How do you calculate rafter length?
A rafter is a structural component that is used as part of a roof construction. Typically, it runs from the ridge or hip of the roof to the wall plate of the external wall. Rafters are generally laid in series, side by side, providing a base to support roof decks, roof coverings and so on.
Just multiply the rise or run by the appropriate rafter length factor corresponding to your roof pitch. For example, if your roof pitch is 30ﹾ and your run is 2.4m then reading from the table the rafter length factor is 1.15. Multiply this factor by your run which gives your rafter length.
If you are calculating rafter length from the center of the ridge beam (as shown below), you will need to subtract half of the thickness of the ridge beam from the top end of the rafter. For example, if the ridge beam is 1.5 inches thick, subtract 3/4 of an inch from the overall rafter length.
A 2×8 up to 12 feet; 2×10 to 15 feet and 2×12 to 18 feet. The larger the deck, the larger the joists. Furthermore, how far can a 8×12 beam span?
EXAMPLE: Using the 7 Inch Rise table (and our 15′ run), the common rafter length is 17′ 43⁄8″. This is the rafter length from the top cut to the seat plumb mark.
The length of the rafter is given from the long point of the ridge cut at the top down along the top edge the board to the same plumb cut on the rafter’s notch. The next result is the run. This is the horizontal measurement from the outside of the wall to the inside of the ridge.
The ridge end of the rafter, and often the eve end, will need to be cut to the angle of the roof slope. The roof on this shed is a 4 in 12 slope which makes it a 18 and one half degree angle on the board ends. A rafter or speed square will have marks for both of these angles.