wood Frame metal Lateral Bracing 1

[unclesyd]

On a TV show (Holmes on Holmes) they featured the remodeling and an addition to a California Home. In it they were installing a metal frame section that was to provide lateral bracing of a wood frame wall. It looked as if it replaced/took out two studs near the corner.

I have a friend that is building new homes on the water here on the Gulf Coast and he was wandering if this type lateral bracing would be applicable here.

The jest of it is that we haven't been able to find out what it's called and/or who makes it. It had metal studs with a diagonal and it looked like it just fit, like window.

Any ideas?

 

[JRESE]

Sounds like you are describing a Hardy Frame. See at hardyframe.com. Simpson Strongwalls are another possibility. Both get used quite frequently in California light wood frame construction.

 

[unclesyd]

The case is thus or somewhat similar.

We will be getting in touch with them through his people tomorrow. Hopefully he can run it by code pretty quick.

Thanks for the prompt reply.


I have an ulterior motive as he has a house with a big dock with lots of fish. His is the only place I can get to the waters edge for about 2 miles and that length is increasing daily.

 

[DonPhillips]

Getting "it by code" should be easy. I am sure there is an ICC-ES report on the product that can be given to the building official. Simpson is very good at having ES reports handy - you may even find it on their web site.

Don Phillips

http://worthingtonengineering.com

 

[FSS]

Just remember that those frames and strongwalls are not cheap.

 

[unclesyd]

Everything is going through as planned. No problem with the Hardy frame. As far as the cost goes this is replacing one that got hammered by one hurricane and took out by another. It is being built about at 5 feet higher elevation and is going to be on concrete pilings. The first floor in going to be very substantial while the second is going to be more traditional construction.
This construction is replacing a house that cost a little over million dollars in 1997.

They had the second episode (Holmes on Homes) of the house being remodeled in Calif. last Friday. They had several interesting ideas in the construction. One thing that got me was they had a tall wall as part of an entrance that used balloon framing. I tried that here when I put an addition and second story on my shop. The building inspector liked to have had a heart attack. All the older two story houses around town have balloon framing 16'-29'
I had some 20' dimension lumber from Hurricane Ivan
Thanks again for every one's comment.