Rafters pulling away from ridge board

[Jon mackay]

What might cause these 2x12x16 rafters to separate from the ridge board?
I couldn't find any structural issues anywhere.

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[Jim Luttrall]

Are you sure there is movement or is it just a sloppy framing job.
Assuming framing, I would be looking for walls out of plumb, specifically pushing out at the top from rafter thrust.
Was there any rafter tie across the building from one side to the other?

[James Bohac]

Looks like poor framing to me. See it often, cant figure out that speed square!!

[Jon mackay]

No collar ties installed.
Maybe they were just a lot heavier than they were used to working with.

[Wayne Carlisle]

Looks like collar ties in the picture!

I agree with the others....sloppy cuts!

[Dom D'Agostino]

Collar ties were recently added, and even then, not done properly.

[Rick Hurst]

Sloppy cuts agreed and the ridge board is undersized.

rick

[Jon mackay]

Ha ha..
That's what I get for trying to post from my phone..
Yes collar ties are in fact there.. Mind like a steel trap..not!

I will go with non structural. The place was built like a tank with all 2x12 framing from top to bottom and it was only a 3,100 sq ft house.. don't run into that much around here...

Thank you again for all the great info..

[A.D. Miller]

Sloppy cuts agreed and the ridge board is undersized.

rick

RH: Actually, a ridge board is not even required in this instance. The one they have appears to be nominal 1" material which is code compliant.


R802.3 Framing details.

Rafters shall be framed to ridge board

or to each other with a gusset plate as a tie. Ridge board shall be
at least 1-inch (25 mm) nominal thickness and not less in depth
than the cut end of the rafter.At all valleys and hips there shall be
a valley or hip rafter not less than 2-inch (51 mm) nominal thickness
and not less in depth than the cut end of the rafter. Hip and
valley rafters shall be supported at the ridge by a brace to a bearing
partition or be designed to carry and distribute the specific
load at that point. Where the roof pitch is less than three units
vertical in 12 units horizontal (25-percent slope), structural
members that support rafters and ceiling joists, such as ridge
beams, hips and valleys, shall be designed as beams.

Traditional practice is to provide a ridgeboard between
opposite rafters as a nailing base and to provide a full
bearing for the rafter. Rafters must be placed directly
opposite each other, and the ridgeboard must have a
depth equal to the end of the rafter as illustrated in
Commentary Figure R802.3(1). Commentary Figure
R802.3(2) shows an option for framing opposing rafters

using a gusset plate.

[Wayne Carlisle]

What Rick was refering to was that the ridge board is not the full depth of the rafter, which is required by code.

[A.D. Miller]

What Rick was refering to was that the ridge board is not the full depth of the rafter, which is required by code.

WC: Yes, and my point is that the ridge board is not required. In fact, I believe, from viewing the photo, that the "carpenter" cut the rafters without allowing for the thickness of the ridgeboard, hence the bad fit.

[Wayne Carlisle]

AD yep! You are correct. A ridge board is not required however when a ridge board is installed then it must be full depth of the rafters.

The reason I commented on this was because I took it that you meant that it was okay that the ridge board was undersized because the code doesn't require one.

Looks like he cut the rafters with a chain saw to me!

[A.D. Miller]

Looks like he cut the rafters with a chain saw to me!

WC: Yessir, while standing on one foot with a Coors in the other hand.

[Nick Ostrowski]

Those collar ties are practically useless being installed so close to the ridge.

[A.D. Miller]

Those collar ties are practically useless being installed so close to the ridge.

NO: I think they installed them to support the electrical cable.

[Wayne Carlisle]

Those collar ties are practically useless being installed so close to the ridge.

Not useless at all. Collar ties are there to prevent uplift, so their location in the picture is as good as any other location as long as thet are in the upper third of the attic.

[brian schmitt]

WC: Yes, and my point is that the ridge board is not required. In fact, I believe, from viewing the photo, that the "carpenter" cut the rafters without allowing for the thickness of the ridgeboard, hence the bad fit.

ad,
not a carpenter are you? if the above was the case the heel cut would be tight against the ridge and the top of the cut would be open

[A.D. Miller]

ad,
not a carpenter are you? if the above was the case the heel cut would be tight against the ridge and the top of the cut would be open

BS: I was likely a carpenter before you were born.

[A.D. Miller]

Not useless at all. Collar ties are there to prevent uplift, so their location in the picture is as good as any other location as long as thet are in the upper third of the attic.

WC: R802.3.1

Collar ties or ridge straps to resist wind uplift shall be connected
in the upper third of the attic space in accordance with

Table R602.3(1).

[Nick Ostrowski]

I wasn't looking at the collar ties from a wind uplift standpoint. I was thinking about their ability to keep the rafters from spreading (ie - the rafter ties in the pic Aaron provided).

Well, I learned something new today.

[brian schmitt]

BS: I was likely a carpenter before you were born.

ad,
i doubt it! i was pushing a broom for my dad's construction company in the fifties!

[A.D. Miller]

ad,
i doubt it! i was pushing a broom for my dad's construction company in the fifties!

BS: Then as an oldtimer, you should have already learned to respect other carpenters. Or are you still pushing that broom?

[brian schmitt]

BS: Then as an oldtimer, you should have already learned to respect other carpenters. Or are you still pushing that broom?

ad,
see post # 17 i have the greatest respect for those who work with tools and their hands for a living. i still do on occcasion when the body allows it. i have never been too arrogant to not push a broom, it comes with the territory. still use your fisher-price big boy tool set?

[A.D. Miller]

still use your fisher-price big boy tool set?

BS: Yes, in fact, I use it to fix little tin carts like you.

[Ted Menelly]

Bunch of old farts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[A.D. Miller]

Bunch of old farts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TM: Easy there TM, you're no longer a spring chicken yourself . . .

[Ted Menelly]

TM: Easy there TM, you're no longer a spring chicken yourself . . .

I am an older fart not an old fart like you folks. You have about 3 years on me. When I get that old then I will be an old fart. Might need a walker by then as well and will have to hire some 30 old beautiful young woman to help me up the stairs ond on the roofs and..................................Well, maybe not 30

[A.D. Miller]

Might need a walker by then

TM: I hear that Johnny is a good walker. Black or red.

[brian schmitt]

ad,
blue

[Door Guy]

ad,
not a carpenter are you? if the above was the case the heel cut would be tight against the ridge and the top of the cut would be open

I was wondering if anyone else would pick up on that...if the ridge wasn't allowed for that the cut would be open on the top that is.

[David Garton]

What might cause these 2x12x16 rafters to separate from the ridge board?
I couldn't find any structural issues anywhere.

It looks like it is just plain sloppy work