How To Frame Roof Rafters

Calculate the length of a rafter from the roof slope ratio of inches per foot and a building width measurement.

How to frame roof rafters.

Gusset to attach two rafters together. The fourth step in the how to build a shed series this tutorial teaches you the necessary steps to building roof rafters. It rests on top of your wall framing and when done properly serves to keep your shed walls in place while supporting a roof. 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.

The roof rafters provide integral structural support to the roof. 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. Rise and run means that a 6 12 pitch roof has 6 of rise vertical for each foot of run horizontal. More specifically it is a beam that goes from the peak of your roof down to the eve.

Before you cut your boards you ll need to measure the width of your building and calculate the exact length of each rafter. Includes result for hip valley factor slope factor and the roof slope in degrees. It is always better to have a large rafter rather than be concerned with a sagging roof. Structures such as sheds or barns can be frames with rafters every 24 again make sure to consult local codes.

From one end of the rafter material using a speed square or framing square mark an x in 12 angle on the rafter and cut it measure down y height from the long point of the rafter cut and make a mark. This example is for a roof with an 8 12 pitch. The rafter assembly is made by using an o s b. From cutting the rafter parts out to building a jig and assembling the rafters.

This will the first point of the rafter measurement line using the results of your rafter length calculation measure from this point along the rafter measurement. Framing a roof is the last step in framing new construction. Roof framing rafter layout. Position the square at the end of the rafter board with the tongue on your left and facing away from you.

If your project had a rafter length of 8 or less a safe and strong method is to use 2x8 framed 16 on center. Today we are tackling a big beginner lesson which is common rafter layout and cutting. A rafter is one side of the rafter assembly. If you add an eaves overhang dimension then the amount the rafter sticks passed the wall will be added to the rafter length.

Position the square with both the 8 inch on the outside edge of the tongue and the 12 inch on the blade on the upper edge of the board. Common rafters are the most common type of rafter in construction.