FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Save up to

70% off

the cover price

In-depth articles, up-close photography, and detailed illustrations in every issue.

Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Framing

Guide Home
Chapter
  • Introduction to Framing
  • Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials
  • Framing Floors
  • Framing Walls
  • Framing Stairs
  • Framing Roofs
  • Efficient Framing Methods
  • Timber Framing
How-To

A No-Math Approach to Valley Plates

Whether you're tying in new gable dormers or adding a chimney cricket during roof framing, giving the valley jacks a place to land is an easy task with these step-by-step instructions.

By John Carroll Issue 284 – July 2019

Synopsis: In roof framing, valley plates are used most commonly when framing layover gable dormers or chimney crickets as a means of attaching the new framing to the existing sheathing and rafters, and to provide a place for the valley jacks to land, but framing the valley plate can be pretty confusing. This series of step-by-step instructions and drawings by John Carroll and Chuck Lockhart [repurposed from The Complete Visual Guide to Building a House (The Taunton Press, 2014)] gives one approach to valley-plate and valley-jack layout and installation.


Depending on where you live, and who you’re framing with, you’ll hear valley plates called a lot of different names: valley boards, blind valleys, California valleys, reverse valleys, layover valleys, false valleys, and sleepers. Valley plates are used most commonly when framing layover gable dormers or chimney crickets as a means of attaching the new framing to the existing sheathing and rafters, and to provide a place for the valley jacks to land. Compared to laying out and installing the ridge board and common rafters, framing the valley plate can be pretty confusing. It’s possible to figure the layout using geometry— the valley plate is essentially the hypotenuse of an imaginary triangle laid flat on the roof deck. But I prefer to avoid the math, instead relying on stringlines, measurements, and some creative marking in place

Lay out and install the valley plate

The valley jack rafters need to rest on a plate. The plate doesn’t need to be beveled, but because of its thickness, you need to install it inside the valley line; the object is to get the top outside edge of the plate in plane with the tops of the common rafters.

Lay out and install the valley plate

A No-Math Approach to Valley Plates From Fine Homebuilding #284

To view the entire article, please click the View PDF button below.

 

 

More about valley plates:

  • Framing a Roof Valley – Getting these rafters right is important.
  • Valley Framing: Calculating the Jack-Rafter Assignment – All about framing, valley jacks, and rafters.

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Sign Up
View PDF
Previous: Framing a Roof Valley Next: Valley Framing: Calculating the Jack-Rafter Assignment

Guide

Framing

Chapter

Framing Roofs

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Framing

Framing

Trusted, in-depth guidance from the pros for framing a durable, code-compliant house

View Project Guide

View All Project Guides »

Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Framing Project Guide.

Start Free Trial

Introduction to Framing
  • House Framing Concepts, Tips, and More
Framing Tools, Techniques, and Materials
  • Tools
  • Techniques
  • Framing Lumber
  • Steel
Framing Floors
  • Floor Framing
  • Engineered Floors
  • Floor Sheathing
Framing Walls
  • Wall Framing Basics
  • Layout
  • Wall Assembly
  • Raising and Straightening Walls
  • Framing Rough Openings
  • Blocking
Framing Stairs
  • Stair Layout
  • Building Stairs
Framing Roofs
  • Roof-Framing Basics
  • Roof Design
  • Laying Out and Cutting Rafters
  • Framing Valleys
  • Working with Trusses
  • Dormers
  • Special Situations
Efficient Framing Methods
  • Advanced Framing
  • Double-Stud Walls
Timber Framing
  • Timber-Frame Construction
  • Timber-Frame Design

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Sign Up
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Sign Up See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in