Racks for rafters. Do-it-yourself gable roof of the house

The gable truss system is chosen by many owners of residential buildings. This is due to its high practicality and ease of creation. If you carefully study the structure of the gable roof truss system, then the process of its formation can be done by hand. The resulting design is highly reliable and durable, and also guarantees excellent protection of the building from cold and precipitation.

Main elements of the system

The design of the gable roof truss system is considered simple. It consists of a variety of elements made of wooden elements with different lengths, configurations and sections. The main nodes include:

• Mauerlat. Represented by a beam with a section in the form of a square. To create it, coniferous wood is usually used. Its dimensions vary from 10 to 15 cm. It is laid along all the load-bearing walls of the building. It is fixed to them with the help of anchors or special rods. If you make and attach it correctly, then it will evenly distribute the load from the rafter legs along all the walls of the structure.
• Rafter legs. They are created from a bar with dimensions of 15x10 or 15x5 cm in section. With their proper connection, a roof contour is formed that has the shape of a triangle. It must be strong and reliable in order to withstand heavy loads from rain and wind. Rafter legs must be fixed at a distance of about 1 m from each other.
• Sill. It is created from a square wooden beam, the cross section of which is . It is laid horizontally on a load-bearing wall inside the building. Due to it, the load coming from the roof racks is evenly distributed.
• Puff. This element is used if a hanging structure is selected. It is installed on top of the resulting triangle of rafter legs, which ensures its stability.
• Racks. To create them, a square beam is used. They are in a vertical position. They bear the load from the ridge, after which it is transferred to the load-bearing wall inside the building.
  
• Struts. The installation of these elements is necessary in order to obtain a special transmission element located between the rafter legs and various load-bearing parts. Due to their reliable connection with a tightening, the creation of a strong structure is guaranteed.
• Crate. It is assembled from bars or boards. Installed perpendicular to the legs of the rafters. It provides the transfer of gravity from the roof of the roof to the legs of the rafters. It is advisable to use edged boards to create this element. If you plan to create a coating on the roof of soft roofing materials, for example, shingles, then the crate must be continuous.
• Skate. It is represented by the topmost element of the entire roof. Due to it, its two slopes are connected. Its assembly is carried out by connecting the legs of the rafters at the top of the roof. It must be placed in a horizontal position.
• Eaves. It protrudes from each wall of the building by about 40 cm. Its installation is due to the need to protect the walls from water flows as a result of precipitation.
• Filly. Provides the ability to create a roof overhang. They are used exclusively in a situation where short rafter legs are used, so they are lengthened by fillies.

Important! The step between the legs of the rafters is chosen in accordance with the severity of the roof, since the more weighty it is, the smaller this gap should be.

Thus, the installation of a gable roof truss system is considered quite simple, so it is not difficult to make this design with your own hands.

Types of structures

The rules and features of the installation of this design depend on the selected variety.

Types of gable roof truss system:




All options have their own characteristics, so their characteristics are preliminarily evaluated. If you plan to install a gable roof truss system with your own hands, then a simple symmetrical design is chosen.

Important! The basis for obtaining the ideal result is competent calculations, and if they are incorrect, then the roof will not be reliable and durable, and it will also be dangerous to live in such a house.

How to choose the material to create the system?

When choosing a material, the following rules are taken into account:

• rafters are created exclusively from high-quality wood, on which there are no rotten areas, damage, knots or other shortcomings;
• edged boards are purchased to form the crate;
• all wood should be well treated with antiseptics and fire retardants.

Important! Knots are allowed, but their length cannot be more than 1/3 of the thickness of the timber used.

Calculation rules

To make the gable roof truss system reliable and of high quality, a lot of attention is paid to competent calculations. They should affect all elements of the future design:

• Load calculation. Any system is affected by two types of load. The constants will regularly act on the structure, and this includes the weight from the roofing roofing, battens, thermal insulation material, waterproofing, extensions and finishing materials used for the attic. Typically, this load is 40 kg / m. sq. Variable loads can have different strengths, as they include wind, snow exposure and precipitation intensity. To calculate the load, the wind load of a particular region is multiplied by a special correction factor.
• Determining the angle of inclination. A roof with two slopes can have a different angle of inclination, and it is determined by the roofing material used. If a soft roof is mounted, then a slope of 5 to 20 degrees is selected for it, or metal tiles vary from 20 to 45 degrees.
• Snow load calculation. In winter, a large amount of snow can accumulate on the roof. In order to avoid any problems with the structure, the frame must withstand these loads. The calculation requires the weight of the snow to be multiplied by the correction factor.
• Definition . The gap between these elements is usually chosen in the range from 60 to 100 cm, and the final choice depends on the roof and the weight of the roof.
• Definition . To do this, it is recommended to use the standard Pythagorean theorem.
• Determination of the section of the rafters. This parameter is influenced by several important factors: roof loads, the type of materials used, the length of the rafter legs, as well as the step between them.

Important! When calculating loads, the possibility of a storm or tornado is additionally taken into account, since if the house is located in a region where such loads can appear, then a margin of safety is made for the roof, read more:.


Types of rafters

Before direct work on creating a gable roof with your own hands, you should make a special plan, which will contain a drawing and layout of the entire structure. This takes into account which rafters will be used, since the following types can be used:

• . Suitable for small buildings. Their installation consists in fixing the legs to the bearing wall of the structure, as well as to the ridge run. A feature of the use of these elements is that a bursting force acts on the rafter legs, and puffs are used to reduce this effect. They can be made from wood or metal.
• Layered. Suitable for roofs of any shape and size. The layered design is used in conjunction with racks and lying down. The bed is laid parallel to the fixed Mauerlat, so a certain part of the load is transferred to it. This allows you to tilt the legs of the rafters, which are additionally supported by the rack, to each other.
• Combined. They are used when using unusual gable roof configurations.

After determining the main design parameters, the calculation of the required amount of material begins. Then you can proceed to the direct creation of the truss system.


Assembly of the structure

The do-it-yourself truss system of a gable roof is created only after the preliminary formation of drawings and plans. The scheme of future contraction should be clear and correctly calculated. For this, it is recommended to use special computer programs.

Important! In the presence of funds, it is allowed to contact specialized construction companies for the correct calculation.

Installation of a gable roof truss system is divided into successive stages:

• to the walls of the building. Its installation is carried out along their entire length. If the house is made of logs, then the Mauerlat acts as its upper crown. If cellular concrete or brick is chosen for the building, then it is mounted on top of the load-bearing wall along its entire length. It is required to splice the Mauerlat, for which the bars are sawn at a right angle and connected with bolts. It can be fastened with an offset to the side of the wall or in its center. Laying is carried out on a waterproofing layer, for which roofing material is usually used.
  
• Creation of roof trusses. To do this, it is allowed to install bars on the roof or form a structure on the ground, after which it rises to the roof. The second option is often chosen, since it is difficult to perform work on the roof of the house. But to raise the structure made, you will have to use special equipment. Before connecting the legs of the rafters, the correctness of their size and location is checked.
  
• . The formed pairs rise to the roof, after which they are laid on the Mauerlat. For the competent performance of the work, special cuts are made from the bottom of the legs. The process begins with the ends of the roof, located opposite to each other. To obtain a perfect result, temporary fasteners are used when installing the elements. A rope is pulled between the fixed pairs, making the installation of subsequent elements simplified. All rafter legs are mounted, and the correct step between them is checked. Next, a special skate support is installed. All additional elements used in the rafter system are fixed by cutting and brackets. It is allowed to lengthen the rafter legs if necessary.
  
• Skate installation. It is created with the help of a competent connection on top of all rafter legs. Different methods are used for its formation, and it is allowed to use a support bar for this or you can work without it. If a beam is used, then it is allowed to put a skate on it or use the cutting method.
  
• The rafter system is considered to be done, but in order for it to be strong and reliable, it is necessary to thoroughly fix all the elements, therefore, all temporary fasteners are eliminated, in place of which high-quality products are used to fix all parts of the system.
• Lathing installation. This design is intended for easy movement on the roof, and also serves as the basis for laying the roof. Its type and parameters depend on the chosen roof. A solid crate is created if a soft roof is selected. has a distance between the boards within 35 cm. For or slate, this parameter is 44 cm.
  

During the construction of private houses, the roof is most often made gable. There are reasons for this. First, it is reliable. Handles wind and snow loads well. The second - it is compatible with any roofing. The third is relatively inexpensive. The fourth is a simple design that is difficult to spoil. Fifth - it looks attractive. All this, and also the fact that a do-it-yourself gable roof is built without special knowledge, determines its popularity.

Do-it-yourself assembled gable roof ready for installation of roofing

Step-by-step installation of a gable roof

As you saw above, there are a lot of truss systems. Accordingly, when assembling each has its own characteristics, but in general the order is the same. It is necessary to say about the general step: pre-drying and processing of wood. This step is required if you bought fresh lumber, not dried.

The use of raw wood of natural moisture in the construction of the roof will lead to problems: the beams will bend, they will dry out, the geometry will change. All this will lead to the emergence of stress points and at the slightest sign of overload (a lot of snow, strong wind or rain), negative processes will begin. Their elimination is a complex and costly undertaking. Therefore, either buy dry wood (no more than 20%, ideally chamber drying 8-12%), or buy material a couple of months in advance, put it in ventilated piles. After that, treat with the necessary impregnations (from fungal attack and to reduce flammability) and only after that use it in the installation of the truss system.

Timber must be dried in ventilated stacks. To do this, they are laid in short pieces of boards. They are placed a meter from the edges and further through the meter. Spacers must be installed under the bottom

We will talk about the main stages of assembly, about how to make a gable roof with your own hands in this section.

Mauerlat

The assembly of the gable roof truss system begins with the installation of the Mauerlat. It must be set strictly horizontally, therefore, before starting installation, the horizontalness of the wall to which it is attached is carefully checked, if necessary, it is leveled with cement mortar. You can continue work after the solution gains 50% strength.

Depending on the system, this is a beam with a section of 150 * 150 mm or a board with dimensions of 50 * 150 mm. It is attached to the top row of masonry walls. If the house is wooden, its role is played by the upper crown. If the walls are made of light building blocks - foam concrete or aerated concrete and others - their rigidity is not enough to redistribute the load. In this case, a reinforced concrete belt is made over the last row of masonry, into which embedded fasteners are embedded - wire or studs. A bar or board is then mounted on them.

There are several ways to connect walls and Mauerlat:

• In the masonry (in the reinforced concrete belt) a smooth rolled wire of large diameter is fixed (two ends stick up). Holes are then made in the board in the necessary places, into which the wire is threaded. She then twists and bends.
• Studs with a diameter of at least 12 mm are immured in the wall. Under them, holes are made in the Mauerlat, a beam / board is placed) and tightened with nuts with wide washers.
• Aligning the beam or board along the outer or inner edge of the wall, take a drill with a diameter of 12 mm, make holes for the anchor bolts. They (the same diameter of 12 mm) are hammered to the very hat, then tightened with a key.

The distance between the studs (wire) should not be more than 120 cm. Cut-off waterproofing must be laid on the wall (belt) under the Mauerlat. It can be rolled roofing felt or waterproofing in two layers, it can be smeared with bituminous mastic.

Rafter installation

There are more than a dozen types of gable roof truss systems. First of all, you need to choose what yours will look like. Further, in order to make it easier to work, a template is made from thin boards for all cuts, cuts and other similar details. To do this, you may need to assemble the first form on the roof, and then make templates for the finished one.

The assembly order depends on the type of truss system. If the rafters are layered, they are installed gradually, assembling from the elements directly on the roof. In this case, it is convenient if the beams of the ceiling are laid and, if possible, the draft flooring of the attic or attic.

In systems with hanging rafters, a farm is assembled on the ground - a ready-made triangle of puffs and rafter legs with all the required struts, racks. The required number of farms is assembled at once. Then they are lifted to the roof, placed vertically there and attached to the Mauerlat.

On the one hand, this is convenient - it is easier to work on the ground, with a high assembly speed, the accuracy is high: one farm is not much different from the other, which simplifies the procedure. But it can be difficult to raise finished trusses, especially for large buildings. To make this easier, two inclined boards are installed, which at one end rest against the ground, and the other sticks out a little above the wall. Farms are brought closer to this “lift”, one by one they are installed below, ropes are tied and pulled along the boards to the roof. In the absence of a winch or crane, this is the most acceptable method.

The assembly of rafters requires certain knowledge: how and in what order to mount them, how to mark and make cuts. See the video for the assembly of one of the schemes with a headstock.

Assembly order of the truss system

Everything, the do-it-yourself gable roof is assembled and ready for installation of roofing material.

The process of installing the rafters itself raises enough questions, but there are many ways and it is impossible to tell about them all. See one of them in the video. The system is large and went up to the roof in parts, and there it was already assembled into a single structure. It is convenient for large houses.

Features of the installation of the truss system of a wooden house

The difference between wooden houses is that the log house shrinks, and this leads to a change in the geometry of the truss system. If the elements are fixed rigidly, the roof may fall apart. Therefore, the mounts are made floating. There are special sliding fasteners, which in this case attach the rafters to the upper crown and to the girders, if any (see photo).

In order for the rafter to move freely during shrinkage, its long part is fixed strictly parallel to its edge, and the support is placed strictly perpendicular. If necessary, a platform is cut out under it. Mark the mount so that the hook is in the lowest position or near it. They are mounted on special self-tapping screws that come with the kit (ordinary ones do not fit). If the installation is done on a log, so that the rafter leg does not slip along it, a semicircular hole is cut out in the lower part, on which it will rest.

Such fasteners are sold on any construction market, it is called "slippery". How to attach the slippery to the beam, see the video.

Video on assembling and installing a gable roof truss system

It is not easy to build a gable roof with your own hands: there are a lot of subtleties and nuances, there are different ways of fastening, building up. Describing them in words is a thankless task. This is the case when it is better to see. Below is a selection of videos that you might find useful.

Video report on how a gable roof is made

The story of the owner of the house about the stages of construction. There are interesting technical points that may be useful.

Two types of rafter connection: rigid and sliding

Video about the two most problematic types of connections.

How to determine the angle of the rafters

Full video report on the assembly of the truss system

This movie is just under an hour long, but the entire process is shown from start to finish with plenty of detail. The roof is placed on, but when installed on buildings of a different type (except for wooden houses), there is no difference.

The truss system is the basis of the roof, the reliability and strength of the roof, its ability to withstand precipitation and wind depends on it. The design of the truss system is determined by the shape of the roof and the features of the layout of the house, as well as the materials used. A do-it-yourself truss system is usually made of wood, but other materials, such as a metal profile, can also be used.

Types of rafters and their application

The choice of a truss system is a crucial step that requires knowledge of the design of each type of roof. Rafters can be:

1. Laminated rafters based on a ridge run and Mauerlat. They are used in the construction of a single-pitched, simple gable roof, as well as one of the elements of a hip and sloping mansard roof.
2. Sliding rafters - a type of layered rafters used for wooden buildings that give a lot of shrinkage. Their difference is the sliding fastening of the rafters to the Mauerlat, which allows you to compensate for the shrinkage of the walls without deformation of the roof.
3. Hanging rafters - a system of rafters tied with crossbars or puffs, usually used in the construction of a simple gable roof, as well as the upper rafters of a mansard roof. In the hanging rafter system, there is no ridge run, and in the upper part the symmetrical rafter legs rest directly on each other.
4. Sloping rafters, otherwise called angular or diagonal. They are used to make a three-pitched or four-pitched roof, as well as for roofs with complex geometry.

Elements of the truss system

Any rafters are designed to distribute and transfer the load of the roof to the walls of the house. The main elements on which the rafters rely are:

• Mauerlat - a beam fixed on the upper plane of the walls around the perimeter of the whole house;
• Beds - support bars laid on internal load-bearing partitions or columns;
• Beams of the ceiling of the upper floor;
• Racks and supports;
• Runs - horizontal support elements laid along the roof axis on racks.

The truss truss consists of the following elements:

• Rafter legs - boards or beams that form the contour of the roof and are laid with a certain step;
• Puffs or crossbars - horizontal elements that pull paired rafter legs together;
• Struts - supports set at an angle and supporting the rafter legs;
• Filly - boards fixed at the lower end of the rafters and forming roof overhangs;

Narozhniki - short rafters resting on diagonal rafters in a hip roof.

All these elements in private construction are usually made of wood - timber or coniferous boards, naturally dried. The tree is impregnated with an antiseptic, which allows you to extend its service life. The thickness and section of the elements is determined by calculation.

Laminated rafter technology

1. Before construction begins, it is necessary to sketch the roof and calculate its dimensions. The cross section and pitch of the rafters, as well as the need to install additional supports and struts, are also determined by calculation.
2. Support elements are laid and exposed: mauerlat, beds and floor beams, racks, ridge and intermediate runs. These operations are described in detail in articles on various types of roofs:
3. Make a rafter template. To do this, take a board with a width corresponding to the estimated length of the rafters, with the same width, but with a smaller thickness - it is lighter and easier to fit exactly in place. The board is applied to the installation site of the extreme rafter with one end to the ridge run, the other to the Mauerlat.
4. At the top of the template mark the top gash. The shape of the cut should be such that the board lies on the ridge run and at the same time fits snugly against the opposite rafter. The depth of the cut should be no more than 1/3 of the width of the board.
5. After sawing out the upper cut, the template is once again applied in place and the lower cut is marked out - it should rest on the Mauerlat, without leaving large gaps. The end of the template is filed at an angle so that the cut is in a vertical plane.

   

6. The resulting template is applied at the installation site of all rafter legs, checking whether it will be necessary to fit in place. If the template fits perfectly (which rarely happens), you can immediately make the required number of rafter legs. If adjustment of the lower notch is needed, then only the upper part of each rafter is cut out according to the templates, and the lower notch is done in place each time.
7. The rafters are placed with the established step calculation. Usually it is from 50 to 120 cm and depends on the type of roofing, namely on its severity, and on the expected snow load. The heaviest coatings are slate and ceramic tiles, but they are rarely used today. More often, the choice is made in favor of more modern, light and reliable materials: metal tiles, ondulin, soft roofing. For them, the pitch of the rafters can be chosen about 100 cm without performing complex calculations.
8. First, rafters are installed from the side of the gables. The rafter leg is supported on the ridge run and the Mauerlat and fixed on two nails 100-150 mm in each attachment point. Having installed the rafter pair, they additionally fasten it: in the upper part with the help of metal plates and self-tapping screws on one side and corners with a stiffener on the other, in the lower part - with brackets or also on the corners.

   

9. After installing the rafters from both gables of the roof, a twine is pulled between them and the rest of the rafters are aligned along it. Rafters are fastened in the same way.

   

10. Install struts, if required by the results of the calculation. The struts are made from the same material as the rafters. A board of suitable length is applied at the desired angle to the rafter and the bottom cut is marked. It is important to consider what the brace will rely on: on the floor beam or on the bed, the shape of the lower gash depends on this. After completing the lower cut, the brace is put in place and the cut line along the rafters is marked. The prepared brace is placed at a distance between the beams and rafters and secured with metal plates or corners.

Roof strut installation

Technology for the implementation of hip diagonal rafters

1. Since the rafters for the hip roof are installed diagonally, the usual methods of attaching them are not suitable. In addition, the load on diagonal rafters is much higher than on layered or hanging ones, so the material for their implementation must have a larger cross section. You can use a beam with a thickness of 100 mm or more, but practice shows that it is more convenient to make these rafters from two folded and fastened boards of standard thickness.
2. The diagonal rafters are supported by the upper end on the racks, the lower end - on the Mauerlat bars converging at right angles. They are marked in place, and their main feature is that the cuts are not made perpendicular to the plane of the board, but at an angle of 45 degrees. When making rafters from spliced ​​boards, first one side is performed with oblique cuts, then the second, in a mirror image.
3. Boards are pulled together by screws, nails or studs. The hip rafters are fixed with overlays and self-tapping screws.

A video will help you better understand the basic techniques for building a truss system with your own hands.

When doing any rafter system with your own hands, it is important to carefully secure all knots and connections and remember that the roof is the main protection of your house from bad weather. Therefore, it is important not only to make a high-quality frame, but also to choose the right one, for example, corrugated board, and lay it correctly.

You will be able to build a reliable house if you build a quality roof for it. To do this, choose a good project, calculate how many materials will be needed to build one or another part of the house. Do the fastening of the rafters of your gable roof in good faith.

Do not forget that you will need to make high-quality waterproofing throughout the house and on the roof, insulate your home. Choose the best roofing material you can afford. For each type of roof, the rafters are made in their own way.

You don't have to build as you see fit. There are certain, proven technologies for building houses. Study the instructions, buy the necessary materials and proceed on your own or with helpers to build your home.

For example, according to the norms, the truss system is considered reliable when it can withstand a pressure of 200 kg per m2. First, decide what kind of roof you will make over the house, and then study the features of installing rafters for it.

In this article

How to give strength to the truss system?

Ideally, when you built a country cottage with your own hands. You can choose the design of the house and the layout of the rooms as you like. You will personally choose and order high-quality material and take part in all stages of construction, and then the arrangement of your home. In such a house, where every corner is familiar, it will be pleasant to live.

About rafter legs

A large load falls on the rafters - the weight of the roof. They must be of high quality, reliable and well fastened.

Layered rafters include the following materials:

• lying down;
• Rafter legs;
• Racks;
• Struts.

The legs of the rafter legs are bars of medium thickness. They are installed along the slopes. It is the rafters that keep the roof from deflecting in one place or another. The weight load of the coating is distributed to other parts of the roof.

Structures are made layered when there are too large runs between vertical posts. When you are given a project, the step between the rafters will already be calculated there. The fastening of the rafters on a gable roof should be such that the roof after installation remains strong and lasts a long time. Racks are provided here, which similarly support the roof.

Types of rafters

The rafters are included in the roof frame and can be according to their specifications. sloping and hanging characteristics. Let's take a closer look at each type:

• The layered under 2 heels have supports and they are reliable. The fastening of the rafters to the Mauerlat is such that the lower end rests on the Mauerlat or on the upper crown of the log house located on the ceiling. The lower one can rest on another rafter located in the run. This beam is horizontal and lies under the ridge. In the first case, the truss system is spacer, in the second - non-spacer.
• Hanging rafters with their top rest against one another. And the bottom is located on another beam, which is called a puff. It connects the heels located below from 2 rafter legs. It turns out a triangle, which is called a truss truss. Due to the tightening, there is no strong stretching of the materials. And this means that the load on the walls will only go from top to bottom. This design of rafters is called spacer. Its advantage is that it does not create additional load on the walls of the house.

When you purchase beams for rafters, do not be too lazy to drive to the warehouse. The wood should be seasoned, not wet, even and not chipped, with no signs of mold or bugs. Buy only high-quality material, give up the bad. Then you will treat the bars with an antiseptic composition so that they do not become moldy or insects spoil them.

Fixing the roof beams

The beds serve as a support for the bars and so the run is supported. The legs of the rafter will rest against the Mauerlat with one of the ends, and with the second into the runs. They are attached to the latter.

Struts are made to make the rafter legs even more stable.

Make sure that the connections between the parts are strong and reliable. Fasten the parts to each other:

• tie-in method;
• nails;
• anchor bolts;
• Self-tapping screws are used.

Mounting methods

When you are just starting work on the construction of the roof, you need to attach the Mauerlat around the perimeter of your walls. What it is? A large beam, it is attached to the load-bearing walls of the house using anchor bolts. Mauerlat is the basis for a roof with rafters.

Before assembling the truss truss, you must carefully cut all the planks with beams and beams. They are cut at an angle.

At the top, where the base of the Mauerlat, the rafters must be fastened end-to-end using screws. Want to avoid cracks? Drill a hole slightly smaller than the screw itself.

The most popular slings made of wood. They are preferred by the vast majority of those under construction. The material is lightweight but durable. Both an experienced builder and a beginner who decides to build a house on their own will be able to work with him.

We install rafters on a gable roof on our own

Many make such a design when the rafter legs hang down. The system is good for both home and bath. Some work can be done on the ground, and then lift the bonded material to the installation site. There is relatively little lumber for such a structure, which will allow you to save.

1 triangle of rafters is required, which is made according to clear dimensions and adhering to the rules. Made rafters, which will have well-measured and fastened crossbars with puffs, are pulled onto the roof. Here they need to be placed in certain places vertically and very evenly. Attach them to the ridge with Mauerlat.

If the slopes near the roof are longer than 4.5 m, then in order for the system to be stable and more reliable, you need to install racks in a vertical position. One of their ends will support the rafter leg, 2 will rest directly on the beam located on the ceiling.

Do this and it does not matter which rafters you installed: layered or hanging. When slopes are added to a structure, it becomes stiffer. Do not forget that the rafters are most often attached to a ridge beam with a Mauerlat. A reliable gable house will come out.

How to avoid additional payments?

Entrust the creation of a project at home to a professional. He will tell you what diameter in section the beams are needed, the length of the slats and other details. After all, the specialist knows that the rafter system holds the roof. It takes the biggest load and needs correct calculations, high-quality building materials.

It’s better not to ask advice from house builders like yourself. Yes, they built their house, but how strong is it? Not known.

It is best to contact a familiar foreman and ask him for practical advice. After all, he owns the documentation. There are clear standards for the permissible load per 1 m2, which must be followed when building a house. The documentation states what kind of load is given and what material will cope with it.

Take a notebook with a pen to a meeting with the foreman and immediately write down his advice. So, you definitely won’t forget anything, you won’t mix it up. Build it the way he expertly recommends.

For gable roofs, most owners make rafters from wood. Choose the one that has matured. Now process it carefully so that the mold does not start, the bug cannot undermine.

When you assemble the structure, make sure that the angle between the rack with the struts is no more than 45 degrees. Wooden beams must be cut obliquely so that the construction truss tilts at an angle of 40 degrees.

Rafter parts can be attached to each other not only with brackets, but also with corners. Get the right size metal corners to attach the rafters to the Mauerlat. The latter in any of the parts must be strong and reliable. Parts of the system can be interconnected with nails with cutouts, corners with screws, and other devices.

When you build a roof, do not fuss. Everything must be done soundly and thoroughly. After all, even wooden frame houses cost at least 50 years, and log cabins and 100.

Your task is to adhere to technology, not to make mistakes anywhere so that the roof does not warp after a year or 5. Consult with craftsmen and experienced comrades who have already made roofs for themselves or to order, and gradually build a roof.

The rafter system is the basis of any roof. The complexity or accessibility of the roof structure depends on the type of roof chosen. Today we will talk about the simplest option - the rafter system for a gable roof. Experienced specialists tell about the structure of the roof frame, the features and functions of its elements, and how the truss system of a gable roof is made with their own hands.

Gable roof: types and benefits

Recall that a gable roof is a type of roof consisting of two planes (slopes) connected at an angle of a certain degree. It can be simple (symmetrical or asymmetric) and complex - broken.

The rationality of choosing a roof of two slopes is determined by its following advantages:

• Profitability and simplicity of erection, in comparison with other roof structures.
• Ease and availability of service at any time of the year.
• Reliability and durability against wind, snowfall, hail and other natural influences.
• The possibility of arranging the attic.
• Better hydro and thermal insulation.

The necessary theoretical minimum for the construction of the truss system

The pitched roof structure is made of metal or wooden beams. Metal is a more "problematic" material. It makes the entire roofing system heavier, cools down and heats up quickly, is more difficult to install and requires the use of professional welding equipment. Based on this, in the construction of private houses (especially with their own hands), wood is mainly used.

There are two main options for the implementation of the truss system for a gable roof - a hanging type device (each rafter leg has two points of support) and a layered method (the rafters are connected at the bottom by a puff, forming a triangular truss, a carrier beam is installed in the middle). A layered structure is necessary if there is a distance of more than 10 meters between the bearing walls. Look at the image:

What does the system of truss elements consist of? Imagine a 3D projection. The skeleton of the roof consists of a mauerlat (rafter base), rafter legs, a ridge, racks, girders, lying, puffs, struts and battens. Mauerlat, lying and puffs are the lower parts of the system on which the entire future roof is being built. First, take a look at the illustration below, and then consider each element separately:

Mauerlat - the basis of all foundations

Mauerlat is a bar made of solid wood (mainly coniferous species) with a cross section of 10-15 cm. These are the optimal dimensions for the required strength and durability of the entire roof structure. The beam is laid on the load-bearing walls of the house to redistribute the spacer load on them.
There are two ways to install the bars of the truss base - with the transfer of load to the walls and without the transfer of gravity. The choice of mounting option for the Mauerlat should depend on the severity of the roofing system, the coating, the thickness of the load-bearing walls and the perimeter of the roof.

In the latter version, the Mauerlat is placed in a pocket, closer to the inner edge of the wall, and fastened to wooden corks with staples (each cork corresponds to the size of a brick and is part of the top row of brickwork).

The bars that take the load are mounted on the load-bearing walls from above with the help of anchors. Masters advise laying a rigid frame on a concrete base in the form of a belt in the wall. High-quality waterproofing is necessarily laid under the Mauerlat.

Details can be found in the video:

Lying - Basic Load Distributor

Lezhen performs functions similar to Mauerlat, and has the same dimensions. Beams are laid on internal load-bearing walls to evenly distribute loads from vertical struts and struts.

See the illustrations for the installation master class:

Rafter legs - ribs of the roofing skeleton

Rafters can be called the main component of the roof frame. This element cannot be left unused or replaced by another part. The legs of the rafters are wooden beams, the cross-sectional size of which can vary from 5 to 15 cm. The rafters rest on the Mauerlat and are interconnected by a ridge.

The installation process of the rafters can be seen in this video:

Skate - a small nuance with great meaning

The final element of the junction of two slopes is called the roof ridge. This is a rib located vertically at the highest point of the roof. A ridge run is mounted at the junction of the rafters. After that, the roof ridge is installed on it. This element fastens the rafters, performs a ventilation function and gives the roof aesthetics.

Racks - receivers of the main loads

Racks are powerful beams that take part of the load of the truss structure. They are installed vertically, usually in the center of the truss. If the project provides for an attic, then the racks are placed on both sides, closer to the roof slopes. When the attic is divided into two rooms, the racks are placed both in the center and on the sides.

Runs - rafter support

Ridge and side runs serve as a stiffener for roof trusses. The greater the load on the system (snowy winters, heavy roofing, large roof area, etc.), the more purlins should be installed on the roof slopes.

Tightening - truss element connector

This structural detail performs the function of fixing the rafters at the base. Thus, a rafter triangle is formed - a farm. Puffs may not be installed in layered systems.

Struts - the strength of the structure

The struts serve as a support for the uprights and strengthen all structural elements. Experts recommend installing struts at an angle of 450. This increases the strength of the system and protects it from deformation under the influence of snow masses and wind.

Lathing - the basis for a roofing cake

Lathing - horizontal wooden slats with a section of 40-50 mm, located on the slopes perpendicular to the rafters. The main purpose of the crate is to fix the roofing material. The frequency and thickness of the battens depends on its type. In addition, the crate helps to move materials during the roofing and serves as an additional element of structural strength.

Overhang elements - final moments

The edge of a roofing system is called an overhang. This is a protrusion of the rafter system above the wall by about 40 cm. The overhang box consists of the following elements: filly (slats connecting with rafters), frontal and cornice boards. The purpose of the overhang is to protect the walls from getting wet during rains and melting snow.

A step-by-step guide to installing a gable roof truss system

To get started, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the illustration that we have prepared for you:

And now consider the three main stages of the process of installing a simple gable roof truss system:

Stage 1: Calculations and drafting

Work should begin with the preparation of the roof project. It will contain all sizes, shapes and types of fasteners of structural elements. To create a quality project, you need to make the following calculations:

1. Calculation of constant and variable loads on the truss system. Constant loads include the weight of the roof and finishing materials (the attic is also taken into account additionally). Variable loads are the force of wind, rain, snow, etc. The maximum load can be considered as the main load of up to 50 kg per square meter of roof, and the variable load can be up to 300 kg (taking into account possible snow blockages).
2. Accounting for seismic activity, storm winds and features of the location of the house. For example, if the house is surrounded by other buildings, then the load on the roof is significantly reduced.
3. The choice of the angle of inclination of the gable roof. When calculating the angle of inclination, the following factors are taken into account: the higher the angle, the more materials will go to the roof (and money, respectively); the slope depends on the roofing material - the softer the roof, the smaller the angle of inclination (for example, for soft tiles, an angle of 5-200 is selected, and if you use slate or ondulin, you must select a slope of 20-450).
4. Calculation of the pitch and length of the rafters. The step length between the trusses varies from 60 to 100 cm. The heavier the roofing, the more often the rafters need to be distributed. To calculate the length of the rafter, we use the Pythagorean theorem, taking the rafter leg as the hypotenuse of the triangle. The first side will be considered half the width of the house, and the second - the selected roof height. Then we add another 60-70 cm of margin to the hypotenuse we found.

When all calculations are made, you need to make a drawing of parts, connections and the entire project as a whole.

Stage 2: Acquisition and preparation of the necessary materials and tools

For work, it is necessary to purchase lumber, according to calculations, bolts, corners, anchors and other connecting parts, and prepare the appropriate tools (drills, levels, meters, jigsaw, etc.). Wood for load-bearing beams and rafters must be solid and of high quality - knots and wormholes are unacceptable.

Antiseptic, anticorrosive and fireproof wood treatment is a must at this stage. You can start working with the material one day after processing.

Stage 3: Installation of the roof truss structure

It is better to mount the roof frame in dry, non-windy weather, so as not to encounter additional difficulties during operation. At this stage, we will dwell in more detail and consider step-by-step instructions for installing the truss system.

Installing the truss system: a step by step guide

Step 1. Laying the Mauerlat and the bed. There may not be a bed if there are no more load-bearing walls inside the house. Before laying the Mauerlat on the walls, it is necessary to lay a waterproofing material, for example, roofing material. We measure the tape of the desired width, cut it off and lay the waterproofing on the edge of the wall (where the frame will be installed).

We mark the beams of the desired section and length, trim and begin to form the base frame. Mauerlat should be located on the outer edge of the wall (if a hanging structure is planned) or in a special niche on the wall in front of the threshold (if the roof system is layered). The beds under the racks are laid on the internal load-bearing partitions. The Mauerlat is attached to the wall and wooden plugs with brackets, studs and anchors.

And we invite you to familiarize yourself with the illustration that we have prepared for you:

When laying the frame along the entire length of the wall, we may encounter the need to connect the base beam. They should be performed by cutting the bars at an angle of strictly 90 degrees. Fastening is carried out with high-quality bolts.

How not to damage bricks or blocks when lifting roof boards?

Choose the edge of the wall through which it is most convenient to feed the beams for the roof frame. This edge must be protected with a wooden square. Two trimmings of a rough board about a meter long will do, which need to be knocked together at a right angle. Put the square on the outer edge of the work wall. Now you can lift the boards without fear of damaging walls or window sills with them.

Step 2 Installation of rafters. The first step is to install the extreme rafters. In order for the rafters to be held evenly, we install the racks in the center. We attach the racks to the Mauerlat using an iron corner and self-tapping screws. This temporary part is removed after the installation of all rafters. We fasten the extreme rafters with crossbars and install a ridge run. Mounting type - metal corner, self-tapping screws and studs.

The illustration shows the process of mounting the rafter legs and attaching the rafters to the run:

But how to attach the rafters to the Mauerlat:

Between the extreme farms, it is imperative to stretch the construction thread along which we will level all the slope rafters.

Now we mount all the truss elements according to a pre-marked scheme. We join the rafters over the ridge run.

For more information about the process of installing rafters, see this video:

A system of special racks will help strengthen the rafter legs. On the Mauerlat, wooden bars are fastened from boards of the same thickness as the rafters. The bars must be fixed in increments equal to the selected distance between the rafter legs according to the markup. The length of each board is approximately 40 cm. These racks will transfer the load to the power plate and load-bearing floors. The bars must be fixed to the base with steel corners. Now the rafter legs need to be installed so that one side of each is adjacent to the rack. Then, on the other side of each rafter, we fasten the same rack and grab all three parts with 12 mm studs.

After mounting all the legs of the rack, they are cut flush with the bevel of the rafters from the side of the street. From the inside, an empty corner is formed between the uprights, which must be closed with a wooden triangle (you can use trimmings from bevels).

All rafter legs should be additionally strengthened with crossbars, racks, struts and the joints should be reinforced with metal plates. The full process of strengthening the rafters can be viewed on the video:

Step 3. Waterproofing and crate. On the finished rafter ribs, you need to lay a high-quality waterproofing vapor-permeable material under the crate. The entry of the insulating sheet (sheet to sheet) is 15 cm. A counter crate of wooden battens is stuffed onto the waterproofing along the ribs of the rafters. From above, a crate of the same rails is installed perpendicular to the rafter legs.

When installing the frame, it is necessary to take into account the presence of a chimney and the obligatory ventilation of the ridge. The distance between the boards of the crate is on average 300 mm. This scheme is suitable for all types of solid roofs. When choosing a soft roofing material, the crate is made of solid sheets of moisture-resistant plywood.

The rafter system is ready. Now it's the turn of the installation of roofing material, internal insulation of the roof and the arrangement of the attic (if such is provided for by the project).

So, it's time to answer the main question of our topic: is it worth doing it all with your own hands? Do not believe anyone who tells you that it is easy and simple. But if you have golden hands and a great desire to make a high-quality roof "for yourself", then go ahead! We wish you good luck!