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I am framing a house right now and I have a need for some help with respect to the roof. I guess I have been framing too many “cookie cutter” sub-division homes and have gotten too used to truss plans and 2 foot centers. The roof that we are framing has a pitch of 8/12. The problem is the back wall of the house 50 inches lower than the front wall. I,m not quite sure how to locate where my ridge should be. Other than cutting two rafters at different lenghths and finding the intersection point is there another way? Any opinions or ideas?
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Bill,
Your problem is a very common one, and easily solved.
Just let 50" represent the difference in RISE. For an 8/12 pitch, the RUN corresponding to 50" of rise would be
12/8 X 50" = 75"
Now, ADD 75" to the SPAN that you have for the two walls and then divide by 2.
The result, is the measurement from the LOWER wall to the center of the ridge board.
If you now subtract this measurement from the SPAN, the result is the measurement from the higher wall to the center of the ridge board.
Put your mind at ease. Use the above directions to calculate the lengths of the common rafters and cut one of each. Put them up and see how they look. ( Don't forget to subtract 1/2 the thickness of the ridge board before calculating the rafter lengths.)
I think you'll enjoy the appearance.
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Joseph Fusco View Image
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Ken;
excellent answer for an easy problem, I got the same answer by dividing the difference in plate heights, 50" by the rise, 8", which equals 6.25x 12" or 75". Then moving the ridge the appropriate amount off center and calculating rafter spans from ridge to plates.
brisketbean
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Bill,
Do the plans call for an off center ridge or for a steeper pitch on the back?
Rick Tuk
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I am framing a house right now and I have a need for some help with respect to the roof. I guess I have been framing too many "cookie cutter" sub-division homes and have gotten too used to truss plans and 2 foot centers. The roof that we are framing has a pitch of 8/12. The problem is the back wall of the house 50 inches lower than the front wall. I,m not quite sure how to locate where my ridge should be. Other than cutting two rafters at different lenghths and finding the intersection point is there another way? Any opinions or ideas?