How To Use A Roof Rafter Square

With a torpedo level and a speed square you can pretty accurately gauge the pitch of any roof with a gable end photo 1.

How to use a roof rafter square.

Choose or determine a pitch the angle at which the rafters rise. To use this tool you will need to do some rudimentary math. Then place a torpedo level on the fat base of the rafter square and adjust the square until the level is level. To look at the face of the rafter square hold the body with your left hand with the tongue pointing to your right.

Read the pitch on the side of the rafter square. First determine the width of the building the rafter span and the length for the number of rafters that will be needed. This simple device is crammed with tables data and tricks that allow a carpenter to lay out roof rafters stairs or other building features. Locate the desired angle on the hypotenuse side of the square and pivot the tool until that angle s notch lines up with the top edge.

For example if your roof is a twelve over twelve that is it has a rather steep forty five degree pitch then the unit length of the rafter is to be found on the face of the square below the. Place the square with its fence on the top edge of the lumber. For a 24 foot wide building the run would be 12. Ensure that the wood surfaces are well planed and sturdily attach to one another before you begin.

How to build roof rafters using a framing square. Then divide the span by two to get the rafter run the length each rafter must cover. Simply move the pivot point against the edge of your board lining up the edge of the board with your desired angle. As a matter of fact finding the pitch of a roof was the motivating factor for how this tool was invented in the first place hence it s official name the rafter square.

How to use a framing square. Place the pivot point against the shingles. Determine the slope or pitch of the roof by referring to your building plans. A framing square is a lot more than a simple square cut saw guide.