Framing Shed Roof Rafters

A rafter is the frame of your roof.

Framing shed roof rafters.

Skillion shed style roof framing the skillion and shed style roofs are framed with a single slope 2 4 or 2 6 or thicker rafters spanning from the low wall to the high wall. More specifically it is a beam that goes from the peak of your roof down to the eve. Lower the first rafter truss into place at either the front or back of the shed. If you plan to have eaves to protect the shed walls make sure you add the extra length when measuring the rafters.

Fasten the truss by driving 8d finishing nails at an angle down through the board just above the birdsmouth notch and into the underlying wall plate. Use 3 nails for each side. You then have rafters running down from this ridge board and resting on the top wall plates. Install the gussets on both sides of all the rafters except for the gable end rafters.

Place a nail every three inches along the edges of the gusset. Now build the remaining roof rafters using the original rafter template and the jig on the shed floor. It rests on top of your wall framing and when done properly serves to keep your shed walls in place while supporting a 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.

Difference between a rafter and truss. Before you cut your boards you ll need to measure the width of your building and calculate the exact length of each rafter. If your project had a rafter length of 8 or less a safe and strong method is to use 2x8 framed 16 on center. Test the rafter assembly by standing it up and lining it up with the edges of the shed floor.

Sometimes the rafter will have a tail and extend out past the wall so that you have a soffit or overhang. The roof rafters provide integral structural support to the roof.