A strong lasting connection is needed to properly secure structural members like trusses and rafters. For decades, hurricane ties were the prescribed method for attaching these materials to top plates. Requiring ten nails, each hammered one at a time, this method consumed time and drained productivity.
Now, there is a new option for builders and contractors: TimberLOK screws from FastenMaster.
Hurricane ties have been an effective way to make structural connections between a rafter or truss and the top plate. However, they are a time-consuming method that requires ten nails that need to be hammered into place one at a time.
To install a hurricane tie, you need to hold the metal piece in place and hammer the first nail to secure it to the truss or rafter. Once the first nail is in place, installers can secure the unit by hammering the remaining nails; five on the top and five on the bottom.
Installing hurricane ties is a secure method to make this connection but it can take as much as a minute to install a single hurricane tie. (In a demonstration, the hurricane tie required 54 seconds to install.) Over the course of building a single-family home or a major multi-family project, these minutes can add up to a lot of time and labor, especially on large projects.
Alternatively, TimberLOK screws offer a faster and easier way of securing trusses and rafters. TimberLOK’s are made of carbon steel and heat-treated to achieve the right balance between strength and ductility allowing them to withstand the lateral and uplift loads placed on a truss. Instead of needing a hurricane tie and ten nails (and a hammer, of course), installers simply need a TimberLOK screw and a drill with the appropriate bit.
To install a TimberLOK, place the point of the screw on the underside of the top plate directly underneath the truss and drive through the top plate into the truss/rafter at a 22.5‑degree angle. If the truss is directly over a stud, place the point of the screw in the seam between the stud and the top plate and drive the screw at the 22.5‑degree angle. The screw will pull the rafter or truss tight, completing the connection in seconds.
Overall, it takes about 5 seconds to install a TimberLOK fastener.
With the TimberLOK system, you can get rid of time-consuming hurricane ties. Instead, your team can simply drill TimberLOK screws into place and reduce the time, money, and effort, all while meeting code.
Contact the experts at FastenMaster today or call 800−518−3569 for more information!
