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How to connect rafters to ridge beam

BarbaraD | Posted in Construction Techniques on August 16, 2005 02:05am

My engineer has spec’d a 32-ft long ridge beam for the garage.  The garage is 20′ x 32′ and the shorter ends are gable ends.  Gable roof, with 8:12 pitch, 2×6 rafters 24″ o.c., and fake slate weighing 475 lbs per square.  The ridge beam measures 5 1/2″ x 14″ x 32′.

He said to use Simpson RR ridge/rafter connectors to connect the 2×6 rafters to the ridge beam, but when I looked in the Simpson catalog, I see that the RR has a 90 degree angle, meaning that the ridge beam is rectangular in cross-section.  Well, my ridge beam is going to be beveled on the upper corners to match the 8:12 pitch of the roof, and I do see that you can bend the flange of the RR that rests on top of the ridge beam.  So does this sound ok to go ahead and do it that way?  Would I just hammer on the RR connector until the angle is 8:12?

Don’t most people use joist hangers to connect rafters to ridge beams?  What about the seat cut?  You have to make a triangular notch cut in the bottom edge of your rafter in order for it to seat itself in the hanger.  Is that the way it’s done?  At the end of the Simpson catalog they show hanger options (p. 165) and I was interested in those B Sloped hangers they show there.  The one seen at the bottom corner of the page would fit my situation.  So I’m wondering, what do y’all recommend?  Has anyone used these B sloped hangers, and if so, do you have to wait a long time to get them?

Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Barbara

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Replies

  1. JohnSprung | Aug 16, 2005 03:07am | #1

    I used Simpson RR's on my roof.  They're intended for use with two by ridge boards.  The tops of them interlock on top of the two by to locate the rafters opposite each other.  They seem not to be too popular.  The bin they were in at Pennsylvania Building Supply was the dustiest of all the Simpson stuff, and the guys there say they don't sell many.  I don't think they're one of Simpson's better efforts.  They don't seem to attach too securely to the rafters. 

    The other thing I used was ST-22 straps to tie the rafters to each other across the ridge.  That's mainly for uplift from high winds, and for earthquakes.

    Instead of trying to cut bevels on the actual ridge beam, why not leave it flat on top?  You can rip bevels on some smaller stuff to fill in and provide support and nailing for the sheathing there.  That would be easier to do, and stronger since you're not cutting the actual structural beam.

     

     

    -- J.S.

     

    1. BarbaraD | Aug 16, 2005 06:42pm | #11

      You're right.  I'll just leave it flat on top and fill in as you suggest.  Thanks.

  2. ~~framer | Aug 16, 2005 03:32am | #2

    "Don't most people use joist hangers to connect rafters to ridge beams?"

    No. I've never done it before.

    "What about the seat cut? You have to make a triangular notch cut in the bottom edge of your rafter in order for it to seat itself in the hanger.Is that the way it's done? "

    It's called a Birdsmouth and you don't need to sit it in a hanger unless the plans call for it. The birdmouth is always nailed right on top of the top plate and into the side of the ceiling joists. If there's no ceiling joists like it sounds like in your situation then you need a hurricane tie from simpson.

    Same question I have as John. Why bevel the top of the ridge if you have to use those specific hangers?

    Joe Carola
  3. jeffwoodwork | Aug 16, 2005 03:46am | #3

    1-800-call-a-framer.

    I have never used  hangers for my rafters but haven't had a situation as the one you describe.  If you are asking about cutting a "birdsmouth" on the opposite end of the rafter that sits on the wall top plate yes you need to do that.  But if you are asking to cut a small notch so it will sit in the joist hanger NO you don't do that.  If you cut a notch in the bottom of the rafter you have just effectivley changed the capacity of the rafter.

  4. Piffin | Aug 16, 2005 04:18am | #4

    I've never used or seen a need for hangers at the ridge beam, but if there is a need indeed, I would use one of their angled rafter hangers there.

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  5. Notchman | Aug 16, 2005 05:08am | #5

    If it's a ridge beam, the rafters lay over the top and meet each other from opposing sides.  There would be no place to attach joist hangars.

    And you must be speaking of a ridge beam:  A 5 1/2" X 14" X 32 footer is a hurky piece of wood for a garage!

    Code usually requires steel straps across the top of the rafters to tie them together at the peak.

     

    1. menken | Aug 16, 2005 07:12am | #6

      Not necessarily.. A ridge beam which one does not want exposed may have its rafters attached to the faces of it w/ either metal hangers (for smaller rafters of medium slopes or less) or even to blocking nailed to the ridge beam between the rafters.A metal strap may also be required over the beam to tie in the rafters, but if not specified, it's an unnecessary PIA (can't nail sheathing off at the top where the ties are!).Ultimately, there are many ways to attach rafters to a ridge beam...birds mouth and/or lapped seem to be the most common--and the easiest methods. BTW, lapping the rafters over the beam (and nailing them together) eliminates the specification for metal straps in almost all cases.

      1. Notchman | Aug 16, 2005 07:22am | #7

        I'm mostly in agreement with you, but to nail the rafters to the face of the ridge beam to hide it is going to be difficult with a beam depth of 14" supporting 2 X 6 rafters.

        1. menken | Aug 16, 2005 07:57am | #8

          True...But LVLs are coyote-ugly..the more that can be hidden, the better. And casing (or plastering) a small portion of a beam is always easier and prettier than trying to disguise the whole 14" enchilada.Nevertheless, my point was just that there are other methods to consider for attaching rafters to beams.

    2. Piffin | Aug 18, 2005 03:39am | #23

      Any beam, ridge or otherwise, can be let-in or toploaded 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

      1. BarbaraD | Aug 18, 2005 05:35am | #30

        Piffin, by "let-in" (I'm picturing diagonal let-in braces in walls), do you mean you cut a little mortise into the side of the beam and set the end of the rafter in there?

        1. Bowz | Aug 18, 2005 07:07am | #32

          Some thoughts on this, based on a conversation with a building inspector who was also an engineer.

          About 7 years ago he required rafters joined to a ridge beam to be hangered.

          When asked why we had to do this, his explanation was that with a 1x or 2x ridge board, 16s driven through the face of the ridge into the end of the rafters held well enough, but toenails did not. Sinse the beams were built up, I couldn't nail it proper and had to use hangers.

          We toenailed the rafters in place, then used joist hangers and put a small triangle block in the saddle of the hanger. One side of the block was against the bottom edge of the rafter, another against the face of the beam, and the third side bearing on the hanger.  We used the next size up hanger or larger. (2x6 rafter uses 2x8 or 2x10 hanger)

          Sinse then I have always done this on ridge beams, (maybe 8 more) as I assumed it was now a requirement. 

          However  I wonder if there may be a seismic load requiring the originally speced hangers for the original poster?

          Bowz

          1. blue_eyed_devil | Aug 18, 2005 01:59pm | #34

            16s driven through the face of the ridge into the end of the rafters held well enough, but toenails did not.

             I would question that explanation.

            blue 

          2. Piffin | Aug 18, 2005 11:03pm | #38

            That inspector was suffering from his own mythology. toenails, properly placed, will always hold better than nails driven to endgrain, as anyone who has done much demo work can tell you. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

          3. Bowz | Aug 19, 2005 12:09am | #41

             

             

             

             

             

             

             

            That inspector was suffering from his own mythology

            He was one of those who you didn't want to get on the wrong side of. Had heard horror stories about him, as he was known as "Little Napolean" to a few other builders.

            Gonna ask his replacement about it when I get the chance. 

            Bowz

          4. Piffin | Aug 19, 2005 01:08am | #42

            Yeah, I know - those guys are always right, no matter how wrong they are. 

             

            Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

        2. Piffin | Aug 18, 2005 10:59pm | #37

          no, I mean the beam is "let-in" to the rafter spaces so in using that term, the beam/rafter configuration is as you have been describing, with top corner of beam ~ top edge of rafters. 

           

          Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  6. DrWork | Aug 16, 2005 02:28pm | #9

    The Ridge Rafter connector is different from a joist hanger in that the rafter doesn't sit on a metal ledge of the hanger like a joist does. The rafter is simply cut to the right angle to be flush with the ridgeboard/beam and then nailed off. It seems to me that the four beefy joist-hanger nails that go into the rafter are probably better than old-fashioned toe nailing, especially if you don't toe nail well!

    If you are going to have a ridge vent, you won't be running the sheathing all the way to the peak anyway, so that's another reason not to bevel the beam.

    Dr. Work

    1. BarbaraD | Aug 17, 2005 06:34am | #13

      Thanks to all of you for excellent answers.  For those of you who said (referring to using joist hangers to attach the rafters to the ridge beam) "I've never done it", why didn't you then go on to tell me what you do do?  I guess you just toenail them.

      The suggestion to consult my engineer would be good if only my engineer were good.  But he's a hack. There's tons of stuff on the plan set that I've had to call him on, and he says "oh yeah, that's right; I guess you don't need that; just delete that", or "Oh, what was I thinking?  That should have been...." (!!!)  I talked to him on the phone yesterday to ask about H1's versus A35's, and he was obviously confused.  So he got testy and said, "Look, just ask your framer" and when I said, "I'm the framer", he said, "well I can't teach you how to frame, and this is going to be the last time you can call me without being charged."  What had prompted my call was that he'd spec'd HTT16 holdowns with the kind of anchor bolts that insert into freshpoured cement, and I called to tell him that the foundation was existing and to please specify different anchor bolts for the HTT16s.  If he wants to charge me extra for clarifying mistakes he makes, what a putz!!  He should be apologizing to me for wasting my time.

      Anyway, back to the rafters/ridgebeam connection, I'm going to go with the RRs afterall, and just not bevel the edges of the beam.  I would love to be able to put the rafters atop the beam, but outbuildings are limited by code to 18 feet of height, so it makes more sense to hang the rafters to the side of the ridge beam.  Not trying to hide the beam, since it's in the garage attic, which is just going to be a storage attic.  Again, thanks to all who kindly responded.

      Barbara

      1. JonE | Aug 17, 2005 10:59pm | #20

        Wow, that sounds just like a guy I used to work for.  Only he was an arrogant *&%#^ as well, so maybe not the same person. 

      2. jrnbj | Aug 18, 2005 11:53pm | #39

        I see this stuff on a daily basis.....engineers who couldn't build a doghouse....best bet, if your inspector isn't the kind who pores through the prints and demands that you do what aforesaid hack engineer drew, is to use the bevel hangers, or even toe-nail & add angle plates w/joist hanger nails, if your local code accepts that. I am curious as to the ridge spec....why are you using a bearing ridge in a garage?

  7. GHR | Aug 16, 2005 02:34pm | #10

    If your engineer speced the beam and connection, I suggest you use exactly what he says. If there are issues you do not understand, you should direct them to the engineer.

    1. jeffwoodwork | Aug 16, 2005 06:49pm | #12

      That is a valid point.

  8. joeh | Aug 17, 2005 07:21am | #14

    I'm not your engineer, but 2x6 rafters 24" OC sounds kinda spindley for a 500# per square roof, no matter how you attach them.

    Joe H

     

    1. BarbaraD | Aug 17, 2005 07:31am | #15

      Joe, I really appreciate that you took the trouble to say that!  I need all the help I can get.  The engineer did do calcs on the rafters, that I do know.  And maybe it's ok too because the roof is sorta steep at 8 in 12.  I'm pretty sure that matters.  I still remember doing vector problems in high school physics class.  The rafter span is 9'6", and it seems to me that's not so much.  Do you still think it's a problem?

      Barbara

      1. guyatwork | Aug 17, 2005 09:26am | #16

        I typed a long response, then heard thunder and saw a flash - and poof - it was all gone... :-( - the power stayed up but the internet connection (cable) went down :-(

        Anyway, here is the summary.  More often than not 2x6 would be adequate for that small span, but also would normally be installed on 16" centers. - unless your roof sheathing is thicker than 1/2".

        Tip for connecting rafters to ridge beam: toe nail the rafters in first, then come back and install your Simpson brackets.   You will get a more even roof deck that way.

        1. JohnSprung | Aug 17, 2005 10:29pm | #19

          > Tip for connecting rafters to ridge beam: toe nail the rafters in first, then come back and install your Simpson brackets.   You will get a more even roof deck that way.

          That'll work with hangers and A-35's and a lot of Simpson stuff, but alas, not with the RR's.  They go between the rafters and the ridge.  It's no fun trying to get the rafters even with RR's.  Bottom line, they're a bad choice, especially since this isn't a two by ridge. 

           

          -- J.S.

           

          1. BarbaraD | Aug 18, 2005 05:29am | #28

            John, I just took a look at the RRs in the Simpson catalog and came up with an idea.  Install the RRs first, to both sides of the ridge beam.  Then take a few 1x8s and tack them on top of the ridge beam, along its entire length, overhanging each edge equally.  A 1x8 would overhang a 5-1/4" wide ridge beam about one inch on each edge. Then since the RRs are open at the bottom, slip each rafter up into the RR until it contacts the 1x8.  Nail off at the sides of the RRs and then remove the 1x8s off the top of the beam.  Et voila! All rafters level with each other.  Ya know, I'm just an owner-builder, doing my first and only house.  There are only two of us working on it, and we're taking our time.  We work about 5-6 hours a day.  The point is, we can afford extra time to do extra steps that professionals would roll their eyes at or consider a PITA. 

          2. JohnSprung | Aug 18, 2005 10:34pm | #36

            Using a stopper block of some sort on the top of the beam means that you're guiding off the acute angle at the top of the plumb cut to position the rafters.  That pointy end will crush to varying degrees.  The rounded bent inside corners of the RR will give you some variation in where the plumb cut seats, especially if there's any twist in your rafters.  This is more a problem with a solid sawn ridge like mine, but the stopper block method lines the rafters up to a ridge that may not be straight, instead of using them to force it closer to being straight.

            Another thing to think about with the RR's is that you have 2x6 rafters and an 8 in 12 slope.  So the height of the plumb cut will be about 6 5/8".  The RR will cover roughly the top half of that, it's only 3 1/4" high.  Simpson also says that the maximum slope for the RR is 30 degrees, which is about 7 in 12.  With those big 14" LVL's, you have plenty of room and nailing surface for more substantial hangers.

            To get your roof surface even, start by crowning your rafter stock.  Set them side by side, crown up, supported on straight pieces of whatever near the ends.  Then sort them by the amount of crown.  Next, decide which ones go where and mark or number them.  Put the straightest ones at the rakes, and work up to the most crowned ones in the middle.  That way you keep the change from one rafter to the next to a minimum. 

            If you want to use some kind of guide to get the rafters in plane, you need to rig a straight edge near the ridge in the plane of the tops of the rafters.  For a ridge this long, maybe do it in two parts, start with a rafter in the middle and the rakes, and clamp your straight edge to the middle and one rake. 

             

            -- J.S.

             

        2. BarbaraD | Aug 18, 2005 05:11am | #26

          Matt, I just pulled out the sheet the building dept gave me, and it's got rafter, header, and joist span tables.  I live in Sacramento and we never get snow, so load isn't like it would be back east (I don't know where you live).  Anyway, in the table, it says allowable span for 2x6 rafters at 24" oc is 11'7", based on L/240, 20 lb DL + 10 lb LL. Since my span is 9'7", it would seem to be ok, according to my building department.  Previously, this same garage (in other words, same span) had 2x4 rafters 24"oc, and just a 5:12 pitch.  And we demo'd it ourselves, and every rafter was quite straight, after a 45 year life up there, with a heavy WRC shake roof over 3/4" plywood.   

      2. JonE | Aug 17, 2005 11:01pm | #21

        I just did a shed/garage with rafters 10' long (ridge to eave) 2x6 at 24" o.c.   It's rated for snow load and wind load in my area.  Pitch is 6/12.   I can't imagine you'll have a problem. 

      3. Piffin | Aug 18, 2005 03:47am | #24

        When you first mentioned 2x6 rqafters, my eyebrows went up, but then I assumed you must be from down south where that is the norm, not needing to design for snowloads. I looked at your ( thank you for filling it out) profile and saw that s cAL is your stomping grounds. 500#/square of roof materials is only 5#/sft, well within standard dead load design.RE a toploaded beam instead of inset, you just lower the beam inside, it doesn't change the height of the building. 

         

        Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

        1. BarbaraD | Aug 18, 2005 04:47am | #25

          But I didn't want to give up the headroom in the attic; that's why.

    2. User avater
      jhausch | Aug 17, 2005 01:48pm | #17

      I thought the same thing - but now I will keep reading to see what happens. . .

  9. moltenmetal | Aug 17, 2005 10:05pm | #18

    5 1/2 x 14 x 32'?  With 500#/square slate dead load plus whatever live load is there?  If this isn't steel, why isn't it?!  There's a place for engineered "lumber", but is this it?  Steel's gotta be cheaper for this job, and you'll need a crane either way, won't you?

     

    1. BarbaraD | Aug 18, 2005 05:18am | #27

      Moltenmetal,

      I just checked the lumber invoice, and it cost $504 for the 32' beam lumber.  I ordered three 1-3/4" x 14" LVLs, because there's no way we could get a one-piece beam up there without a crane since I have a big tree right next to the driveway, it blocks anything taller than 9 ft from going down the driveway.  The garage is detached and at the rear of the lot.  Only 9 ft of space between side of house and property line for something to get down the driveway.  That's why we decided we had to do a build-up beam.  Two of us were able to carry each LVL from the curbside delivery site into the backyard, and we were thinking at the time we'd have little trouble getting each ply into position at the ridge.

      As for steel, I have no idea how much it costs, but a crane was out of the question.

      Barbara

  10. User avater
    xxPaulCPxx | Aug 18, 2005 12:54am | #22

    This is how I attached my rafters, and yes it is probably overkill.  Each rafter is attached to the ridge beam with an A35.  It is also attached to the opposite rafter directly, and it is also attached with an 18ga. strap that is bent around the two opposing rafters so that it is attached on three sides of each rafter.  The blocking between is attached to the ridge beam via two A34's (actually an A35 with the folded tab cut off), then they are toenailed into the rafters as well.

    I will be placing a ridge vent over this, so those small angled blocks are there to provide a little extra support at the top of the OSB board, without blocking air flow.

    Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

    Also a CRX fanatic!

    1. BarbaraD | Aug 18, 2005 05:33am | #29

      Man what a complicated contraption that is to see!  It looks like your ridge beam is not one continuous piece.

      1. User avater
        xxPaulCPxx | Aug 18, 2005 06:56am | #31

        The ridge beam is under the rafters - it is the dark brown wood.  It was also the only original wood I left when I replaced the garage roof.  All that new wood sits atop the ridge beam. 

        Yes, it is more complicated than it could have been.  Unfortunatly, I endevored to replicate the system that was already in place when originally built, instead of thinking about how I could do it better.  If I did it again, I would have extended the top end of the rafters, then cut them off after all were set - it would have given me better connection to eachother and I wouldn't have needed that strap.  Heck, If I did it again I might use engineered wood I beams instead - wider surface to screw the sheathing into.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

        Also a CRX fanatic!

    2. joeh | Aug 18, 2005 07:13am | #33

       

      Is it all screws?

      How many weeks did this take?

      Way too complicated.

      Joe H

      1. guyatwork | Aug 18, 2005 02:44pm | #35

        If you look closely you can see that pic is not real - it is one of those deals where someone digitally diddles the pic to make it look like something it's not... you know, like the one with president's Bush's head on a woman's body... :-)

         

      2. User avater
        xxPaulCPxx | Aug 18, 2005 11:53pm | #40

        Yep, all screws and it took about half a day.  I used about 1000 screws (the specific ones I had talked about before)  My inspector thinks I must own stock in Simpson... and McFeelys.

        What about it seems complex - it's perfectly straightforward for me!  Now watch me walk a straight line for you officer.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

        Also a CRX fanatic!

  11. user-7050048 | Oct 17, 2019 01:29am | #43

    Here is a long thread which, IMO, would have been 100% more interesting and informative had at least a few folks submitted an illustration of what they were talking about. Was this in the day before smartphones with integrated cameras? I 'get the picture' without one on a 32' 6x14. That one is big enough to easily imagine! Some of the other ideas mentioned are 'too subtle for words'.

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