Am I right in understanding that the otherwise very nice shed dormer featured in FHB #200 is supporting half of its roughly 26 ft span on a two 2″x10″ header at the peak?
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I don't see any dimensions anywhere. did you count rafter bays to come up with that length, or did I miss it? the header seems to be two different beveled boards, the back one might have started out as a 2x12 before it got ripped at the angle.
are there interior walls or posts?
also, there are flat ceiling joists that go from the far rafters under the header to the new dormer rafters. those would turn that whole connected area into a frame that would add support. i doubt the joists were engineered as structural support, but, it does add strength, depending on the fasteners he's shooting with that funny-lookin gun.
guessing. I'd look for a post midspan.
k
Yeah, just guessed based on 16" centers. With the ceiling joists I'm sure it all will work, but I sure wouldn't get it (or the previous cathedral ceiling in FHB a few months ago) past my inspector.
well, it stayed up for the photo shoot, anyway.
i can't imagine relying on the dormer rafter/header/joist framework for any calculable load, although it does act as a frame, especially if the joists are hard against the bottom of the header.
i'm still guessing there's a post or wall in there somewhere.
anyone know how to get a question to the author? he's done a few articles. i posted a question about a Mike Guertin article once, and he posted a reply pretty quick. was pretty nice about it too, even though my question was er, questionable.
k
How do I find that picture, do you have a link?
No sorry. It's in a feature article in FHB with pics and drawings on pages 53 to 57.
Edited 11/30/2008 8:17 pm ET by fingersandtoes