Collar ties must be spaced not more than _____ on center

Collar ties must be spaced not more than _____ on center

• A. 2 feet
• B. 3 feet
• C. 4 feet
• D. 5 feet

Answer: (C)

Collar ties keep the roof from pushing the walls outward by tying opposing rafters together high in the attic. To reliably transfer those roof forces along the length of the roof, the ties must be spaced close enough. The standard rule is not more than four feet on center, meaning the centers of adjacent ties should be at most four feet apart. This spacing ensures there’s always a tie nearby to resist the lateral thrust and keep the wall frame stable. If ties were farther apart, the roof could spread the walls before a tie engages, reducing structural safety. So, the maximum spacing is four feet on center.

Collar ties keep the roof from pushing the walls outward by tying opposing rafters together high in the attic. To reliably transfer those roof forces along the length of the roof, the ties must be spaced close enough. The standard rule is not more than four feet on center, meaning the centers of adjacent ties should be at most four feet apart. This spacing ensures there’s always a tie nearby to resist the lateral thrust and keep the wall frame stable. If ties were farther apart, the roof could spread the walls before a tie engages, reducing structural safety. So, the maximum spacing is four feet on center.