What should I do if I found something unexpected while ripping up my carpet for LVP flooring in the upstairs bedrooms and can I remove it?
Asked by Sofia Harcourt 
3 months ago
Last Updated: August 13, 2024
Hey everyone!
I just wanted to say thank you in advance for any help you can give me!
I’m in the process of changing the floors in the upstairs bedrooms from carpet to LVP. When I was ripping up the old floor, I found something unexpected – do you have any idea what it is? And can I safely remove it?
Thanks so much!
Yes, that metal strap is used when raising the walls to prevent them from sliding off the floor and over the edge.
No, it’s actually a hurricane strap.
Incorrect.
Nope, not a hurricane strap, and definitely not secured to OSB flooring.
Began in 1981, constructing homes, what about you?
Began in 1981, how about you?
Dan is 77 years old.
You should know, .
Yep, we used those all the time to set up our walls, mostly on the second floor. They weren’t for hurricanes though. We used hurricane straps that were rated for hurricanes, wrapping the top and bottom plates tied to the joist and rafters. Ours were for tornados, to help keep the walls from sliding. Eventually, we started toe-nailing the plates down and hinging the wall up.
If you’re familiar with , you might already know that hurricane straps are attached to the foundation below the wall floor plate, not the OSB floor sheathing. This raises questions about their strength in high wind conditions. These straps were often used to temporarily anchor walls in place until the final connection was made.
Knows all about hurricane straps.
Hey Rod, you should be aware of this.
Still hasn’t addressed my question
Actually, it’s metal banding off the lumber loads that are used. They are placed under the bottom plate, bent up, and nailed down. They’re also nailed to the floor to prevent the bottom plate from kicking out when raising the wall. Another method is to nail blocks to the outside wall (joist) to keep the bottom from sliding off during raising. Sometimes it’s best to just admit when you’re wrong and take the time to learn.
Absolutely, you can remove it. Hurricane straps are not attached to OSB subfloor, and they are not black.
Ary is right. The metal banding was used to hold your lumber together. The framer used it to prevent the wall from collapsing over the edge. I always had my framers take them off.
Just toenail at a 45° angle to hold the bottom plate in place and you won’t need straps
Yes, the framers can definitely do that (those nails can cause issues with the drywall and baseboard). When there aren’t enough people to safely handle a long wall, this is the next step.
A ripping hammer makes it easy to pull them out
Yep, you got it! Just make sure your framer doesn’t leave them behind. They might not be obvious until the sheetrock starts bulging, but it’s an easy fix – just use a 2x4x12″ against your baseboard and give it a good whack. The drywall will crumble around the nail and go flush.
Cut it with a grinder at the wall plate to remove it
Thank you everyone!
My initial thought was a framing square. I couldn’t zoom in, but noticed regular marks along the length. Hurricane ties connect framing, joists, rafters, etc. It should be okay to remove this.
This is a common feature on exterior walls. Builders use it to prevent the wall from slipping off the deck during construction. Typically, these straps are removed after the walls are securely in place.