Ridge Runs Into A Higher Roof

Determining the height of the ridge board sets the stage for cutting the angles on the rafters and setting them at them correct height for the pitch of the roof.

Ridge runs into a higher roof.

In most cases that connection is achieved with manufactured load rated hardware. Roof ridge vents provide a costly system of ventilation that may not be suitable for the checkbooks of some homeowners. The initial cost of roof ridge vents is usually higher. Rob haddock a metal roof consultant and director of the metal roof advisory group responds.

In ridge beam roof construction the connection of the rafters to the ridge must handle the entire gravity load on the rafters. The culture of fastening through the ridge crest or through the valley of the metal roof profile seems to vary in the continental u s. From one place to the next from one contractor to the next and even from one manufacturer to the next. First we need to step off the distance to the theoretical center point where the hip meets the ridge.

In simple language the ridge of a roof is the peak where two opposing roof planes meet. To scribe the angle we placed a length of stock on top of the rafter peaks and leveled it across using a scrap block to trace the angle. This option might be the updated system which most newer homes use but if you have an older home then you might need the soffit vents too. Take the run of the main roof 9 feet and using your square and the pitch of the hip in relationship to the main roof 8 inches and 15 5 8 inches step off this distance in the conventional manner.

However the irc does allow a prescriptive wood to wood connection of the rafters to the ridge for slopes of 3 12 and greater. Getting a little more technical the national roofing contractors association defines the ridge as the highest point on a roof represented by a horizontal line where two roof areas intersect running the length of the area. The ridge board runs the length of the building and provides support for the tops of the rafters helping the whole roof structure work together as a system. Where the porch roof extended over the shed roof we installed a 2x6 ridge that ran from the top of the dropped structural ridge to the apex of the sleepers.

The ridge board and rafters are the strength of the roof. Rafters are nailed to the ridge board and run down to overhang the exterior wall.