*
I am looking for construction details on a deck-style roof where t&g is laid over the rafters to become the finished ceiling inside. 2×4 sleepers are laid on top of the t&g to create a space for ridgid insulation then plywood and shingles follow. I’m specifically wondering how far apart I can go with the rafters if I use 1x t&g (My guess is 24″) and how far I can go with 2x t&g (My guess is 48″)and if the ridge would need to be engineered. This is for a 20×24 cottage in Massachusetts and I’ll probably put a 12/12 pitch on. Any suggestions or resources any one is aware of? Thanks in advance.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story

The Trim Coil Holder from InnovaTools makes it easy to swap out trim coil and features a reversible, built-in guillotine cutter.
Featured Video
SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than BeforeHighlights
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
*
Phil-
you don't mention the span of the rafters- as long as they are properly sized your assumptions are fine.
In reguard to the ridge- if you are not installing collar ties to keep the walls from spreading then yes it will have to be sized. Draw a scaled section of your porch and have a microlamm supplier size a ridge for you.
I've built about 800,000,000 porches this way and it makes a super looking retreat.
P.S. The last several I dressed the rafters with a router and it really looked great.
*Phil-you don't mention the span of the rafters- as long as they are properly sized your assumptions are fine. In reguard to the ridge- if you are not installing collar ties to keep the walls from spreading then yes it will have to be sized. Draw a scaled section of your porch and have a microlamm supplier size a rigde for you.I've built about 800,000,000 porches this way and it makes a super looking retreat. P.S. The last several I dressed the rafters with a router and it really looked great.
*Doug, when I add the two posts together, that comes up to 1,600,000,000 porches. I think you are exaggerating with the second post. Jeff
*Jeff- The second post is not an exaggeration- it is a bald faced lie.
*
I am looking for construction details on a deck-style roof where t&g is laid over the rafters to become the finished ceiling inside. 2x4 sleepers are laid on top of the t&g to create a space for ridgid insulation then plywood and shingles follow. I'm specifically wondering how far apart I can go with the rafters if I use 1x t&g (My guess is 24") and how far I can go with 2x t&g (My guess is 48")and if the ridge would need to be engineered. This is for a 20x24 cottage in Massachusetts and I'll probably put a 12/12 pitch on. Any suggestions or resources any one is aware of? Thanks in advance.