Gable Roof Framing Cathedral Ceiling

The most common tension tie observed in roof framing for a conventionally framed gable roof is the ceiling joist that forms the bottom chord of the roof triangle shown below.

Gable roof framing cathedral ceiling.

To avoid these problems in a structure with a cathedral ceiling it helps to understand how a typical roof frame works. Learn how to enlarge ceiling space while avoiding a sagging ridge or bowed walls. Stick framing a roof with rafters is the old fashioned and still most common method of obtaining a vaulted ceiling. If it s your first case and if you feel uncomfortable call for the engineer.

Each truss is composed of two opposing rafters and a ceiling joist. First head to the attic. There is no insulation in the ceiling and i suspect little to no effective insulation in the 2x4 walls. If you see a complicated framework of 2x4s held together with perforated metal plates your roof is framed with trusses.

An engineer must determine rafter size placement and pitch based on span and. You ll have to remove the entire roof structure to vault the ceilings. A plain flat ceiling gable is actually a procession of light trusses usually spaced 16 in. You can possibly remove them altogether of you include posts in the gable walls to support a structural ridge.

Finally when a cathedral or a vaulted ceiling or any gable roof is framed without either an engineered structural ridge ceiling joists or rafter ties or an engineered solution some amount of ridge sag and wall kick out is guaranteed. If you are framing a cathedral ceiling there are a couple ways to deal with the need for rafter ties. The simple 6 12 gable roof is composed of actual 2x6 rafters 24 oc sheathed with 1 2 plywood and covered with asphalt shingles. Contributing editor scott mcbride replies.

Old cottage cathedral ceiling i have a 50 year old seasonal cottage in a northern climate.