I'm planning to add a small extension to my house, and I'm at the point where I gotta decide how to handle the roof supports. Did a bit of research and decided to go with rafters because I want that open ceiling look inside. Thought I'd share my basic plan and see if anyone's got some wisdom or better ideas.
First, I'm measuring out the span carefully, since rafters can get tricky if they're too long without support. Then I'm gonna cut birdsmouth notches to sit them properly on the wall plates—this part seems a bit finicky, but doable. I'll add collar ties near the peak for strength and stability. After that, planning to sheath it with plywood and pop on some shingles.
Thing is, I've heard trusses are quicker and easier, but then I'd lose that nice vaulted ceiling effect I'm aiming for. Plus, pre-made trusses seem like they'd limit attic space big time.
Anybody done this before and found a smarter way or maybe hit some snags I haven't thought of yet?
Couple quick things from experience:
- Rafters definitely give you the open look, but don't underestimate how tedious those birdsmouth notches can get, especially if you're working alone. Measure twice, cut once...then probably measure again, lol.
- Collar ties are good, but depending on your span and local building codes, you might need rafter ties closer to the bottom third to avoid spreading walls. Collar ties alone sometimes aren't enough structurally—double-check that.
- Trusses don't always mean losing the vaulted ceiling. You can actually order scissor trusses custom-made. They give you a vaulted effect without all the hassle of rafters/birdsmouth cuts. Yeah, they're pricier than standard trusses, but they save loads of time and headaches.
- Also, consider insulation and venting carefully with your open ceiling. Rafters can complicate venting and insulation, especially if you're going for that exposed-beam look inside. Could mean spray foam instead of standard insulation—more expensive but solves a lot of headaches down the road.
Did mine with rafters initially for the same reasons as you (wanted that nice open look). Turned out great visually, but honestly, if I did it again I'd seriously consider scissor trusses or at least price them out first. Less time on ladders and fewer headaches overall.
Good points all around, but honestly, birdsmouth cuts aren't THAT bad if you set up a decent jig first. Did mine solo last summer...yeah, took some patience (and a few choice words), but turned out solid. Wouldn't rule rafters out completely.
Fair enough, birdsmouth cuts can be manageable with a good jig and some patience. I've tackled a few myself over the years—definitely doable, though not my favorite weekend project. One thing I'm curious about, though: how did you handle consistency across multiple rafters working solo? Even with a jig, I found slight variations crept in after a while...maybe just my technique, but it made me lean toward trusses for larger spans.
"Even with a jig, I found slight variations crept in after a while...maybe just my technique, but it made me lean toward trusses for larger spans."
Yeah, I've run into the same issue with birdsmouth cuts. Even when I thought I had everything dialed in perfectly, I'd still notice those tiny inconsistencies creeping up—especially when fatigue sets in after a few hours. One thing that helped me was marking out all the rafters at once before cutting anything. It seemed tedious at first, but it kept me from drifting off my measurements as the day wore on.
Still, for bigger projects, trusses do seem like the smarter choice. They're consistent and save a ton of time on-site. But I've always wondered about flexibility down the line—like if you ever want to modify or add dormers later on, wouldn't rafters make that easier than trusses? Curious if anyone's tackled modifications on a truss-built roof and how much of a headache that turned out to be...
