This is our ultimate roof rafter guide for people designing and building an off grid cabin or tiny home.
Flat roof rafter design.
The pitch and span of your roof will dictate how long of a rafter you ll need use maximum span calculator to help you find your rafter size.
If your project had a rafter length of 8 or less a safe and strong method is to use 2x8 framed 16 on center.
The image below shows a cross section of our simple 12 x 13 house from the joist span tables section of this tutorial.
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.
They are nailed securely to exterior wall plates and to each other.
Using this handy online tool you will have an easy way to determine and figure out the specific rafters needed for the unique slope and dimensions of your roof.
Here we have a wood framed gable roof.
The layout of your home or building will have a significant impact on the final design and slope of your roof.
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.
Conclusions about the roof rafter length calculator.
While this article focuses on configurations we also have a very cool set of illustrations showcasing the different parts anatomy of roof trusses.
Discover the pros and cons to multiple roof designs.
Let s consider a basic gable wood roof framing design.
Just as there are many types of roofs with many roof parts there are many different types of roof trusses this extensive article explains through a series of custom truss diagrams the different truss configurations you can use for various roofs.
The size of rafters for a flat roof depends on the horizontal span of the building the type and grade of timber used and the load on the roof.
If you want to build a flat roof then you will need to build a flat roof truss these are designed to span the space between two load bearing walls and take the weight from the roof onto these walls.
The major difference between the warm flat roof and the cold flat roof has to do with the air flow between the roofing timbers known as joists that help to hold up the roof.
There are design differences for each type.
Continuing on from part 3.
Learn the 1 rafter design that will guarantee your roof that is safe and strong for years to come.
If you look at the rafter span chart you ll notice that 2x4s can be used for rafters on spans up to 11.
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.
