Rafters & Roof Decks
Learn about rafters and roof decks with RenovateYourWorld.com, including information about attics, insulation, installing rafters, and more.
Install rafters alone
- the easy way
By Robert L. Williams
Anyone who has ever worked on roof framing knows that nailing up rafters is a two-man job at the very best. At worst, the task requires the services of three or four people.
Rafters
Structural members used to support the roof. Roofing is nailed directly to the top of the rafters. In log homes and timberframe buildings, rafters are often replaced by trusses due to span limitations, roof load or ascetics.
R-Value ...
Rafters
All pergolas use rafters as part of there structure however they don't have to be plain. If fact you can add a lot of style just by the way you cut your rafter ends.
Rafters
Framing Term Rafters are the wooden members that make up
the roof structure. These could be 2x6, 2x8, or even 2x10
depending on the need or the type of structure.
RAFTERS
Compare actual framing with rafter framing plan (counts and orientation)
All lumber properly graded, and sized for purpose and span. Bracing and blocking installed, as required.
Cutting and notching studs within acceptable limits.
Rafters Blocked - Short "2 by 4's" used to keep rafters from twisting, and installed at the ends and at mid-span.
Rafters Lookout - The short wood members cantilevered over a wall to support an overhanging portion of a roof.
Rafters: The supporting framing to which a roof deck is attached.
Rake: The inclined edge of a roof over a wall.
Ridge: The top edge of two intersecting sloping roof surfaces.
Fly Rafters - End rafters of the gable overhang supported by roof sheathing and lookouts.
Footing - A masonry section, usually concrete, in a rectangular form wider than the bottom of the foundation wall or pier it supports.
Fly Rafters: End rafters of the gable overhang supported by roof sheathing and lookouts.
Folded Seam: In sheet metal work, a joint between sheets of metal wherein the edges of the sheets are crimped together and folded flat.
Roof Rafters - The structural members that support the roof.
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Collar Beam - Really not a beam at all. A tie that keeps the roof from spreading. Connects similar rafters on opposite side of roof.
Trussed rafters: Wooden trusses, usually triangular in shape, spanning between the external walls at 600mm centres or thereabouts to form a roof.
Blocked Rafters - Short 2 by 4's used to keep rafters from twisting, and installed at the ends and at mid-span.
Blocked Wood - Wood blocks used as filler pieces or stabilization between framing members.
Blocking - ...
valley rafters See rafter types.
valve (soupape, f.) A device by which the flow of liquid or gas can be regulated by a moveable part which either closes, opens or obstructs the passage.
Rafters are typically combined with small horizontal beams, called joists, to create a triangular unit known as a truss, or truss rafter.
Rafters and trusses can be made to save money so you don't need to buy prefabricated roof trusses at the high cost of roofing materials.
Fly Rafters
The end rafters that form the outside edge of the roof's rake (overhang).
Header
A beam placed perpendicular to wall suds above doors, windows or other openings to carry the weight of structural loads.
The rafters of a flat roof. Lumber used to support the roof sheeting and roof loads. Generally, 2 X 10's and 2 X 12's are used.
Roof sheathing or sheeting ...
Roof rafters normally leave the centre of the roof void fairly open, whereas the standard design of roof trusses obstructs the space.
Handcrafters generally do not produce as many homes a year as milled kit companies due to the time and labor demands of the trade.
More rafters and heavier framing lumber, possible 2x6 or 2x8.
Venting along the ridge.
A hole (or series of holes) in the old roof to let damp attic air pass through to the new attic area and it's ridge vent.
DAMAGED RAFTERS-Damage to any of the parallel beams that support a roof. All damaged rafters should be
reinforced or replaced. Sometimes the rafters extend beyond the exterior walls. These rafter tails are subject to
moisture damage.
* I space rafters 16 in. on center, use 6 x 6 posts for anything more than 8 ft wide and mount 2 x 4 rafter stays on top of the rafters. You can estimate the number of rafters you need by pulling a tape measure and counting the multiples of 16.
Cover the rafters with a sealed air barrier, such as drywall or foil-faced hardboard. Caulk the barrier to the top plate of the knee wall itself.
Seal any other cracks and holes.
Short 2x6 rafters form a 5-in-12-pitch shed roof over the shed entryway. The main roof has a 12-in-12 pitch.
Photo: Geoffrey Gross
Evenly spaced 1x4s are nailed to the rafters. From inside, the roof resembles a traditional shingle roof.
The attic rafters and exterior walls of the Kuppersmith Project house were insulated using foam insulation. This turned the attic into a conditioned space that will stay within 10 degrees of the interior of the house in both winter and summer.
Blocked
(rafters)
Short "2 by 4's" used to keep rafters from twisting, and installed at the ends and at mid-span.
Blocking ...
Rafters must form the foundation for the roof
The best way to begin assembling the rafters is actually on the ground. Use the block that is provided for the peak and fasten a rafter on each side.
(4) Attach rafters to header and crossbeam with 1" screws and nails.
(5) For ease of installation and an attractive design, nail crossbraces between rafters using alternate spacing.
Rafter Rafters are the structural members that support the roof sheathing to which the outer covering of the roof (shingles, etc.) is attached.
Exposed roof rafters
Simplified decorative beams or braces under gables
One and a half stories ...
Bolted between rafters, an angled steel flitch plate can eliminate the need for rafter ties in cathedral ceilings by Michael Chandler
Timber-Frame Hybrids ...
Actual length (rafters)
Length of a rafter after half the thickness of the ridgeboard has been subtracted.
Adaptable ...
Double joists or rafters framing the opening of a stairway well, dormer opening, etc.
Glossary 2.64 is technology by Guru PHP
Architects ...
VALLEY JACKS: Rafters that run from a ridgeboard to a valley rafter.
VALLEY RAFTER: Diagonal rafter at the intersection of two intersecting sloping roofs.
VALVE: A device that regulates the flow of material in a pipe.
Determine angle of rafters by setting the scrap piece of 2x4 in a vertical position against the side of a rafter. Scribe a line on your scrap piece along the angle formed by the rafter. Cut on the angle with your miter saw. This is now a template.
Building with roof rafters from an old factory or insulating walls with old denim are less visible possibilities, and if you still want to use an old ship's bow for a front porch, anchors aweigh.
8: Domed and Organic
More Great Lists ...
Cutting Common Roof Rafters
How well did you do in high school geometry? If you did fairly well, then cutting roof rafters will be a piece of cake. All you have to keep in mind is the fact that there are primarily two cuts in rafters.
Attic Accessible space between roof rafters and ceiling joists. Attic Access A provision to gain access to an attic; could be a scuttle hole, ...
Collar Beam A horizontal beam fastened above the lower ends of rafters to add rigidity. Coping Tile or brick used to cap or cover the top of a masonry wall.
Roof Sheathing or Sheeting The wood panels or sheet material fastened to the roof rafters or trusses on which the shingle or other roof covering is laid.
Harder grades are used for joists, rafters, studs, sills, sheathing, porch columns, posts, balusters, and stair rails.
Pine, white: Softwood of light tan color used for door, sash, interior and exterior trim, siding, and panels.
The roof opening is framed with headers-framing lumber run horizontally across the opening, securely nailed to the rafters to support the structure. Headers are cut from lumber the same size as the rafters.
Top plate: A horizontal member placed on a wall and supported on studs to carry the trusses or rafters of a roof or the joists of a floor.
collar tie usually a 1 x 4 or a 1 x 6 fastened in a horizontal position to secure the upper ends of rafters together placed on every other rafter system
column a square rectangular or cylindrical support for roofs ceilings and so forth ...
Externally, the board on the ends of rafters usually carrying the guttering (rain trough).
Faux. Faux(meaning false) are the techniques used to change surfaces into appearing to be of a different material.
Feng Shui.
Collar ties - Nominal 1- or 2-inch-thick members connecting opposite roof rafters. Generally two inch members joining opposite roof rafters to strengthen the roof structure.
Commode - Toilet, water closet.
Beam and rafters; or roof trusses - once frame walls are up, complete with top, bottom, and sill plates, and then either a center beam and rafters or roof trusses are added. Setting the center beam or roof trusses require additional manpower.
One, is to place collar ties (cross members that are placed between each pair of rafters, not just every 4'). This will give you a sturdy rafter structure and provide you with a flat cathedral surface to mount ceiling fans to.
Houses built today typically utilize roof trusses, while older housing employed conventional framing, which are rafters and joists. Ceiling structures of garages are frequently modified to accommodate an access panel or disappearing stairs.
The easiest way to accurately cut the roof rafters is to lay the pattern out on a large flat surface such as garage or driveway. Measure 8 ft across and 3 feet up at the center and lay your uncut 2x6 roof rafter on this template.
Horizontal timber joists that support studs and rafters.
Plinth
A flat block on either side of a doorframe where the architrave meets the skirting. Also in masonary work - the lowest part of a wall or a column known as a plinth course.
Some of the features that identify these homes are: · Exposed rafters, beams or rafter ends in the eaves. · Corbels or triangular shaped trim pieces in the gables. · Dormers.
The rafters will have a tendency to slide down the roof slope, and it is important you prevent this by cross bracing above the highest purlins or notching the rafters over the purlins and/or the wall plate.
Thirty-one 2x6 rafters, 16 feet long
2x4 braces, 8 feet long
Thirty-two 1x4 pieces, 8 feet long (for planter boxes)
Two 2x2 pieces, 12 feet long (for planter-box frames)
4 galvanized U-brackets
1/4x3-inch galvanized lag screws with shields ...
Center the bar over the hole and between the rafters. Turn the bar and it will begin to expand and soon tighten itself between the rafters. On the end of the bar are some big spikes that will dig into the rafters.
Used as floor joists and rafters. I-joists include two key parts: flanges and webs. The flange of the I joist may be made of laminated veneer lumber or dimensional lumber, usually formed into a 1 ½" width.
The steel studs, joists and rafters fit into a top and bottom track. Steel members can be cut with a chop saw, circular saw, aviation snips or electric shears.
They also have roof trusses instead of rafters and ceiling joists. The bottom chord of a truss is buried below a deep blanket of insulation. Even on the coldest days the bottom chord is nice and warm.
The easiest and least expensive method to block this heat is to staple reinforced aluminum foil under the roof rafters and make sure that you have adequate attic ventilation.
 See also: Rafter, Roof, Home, Building, House
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