Tomorrow I will be sistering an additional roof rafter (2×10) along side the existing 2×8 rafters. The ridge board is a 1×10. We are removing an existing upper level walkway with a kneewall on the back side to create a cathedral ceiling in the living room. The existing 2×8 rafter are notched and sitting on top of this kneewall at about midspan. The notches in the rafters are about 2″ deep. The span is 18′. Existing rafters are 16″ o.c. I plan on removing this kneewall one stud at a time and sistering the 2×10’s as I go. The only way I can see to get the new rafters in place without ripping off the roof or shortcutting anything is to notch out the ridge board and slide the top of the rafter into place after the bottom is seated. Is cutting through the ridge board an acceptable way to do this? Should I patch/bandaid it back together after each rafter is in place? Is there a better solution to this problem that I’m not seeing? Thanks in advance.
Jim
Replies
Sure is. Take the top plate of the knee wall out a section at a time. Notching that deep into the 2x10 will turn it into a 2x6.
Or atke a small chance and take out enough kneewall to sister two or three at a time. With no snow piled up, you'll be fine.
Excellence is its own reward!
Fine?
Is anything left to keep the walls from spreading? Maybe I have the wrong pic in my head. Wouldn't be the first time.
KK
I picture a walkway perpendicualar to the rafters and rafter ties. That the kneewalls are the railinbgs of the walkway. No way could they be keeping the walls from spreading. The rafter ties do that. There is no mention of removing them.
But maybe I've got the wrong picture, the whole house may be ready to fall down already!.
Excellence is its own reward!
Jim, go ahead and notch the ridge, from what you describe the ridge assisted in the original framing. You won't weaken anything by notching the ridge. Many a house was built without a ridge, rafters were nailed to each other and temporarily braced laterally until the roofers were nailed. If the 2x8 rafters are nailed opposite each other, notch all of them at the same time. The opposing rafters and sheathing will keep everything together. You're lucky the ridge is a 1x10 , easy notching.
Mike
whoa! I guess that I did read that wrong!
I was thinking he wanted to notch the rafter in midspan where the old one is notched to slip over the kneewall plate. Pictures are soo much clearer than words! Argh!!!
So anyway - I agree with you that if the house is properly designed in the first place, this ridge board is only a nailer/spacer and notching it will do no harm.
But that is still based on some assumptions..
Excellence is its own reward!
thanks for the replies guys.
The collar ties are being left in place. From what I'm understanding from the replies it's ok to notch the ridge board. Good, cuz anything else would be a big PIA. Actually, I measured it and it's a 1x12. I notched one out today as a test run. It went pretty well, fit was tight. Since I'm only adding these rafters to one side of the ceiling there is not a rafter exactly opposite of the 2x10's I'm adding. I'm assuming that is going to be ok. I plan on nailing through the ridge board into the new rafter and use construction adhesive and nails to attach to old rafter. Thanks again.
Jim
looking forward to tomorrow night when this is done.
Maybe I misunderstand but I had to double up rafters for an existing skylight and without the tail the sister slid right in(16"oc), with a little persuasion. Hopefully that knee wall kept the rafters straight or there will be trouble.
Scott