Tag Archives: rafter crown

How to Cut Shed Rafters

How to Cut Shed Rafters

Reader MICHAEL in MILACA writes:

Building a Loafing type pole shed, I have a question how to cut the rafters? I am building a 24 x90 loafing shed and I am using a 1-3/4″ x 24″ wide x 28 foot long LVL for the rafters. I do I figure the right field cut for this? I am using a 2/12 roof pitch.”

This excerpt from Hansen Pole Buildings’ Construction Manual should get Michael going:

Chapter 40: Cutting Rafters

Most Common Mistakes:

  1. Failing to learn to use a framing square. 
  2. Ignoring adage to measure twice before cutting.
  3. Overlooking cutting so rafter crown is up when installed.

Using a Framing Square to Mark Rafter Slope

With rafter crown up, place framing square on wide face. See Figure 40-1 

“12” location will be a constant for any roof slope. Adjust other “leg” of framing square to match roof slope needed.


Figure 40-1: Using A Framing Square to Mark Rafter Slope

To determine rafter length, multiply distance traveled horizontally by rafter, by appropriate slope factor from Table 40-1

For other slope factors – multiply slope by itself and add 144. Take square root (use a calculator) of this number and divide by 12.

Example to calculate slope factor for 3.67/12:  [3.67 X 3.67] + 144 = 157.47. Square root of 157.47 = 12.549. Divided by 12 = 1.0457.

Table 40-1                               COMMON SLOPE FACTORS

Roof Slope Slope Factor
2/12 1.0138
3/12 1.0308
4/12 1.0541
5/12 1.0833
6/12 1.118
7/12 1.1577
8/12 1.2019

Example below: 36’ wide pole and raftered “grid” style barn with a 4/12 roof slope.

See Figure 40-2


Figure 40-2: Column Spacing For Grid Barns

Here rafter has an 18’ horizontal distance (1/2 of 36’ building width) times 4/12 slope factor 1.0541 = 18.9738’ (18’ 11-11/16”) See Table 40-2

DECIMAL OF A FOOT TO INCH CONVERSION
Feet Inches Feet Inches
      0.9167 11 0.0781 15/16
      0.8333 10 0.0729 7/8
      0.75 9 0.0677 13/16
      0.6667 8 0.0625 3/4
      0.5833 7 0.0573 11/16
      0.5 6 0.0521 5/8
      0.4167 5 0.0469 9/16
      0.3333 4 0.0417 1/2
      0.25 3 0.0365 7/16
      0.1667 2 0.0313 3/8
      0.833 1 0.0260 5/16
0.0208 1/4
0.0156 3/16
0.0104 1/8
0.0052 1/16

Table 40-2