Steel Ridge Beam Roof Construction

A classic example of the exposed ridge beam structure can be seen on our magnolia residence which is currently in construction.

Steel ridge beam roof construction.

The ridge beam is typically a larger member like a 4 x 12 and carries the gravity load of the roof joists just as the bearing wall or header does at the envelope. The term plate means a major horizontal supporting timber. The difference between them is that a ridge beam is a structural member that bears half of the live and dead loads of the rafters on either side of it but a ridge board is not structural. Open source wood find tools 4101 8 01 roof ceiling construction single span ridge beam ridge beams and boards modern technical steico construction.

Now if you have done any looking around this site you ll quickly see that i am not a fan of using a ridge beam in shed construction. A structural ridge beam is a horizontal beam placed at the peak or ridge of a roof and is designed to carry much of the live and dead loads or weight of the roof structure by itself. Timber steel framing manual single span ridge beam. Ridge beams are required by code if the roof slope is less than 3 in 12 irc section r802 3.

A purlin plate in wood construction is also called an arcade plate in european english under purlin and principal purlin. Its the way i was trained to build sheds. The loads on the ridge beam are carried by vertical posts at the beam ends down through the building structural walls to the building foundation. A newer type of beam than the more traditional materials a composite roof beam can be made from several different materials to make the beam lighter and stronger and less prone to rotting warping or cracking.

A roof beam is generally a length of wood steel or aluminum that holds up a roof meant to keep rain snow and other elements out of the house. Alternatively design in a specific timber or steel material type. Purlin plates are beams which support the mid span of rafters and are supported by posts. By supporting the rafters they allow longer spans than the rafters alone.

Purlin plates in wooden construction. Press design to obtain. I always always build trusses. Distance from roof beam to next roof support i e the span of the rafter or roof truss from the roof beam to the next adjacent beam or wall.

Glulam ridge beam span table elcho beams tables golagoon. However a beam built up assembled from sawn lumber can also be designed. Design of single span ridge beams in roofs in houses office buidlings schools and other structures. Ridge beam sizing is based on the span of the beam between supports and the amount of roof load supported by the beam.

A ridge board is a non structural member that serves as a prop for opposing rafters to rest against and connect to. Yes either a ridge board or a ridge beam is necessary and required by the building code where roof rafters meet at the the center of their span. Here s a picture of a gable style shed using a ridge beam.