Roof Structure

• Q&A: Roof Truss Spacing

  Q. We see ourselves as quality builders. We frame everything 16 inches on-center, including roof trusses. Most visitors to our job sites feel that this is overkill and that we're wasting the customer's money. Is putting trusses 16 inches on-center with 5/

   
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  A Close Look at Stucco (Subscriber content)

  Traditional three-coat, one-coat, or EIFS, stucco is only as reliable as the water-management details behind it. A second- generation stucco contractor identifies common problems and offers proven solutions.

   
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  Framing an Octagonal Roof (Subscriber content)

  A master framer safely cuts and assembles a complex bell-shaped turret roof in comfort on the ground before finishing the job with a crane.

   
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  Laying Out a Split-Pitch Hip (Subscriber content)

  A veteran carpenter lays out irregular hip rafters with framing square, tape measure, bevel gauge, and a series of triangles drawn on scrap.

   
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  By Design: Stick-Framed Look on a Truss Budget (Subscriber content)

  Getting a stick-framed look on a truss budget

   

• Letters

  Roofing felt, rotary laser follow-up, plumbing a well pump, sizing supply pipes, more

   

• Q&A: Nailing Sheathing on Valley Roof Trusses

  Q. We’re framing a gable-roofed house with roof trusses. The roof includes a bumpout with a smaller gable roof that intersects the main roof, forming two valleys. A valley set will be installed on top of the main roof sheathing. The sheathing along the valley doesn’t have blocking for continuous...

   

• Q&A: Who’s Responsible for Hidden Conditions?

  Q: When we pulled off the siding and sheathing from the gable end of an existing house in preparation for an addition, we were surprised to find that the roof has a 4x12 structural ridge beam supporting common rafters. We had assumed that the roof was fra

   
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  Q&A: Framing With L-Corners

  Q: The local framing inspector told us that our L-corners are not acceptable. He says that an L-corner is not as strong as a corner framed with two studs separated by blocking. Is he right?

   
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  Framing a Barrel-Vault Dormer (Subscriber content)

  A design-builder explains how he laid out, framed, and finished a large archtopped bumpout in a conventional gable roof.

   

• Torchdown Roofing Basics (Subscriber content)

  A metal roofing contractor explains why he uses single-ply modified bitumen for low-slope applications and how he installs it safely.

   

• Q&A: Staggered Rafters at Ridge

  Q: I am framing a gable roof with common rafters attached to a 2x12 non-structural ridge board. Must the rafters on either side of the ridge line up, or can they be staggered along the ridge board?

   
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  Q&A: Boxing in a Metal Chimney Above the Roofline

  Q: My company has been asked to enclose a triple-wall metal chimney with a rectangular chase above the roofline. The chimney vents a fireplace, and extends about 4 feet above the roof. The homeowners want to box in the chimney with framing, sheathing, sid

   
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  Framing Roofs With Steel (Subscriber content)

  A Midwest builder shares the simple connection details he uses to speed the framing of roofs with light-gauge steel.

   
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  Raising an Eyebrow Dormer (Subscriber content)

  Here’s a simple on-site method for laying out and cutting this curved roof pop-up.

   

• Q&A: Reroofing with Heavy Shingles

  Q: I intend to reroof over the original asphalt shingles on a 30-year-old house. I would like to install heavy 40-year architectural-weight asphalt shingles, without stripping the existing shingles. I am a little worried that the new shingles may add too

   

• Toolbox: Pneumatic Concrete Nailer (Subscriber content)

  Hitachi pneumatic concrete nailer

   

• Notebook

  Cordless battery update, lumber price predictions, “green” building defined, geothermal heat pump rebates curtailed, job-site theft, storm shelters in tornado alley, algae-resistant shingles, residential silos

   

• Practical Engineering: Calculating Loads on Overhanging Floors (Subscriber content)

  Calculating loads on overhanging joists

   

• Products

  Tools for cutting steel studs, specialized wire stripper, filter fabric that slows root growth, new steel shingle, safety harness for women, fabric form for concrete footings