Roof Ridge Beam Install

A new 4 4 column will support the ridge beam at the center of exterior kitchen wall.

Roof ridge beam install.

How to set the ridge board on a gable roof preparing the ridge board. A structural ridge beam is a horizontal beam placed at the peak or ridge of a roof and is designed to carry much of the live and dead loads or weight of the roof structure by itself. A ridge beam is a structural member used to support the ends of the rafters at the ridge transferring it s loads to posts or gable end walls. Framing in a ridge beam in shed roof construction is not hard.

Here s a picture of a gable style shed using a ridge beam. The difference between them is that a ridge beam is a structural member that bears half of the live and dead loads of the rafters on either side of it but a ridge board is not structural. Lift the ridge board to the roof and slide it between the rafter ends on each end from the bottom. Check the ridge board to make sure it is level and the end rafters are still plumb then add a second nail to each birdsmouth and ridge board connection.

I always always build trusses. Choose a ridge board that is one size larger than your common rafters. A 30 foot roof for instance will need at least two boards. The large beam we installed last weekend supports the end the ridge beam at the living room.

Now if you have done any looking around this site you ll quickly see that i am not a fan of using a ridge beam in shed construction. Setting the ridge board. First we fueled up with some vegan breakfast sandwiches. Its the way i was trained to build sheds.

Measure rafter spacings of 24 inches with a tape measure and plan the splice to fall between rafters. Temporarily toenail it into place on the top plate using. The ridge board is installed to provide a bearing point where the rafters meet and it also helps with alignment along the ridge. Today we will continue any miscellaneous demolition necessary to install the roof support beam.

A 16 foot board will end at a rafter with 24 inch spacing. Yes either a ridge board or a ridge beam is necessary and required by the building code where roof rafters meet at the the center of their span. Hand up the first gable end rafter. Ridge beams are required by code if the roof slope is less than 3 in 12 irc section r802 3.

Calculate where a ridge beam splice will be needed. Secure each end with one nail on each side.