again. And trusses all trussed up. Putting in the cross bracing in the trusses now. Amazing how much tighter everything gets as we progress to the next stage. Again, appreciate the "real time" assistance that turned a discouraging day into a very productive day yesterday.