How To Cut Rafters For A Gambrel Roof

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.

How to cut rafters for a gambrel roof.

Before you cut your boards you ll need to measure the width of your building and calculate the exact length of each rafter. Turning the second floor into a truss factory. Rely on a basic gambrel formula if necessary that is all four chords are cut at 22 5 degree angles so they fit together to equal 90 degrees. When you cut the rafters you ll need to make 3 separate cuts.

Using this method it will take under an hour to cut all the 1x4 strips and gusset plates. To make sure the assembled trusses were uniform i nailed stop blocks next to the layout lines and assembled the. Step 2 make the required cuts with the mitre box. Using a pen trace the inside and outside bends of the trusses on the cardboard making what should look like a double l shape.

Place a 6 in 12 in 15 cm 30 cm rectangular piece of osb or 3 4 in 1 9 cm thick plywood under the joint of an assembled rafter. The seat cut where the rafter meets the plate is critical. Then i cut a pile of rafters. Step 3 make the center line cuts.

Then use a saw to cut the lines that you drew. You must also use glue construction adh. Make the angles for four cuts add to 90 degrees. Trace the top of the joint so the angle is at the same degrees as where the rafters connect.

How to properly cut gambrel roof angles. If the angle of the cuts on the top chord is 30 the angle on the bottom chord must be 60. These pieces are known as the gussets. The gambrel spans 10 feet.

To stop lateral motion the 2 8 rafters are notched to fit the inside of the 2 6 plates. Find three pieces of cardboard and lay them on the ground. The roof rafters provide integral structural support to the roof.