Roof framing is one of those carpenter skills that appears quite complicated, and indeed, some roof designs are difficult. Roofs are basically five types: shed, gable, hip, gambrel and mansard.

In many cases with purchased house plans, the details of the roof construction, including rafter design, are included. Pre-constructed trusses have also become increasingly popular. They are constructed at a factory to match your building and delivered on site. They do, however, require extra manpower and lifting equipment to install in place. You can also build your own trusses if you have the equipment, or can rent the equipment to install them.

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. Roofs are framed in five basic designs: shed, gable, hip, gambrel and mansard. The gable is the most common, and it can be complicated with multiple roof lines, including valleys and dormers. For a shed roof you only need to know the rise, span and line length.

Span is the measurement across the building from outside supporting wall to outside supporting wall. Run is half the distance of the span. Rise is the measurement from the centerline of the span to the top of the roof line. Line length is the measurement from the outside of the supporting wall line to the centerline of the roof at the top of the rise.

The framing of a basic gable roof is based on a right-angle triangle, and the various roof framing components fit the triangle. The rise, or height of the roof at its peak, is the altitude of the triangle; the run, or half the building span, is the base of the triangle; and the line length, measurement from the roof peak to the how to build a frame gable number wall, is the hypotenuse.

How to build a frame gable number will also need to know the desired pitch of the roof. Pitch is the slope or angle from the wall plate to the roof ridge line. Pitch can vary a great deal, from a shallow slope up to a very steep pitch.

Pitch also has its own denotation, determined by the rise in inches in 12 inches. Having the correct pitch is important. In many instances, a certain pitch may be necessary or even required by local codes. Pitch is determined by snow loads, how to build a frame gable number weather factors and the covering to be applied to the roof.

For those in the northern parts of the country, an 8 in 12 pitch, or more, is commonly used how to build a frame gable number keep excessive snow loads off the roof. Those in the southern climates may utilize lower pitches. For lower pitches, a built-up or continuous roll roofing must be applied to keep the roof waterproof. Pitch is the amount of angle or slope the roof has.

A framing square is traditionally used for laying out the roof and determining pitch. Rafter Layout. After you determine the rise, span, run, line length and pitch, the next step is to lay out the rafters, or mark the cuts on a pattern rafter to create the roof. We will show two methods of laying out rafters; one how to build a frame gable number a how to build a frame gable number framing 2-foot square, and the second using the new C.

Hanson Pivot Square. The first step is to lay the square on the end of the rafter board and locate 8 inches on the tongue the riseand 12 inches on the blade the unit of run. Multiply this by the run of the building.

You should make this first pattern rafter on the straightest board you can find. If there is any curve in the board, lay out the rafter so the crown is up or facing away from you. Experience has shown that how to build a frame gable number weight of the roof will gradually flatten this crown.

If the crown were to be positioned down, the roof could eventually sag. Then lay out the rafter as shown on the next page. Rafter Layout with a Framing Square. Continue moving down the rafter and marking plumb cuts, including any odd figures. Make a duplicate rafter from the pattern.

Then lay the rafters out on a smooth, flat surface, with a 2-by between them at the ridge line. Measure to make sure the rise, run and span are correct.

You may wish to test these how to build a frame gable number the building before cutting the rest of the rafters. Make sure you carefully follow the pattern rafter. A number of years ago I was constructing a two-story building. One carpenter laid out and began to cut the rafters.

How to build a frame gable number became ill from the extreme heat of the day and another carpenter took over for the last third of the rafters.

When the roof framing was completed and decking installed, there was a built-in sag. The new C. Hanson Pivot Square makes the chore of laying out a roof quite simple. I wish I had this tool a number of years and buildings ago. Hanson Pivot Square makes it eady to lay out rafters.

The Pivot Square has three edges corresponding to the three sides of a triangle. Degrees and rise are marked on a blade attached to the pivoting arm. With the common rise figures facing you, and the raised fence on the right, the bottom represents the base of the triangle the run and the right side the altitude the rise.

The long adjustable edge represents the hypotenuse of the triangle, or the line length. Simply adjust the square to the desired pitch and lock in place with the knurled knob. You can then use the square to transfer the angle for the cut to the lumber. Or you can hold the square in place and use it as a sturdy guide for running a portable circular saw. One great feature is that the pitch is also marked on the tool in degrees of angle.

Determine the pitch, then you can set a miter saw or compound miter saw to make cuts in degrees that conform to the desired pitch. These figures are determined on the back side of the square. This tool takes a lot of the figuring and guessing out of creating hips and valleys. And, the tool is even more versatile and can be used for other cuts as well. A series of numbers run along the center of the graduated arc of the adjustable blade on both sides of the tool.

Each of these numbers represents the complement of the corresponding angle along the edge. The sum of these two figures always equal 90 degrees.

For instance, when you set the square for 20 how to build a frame gable number, the complementary angle of 70 is how to build a frame gable number aligned.

You can make the degree cut following the set angle, flip the tool over and make the complementary degree cut to create a perfect 90 degrees.

The square also comes with three leveling vials which make it easy to measure the pitch of existing structures. To measure pitch, first position the hypotenuse of the square on the roof, running straight up the pitch.

You may use a 4-foot level to set it on for more accurate measurements. The outer end, or number 9 on the hypotenuse or adjustable blade, should be at the top or upper side of the pitch.

Loosen the lock and adjust the square until the level vial on the base reads level, then lock how to build a frame gable number setting. To lay out a rafter with thePivot Square, first determine the pitch and set the square to the correct pitch on the Deg. Common Rise scale. Position the square with the base or raised edge on top of the rafter board. Mark the plumb line for the ridge line cut near the end of the rafter board.

Determine the rafter overhang, move the square to that position and make another plumb cut mark. Then use the square to draw a short plumb line parallel to the others, down from this mark to the bottom edge of the board.

Make a second plumb cut at the line length measurement on the rafter. To begin layout with the ridge board plumb cut, set the adjustable angle-blade to the desired pitch. Position the square in place and mark for the cut. You can also hold the squre in place and use it as a portable circular saw guide. Framing Issues. This requires laying out a level line on the tail of the rafter.

To do this, do not make the tail cut until this has been established. Draw the sub fascia and finish fascia how to build a frame gable number on the end of the rafter and against the plumb tail cut. Use the bottom edges of these boards to mark the level line cut. In some instances the bottom edge of the rafters are also cut with a level line. Lay these out as shown. Before beginning the framing, determine rafter location on both top plates and mark them using a framing square.

The easiest method of erecting the rafters is to make temporary braces of 2-by materials. These should be the height of the building walls, plus the rise. Use only enough supports for the first length of ridge board. Rip the ridge board to the correct width to meet the rafter widths at the ridge.

Best Wood Scrapers Meaning Pocket Hole Jig Build Your Own 2020 Turning Stock Into Gravy 80