king post truss strengthening

[reefteef]

I've got a raised tie king post truss in my 1920s mid terrace house. The king post is cracked and split in a few places. The top of the post is not connected to the ridge board, just sort of hovering either side. The bottom of the king post is held to the tie beams by 2 nails. Should this have a bolt through it? Is the centre post actually doing anything other than tying the top of the truss together?. The ceiling joists span the full width of the roof (about 4m) they run the same way as the tie beams, and are nailed to the rafters at both sides. Should I add some flat plates to the truss to beef it up? I've searched the Internet and cant find a truss built the same as this, they all seem to have bolts through the king post, or they dont have a centre post and the tops of the truss are joined together. Any advice or information about this truss would be much appreciated. Thanks, matt.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

No expert, but it looks fine to me. The bottom seems to rest on a structural wall, but I suppose a through bolt would help. I can't see much evidence of any major cracks.

 

[reefteef]

Thanks for your reply. I have a few more pictures of the centre post cracks. Any reason I shouldn't add steel plates either side and bolt through?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Any reason I shouldn't add steel plates either side and bolt through?

None at all, but it would likely need to be 5mm plate, cut to size and ready drilled, with some threaded rods, washers and nuts.

 

[reefteef]

That's exactly what I was thinking of using, powder coated too! Thanks for your help