The two basic ways to frame a roof are to use rafters which are hand built on site or trusses 1 which are factory made and delivered.
Frame a roof rafters.
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.
A rafter is the frame of your roof.
Rafter span tables use these tables to determine lengths sizes and spacing of rafters based on a variety of factors such as species load grade spacing and pitch.
This example is for a roof with an 8 12 pitch.
This is our ultimate roof rafter guide for people designing and building an off grid cabin or tiny home.
Rafter layout with a framing square.
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.
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.
This will the first point of the rafter measurement line.
If your project had a rafter length of 8 or less a safe and strong method is to use 2x8 framed 16 on center.
Difference between a rafter and truss.
Discover the pros and cons to multiple roof designs.
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.
What is a rafter.
Learn the 1 rafter design that will guarantee your roof that is safe and strong for years to come.
Are trusses 1 cheaper than rafters.
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.
To frame a roof start by choosing a roof style like a frame or gabled.
Visit the roof framing page for more information on cutting roof rafters and visit the roof pitch calculator for determining rafter lengths based on rise and run.
Position the square at the end of the rafter board with the tongue on your left and facing away from you.
Measure down y height from the long point of the rafter cut and make a mark.
It rests on top of your wall framing and when done properly serves to keep your shed walls in place while supporting a roof.
Our roof rafter calculator tools are handy for calculating the number of rafters needed rafter length calculator lineal feet of rafter board feed in ridge and sub facia and the total board feet in the roof.
Then gather your measurements by calculating the run rise and length of each rafter segment in feet and the pitch of your roof in inches.
Next use these calculations to determine how many rafters you ll need for your roof and cut them to size.
Roof framing rafter layout.