Cut timber roofs with funny angles.. how to keep cost down and make it buildable

[Gus Potter]

Hello all.

 

I've started a post but ties back to @Digmixfill

 

Sometimes (often) things are not level etc or we have a complex roof shape with lots of different angles framing into hips that need some support. This, even for the experienced, can be a challenge to visualise itnever mind build it! Then you need to find someone with the skills to actually do it. If it looks hard then they will hike the price. 

 

When we have to check / chamfer timbers / do 3D cuts, particularly large ones then if the joiner makes a mistake then they often have to pay for the wasted material.  Cutting joints in the rain or techincal ones just adds risk and stress.

 

Below is a design where I'm trying to reduce the risk and help everyone visualise what needs to be done and the sequence of the work. 

 

Below is a 3D model to help eveyone see what we are trying to do. The roofs are at different angles and so are the hip rafters. The red bit is the main padstone support. 

 

 

 

Below is what the rafters and hips look like in 2D on plan. I try and name things to help everyone easily identify what parts of the roof we are talking about. In true technical drawing terms I you don't need to be "so chatty" but it avoids confusion. Some of the dimensions are used in my structural calculations so are not actually "Architectural" in purpose. I put gridlines on things. I still amazes me why "Architect's" don't do this, even if they hide the layer for visual Client presentation. It's just stupid in this day and age not to. It makes it really hard for SE's to line up floors for example, that wastes time which Clients end up paying for. 

 

 

Below is the way hip 02 connects in detail to hip 01:

 

The edge and end distances for the fixings are critical, hence dimensioned out. 

 

 

In 3D it looks like this:

 

 

Now here is the secret. You could try and rebate hip 01 over the padstone.. very hard to do and the joiner only get's one chance.

 

Or you can leave the hip H01 as is and make up a seating plate for it from offcuts of timber. This way the joiner gets as many chances for free, they can make it up on the ground and you don't have to cover the risk element!

 

 

 

 

 

 

To finish. Lots of this stuff is about making things buildable and if you have funny angles, things not level then coming at the problem from a different direction, always of course with a view to cost can help. No point in designing something if the money is not there!

 

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Gus Potter
Formatting.