I hope I can explain this and get a little help.
2x4 trusses above the garage. One side of the gabled roof has what looks like galvanized spacers, flush with the roof sheathing, with “barbs” (to hammer into the trusses?) My questions are: Are these spacers or bracing, and do they need to be completely hammered into the truss, and why are they only on one side of the gabled roof? I know a photo would help, I’m working on it. Thanks.
Stu
sounds like a gusset plate that is used to connect the different pieces of the truss.
Greg, Maybe but how would they be “flush” with the sheeting. Hopefully a picture will be posted to solve the mystery.
Sorry couldn’t resist.
Stuart…they are TSB Braces
Made my Simpson Strong Tie…very common here.
If this is what your talking about.
I agree that they are probably spacers used during construction…beats the heck out of 2 x 4’s and faster, too.
Yes! Dale you’re the bomb. Thanksa million. Used as temporary bracing.
Tony thanks for your encouragement. I’ll spend some time learning to post pictures so that I can continue to receive quality help from the brethren.
Stu.
I believe that Dale and Larry are on the right track here, but what confuses me and that is because of no pictures is why they would have been installed on on side only. Truss speaders are popular, but are normally seen on both sides of the gable. On a typical house, you would see about three on both sides of the gable roof.
We might all be speculating here, but seems to be the right guess.
Marcel 
I think I can do pictures now.
Sorry, can’t open zip files.
Marcel
I’ll take that back, the pics ended up on my desk top, do not know how, but I now agree that these are Rafter spreaders, but still dose not explain why only on one side of the gable.
Marcel 
I’m not saying I have the photo thing down yet, but I’m trying. Thanks Marcel.
Stu
Stuart,
Here’s a tutorial that’ll walk you through the image attachment feature.
](InterNACHI® - International Association of Certified Home Inspectors)
Thanks David;
I don’t know if it was meant for me or others, but I will take it. ha. ha.
I need all the help I can get.
I am still waiting for my Grandson to be 10 years old so he can teach me. ha. ha.
Marcel
As I followed this thread, the “flush with the sheathing” statement had me envisioning simple H-clips to keep the flimsy plywood edges better aligned, and of course they must have ran out when the crew flipped over to the other side of the roof… Just goes to show … how a photo helps
Spacers put on one side to hold the trusses in place long enough
to deck the roof on one side. The other side is decked without
spacers because the crew pulls the truss in and out, according
to how each sheet of plywood breaks over the rafter.
Slap and go. The spacer is not a critical item, once the decking
is fastened in place. Spacers can be temporary items to help
hold trusses in place, until decking goes down.
That is exactly what I was leaning to in my post by not understanding the one sided spreaders.
It is of the up most importance to have the joist spreaders on both sides just for safety sake, and do not care if the roof is sheathed in one day along with the truss erection. While people are out to lunch a gust of wind might come up and blow the house down, if you know what I mean. I have seen too many wood trusses collapse in my area due to poor and inadequate erection procedures to write a book. I have provided links to try and explain what I am talking about. This is serious, and I know that in the fast lane it happens on a daily basis and the intent of the joist spreaders is not a substitution for lateral bracing, it is only a time saver for spacing. The normal lateral bracing temporarily required still needs to be executed until the roof sheathing is installed. The higher the pitch of the roof and wider the span, the more important it becomes safety wise.
http://www.sbcindustry.com/images/publication_images/b2.pdf?PHPSESSID=cvneo
http://www.sbcindustry.com/bcsi.php
http://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/safety/roofguide.html
http://www.wwta.ab.ca/Handling.html
This is what I do.
http://www.sbcindustry.com/images/longspan.pdf?PHPSESSID=59o23cki2q98dj8btvi63ma9f2
Marcel
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Marcel,
You are correct. Temp spacers are a temptation for
disaster. If done properly, the spacers are not a
critical item once the decking is fastened.
Some framers install enough bracing along the
way to still use the temp spacers along one side.
We never left the trusses over night without
extra bracing.
Similar products are made by several companies. They are referenced in this publication. It is very large, read only PDF file and is available for purchase from www.WoodTruss.com - BCSI is essentially the bible when it comes to how to brace, handle, and install wood trusses.
See Option 3 on Page 24 (Which is actually page 38 of 115 in the PDF file)