Originally Posted by
Lou Collier
My opinion is: if the rafters are properly attached to the ceiling joists (which serve as rafter ties), collar ties are not needed in most locations.
In my opinion, they are needed whenever conventional framing is used, versus engineered trusses.
Most installers put collar ties so high and close to the ridge that they serve no real function.
That is where they should be, the higher the better.
Their intent is to keep the ridge together, installed right up under the ridge will keep everything together better than installing them down lower.