Rafters
Overview
An angled series of structural wood members designed to support roof loads. Typically, rafters are placed in plane directly opposite each other and connected at the roof ridge. They are notched at the lower end to fit and provide connection to the exterior wall top plate. Rafters are secured to the wall plate by toe-nailing or use of special metal plate fasteners.
Sawn Rafters
Solid sawn lumber rafters rest on the top plate of the exterior wall and at the ridge.
Complex rafter framing is only visible during construction. Once the cavities are insulated and gypsum wallboard is installed, it is difficult to know where the framing members are located.