How To Cut And Measure Rafters For Roof

Before you can mark the rafter lengths and layout check the.

How to cut and measure rafters for roof.

Use the square to place marks all the way across the board on the two points you just made. Marking out the roof rafter lengths onto the timber before cutting step 1. Creating a birdsmouth cut is the classic way to prepare a rafter for a hand cut gable or shed roof. As an example if the pitch is 7 12 coincide number seven with the inside edge of the board.

This must be from walls that are of equal heights. If they are not then click here for the unlevel wall rafter calculator. Note that rafter length is measured from the tip of a plumb cut at the top end of the rafter ridge cut to the building line shown as a dotted red line in the section elevation below. Use the number boxes to enter the value in feet inches and fraction inches and fraction.

Using the miter saw simply slide the wood through after you make your first cut. Rafter length does not include the rafter overhang. Before you cut your boards you ll need to measure the width of your building and calculate the exact length of each rafter. Once you located where the mark falls on the 2 x 10 measure the distance and be sure to add 10 for the overhang.

Because a roof requires many rafters to frame it speeds things along if you use the first rafter as a pattern or template for the other rafters. Then use a measuring tape and measure from the furthest top point of your first cut. Use it to make the proper measurements marks and cuts on each rafter. Mark the plumb cuts.

Print full scale rafter cut templates and birdsmouth templates fold template over rafter to mark or cut through. If the length of the cut is 5 3 then you ll be measuring only on one side from end to end. Angle overhang lay device on incline and hit start measuring to directly measure pitch. Refer to your plans to find the dimensions for the roof angle you are cutting.

When you cut the rafters you ll need to make 3 separate cuts. Determine the camber along the timbers length. Cut one end of each 2 x 8 rafter to get the necessary length desired. Then measure further down the board to mark the end of the horizontal seat mark.

This ensures you keep the cuts parallel. Make use of the outside numbers on the shorter side of a framing square. With the tape measure hooked onto the top end transfer your two rafter lengths onto. Measure from the eve end of the rafter to the start of the vertical birdsmouth and place a mark.

The ridge cut also called the plumb cut at the top of the rafter the birdsmouth cut which itself comprises 2 different cuts where the rafter meets the building s wall and the tail cut at the base of the rafter. Draw a line to join these number marks for creating a plumb cut. To find the location of the rear lentil for the rafters use a framing square.