How to get all collar ties the same

birdhousebarn · Nov 5, 2021

Hello,

I am turning a storage shed into a office. For the ceiling it has collar ties going up in the rafters about 8 1/2 feet high.

They are only maybe every 4 ft. The shed is 14 x 24

I need to add more to be able to add insulation and also have more to attach a lightweight sheet product or cedar boards (undecided).....But I was thinking of the best way to add more and keep them all the same.

I tried measuring from the top of the wall to the bottom edge of the collar tie but that is difficult to get an exact measurement.

Then I thought to add a 2 x 4 underneath on the bottom of the 2 x 4 collar tie to run the length of the 28' building. That way the one side would be level with them and I can hold a level on the other side.

I have a long level and they are level from the 14' long side and they are level going the other direction but then I can't tell once I run out of the length of the level going the full 28' length of course. I hope you can understand from this. I am thinking of the best to explain it.

Would a laser level help?

I know it will be off slightly but I want to start of the best way possible by adding more collar ties and making sure everything is good before doing the hard work of the ceiling and find out things don't line up.

image attach just one i found online not actual pic of building.

Nealtw · Nov 5, 2021

Measure up from the floor on both sides at both ends.
Pull and snap a chalk line from end to end on both sides.

House Designer · Nov 5, 2021

One idea is to take a 2x4 and cut it to the exact height you want each collar tie, then set it up as a vertical "gauge block" from the floor to hold the collar tie end up to the correct height as you nail the collar tie to the rafter.
Use two 2x4s, one at each end of the collar tie.

Domo · Nov 5, 2021

That assumes the floor is perfectly level, doesn't it?

Zulu Kono · Nov 5, 2021

A laser level would work if the structure itself is level.
Another way is a simple chalk line.
You'd measure the same distance down from the ridge
on each end and snap a chalk line across the rafters.

Domo · Nov 5, 2021

They've used chalk lines since the Pyramids - easy.

Laser level would be a nice tool addition for a DIYer if you have a cat.

jim_bee · Nov 5, 2021

Neal pegged it. Easy and it keeps the ties in alignment to give you a flat surface.

gthomas785 · Nov 5, 2021

Along similar idea, pull a string along the bottom of the existing collar ties on both sides, leave the strings there while you nail up the rest.

AllanJ · Nov 5, 2021

That assumes the floor is perfectly level, doesn't it?

Also measure and verify that the bottom edges of all of the existing collar ties are level and lined up with each other (are coplanar)..

I would not be surprised if you have to pull a string touching neither the undersides of the collar ties nor the surface of the floor to use as your reference, which might be at a compromise slant from absolute level to go well with an imperfect floor surface.

birdhousebarn · Nov 12, 2021

Thanks everyone. I chose to do a combo of several of these things. I use a string line accross the ones that were already there and I used the laser level on the left and right side and measurmed from the rafter down and also the floor up which were all very close to be perfect. The shed is very well built.

How to get all collar ties the same

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