Notching Rafters For A Shed Roof

A shed roof slopes in one direction only.

Notching rafters for a shed roof.

2 4 rafters can span up to 7. Building installing roof rafters. They join at the peak of the roof by connecting to the opposing rafter or to a ridge beam that runs the length of the peak of the house or shed. The first step in building the roof rafters is to cut one rafter board to length with the ends angled.

Mark and cut the first rafter ends. Each beam is notched at the bottom called a birdsmouth so that it rests flat on top of each wall. A simple gable shed roof is often built using 2 4 or 2 6 lumber for the rafters and 2 4 for the collar ties. Trusses like rafters form the profile of the structure s roof.

Measure as precisely as possible down to the 1 4 inch 0 64 cm 1 8 inch 0 32 cm or 1 16 inch 0 16 cm. How to build shed roof rafters. Rafters are installed piece by piece during the construction of the roof. Most roof framing is 24 on center and you can still build sheds up to 14 with 2 4 rafters at 24 on center.

Spacing your 2 4 shed rafters at 24 on center limits the width of your roof. Mark and cut the seat and birdsmouth. Use a tape measure to measure the entire width of your building. How to build a shed roof step by step.

Building trusses on site is easily done for a shed. Before you start cutting you first need to determine how long your roof rafters need to be and the angles at which you ll cut the top and bottom of the rafter. It is possible to calculate a birdsmouth near the top of the rafter for a freestanding shed roof by checking the kneewall checkbox and entering a setback for the kneewall that positions the upper birdsmouth in the desired location. For heavy loads 2x4s can span up to 5.

At the top where the rafters meet they are either angled to meet at a point or attached to a horizontal ridge beam. Make a set of rafters from the first rafter. The rafters are angle cut at the ridge end and notched with a birdsmouth where it meets the top plate of the supporting wall.