These past few weeks we have sure noticed the season changing from summer to fall. Cold nights and moderate days are in stark contrast to the 100 degree days of summer. The downside is that it means winter is coming and we’re feeling the pressure to get this roof on. Every time it rains we squirm as we see water puddling up on our nice plywood and getting everything wet.
Nevertheless, progress progresses and we are steadily getting closer to our goal of getting the house “weather proof” this year.
The first step is getting the hangers up on the ridge beam … in the right place relative to the wall, so they end up at right angles to the ridge beam. I wish my ladder was a bit taller for this.
We got help from the tractor getting the rafters up to the second floor. Deb at the bottom, raising the bucket with a rafter sitting inside – and me at the top lifting it the rest of the way. The rafters are 2X12’s 16’ for the dormers and 20’ for the main roof.
Cutting the rafters is a bit tricky. This is a “birds beak” cut that sits on the wall for the dormers. It sits pretty low on the wall so the rafter tail end up at a 2X6 dimension.
Dormer rafter.
When it comer to putting up rafters, geometry is your best friend. The dormer rafters are a 5:12 pitch so that for every 12’ horizontally, the rafters go up vertically 5’. Using a framing square you cut the various angles using the same ratios – but in inches. Same with plywood on angles – a 10:12 pitch means the same as 36” across and 30” up.
In this shot you see the dormer rafters sitting on their wall, and the main roof rafters at their 10:12 pitch, sitting on the 3’ pony walls.
There are a lot of details to finish before we can put up plywood. For example, all of the overhangs have to be built for the dormer as well as the main roof.
The dormers need to be framed, sided and Tyvek’d and it is easier to do that when we can get to them from the second floor
Debbie has been kicking butt, getting the Tyvek up – crucial to the house staying dry during the winter. With the exception of some small pieces on the dormers (yet to be completed), she finished today.
The two of you should be proud of what you have accomplished, what with all the roof framing almost done in just a short time. The house is shaping up nicely; and by the progress you’re making each week, I guess you’d be able to wrap things up this year. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteTerence Warner @ Brunwin Roofing
It seems that you’ve had some very good progress up to this point. And it seems like it took a lot of time and effort in accomplishing those things. Anyway, I hope the house is completed by now, or at least very close to being so. Thanks for sharing this with us. All the best!
ReplyDeletePleasance Faast @ Shelton Roof