Table of Contents
Components of Pitched Roof
A pitched roof has sloping sides at an angle from the ridge where slopes are descending, mainly on two sides but sometimes on one side only.
Usually, a pitched roof is used where rainfall, wind, and snowfall are significant or cover large spanned areas. If the house is constructed with restricted width, we can also use pitched roofs.
These roofs are the most prevalent type of roof. They are widely used because they are less costlier than the other roof type, can be constructed from different material types, and looks visually attractive.
Today, we will discuss different components of pitched roofs.
So let’s begin.
Span
Span is the clear horizontal space between supports on which the roof rests.
Rise
The height or vertical distance from ridge top to wall plate is termed rise.
Ridge
The Apex line of the inclined roof formed by sloping sides at slop top is termed ridge.
Pitch
The roof’s sides are inclined to the horizontal plane known as pitch. It is a slope whose roof side is made horizontal determined by the rise to span ratio.
Eaves
The lowest edge of the sloped roof surface refers to eaves, from which rainwater drops down during rain.
Wallplates
Wall Plates are usually made of wood fixed at walls or support top to support common rafters.
Valley
A place where two sloping surfaces intersect forms an exterior angle less than 180 is termed a valley.
Hip
Two inclined surfaces meet, forming an exterior angle of more than 180°; that place or external angle is termed hip.
Hipped end
A sloped, triangular surface is formed at the roof end, known as the hipped end.
Verge
Verge is the gable roof edge that runs between the eave and ridge.
Purlins
These are the horizontal components made of wood or steel utilized to support the standard rafters of a slanted roof in case of greater span.
Battens
They are wooden members fixed to the common rafters to support the roof covering material.
Boardings
It serves the same purpose as battens fixed to common rafters to bear the roofing material.
Common Rafters
These are wooden components nailed perpendicularly to the ridge piece running from ridge to eaves. Purlins support these rafters provided at an intermediate point. Also, these rafters support buttons or boarding. Usually, the spacing of these rafters is 30 cm to 45 cm.
Valley rafters
Valley rafters are fixed at a sloping position to support valley gutter running diagonally from ridge piece to eave, and they receive jack rafter and purlins end.
Hip rafters
Hip rafters are used at the hip end, running diagonally from ridge to wall corners.
Jack rafters
Usually, these rafters are short in length, run from hip to valley, refer to jack rafters.
Ridge board
A ridge beam or ridge piece or ridge board is a wooden component provided along the ridgeline or the roof apex. This ridge board supports common rafters.
Barge board
It is a wooden board used to hold the verge created by common rafters known as barge boards.
Eaves board or Fascia board
Eave board is a wooden board having thickness and width about 25 mm × 25 mm nailed to common rafters’ feet at the eaves.
Post plate
It is similar to the wall plate and runs parallel to the wall face to support the rafters.
Truss
A truss is generally made of a triangles framework and is designed to support the rooftops or roof covering.
Cleats
Cleats are the short wood or steel sections nailed to the rafter to support purlins.
Template
A template is a square or rectangle masonry block made of concrete or stone positioned under the truss or beam end to spread the load coming from the roof over a larger area of the bearing wall.
Roof Covering
It is a roofing material exposed to weather placed on the roof framework to prevent it from sun, rain, snow, and wind.
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