In one aspect, a smart corner is provided that can be prefabricated. The smart corner comprises a rear side including a first hole, a first side including a second hole, a second side including a third hole, and a top. A wall frame is also provided. The wall frame includes a top plate, a bottom plate, studs, and four smart corners. A framing system is also provided comprising at least two wall frames. The at least two wall frames connect via the smart corners.

A rafter reinforcement bracket apparatus for securing rafters to strengthen a wood frame roof includes a bendable strap configured to conform to a rafter bottom side of a pair of opposing rafters and a beam between the pair of rafters. A left and right bracket are coupled to a strap top side adjacent a strap front edge and a strap back edge, respectively. Each has a perpendicular portion extending perpendicularly from the strap and an upper portion extending perpendicularly from the perpendicular portion and lying in a plane parallel to a plane of the strap. Each of the strap, the left bracket, and the right bracket has a plurality of mounting holes extending therethrough. Each of the mounting holes is configured to receive a fastener to fix the apparatus to the pair of opposing rafters and the beam.

A girder tie for connecting a building component to a rigid rod to resist uplift forces applied to the building component comprises a connector including a building component connector and a rigid rod connector coupled to the building component connector. The rigid rod connector attaches to the rigid rod. The building component connector includes first and second back flanges free of direct connection to one another. The first and second back flanges can each be attached to the building component. A washer is disposed between the rigid rod connector and a nut on the rigid rod that secures the rigid rod to the girder tie. The washer includes at least one back flange brace to inhibit the first and second back flanges from moving relative to one another when the building component experiences the uplift forces.

A reinforced stud-framed wall, including a bottom plate; first and second vertical studs; a member supported on the bottom plate, the member having a compression strength greater than a compression strength of the bottom plate; the first vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a first contact area, whereby a load on the first contact area is spread over a first area on the bottom plate larger than the first contact area; and the second vertical stud having a bottom end supported on the member with a second contact area, whereby a load on the second contact area is spread over a second area on the bottom plate larger than the second contact area.

Modular budding units comprise, prior to installation at a construction site, a floor, a ceiling, and a plurality of walls which together define a habitable interior, wherein at least one wall is a reinforced wall capable of spanning a spanning distance of at least 50 feet without underlying support. In some embodiments, reinforced walls comprise one or more reinforcing structures. In some embodiments, the spanning distance is at least 60 feet; in some, at least 70 feet; and in some, at least 80 feet. In a further aspect, a method of building construction comprises the steps of: a) constructing a modular building unit according to the present disclosure at an assembly site; b) transporting the modular building unit to a construction site; and c) installing the modular building unit at the construction site, optionally across a unsupported span of at least 50 feet.

A building and construction method include improved workability not causing variation in quality of buildings, by easily joining materials without special processing by forming mortises. A wooden building constructed by fitting horizontal and vertical members includes lower frames, first upper frames, second upper frames, and side joists as horizontal members; and pillars as vertical members, wherein the lower, first upper and second upper frames, and side joists include mortises at part of the lower, first upper and second upper frames, and side joists in longitudinal direction, the first upper frames include an entire length recessed groove in longitudinal direction, the second upper frames include an entire length protrusion in longitudinal direction, the mortises at the lower frames and the first upper frames are through holes, and the pillars include protrusions at both ends, fitting into the mortises at the lower, first upper and second upper frames, and side joists.

The present disclosed subject matter relates to a connector for two workpieces, which are in particular made of wood. The connector comprises a first and a second fitting which may be mounted on one of the workpieces each by their one side and may be anchored to one another by their other sides, and which each have a circumferential edge between their one and other side. At least the first fitting has a projection with an undercut on its other side and the second fitting has a slot, starting from its edge and corresponding to the undercut, for anchoring the projection. At least one of the fittings has a protrusion on its other side and running transverse to the direction of the slot for resting of the edge of the other fitting when the projection is in the position anchored in the slot.

In one aspect, a smart corner is provided that can be prefabricated. The smart corner comprises a rear side including a first hole, a first side including a second hole, a second side including a third hole, and a top. A wall frame is also provided. The wall frame includes a top plate, a bottom plate, studs, and four smart corners. A framing system is also provided comprising at least two wall frames. The at least two wall frames connect via the smart corners.

Herein is disclosed a system for joining pieces of lumber, the system including a truss plate for attaching the pieces of lumber together and a mounting press for mounting the truss plate onto the lumber. The mounting press includes first and second flat plates with the first flat plate having a rod perpendicularly extending from a central portion thereof and the second plate having a centrally located rod aperture for receiving the rod. The rod is mated to a threaded collar and both are configured to press the first and second flat plates together when the collar is threaded onto the rod. The truss plate consists of a flat piece of metal having a plurality of teeth projecting from one side. An aperture is formed on the plate which is dimensioned to receive the rod.

The present disclosure provides in various embodiments a truss member connector including a first attachment section, a second attachment section, a connection section connecting the first attachment section to the second attachment section, and one or more guide pins. The present disclosure provides in various embodiments a reinforced truss and a method for reinforcing a truss member of a truss with the additional reinforcing member which includes attaching an additional reinforcing member to the truss member with a plurality of truss member connectors to enable rotation of the additional reinforcing member relative to the truss member such that the additional reinforcing member adds support and rigidity to the truss member and the entire truss.