Shed Roof Rafter Span
An essential part of planning a patio roof or gazebo project is determining the number size and spacing of rafters beams and posts according to the loads they will carry.
Shed roof rafter span. For heavy loads 2x4s can span up to 5. 1 psf lb f ft 2 47 88 n m 2. Live load 20 lbs ft 2 956 n m 2. That alone is over kill.
Instead of over building why not make the shed bigger with that size lumber. Shed roof a shed roof slopes in one direction only. Consult local building codes for snow load capacity and reference the span tables for joists and rafters published by the american wood council awc as a general rule roofs that have a high human occupancy rate should be framed with rafters every 16 structures such as sheds or barns can be frames with rafters every 24. Douglas fir maximum horizontal roof rafter span for lumber grade selected structural and no.
Use our online rafter length calculator to quickly compute the length of the shed roof rafter by entering the measurements of overhead length of roof span pitch or angle. Maximum rafter spans for a patio roof in areas with mild climates patio roofs are generally designed for loads of 30 psf pounds per square foot. 2x4 span 8 feet with a 20 lbs psf live 10 dead load. If you look at the rafter span chart you ll notice that 2x4s can be used for rafters on spans up to 11.
Spacing your 2 4 shed rafters at 24 on center limits the width of your roof. So a 2x4 as a rafter no engineering plate to ridge is good for a shed 16 span at 2 foot centers amusing a center ridge. Span calculator for wood joists and rafters also available for the android os. 1 ft 0 3048 m.
Also available for the android os. 2 4 rafters can span up to 7. Not need to waste wood boys its not like it grows on trees. Anything beyond that you are looking at using 2x6s for most sheds.
The pitch and span of your roof will dictate how long of a rafter you ll need use maximum span calculator to help you find your rafter size. Most roof framing is 24 on center and you can still build sheds up to 14 with 2 4 rafters at 24 on center. Rafter length using angle v r 2cos a rafter length using pitch v r 2 sqrt 1 p 2 where v overhang r roof span p pitch. Dead load weight of structure and fixed loads 15 lbs ft 2.
Easy rafters is designed to calculate shed roofs that are framed to a ledger board nailed against a vertical wall not freestanding shed roofs supported by walls at both ends. For light load roofs 24 o c. For example in the rafter span table below the highlighted cell in the 40 live load table indicates that 2 x 8 southern yellow pine joists that have a grade of 2 that are spaced 24 apart can have a maximum span of 10 feet 3 inches 10 3 if designing for a live load of 40 lbs ft 2. Live load is weight of furniture wind snow and more.