Spacing Roof Rafters

If your local building authority has a rafter spacing code you may not space rafters wider than required by code.

Spacing roof rafters.

Patio roof maximum beam rafter spans. Our roof rafter calculator tools are handy for calculating the number of rafters needed rafter length calculator lineal feet of rafter board feed in ridge and sub facia and the total board feet in the roof. An essential part of planning a patio roof or gazebo project is determining the number size and spacing of rafters beams and posts according to the loads they will carry. A metal roof must also allow for some overlap on each side of the panels which will reduce the effective width of the panel.

Rafter spacing is based on the width of the metal roofing panels. For heavy loads 2x4s can span up to 5. Other relevant factors include the type of wood being used for the rafters the size of the rafters and the load that the rafters need to support. There is no standard spacing it depends on what size of rafters you want to use and the span of your shed.

Span calculator for wood joists and rafters also available for the. Spacing in exterior exposure. Live load psf dead load psf span calculator for wood joists and rafters available for the iphone. For instance 2 grade 2x4s at 16 on center will span just over 9.

The spacing between rafters in a given building is part of the engineering calculations that determine the required structure of the roof. For standard shed roof rafter spacing see rafter span chart. If you get premium kiln dried lumber then you could span 10 5 with the same size of lumber and. 2 4 rafters can span up to 7.

The width of metal panels will determine the rafter spacing. Spacing your 2 4 shed rafters at 24 on center limits the width of your roof. The wider the roofing panels the greater spacing distance you should put. For more information see our disclosures here.

For light load roofs 24 o c. It is always better to have a large rafter rather than be concerned with a sagging roof. Rise and run means that a 6 12 pitch roof has 6 of rise vertical for each foot of run horizontal. The metal roof purlins spacing must be done correctly within narrow tolerances.

Wider panels allow for greater spacing between rafters. Rafters must be strong enough to hold the roof sheathing and the shingles. Typical rafter spacing codes will specify a minimum spacing of 16 inches 19 2 inches or 24 inches. This post may contain affiliate links.