As you’re building your 2026 calendar, be sure to block in time for our next wood construction course sponsored by the Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education program. Co-sponsored by the International Code Council, this spring we’re offering “Wood Design, Loads,...

When designing a truss to be used as a free-spanning structural gable or party wall application, additional dead loads may need to be considered. The MiTek engineering software does not account for self-weight of the truss or for any additional weight of sheathing or drywall being applied to one...

For the first time in U.S. model building code history, tornado design provisions for Risk Category III and IV buildings are given in the 2024 IBC. In fact, John ‘Buddy’ Showalter and Sandra Hyde have an excellent article on this, “2024 IBC Significant Structural Changes...

Joist hangers are simple to install, but ignoring details can cause issues with inspectors and lead to project delays. At our office, we often see the same mistakes repeated—simple errors that are easy to avoid with proper care and following best practices. Here are the five most common...

What is an extended top chord bearing truss? For those who don’t see these types of trusses on a daily basis, an extended top chord bearing truss is simply that which contains a top chord extension or tail supported by a bearing. This tail can then bear on a wall, beam, another truss, or...

Still defaulting to rim boards at every floor edge? In modern wood-framed construction, it’s worth taking a closer look at several detailing options including ribbon boards or top chord bearing detailing. These options can simplify construction and reduce blocking material while still...

MiTek engineers frequently receive questions on why the note “Solid blocking is required on both sides of the truss at joints…” appears on an engineering drawing and how to address it. This often arises at the high heel joints. [For all images, See PDF or View in Full...

A Repetitive Member Increase (Cr) in truss design accounts for the load-sharing and composite action that occurs when multiple members, connected by load-distributing elements, act together as a system. This is an adjustment to allowable stresses of multiple members (like trusses, joists,...

Today’s construction industry is governed by a complex network of building codes and standards. In the U.S., the development cycle for new building codes spans three years, while the creation of new standards may take even longer. As a result, adoption and acceptance of innovative,...

We often get questions about using fasteners different from those listed in a connector’s catalog load tables. A question came up recently, and I said, “I did a blog post about that not too long ago.” Turns out that blog post is over 10 years old, which no longer qualifies as...