I am having some trouble with a hip roof for a cupola going on top of a pavilion. The carpentry crew is a bunch of volunteers who have limited experience, and while I am OK with most other parts of construction, I have never done a hip roof.
Basically, the cupola is a square 7′-9″ on a side (outside to outside of framing). Basically we built a small shed with no doors, and 6′ high walls. I can’t figure out at all how to frame the roof rafters such that:
- there is enough support for the sheathing
- there is support for the soffit
- the thing looks right.
Anybody help me out here, or is there a place online where I can find some pictures or drawings of how to do this?
Thanks.
Replies
"small hips" reminds me of Bill Paxton's line to Auhnold in "True Lies"
". . . got an azz like a ten-year-old boy!"
Forrest - yeah, I had wine with dinner!
Found this diagram online. Might help. Just framed up a hipped roof yesterday myself, for the first time. Lots of compound angles, but not too difficult if you think it through. Maybe someone could post some simple guidelines.
The aforementioned diagram is at http://www.oas.org/CDMP/document/codedraw/images/fig-a-7.gif
Allen
Jon,
Someone here will probably be able to do a simple cad drawing for you with everything you need.
If not I can try to explain it all over the phone to you if you'd like. Where in Vermont are you? I'm in MA and would be willing to show you how in person, but you'd have to visit me if you want it to be anytime this soon. I've got a crazy week ahead as we're leaving for a week's vacation next Saturday.
I'd try to explain it here, but I'm afraid I'd just confuse you more.
How familiar with roof cutting are you? Can you layout and cut a simple equal pitch gable roof rafter w/ tails without too much trouble? If you can do that, you can cut this diamond hip quite easily.
Email me if you'd like, or provide a little more information and we can hash it out right here for you. What pitch is the roof going to be? What is the dimension of the overhang?
Roof pitch is 6/12, overhang is somewhat flexible, but we'd like it around 9".
I'm OK with a simple gable, as long as I work out the details in AutoCAD beforehand. I'm not very experienced in roof framing period. Not really sure how to block it, how many rafters to use, etc. If I can figure this out I can have the cupola done and ready for trim by the end of the week.
The site is in Bennington.
Thanks for the help. I think some explanation here and maybe if I can't figure it out I'll call ya.
So what is it you need to know?
Can you get all your lengths with autocad? Do you need to know the rafter lengths? How to physically lay them out? I'm not sure what you're looking for.
I can talk you through the whole thing, but if you're using autocad to layout the roof anyway then I can't see the point.
Ask a specific question or two and maybe we can get you pointed in the right direction.
You asked how many rafters you'll need. I'd say a minimum of one every 24". How to block it? I wouldn't block it at all since it's so small. You'll only need your four commons, your four hips, and maybe a pair of jacks or so in each quadrant.View Image
I need to know the little, stupid things - how do you connect them all at the top, how deep to make the birdsmouth cut, how do you trim the ends of the rafters to make them all the same elevation for the soffit, etc. I really don't have a clue because it looks weird to me.
Here's some local tech school boys putting together a playhouse, about the dimension you require. Simple framing techniques to hold the material, while still semi accurate. Notice the nailing schedule along the subfacia facing you. This was a rafter and joist frame, all in one that was placed on top of the walls. Outter "joists" laid flat to fasten to walls (from below) and a couple mid range joists on edge. This way they didn't interfere with the rafters. No birdsmouths. Sits on top of the wall plates.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
here's a small hip roof over a 12'x12' porch
View Image
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 6/25/2006 10:27 am ET by MikeSmith
get a construction master 5 calculator.you can even do irregular hips and valleys with it.
RTC