Rafter Construction And Roof Framing

The wall and the roof.

Rafter construction and roof framing.

While most home builders will outsource the construction of roofing trusses the rafter supports of the roof itself learning to frame a roof yourself is one of the true arts of carpentry and a basic primer is covered below. Building codes such as the icc s 2012 international building code section 2308 10 roof and ceiling framing typically specify that where rafter ties are used they are required at intervals ranging from 12 to 24 o c. The rafters are not framed into the plate but are simply nailed to it. Typical rafter spacing codes will specify a minimum spacing of 16 inches 19 2 inches or 24 inches.

If your local building authority has a rafter spacing code you may not space rafters wider than required by code. Simple roofs such as a shed or the common gable are fairly easy to construct even without plans if you understand the basics and a little geometry. This is our ultimate roof rafter guide for people designing and building an off grid cabin or tiny home. Rafter spacing rafters must be strong enough to hold the roof sheathing and the shingles.

Piece by piece rafter roof construction however is still the more common construction method for many buildings. Because the frame of the home must be able to stand up to weather and plenty of weight a lot of time and thought is put into this part of the construction process. Shed gable hip gambrel and mansard. Ben march 1 2015.

Before you cut your boards you ll need to measure the width of your building and calculate the exact length of each rafter. The roof rafters provide integral structural support to the roof. Some are cut to fit the plate whereas others in hasty construction are merely laid on top of the plate and nailed in place. Learn the 1 rafter design that will guarantee your roof that is safe and strong for years to come.

The structural relationship between the rafters and the wall is the same in all types of roofs. I have a hip roof with a 12 12 pitch on the main side of the roof while the end is an 18 12 pitch. If your project had a rafter length of 8 or less a safe and strong method is to use 2x8 framed 16 on center. As a general rule roofs that have a high human occupancy rate should be framed with rafters every 16 structures such as sheds or barns can be frames with rafters every 24 again make sure to consult local codes.

Framing a home or commercial property is a time consuming process that involves careful planning and calculation. If you re framing a gable roof on a new house or building a shed or even a doghouse with a gable roof you ll need to cut a number of roof rafters. Depending on the roof design and the roof rafter spacing. The rafters are really functional parts of both the walls and the roof.

Framing a roof is the last step in framing new construction. Discover the pros and cons to multiple roof designs. How do you figure the length and angles of the cuts on an uneven roof for the hip rafter.