Graphical Construction Glossary >> Roofs and roofing. >> common rafter

Common Rafter

A roofing timber that defines the slope of a roof. It is set at right angles to the wall plate and rises to the ridge board.

Also known as an intermediate rafter and a spar rafter.

Plan showing parts of a hip roof.

The commons are the rafters in a roof surface that are square off the hip. We some times call the hip and valley timbers rafters, but common ones generally are the base of a roof, the first ones to be fixed that define the height and slope of a particular roof. Gable roofs consist of all commons while pavilion roofs may have none

On old trussed roofs, and on other large span roofs the commons are often lap joined on top of under purlins.

A typical common has angled side cuts and square top cuts.

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Adam Smith 1723-1790

"When we build, let us think that we build for ever."John Ruskin 1819-1900