APRIL JLC 1998 FREQUENTLY ASKED Framing Questions When to Double Rafters Q.When you remove one rafter to install a skylight, do you have to double the two rafters at the sides of the opening? What about the headers? A.When you're framing a skylight that requires you to remove no more than two rafters, a common rule of thumb says to double the rafters on either side of the opening and use double headers. This is often required by building inspectors, but in fact, it's a very conservative guideline that often results in unnecessary framing. Only in rare cases are the doubled headers required. And in many cases, particularly when 2x10 or 2x12 rafters are chosen
