I've built a 10' x 6' shed with 7/16" sheathing all around, and I'm planning to install a gable roof that will use a ridge board. The gable ends will be on the 10' sides. I'm working with a building width of 120.875" and a ridge board that's 1.5" thick (it's a 2x8 nominal). For the roof pitch, I'm going with a 12/12 slope, and my rafters are 2x6 nominal, cutting them to 8' length.
**First question:** I calculated the seat cut length to be 3.9375". Is this correct? I made a mistake on my first pattern board by not accounting for the sheathing, and with rain coming this week, I really want to avoid any more errors.
I also want the longest possible overhang, so I'm planning on making a 45-degree cut as close to the edge of the rafters where they meet the ridge board.
**Second question:** Finding the right place to cut the birdsmouth is a bit tricky for me. From the very edge of the cut board, I'm measuring 84 13/32" down, marking it, and drawing a plumb line at 45 degrees. Am I on the right track with this method, and is the birdsmouth length correct?
1 Answer
Instead of using a complicated method for your rafters, consider adding a bottom cord. It’ll give you a sturdier structure while simplifying the math involved. Just need to cut a 10ft board with a 12/12 level cut on the ends. It’ll help a lot!
I'm aiming for a more open interior design, so I want to skip the ceiling joists to create a loft space. That's why I'm avoiding them!