In the UK we describe a cut roof as one you build from scratch, not using preformed trusses. These tend to be the roofs I end up doing and it's funny when I've spoke to other carpenters who avoid them.
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| Getting the first four rafters up and the ridge is normally the tricky bit |
This week another carpenter and myself have put a cut roof on a rather large porch, it has quite a good pitch (40 degrees) and a wide overhang to allow for the stone work that needs to be built up under it.
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| Ceiling collars added to give the roof that triangulation it needs for strenght |
Starting a roof like this is the hard bit, working out the angles, cuts and lenghs. We used a ready reckoner on this roof (a book with tables of values for different pitches), each working it out separately and making sure we arrived at the same answer (we did!). Getting the first four rafters up with the ridge is normally tricky (you could each do with three hand to fix and hold everything). This is the point where you need to make sure all your cuts are spot on before you cut everything else.
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| Front view of the framed out roof |
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| Side view showing the gable ladder on the front to be supported by the stone work |
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| Picture showing the eaves with soffit added and fasica but barge board still to go on |
Once all the rafters were up we added the ceiling collars to strengthen it then work on cutting the rafters to the right overhang and adding a "ladder" to the front to carry the barge board past the stone work that's to go up.
Not bad for under two days work but still a bit left to finish off next week.
