Basic Roof Framing Instructions

The first step in conventional roof framing is to layout and cut a common rafter pattern. The rise and run of the common rafter will determine the height of the ridge board as well as the length of any hip / valley rafters that may be involved with a conventionally framed roof. Conventional framing of roofs falls under the heading of rough framing carpentry. Anyone who has ever tried framing a roof can tell you it is a fine tuned skill that can only be acquired with experience.

Many a carpenter has been frustrated by this seemingly dying art. Even though conventional framing has been around for centuries, with the advent of trussed roof systems, the demand for pro roof cutter's has decreased. The modern day truss manufacturer can build them to match nearly any conventional roof. But not always.

New Roof Building Forum

However, if you are building an addition, garage, shed, doll house, or similar structure it is often less expensive to use conventional roof framing. You should be able to avoid problems such as, delivery costs, site space restrictions, also single framing members are lighter than a whole truss.

With this in mind I have created a tutorial to assist you with calculating common rafter length .

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Anatomy of a Common Rafter

Below is an image of the common rafter as it is used in roof framing. If you familiarize yourself with the components that make up the rafter it should assist you in this roof framing task.

Roof Framing Scenario

In this rafter tutorial we will be using a hypothetical roof framing situation. We will be figuring the pitch, rafter length, lumber size, and on center spacing for the rafters. The building width is 24' with a 6/12 pitch and a 12" eave and 2 by 6 fascia.

Determine Length of Common Rafter

Determine Span : This is accomplished by measuring the overall width of the building where rafters are to sit. In our case this is 24 feet

Determine Run : Divide the span in half, in our case 24 feet divided by 2 = 12 feet run. This is the horizontal distance the rafter travels to meet the one from the other side.

Determine Lumber Size and O.C. Spacing : When determining lumber size to be used in roof framing keep in mind to use the horizontal run of the rafter not the length or span. I use the American Wood Council rafter span calculator. In our case the lumber will be 2 x 6 S-P-F #2 on 16" centers.

Find Length of Common Rafter : I use a Construction Master 5 Calculator to determine rafter length, however they cost between $50 - $100 and would not recommend them unless you make your living cutting roofs. I have discussed alternative methods. There is also an online rafter calculator.

The values needed to enter into the Construction Master Calculator are Span 24 feet Pitch 6 Inch. I always take the width of the ridge board out when figuring out my rafter length. In this case we will be using a 2x8 ridge board. When roof framing always use the next larger size lumber than rafters for the ridge board to achieve full bearing.

Here are the sequence of key strokes for the Construction Master Calculator. 24 feet minus 1 inch 1/2 divided by 2 equals 11 feet 11 inch 1/4 Run 6 inch pitch Diag 13 feet 4 inch 3/16.

The diagonal number is the measurement from the ridge board to the outside edge of the wall it will sit on. After adding the length of the tail we will need 16 foot lumber for this job. When ordering lumber do not forget the length of the eave.

Select Rafter Stock : From the lumber pile find a straight and light 16 foot 2x6. This will be used as a pattern once completed and depending on how many rafters you need to cut a lighter one will be welcomed by the end of the day. Place stock on saw horses with the crown of the lumber facing away from you.

Mark and Cut the Top Plumb Cut : To get the proper angle for this cut place a framing square on the lumber as shown in the thumbnail below. In this example I have doubled the 6" pitch and 12" run represented by the framing square. You can use 6" on tongue (skinny part) and 12" on body (fatter part) and it will still be the proper angles.

The reason I double everything on the square is to achieve longer marking areas, which comes in handy on larger rafters.

Measure Rafter Length and Mark Outside Edge of Building : Hook your tape measure on the top edge of plumb cut and mark 13' 4" 3/16 on the top edge of the rafter. Place framing square on rafter as shown below and mark plumb line that represents outside edge of building.

Lay Out and Cut the Birdsmouth : Referring to the thumbnail below, place the framing square on the lumber as shown and mark the level or seat cut of the birdsmouth. This is where the common rafter will rest on the outside wall. The length of this cut should be 4" to achieve full bearing. Slide the framing square up and down the rafter until the cut is the length desired.

Layout and Cut the Tail of Rafter : Place framing square as shown in diagram below. Since we have a 12" eave we want to mark 10" 1/2 to allow for our 1" 1/2 fascia.

Resource Material for Roof Framing

Roof Framers Bible 2nd Edition

A Roof Cutter's Secrets to Framing the Custom Home

Links to Related Carpentry Pages

Roof Framing to Homepage

Roof Styles

Gable Roofs

Types of Roof Rafters

Cutting Rafters

Basic Rafter Cuts

Gable Roof Overhang

Framing Square

Roof Pitch

Carpentry Math

Pythagorean Theorem

Roof Trusses

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