joelpat
03-13-2005, 03:52 PM
I thought about posting this in the DIY forum, but this is very specific to roof framing. So, keep in mind I am a DIYer (but a handy one).
I'm tearing out the paneling and mineral wool insulation in the previously finished attic, in order to go back and re-finish it. The roof is a fairly standard gable about 20 feet wide and 26 feet long, with three shed dormers. The house is about 95 years old.
As I tore down the paneling, I could see that the old plank shiething had been replaced with 5/8 ply on one of the dormers. As I tore more of the paneling down, I could see that two adjacent rafters (2x4 dimensional) are completely rotten, and not in contact with the decking anymore. I assume they were damaged by the leak that promted the decking replacement. I'm going to have to go in and do some surgery to remove and replace the rotten rafters. The other rafters are pretty solid.
Questions:
1. Should I rip 2x6's down to 4" to match the dimensional rafters, or use 2x4s and furr them out to match? (I assume I know the answer here, but I'm just looking for validation that I'm not wasting time and money.)
2. I don't feel great about the existing 2x4 rafters to start with. Can I double up my new rafters to make them a little more bombproof? I was thinking of joining them with carriage bolts. FWIW, the span is about 13 feet.
3. How to join the new rafters to the plywood deck? Screw up through the rafter and deck with 4 1/2" screws? Brackets of some kind?
I certainly feel the repair is within my abilities, I just want to make sure I don't do some "mickey mouse" job that someone else has to come back later and fix.
Thanks for the help.
I'm tearing out the paneling and mineral wool insulation in the previously finished attic, in order to go back and re-finish it. The roof is a fairly standard gable about 20 feet wide and 26 feet long, with three shed dormers. The house is about 95 years old.
As I tore down the paneling, I could see that the old plank shiething had been replaced with 5/8 ply on one of the dormers. As I tore more of the paneling down, I could see that two adjacent rafters (2x4 dimensional) are completely rotten, and not in contact with the decking anymore. I assume they were damaged by the leak that promted the decking replacement. I'm going to have to go in and do some surgery to remove and replace the rotten rafters. The other rafters are pretty solid.
Questions:
1. Should I rip 2x6's down to 4" to match the dimensional rafters, or use 2x4s and furr them out to match? (I assume I know the answer here, but I'm just looking for validation that I'm not wasting time and money.)
2. I don't feel great about the existing 2x4 rafters to start with. Can I double up my new rafters to make them a little more bombproof? I was thinking of joining them with carriage bolts. FWIW, the span is about 13 feet.
3. How to join the new rafters to the plywood deck? Screw up through the rafter and deck with 4 1/2" screws? Brackets of some kind?
I certainly feel the repair is within my abilities, I just want to make sure I don't do some "mickey mouse" job that someone else has to come back later and fix.
Thanks for the help.