Wood Roof Ridge Beam

For each application a pdf download is available.

Wood roof ridge beam.

The ridge beam is typically a larger member like a 4 x 12 and carries the gravity load of the roof joists just as the bearing wall or header does at the envelope. Raised floor homes look great and protect homeowners against risks from flooding and subsiding soils. Ridge beam sizing is based on the span of the beam between supports and the amount of roof load supported by the beam. Use the span tables below to determine allowable lengths of joists and rafters based on size and standard design loads.

The ridge beam shown below at the living room of a 1950s modern style ranch house in gainesville has cracked at mid span and is slowly heading towards failure after the crack opened further after a recent repair. Both diyers and building professionals will like these garden and outdoor living ideas and plans. Ridge beams are required by code if the roof slope is less than 3 in 12 irc section r802 3. Each rafter is in turn fastened to the top of the exterior structural walls.

Snow loads not an issue down here in atlanta. Anything 5 and above we always at least double cripple. According to the 2012 irc codes any beam joist or header shall never have a bearing of less than 1 1 2. 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.

You can also use the wood beam calculator from the american wood council website to determine maximum rafter and joist lengths. A classic example of the exposed ridge beam structure can be seen on our magnolia residence which is currently in construction. Here we have a wood framed gable roof. As we discussed in exterior house designsthere are many different house roof types.

In the 17th and 18th centuries ridge piece and ridge pole were used respectively to designate a horizontal timber or a pole at the ridge of a roof. On longer spans the beam may require much more bearing space as indicated by this table. B make a double ridge beam similar to the way i built the beam under the floor. Along the top center of the house there is a beam to which are attached the rafters.

Using diferent length boards overlapping all joints btw i m using 2 8 s for the beam 2 6 s for the rafters 16 oc. A splice two boards together w either mending plates and lotsa nails or a wood splice or. 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. What was once a pole or timber is now a milled board typically a 1 by 6 or larger for houses hence today s use of the term ridge board.