Structural Ridge Roof Framing

Use of structural ridge beam eliminates such costly connections.

Structural ridge roof framing.

For uniform load on a gable roof outward force is equal to one fourth 25 the total load on both slopes of entire roof times the inverted ratio of roof slope. Ridge beams are required by code if the roof slope is less than 3 in 12 irc section r802 3. Either a ridge beam which is a structural or load bearing member or a ridge board which is a non structural framing member. But when it s boiled down there are essentially two standard methods of roof construction each having some flexibility.

The engineering principles are pretty straight forward for a ridge beam. In conventional roof framing the rafters may be nailed through the ridge board into the rafter end the weakest possible connection or they may be toe nailed through the rafter sides to the ridge board or beam or steel rafter hanger connectors may be used. It is simple in design economical to construct and can be used on any type of structure. A roof slope of 4 vertical to 12 horizontal or less can easily result in excessive outward force for standard nailed connections.

One at the envelope of the structure on top of a framed wall or a header the other at the peak of the structure on top of the ridge beam. The sloped roof joists span between two pinned points. 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. It is the form most commonly used by the navy.

While truss roofs are the most popular construction style today by some estimates truss roofs outnumber stick frame roofs two to one there are regions of the country where builders still prefer stick frame roofing. A gable roof has a ridge at the center and slopes in two directions. With premanufactured trusses or with rafters and ceiling joists commonly called stick framing. The ridge beam could also be flush with the joists.

Ridge beam sizing is based on the span of the beam between supports and the amount of roof load supported by the beam. There are two common ways of framing the roof of a house. Definition of structural ridge or ridge beam used in roof framing 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.