AUGUST JLC 1998
Unequally-sloped gable roofs can be difficult to
lay out, but the job is a lot easier if you have a
proven method. Complicated mathematical
calculations that use "inverse cotangents,"
"secants," and "adjacent
angles" may be accurate, but
they're not easy to teach to
novice tradespeople. As one carpenter I know put it, "I
don't want to learn any 'friggonometry' — I just want to
cut rafters that fit."
For a layout method to earn a five-star rating, it must be
accurate, fast, and easy to understand. Over the years, I've
developed a layout method that works without having to
bother with any heavy math. To use my method, you only
need to