Rafters for a gable roof. Do-it-yourself rafter system for a gable roof - installation instructions. Manufacturing of rafter pairs

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When constructing private households, the most popular are house designs with a gable roof; they can be seen in the photo. The design of such roofs is simple compared to hip roofs (they are also called hip roofs). To create the frame of a gable roof, use wooden beams and boards, the light weight of which allows you to build a rafter system with your own hands.

Elements of gable roofs

The design of a gable roof includes the following elements:

  • rafters . They consist of inclined struts and vertically located racks;
  • rafter leg . To make it, you need boards with a cross-section of 100x150 or 50x150 millimeters. Using rafter legs, a triangular outline is formed gable roof. The loads resulting from weather conditions and the weight of the roofing are transferred by the rafter legs to the Mauerlat, which is transferred to load-bearing walls buildings. When installing a gable roof on a house, the installation step of the rafter legs should be a minimum of 60 centimeters and a maximum of 120 centimeters. The heavier the roof covering, the more often they should be installed;
  • struts . Such an element from cutting boards is mounted at a certain angle and thereby transfers the load load-bearing elements down from the rafters. Rafters, several struts and a tie together are the constituent parts of a truss, which withstands loads and transfers them in the presence of wide spans to the walls;
  • racks . Are vertical elements rafters that transfer the load from the roof ridge to the load-bearing internal walls of buildings. They are made from timber with a cross-section of 150x150 or 100x100 millimeters;


  • Mauerlat . This is the name of a wooden beam, which is installed and secured on load-bearing walls on threaded rods or on anchors mounted into the surface. necessary to transfer loads from rafter legs to load-bearing walls. The manufacturing material used is timber made from softwood lumber and having a square cross-section measuring 150x150 or 100x100 millimeters. The Mauerlat beams located on opposite walls should be located parallel so that the dimensions of the rafter legs are the same length;
  • horse . This horizontally located element is necessary to connect the slopes in their upper part. It is formed by connecting the rafter legs into top point when installing a gable roof;
  • fillies . They are used if the length of the rafter legs is not enough to create an overhang on the roof. They are part of a board that has a smaller cross-section than the boards that were used in the manufacture of rafter legs. Installation of a gable roof can be greatly simplified if you use this element, since then for truss structure make legs shorter;
  • sill . It is a horizontally fixed beam with a cross-section of 150x150 or 100x100 millimeters. It is located on the internal load-bearing wall and its functions include distributing loads from the roof racks after;
  • puff. This is one of the elements of the hanging rafter structure, which forms with the rafter legs geometric figure– triangle – and thus helps them stay in place and not move apart;
  • eaves . It is necessary to protect the walls from getting wet as a result of rain; its outer edge must protrude by at least 40 centimeters;


  • sheathing . The installation of a gable roof involves the installation of roofing material; to lay it, you need to make a sheathing. To do this, bars or slats are attached to the rafters perpendicular to their direction. Thanks to the presence of the sheathing, the load from natural phenomena and the roof’s own weight is evenly distributed across the rafters. Also, the lathing, which can be solid or sparse, holds the legs of the rafters together into a single one. For soft roof, for example, from bitumen shingles, this element is made from sheets of moisture-resistant plywood.

The roof of the house is created using lumber from coniferous wood, and so that during operation they do not become unusable due to rotting, before building a gable roof, they are first treated with antiseptic compounds.

Rafter systems: their types and differences

There are two types of rafter systems: hanging and layered.


Hanging rafters, together with floor beams, are used as tie-downs to construct an attic when building a gable roof of a house with your own hands (read: ""). In addition to the bottom tightening, an upper tightening is also required at a distance of at least 50 centimeters from the ridge. Hanging rafter systems are created when the distance between two external walls is no more than 10 meters, and there is no internal load-bearing wall separating the two halves. inner space building.

Layered rafters are installed when there is a support beam that transfers the weight of the roof from the ridge to a load-bearing wall located in the middle between the outer walls of the house. If there are columns instead of a load-bearing internal wall, different types rafters alternate. Layered rafters will rest on the columns, and they will be mounted between the columns.

Installation of gable roof rafters, detailed video:


Features of creating a gable roof

For proper construction, use drawings of a gable roof and project documentation, which indicates all its dimensions (in more detail: "").

When the walls of a house are built of logs or timber, the function of the mauerlat is performed by the upper beam. But, if the walls of the building are made of brick, to attach the mauerlat to the supporting base before installing the gable or hipped roof, at least 10 mm threaded metal rods are mounted into the masonry and bolts with washers are used. When performing, an interval of 1-1.5 meters is maintained between adjacent fasteners. To avoid getting the walls wet, waterproofing is laid from two layers of roofing material.


The types of gable roofs are varied, but in any case, the slope angle on them should be 15-20 degrees in areas with strong winds, and where there is a large amount of precipitation, 35-40 degrees, then snow and water will quickly roll off the roof surface . These nuances must be taken into account even before.


When layered rafters are used, first of all a beam is installed, and supports are mounted on it, on which the ridge beam is placed. To secure the structure, jibs are used. Then the rafter legs are mounted on the ridge beam, and their length should be slightly longer than necessary so that after twisting the two rafters together, the protruding ends can be cut off. The use of this technology can significantly speed up the construction of a gable roof.

After completing the installation of the rafter system, the gables and overhang are sewn up and the installation of the roof covering begins. To purchase material, you need to know how to calculate the area of ​​a gable roof and thus not make a mistake with its quantity. To do this, determine the area of ​​each of the two slopes by multiplying its length (height) by the width (length of the ridge). Note that it is very important to initially calculate correctly.

The roof becomes an important structure of the house. She completes the construction of the building frame, after which only finishing remains. The most common implementation scheme is with two slopes. You can make a gable roof with your own hands without much difficulty, you just need to understand the technology.

Roof structure

Before you begin installing a gable roof, you need to understand what it is. The design differs from all others in its pediments. The following varieties can be given depending on the method of assembling the rafter system:

  • single-pitched - the pediments have the shape of a trapezoid or a right triangle;
  • gable is characterized by triangular gables;
  • hipped (hip) has no vertical edges.


The main elements of the gable roof system are:

  • rafters;
  • Mauerlat;
  • crossbar;
  • struts;
  • racks;
  • contractions (ties);
  • sheathing;
  • thrust bars and pads.

Rafters are the main load-bearing structures. When building with your own hands, it is important to choose the correct cross-section, otherwise problems may arise. emergency situation.

Preparing to start work

Before making a gable roof, you will need to select materials. Installation begins with the selection of wood. To build with your own hands reliable design resistant to external factors You will need to follow these recommendations:


For construction, it is better to choose first or second grade coniferous species
  • it will be correct to choose materials coniferous species wood (spruce, pine, larch are more resistant to rotting);
  • the structure is assembled from wood of the first or second grade, the use of the third for critical elements is unacceptable;
  • it is better to choose those lumber that are produced in the northern regions; the more complex the growing conditions of the tree, the denser its structure;
  • they try to choose the material that was cut down at the end of the cold period of the year (February-March).
  • load from snow cover (snow region);
  • weight of the roof covering;
  • rafter pitch;
  • span (distance between reference points);
  • insulation thickness.

A thermal insulation layer is required when designing a residential space – an attic – in the under-roof space of a house. Most often, do-it-yourself installation of mineral wool material is done to improve the thermal insulation characteristics. In this case, it is important to provide a ventilation gap between the heat insulator and roofing covering. The height of the rafter leg should not be less than the thickness of the insulation. To increase the clearance, a system element such as a counter-lattice is introduced - a block that is nailed parallel to the rafter and increases its height.

The most convenient pitch of rafters for a private house is one that provides a clear distance between them of 0.58 m.

This allows the slabs to be installed correctly mineral wool without trimming or additional elements. For such a step, the following recommendations for the cross-section depending on the span can be given:

  • span 3 m – rafter size 40x150 mm;
  • 4 m – 50x150 mm;
  • 5 m – 50x175 mm;
  • 6 m – 50x200 mm.

It is important to know the following: load-bearing capacity and bending resistance are more affected by height than width. If necessary, increase the load-bearing capacity more effectively by increasing the height.
Another element whose cross-section will need to be selected is the sheathing. The most optimal value the thickness will be 32 mm. With increased load, the value is increased to 40 mm.

The remaining components of the house's rafter system are assigned structurally, based on what lumber is available. But it is still worth taking into account the strength requirements.

Immediately after purchasing the material, before assembling the system begins, you will need to treat all the elements with special compounds yourself.

A gable roof, like any other roof of a house, needs the following types of protection:

  • antiseptic, carried out without fail, helps prevent the processes of decay and the occurrence of mold and mildew (even if installation is not planned some time after purchasing the wood, the treatment is carried out immediately);
  • fire retardant, optional, but very important, it increases the wood’s ability to resist fire, thereby increasing the safety of the structure.

Installation of a house rafter system

To build the roof of a house with your own hands, you need to complete all the work in a certain order. Installing the elements is not difficult, but you need to control the quality of the components and connections. The most important areas are:

  • fastening the Mauerlat to the wall;
  • fastening the rafters to the mauerlat;
  • fastening the rafters together.

To properly build a roof with your own hands, work should be done in the following order:

  • Mauerlat installation;
  • installation of rafters at the designed angle;
  • fastening the legs at the top;
  • bracing load-bearing structures using racks, struts and grips;
  • installation of counter-lattice, sheathing, waterproofing;
  • do-it-yourself insulation of the roofing system;
  • installation of the bottom sheathing, installation of the roofing.

Attaching the Mauerlat to the wall

When installing it yourself, it is important to understand where to lay the Mauerlat. A beam with a section of 150x150 mm or 200x200 mm is installed on the inner edge of the external walls. It is important to ensure sufficient thermal insulation of such an area. The outer part of the fence in this area can be made of the same material as the walls.

In this case, the laying is performed at an angle equal to the slope of the slopes. The second option is to fill the space with expanded clay concrete. These methods are relevant for stone houses (brick, foam concrete, expanded clay concrete, etc.). If you plan to build a frame or wooden house will act as a Mauerlat top harness or the crown of a wall.



You can do the job in several ways:

  1. Fastening with staples. To do this, in the penultimate row of masonry, install wooden blocks, to which the lower part of the brackets will be attached, and the upper part is inserted into the Mauerlat. Wooden plugs must be soaked in antiseptic.
  2. Fastening to wire. To carry out this option, you will need to lay a wire 3-4 mm thick in the masonry of the walls or a monolithic belt; its length should be such as to wrap the beam and twist the wire rod.
  3. Fastening with bolts or studs. The options are similar, but the first provides greater reliability. Fasteners are placed in a monolithic belt. After this, the timber is laid on studs or bolts. To make holes for them in the right places, lightly tap the Mauerlat. The resulting recesses will be places for drilling holes. After their preparation, the beam is finally installed in the design position and tightened with nuts.

When building a house, it is also important to know how to build up the Mauerlat. Standard sizes lumber - 6 m, and the walls can be longer. To connect two elements along the length, you will need to perform a direct lock. To do this, the lower part of one element is cut out, and the upper part of the other. Fastening is done with bolts. It is not recommended to cut at an angle in this case. Corner joints are also made using a straight cut.

The choice of method for attaching the Mauerlat largely depends on the material of the walls, or more precisely on its strength. For lightweight concrete, pouring a monolithic belt around the perimeter will be a mandatory step.

It is important to provide waterproofing between the wood and stone material. For this purpose, roofing material, linochrome or waterproofing material are most often used.

There are two most common options for doing the work yourself when building a house:

  • with a gash;
  • without drinking.

In both cases, the rafters are additionally secured metal corners at both sides. When using a system with a saw, you will need to process the timber at an angle corresponding to the slope of the roof of the house. When installing without cutting, you need to prepare a support beam with your own hands, which will not allow the system element to move across the Mauerlat. As an additional fixation, nails are hammered in and a twist of wire is inserted from the leg to the wall (this fastening can be done through one leg).


2 types of fastening rafters to the Mauerlat

In order to obtain detailed and visual information on how to install a gable rafter at home with your own hands, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the series “knots wooden roofs residential rural buildings". This album contains a large number of options for securing all elements, which will help you complete the installation without errors.

Properly designed and assembled according to technology, the roof serves as a barrier preventing cold air and moisture from entering the house. From the outside, with the naked eye we see only a small part of the structure - the roofing. But the roof frame, which is the most an important component, performs the main supporting functions and takes on the effects of wind and snow loads.

To prevent it from deforming as a result of operation, it is necessary to correctly calculate the cross-sectional size of its elements and determine the distance between them, taking into account the weight of the roofing material, slope and climatic conditions. In this article we will tell you what the rafter system of a gable roof of a house is, what it consists of, how it is designed and assembled with your own hands.

Rafter system for a gable roof of a house - a system of interconnected supporting elements that together make up the frame of the structure.

It is made of wood or metal in accordance with the calculation of the loads that will affect them during operation. The roof rafter frame performs the following functions:

  1. Gives the roof slopes the necessary slope. The traditional shape in the form of an equilateral rectangle of a gable roof is given by the rafter frame, which forms the slope between the base of the roof and its ridge. The angled surface allows snow and water to slide freely off the slope.
  2. Distributes the load from weight roofing pie . The weight of the roofing pie, taking into account the snow load, can reach up to 500 kg/m2, so the gable roof is subject to intense loads, especially in winter period. The rafters of a gable roof evenly distribute the weight that rests on them, and then transfer the load to the load-bearing walls and foundation of the house.
  3. Serves as a basis for attaching thermal insulation and roofing material. The rafter frame of the roof serves as a kind of skeleton of the structure around which its “body” is built. Thermal insulation should be installed between the rafter legs, and a roofing covering should be fixed to the sheathing, which protects against moisture penetration.

Please note that the design of a gable roof truss system is quite complex to design and assemble, especially if the craftsman lacks experience. After all, in order for it to be able to withstand intense loads, you need to correctly calculate the cross-section of the rafters and the pitch of the rafters, taking into account the slope and length of the slopes, the roofing material used, and also draw up a drawing according to which the assembly will be carried out.

Types of rafter systems

Rafter systems differ in many factors; their composition depends on the layout of the wooden or brick house, the total weight of the roofing pie, the material from which the frame is made, as well as the type of roofing covering.

An important design characteristic is their load bearing capacity, which determines how much weight they can support without deformation. According to their characteristic features, the following types of rafter systems are distinguished:

Layered

A layered rafter frame is a frame whose rafters have 2 support points. The upper end of the leg rests on a ridge girder mounted on vertical posts fixed to interior wall. And with the lower end it is installed on the Mauerlat.

Assembly of a layered rafter system on a gable roof is possible only if there are at least 1 load-bearing partition or capital column. This design is often called non-thrust, because the second support point of the rafters compensates for the thrusting load on the walls of the house, which is assumed by the hanging installation of the frame.

Rafter legs of the layered type experience load only in bending, which can be eliminated by various struts. The layered rafter system allows you to cover houses up to 14 meters wide.

Hanging

The hanging rafter system is distinguished by the fact that its rafters rest only with their lower end on a mauerlat beam installed on the external load-bearing walls. The upper end of the rafter legs of this design does not rest on anything, but seems to hang in the air, which is why 2 types of load arise: bending and expansion.

The thrust load of such a layout of elements on the external walls is so great that it has to be compensated with the help of numerous crossbars and ties, due to which the rafter pairs are tied together.

The structure of a gable roof with hanging rafters consists of triangular trusses, the rigid shape of which is not subject to loads. The complexity of the dangling circuit is believed to be much higher.

The rafter system of a gable roof can be easily installed with your own hands if you correctly calculate the pitch of the rafters, that is, the distance between the rafters and the size of their cross-section.

Combined

Combining the best of both systems, it is recognized as the most reliable. It is used in cases where columns, rather than walls, are used indoors as support inside the house. Then hanging and layered rafters can be alternated to strengthen the structure due to additional elements without increasing the consumption of building materials.

Important! A sliding rafter roof is another type of frame, which differs in that the rafter legs are installed on the Mauerlat not using a rigid fastening, but using a movable support. The sliding fastening allows the roof to change dimensions within the range of movement during the shrinkage of the wooden house.

Design

The construction of a gable roof truss system of any of the listed types is a set of auxiliary and supporting elements. They distribute the weight of the roofing pie evenly, and also compensate for the bursting and bending loads that arise between them.

The cross-section, length and pitch of the rafters are determined using an engineering calculation that takes into account the weight of the roofing pie, climatic conditions in the construction region, as well as the slope of the structure. Part rafter frame A gable roof usually includes the following elements:

  1. Mauerlat. Install the Mauerlat beam on the outer walls of the house, on which the roof slopes rest. It serves to soften the pressure on the supports and evenly distribute the load from the weight of the roofing pie. It is made of durable timber with a cross-section of 150x150 mm or 200x200 mm and is attached to the upper chord of the walls using anchor bolts or long metal studs.
  2. Sill. This is an analogue of the Mauerlat, only it is installed on internal load-bearing walls, and vertical supports must be placed on it for mounting the ridge girder.
  3. Rafter legs. This term refers to frame elements that are made from boards with a cross-section of 150-40 mm and are installed at an angle to the base of the roof, forming an angle of inclination of the slope. The distance between the rafters, their length and thickness are determined using calculations that take into account the total loads to which they are subjected during operation.
  4. Puff. A tie is called a beam that is placed horizontally and connects the legs of one pair of rafters to reduce the bursting load on the outer walls of the structure. The crossbar is a tie installed under the very ridge of the structure.
  5. Racks. A stand is a vertical beam placed flat to support the ridge girder. It is easy to determine what distance should be between the racks, because it follows the pitch of the rafters.
  6. Struts. Diagonally located supports that support the rafter legs in the middle or at the bottom, preventing them from bending, are called struts.

Please note that determining how to correctly position the elements of the rafter system can only be done by calculating the temporary and permanent loads to which they will be subjected during operation. Calculating the total weight of the roofing pie helps determine the correct distance between the rafters, calculate their length and required thickness.

The calculation of the rafter system of a gable roof is based on the fact that in the frontal dimension it has the shape of an equilateral triangle, the sides of which can be easily calculated using simple trigonometric formulas.

These simple calculations help determine the optimal distance between the rafters, their thickness and length. The design calculations are performed in the following sequence:

  • Determine the structure and slope of the roof. Exist various ways choosing the type and slope of the roofing structure. This parameter depends on the climatic conditions and performance characteristics of the selected roofing material.
  • Determine the total load on the structure. To do this, sum up permanent loads (the weight of the roofing, the weight of the frame, thermal insulation and ceilings) with temporary loads (snow load, wind load), multiply by correction factor, taking into account the slope of the slopes, and then add 10-15% to this figure so that the frame has some margin of safety.
  • Calculate the length of the rafter legs. To do this, they use the Pythagorean theorem, because roof truss is an equilateral triangle. It turns out that the square of the length of the rafter leg is equal to the sum of the squares of the height of the blood and half the length of the laying. Knowing how to calculate the length of the rafters, you can calculate the height of the ridge.
  • Determine the cross section of elements. The optimal cross-section of elements is selected from tables in accordance with the length of the rafter legs and the distance between them. The higher these indicators are, the thicker the rafters should be.

Remember that before you calculate the rafters for the roof, you need to decide on the basic design parameters. In particular, it is necessary to know exactly the height of the ridge and the slope of the roof, as well as the dimensions of the room being covered. The result of the calculation of roof elements should be detailed diagram rafter system, reflecting their sizes and angles between them.

Calculating the angle of inclination

The angle of inclination of the slopes is selected not depending on aesthetic preferences, but based on weather conditions, taking into account the roofing material. Steeper slopes of 40-45 degrees are constructed in areas with a lot of snow cover, and flatter slopes of 10-20 degrees in places with strong gusty winds.

Keep in mind that the steeper the slope, the higher the consumption of materials, the higher the final cost of the roof. Be sure to take into account the requirements of the material:

  1. Tiles and slate require a slope of at least 22 degrees, otherwise precipitation will seep through the joints between the elements.
  2. Metal tiles are laid at an angle of at least 14 degrees, since they suffer greatly from gusts of wind, they can become deformed or even fly off.
  3. The soft roof allows an inclination angle of up to 5-10 degrees, making it possible to cover slopes of any geometry.
  4. Ondulin is considered one of the most reliable materials and can be used even for roofs with a slope of less than 6 degrees.
  5. Corrugated sheets cannot be laid at an angle of less than 15 degrees, however, it is advisable to treat slopes even with an acceptable slope with sealant for better waterproofing.

Assembly technology

Before installing the roof frame, it is necessary to calculate the parameters of its elements, based on calculating the total load on the structure, and also create detailed drawing, reflecting its results.

Having a frame diagram in front of you, it is much easier to carry out high-quality installation of the rafter system of a gable roof. The technology for assembling the structure implies the following sequence:

  1. First, the Mauerlat is laid on the upper belt of the external walls, on which the slopes will rest, and on internal partitions If the system is layered, install a bed. These elements must be firmly fixed using anchor bolts or studs.
  2. Then the rafters are fastened. They are fixed with nails to the Mauerlat, and are also connected to each other using a metal plate. It is worth remembering that the rafters are cut to fit the mauerlat timber, and not vice versa. First, the rafters located on the edge are installed in order to set the level along which the remaining pairs will be aligned.
  3. After installing the rafters, auxiliary supporting elements, which I will support them - struts, tightening, contractions. To fix the crossbar more reliably, its end is made with a protrusion half the thickness of the beam and it is cut to the rafters, fixing it with nails in several places.
  4. A sheathing is nailed over the rafter legs, onto which the roofing material is fixed. The material and pitch of the sheathing are selected in accordance with the characteristics of the roofing material and the slope of the roof.

Remember that a well-designed and high-quality rafter system is the key to the strength, reliability and durability of a gable roof. Therefore, do not neglect the help of professional roofers and designers when creating a roofing design for your home.

Video instruction

Among the wide variety of types of roofs, the most popular has been for several centuries. Relative simplicity of design, excellent stability, adaptability to different climatic conditions are powerful arguments, proven by many years of construction practice. The information below will be useful both to those who will be constructing a gable roof truss system with their own hands and to those who decide to use the services of professionals to understand and control the work.

Types of gable roofs

Gable roof, also called gable, consists of two inclined rectangular planes - roof slopes, which are installed at a certain angle to the outer walls of the building. Due to the angle of inclination of the slopes, the natural flow of natural precipitation (rain, melt water) is ensured.

Roofs with uneven slope angles (i.e. the location of the ridge is not through the center of the building) and different lengths of eaves overhangs are used if the customer wishes to express the architectural feature of his home. Such a roof, in terms of design, looks quite original, but has the disadvantage of irrational use attic space.


A broken gable roof is applicable in cases where there is a need to use the attic space as an attic. In such a roof, the increased volume of the attic makes it easy to create an attic, which is protected from moisture and insulated.


A gable symmetrical roof has an isosceles triangle at its base. Orthodox form and unpretentiousness during construction made it a favorite not only professional builders, but also novice specialists.


Semi-hip roofing is one of the varieties of gable roofs, which is distinguished by its original appearance and creates high-quality protection for the pediment. This type roofing is especially in demand in areas with high wind loads.

The first thing you should pay attention to when organizing the construction of a gable roof is its angle of inclination. To a lesser extent it depends on architectural features, but to a greater extent on the climatic characteristics of the region in which the roof will be erected and on the type of roof being installed. Roofs with a steep angle are installed in regions that are subject to frequent precipitation. Areas with strong wind zones require the installation of gentle slopes to relieve the structure from wind loads.


The angle of inclination of the slopes can range from 5 to 90°. A common option is a roof with an angle of 35-45°. This option is the most economical in terms of consumption of building materials and uniform distribution of the load along the entire perimeter of the building. At this angle of inclination, the attic space is made of a cold type and in the future it is not suitable for living in it.

If it is necessary to arrange an attic space for a living room, then it is necessary to use a broken gable roof. In this case top part the roof will become flatter, and the lower one will have a steep slope. The attic space will increase and it will be possible to use it for attic housing. For this type of slope, the design of the rafter system will become more complicated compared to using a simple option.

Types of rafter systems for gable roofs

The technology of constructing a rafter system for a gable roof has differences in the use of support bases for the rafters. There are hanging and layered rafter systems. Accordingly, rafter systems use hanging or layered rafters in their design. There is a third option - hybrid, when both types are installed in the rafter system.

Hanging rafters are used in structures with a distance between supports of no more than 6-6.5 meters.

Layered rafters are installed in buildings with a load-bearing middle wall or with columnar supports inside.

The load-bearing structural elements in a gable roof are the rafter system and the Mauerlat.

The rafter system includes such elements as: rafter legs, vertical posts, inclined struts, crossbars, spacers, ridge purlin. All these elements, combined into a single structure, form the rafter system as such.

The material from which rafters and other structural elements are made can be made of wood, iron and reinforced concrete.

Before using the material, you must ensure that any knots you encounter do not exceed a third of the thickness of the material in length!

Mauerlat is a beam with a cross-section from 100×100 mm to 200×200 mm, which is placed under the rafter leg or laid along the entire perimeter of the structure. Its purpose is to distribute a uniform load on the external walls.

The Mauerlat is installed on the upper wall edge. Installation occurs either along the axis of the wall, or with an offset to the outer or inner edge of the wall (but not more than 50 mm from the outer edge). Before installing the Mauerlat, place it under waterproofing material, which, most often, is roofing felt. The connection of the Mauerlat links must be strong and occurs using straight locks.

Construction of the rafter system

Main types of rafter structures:

  • the rafter legs of the opposite slopes are connected by horizontal ties (for a house width of up to 6 m);
  • the ridge girder rests on vertical posts, additionally inclined struts are used (for houses up to 10 m wide with an empty attic, the design is designed for high loads);
  • as additional points the supports are horizontal purlins resting on vertical posts, the rafters are connected with ties (for a house width of up to 15 m).

Rafter structures are made of timber with a cross-section of at least 50×150 mm. The crossbar is located at the level of the future attic ceiling.

If, when building a house with your own hands, it is possible to lift ready-made trusses to the installation site, it is recommended to make rafters on the ground, using the first A-shaped frame element as a template.

It is recommended to make rafter legs from solid timber, but if necessary, you can join the timber on both sides using nails or self-tapping screws. The pitch of the rafters can be calculated based on the dimensions of the sheet insulation. First of all, the outer A-shaped elements are installed, onto which a ridge purlin made of 100×150 timber or 50×150 boards is attached. The ridge girder gives rigidity to the entire frame.

In order not to weaken the Mauerlat, slots for fastening are made in the rafters, as a result of which the rafter with the horizontal plane of the slot lies on the surface of the Mauerlat, and the protrusion rests against vertical plane Mauerlat. Fixation is carried out with three nails, two of which are driven on both sides of the rafters, and the third through its upper plane.


There are various ways to attach the rafters at the top of a gable roof, which you can do yourself:

  • The edges of each pair of rafters are cut in such a way that when the cut planes are mated, the rafter legs form a given angle of inclination of the roof. Then the rafters are fastened together with wooden planks using nails, or metal plates with bolted connection. A nail with a length of at least 150 mm should be driven into the upper plane of the rafters;
  • Rafters different stingrays placed on an installed ridge purlin, and they must be cut so that the horizontal section is equal in width to half the thickness ridge beam. The rafters are fixed to each other with metal strips, which should be placed above the span (a hanging connection that requires rigid fastening of the legs to the Mauerlat);
  • An overlap connection is the simplest option; the rafters are tilted at the same angle and connected with studs or bolts using wide washers.

On next stage such types of elements as purlins, racks, struts, etc. are mounted, if they are included in the selected frame scheme. During installation, it is important to control the verticality and horizontality of structures. Mistakes made during the construction of a roof are almost impossible to correct.

Design Features

A traditional, widespread option is symmetrical gable roofs with straight slopes - gable roofs. The optimal angle of inclination of the slopes is about 45° - this design can withstand serious snow and wind loads.

If you want to equip an attic, other types of roofs are used. In particular, it is a gable roof with broken slopes - in the upper part the slopes are gentle, and in the lower part they have a sharp slope. For roofs of this type, it is necessary to erect a rafter system of a more complex design.

In some cases, asymmetrical gable roof, the ridge of which is located offset from the center. The design of such a roof is developed taking into account the characteristics of the building. A gable roof can also be half-hipped. In this case, the design differs from a gable roof in the presence of sloping roofing elements above the gables.

Installation of the rafter system

Before you begin installing the gable roof rafter system, you must fasten the Mauerlats to the longitudinal walls using anchor bolts. Next, you should decide on the optimal cross-section of the rafter legs, which depends on their length and the distance between them. To do this you need to produce. If it is required that the lumber have a different width and length of rafter legs, then the required size is achieved by splicing them (extension) using fasteners.

To use insulation, you should select a rational distance between the rafters so that as little thermal insulation material has to be cut as possible.

If you plan to build a roof structure with your own hands, you need to make a calculation based on the width of the roof and its height to the ridge. The standard scheme involves the creation of a rafter structure based on an isosceles triangle. Simple geometric constructions and calculations make it possible to calculate the length of the rafter legs: the allowance for the eaves overhang should be added to the square root of the sum of the squares of the height to the ridge and half the width of the roof.

The required number of rafters depends on the length of the roof and the selected roofing material. Typically, the pitch of rafter structures is 1.2 - 1.5 m. It is not recommended to exceed these values.

Based on the length of the rafter leg and the length of the roof ridge (including allowances for overhangs), the area is calculated roof surface– to do this, the indicated values ​​​​should be multiplied.

When calculating lumber, it is necessary to take into account the presence of such elements of the rafter structure as:

  • Mauerlat;
  • skate;
  • rafter legs;
  • racks;
  • crossbars;
  • struts.

Depending on the type of roofing material, the type of sheathing is determined. It can be sparse (with different steps) or continuous; soft coverings are covered with continuous covering with sheet material. If a half-hip roof is being installed, it is also necessary to calculate the amount of roofing and construction material for the installation of hips - triangular cut tops above the end walls of the house.

All wooden elements require treatment with special compounds that prevent rotting, pest damage, and fire.

Installation of rafters occurs in the following order:



Mounting the Mauerlat

A do-it-yourself rafter frame can be attached to the floor beams, but in this case all the loads on the building structures will be concentrated on the places where the floor beams are attached. This option is suitable for small, lightweight buildings.

To ensure uniform distribution of the load on the upper surface of the walls parallel to the ridge of the future roof, a Mauerlat is mounted, which will serve as the basis of the frame. To make the Mauerlat, a wooden beam with a cross-section of 150×150, 100×150 or 100×100 is used. It is attached to the wall in one of the following ways::



Calculation of loads and angle of inclination

Accurate calculation of the rafter system of a gable roof is the key to the future strength and reliability of the house. When designing a complex roofing structure, its calculations should only be carried out by a professional. You can independently calculate the roof using small area using simple formulas.

At the very beginning, the angle of inclination of the roof slopes is determined. An inclination angle of 5-15° is suitable for a small number of roofing coverings. In view of this, the roofing material is first selected, and only then the rafter system is calculated. At an angle of inclination above 45°, any roofing covering is suitable, but material costs also increase along with this.

It is also necessary to do this, depending on the climatic region. Snow load limits are in the range of 80-320 kg/m2. On a roof with a slope of no more than 25°, the coefficient of transition from snow cover to the roof is equal to 1. For roofs with a slope of 25-60°, the coefficient is taken to be 0.7.

For example, with a snow load on the ground of 120 kg/m2, the load on a roof with an inclination angle of 25-60° will be 120×0.7=84 kg/m2.


Wind load is calculated using the coefficient of change in wind pressure and aerodynamic influence.

The weight of the roofing pie is calculated - a constant load, which includes the weight of the lathing, counter-lattice, insulation, roofing material, and also, in the case of an attic, the weight interior decoration ceilings. The average constant load ranges from 40-50 kg/m2.

A correctly calculated rafter system, made by yourself, can withstand high loads, including:

  • wind pressure;
  • snow pressure;
  • person's weight.

The roof should not exert strong or uneven pressure on building structures that transfer the load to the foundation of the house.

Its resistance to loads depends on the angle of inclination of the roof. The larger the angle, the stronger the frame should be. This parameter also affects the choice of roofing material.

Conclusion

Installing a gable roof involves creating a high-quality roofing pie. Gable design insulated with sheets or roll materials. It is important to perform high-quality vapor barrier. Used for finishing different kinds roofing materials, from standard slate to high-tech tiles.

When constructing private houses, the roof is most often made of a gable roof. There are reasons for this. The first is that it is reliable. Copes well with wind and snow loads. Secondly, it is compatible with any roofing covering. The third is relatively inexpensive. Fourth - simple design, which is difficult to spoil. Fifth - she looks attractive. All this, and the fact that a gable roof is built with your own hands without special knowledge, determines its popularity.

The assembled gable roof with your own hands is ready for installation of the roofing covering

Step-by-step installation of a gable roof

As you saw above, there are a lot of rafter systems. Accordingly, each assembly has its own characteristics, but in general order same. It is necessary to talk about the general step: pre-drying and processing of wood. This step is required if you bought fresh lumber rather than dried.

Use in roof construction raw wood natural humidity will lead to problems: the beams will bend, they will dry out, and the geometry will change. All this will lead to the emergence of stress points and the slightest sign overload (lots of snow, strong wind or rain) negative processes will begin. Eliminating them is a complex and expensive undertaking. Therefore, either buy dry wood (no more than 20%, ideally kiln drying 8-12%), or buy the material a couple of months in advance and put it in ventilated stacks. Then treat with the necessary impregnations (against fungal attack and to reduce flammability) and only then use it in the installation of the rafter system.

Lumber should be dried in ventilated stacks. To do this, they are laid with short sections of boards. They are placed a meter from the edges and then every meter. Spacers must be installed under the lower one

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

Mauerlat

The assembly of the gable roof rafter system begins with the installation of the Mauerlat. It must be positioned strictly horizontally, therefore, before installation, the horizontality of the wall to which it is attached is carefully checked, and if necessary, it is leveled cement mortar. You can continue work after the solution has gained 50% strength.

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

There are several ways to connect walls and mauerlat:

  • Smooth rolled wire is fixed in the masonry (in the reinforced concrete belt) large diameter(two ends sticking up). Holes are then made in the board in the required places into which the wire is threaded. It then curls and bends.
  • Studs with a diameter of at least 12 mm are immured in the wall. Holes are made in the Mauerlat for them, a timber/board is inserted) and tightened with nuts and wide washers.
  • Having aligned the timber or board along the outer or inner edge of the wall, take a drill with a diameter of 12 mm and make holes for the anchor bolts. They (the same diameter of 12 mm) are hammered in to the very top, then tightened with a wrench.

The distance between the studs (wire) should not be more than 120 cm. It must be placed on the wall (belt) under the Mauerlat shut-off waterproofing. This can be rolled up roofing material or waterproofing material in two layers, or coated with bitumen mastic.

Installation of rafters

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

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

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

On the one hand, this is convenient - it’s easier to work on the ground, and with a high assembly speed, the accuracy is high: one truss is not much different from the other, which simplifies the procedure. But lifting prefabricated trusses can be difficult, especially for large buildings. To make this easier, install two inclined boards, one end of which rests on the ground, and the other sticks out slightly above the wall. The trusses are brought closer to this “lift”, one at a time they are installed below, ropes are tied and pulled along the boards onto the roof. If there is no winch or crane, this is the most acceptable method.

Assembling rafters requires certain knowledge: how and in what order to install them, how to mark and make cuts. Watch the video for assembling one of the headstock circuits.

The procedure for assembling the rafter system


That’s it, the gable roof is assembled with your own hands and is ready for installation of roofing material.

The process of installing rafters itself raises enough questions, but there are many ways and it is impossible to tell about them all. Watch one of them in the video. The system was large and was lifted to the roof in parts, and then assembled into a single structure. For big houses it's comfortable.

Features of installing the rafter system of a wooden house

Difference wooden houses is that the log house shrinks, and this leads to a change in the geometry of the rafter system. If the elements are fastened tightly, the roof may fall apart. Therefore, the fastenings are made floating. There are special sliding fasteners, which in this case are used to secure the rafters to the upper crown and to the purlins, if any (see photo).

In order for the rafter to move freely during shrinkage, its long part is fastened strictly parallel to its edge, and placed strictly perpendicular to the support. If necessary, a platform is cut out for it. Mark the fastening so that the hook is in the lowest position or near it. They are attached to special self-tapping screws that are included in the kit (regular ones do not fit). If the installation is carried out 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 at any construction market, it’s called “slippery”. Watch the video to see how to attach the slider to the beam.

Video on assembly and installation of gable roof rafter system

Building a gable roof with your own hands is not easy: there are a lot of subtleties and nuances, there are different ways fastenings, extensions. Describing them in words is a thankless task. This is the case when it is better to see. Below we offer you a selection of videos that may be useful to you.

Video report on how a gable roof is made

The house owner's story about the stages of construction. There are interesting technical points, which may be useful.

Two types of rafter connections: rigid and sliding

Video about the two most problematic types of connections.

How to determine the angle of rafters

Full video report on the assembly of the rafter system

This film takes just under an hour, but the process is demonstrated from start to finish in great detail. The roof is placed on, but when installed on buildings of another type (except wooden houses) there is no difference.