Practical Engineering: Resisting Wind Uplift

by Robert Randall, P.E. This month’s column is prompted by a reader’s question about my July ’96 column, “Framing With a Raised Rafter Plate.” This builder writes: I have built many roofs using the raised rafter plate detail (see Figure 1). You correctly note the benefits of this detail, but your recommendation for using strap connectors confuses me and I wondered if you could clarify a couple of points. You suggest that the straps improve uplift resistance. But doesn’t the weak link now become the one or two toe-nails used to hold the joists to the top plate? I imagine that lapping the plywood sheathing over the rim joist and nailing it often with 6d nails into