Strengthening Roof Rafters

A cantilever is any structure such as a roof or floor overhang that is braced internally.

Strengthening roof rafters.

If your roof is strong enough it can extend beyond the support walls without external bracing. If you re framing a gable roof on a new house or building a shed or even a doghouse with a gable roof you ll need to cut a number of roof rafters. If there are other rafters that need to be repaired follow the same procedure for each one of them. Drive the remaining carriage bolts into the two by six rafter and tighten them all up.

Use a circular saw to cut two sets of new rafters from the same size wood by the same dimensions. The roof rafters provide integral structural support to the roof. Measure the thickness width and length of the rafters in your home and purchase one piece of framing lumber of. If you are building trusses it is easy to make part of the roof into a cantilevered extension.

Then lower the jack down a little at a time so that the metal can take the weight of the roof. Install these over your existing horizontal 2x6s 2 feet from the roof edge inside and paralel to the roof ends crosswise from your existing 2x6. Measure the dimensions of the old rafters beneath your roofing surface. Carry the cut lumber and framing supplies into the attic.

Before you cut your boards you ll need to measure the width of your building and calculate the exact length of each rafter. How to strengthen roof rafters for snow step 1. Use your tape measure to record the distance of both rafter legs. Place a long piece of framing lumber alongside the.

Repeat the process for the joist beneath your old roof rafter. Take 2 6x4 as long as your longest stored lumber and cut 2 inch deep grooves in them as wide as your 2x6 is thick every foot or so.