The rafters are the main load bearing elements of the roof.
Traditional timber roof design.
Traditional timber joints in oak truss design.
The overall construction of a traditional cut roof is to ensure that the load of the roof is evenly transmitted to the walls below.
There are two basic methods of pitched roof construction.
A truss roof using factory made trusses which are delivered to site complete and just erected.
50mm wide by 75mm 100mm or 125mm deep are all.
The timbers are often 400mm or so centres and vary in size according to span.
It is still the roof material of choice for housebuilders and self builders irrespective of whether they are building in traditional or contemporary styles or whether they are creating pitched or flat roofs.
Timber has been the traditional material for building roofs as far back as early saxon times and beyond.
They span from the wallplate to the ridge board providing a platform for the underlay battens and tiles.
Also different architectural styles will use the same type of roof.
Timber cross beams tie beams principle rafters king posts queen posts collars and other members were and are usually connected together with mortice and tenon joints half housed joints lapped joints or scarf joints.