The majority of modern roofs nowadays are structured with pre-made trusses, but it is not particularly rare to use conventionally made roof framing. Hip roof extension usually requires a handmade frame because of its complicated characteristic.
If you look forward to a hip roof addition project, then the steps of extending a hip roof below will inform you about what to expect during the process.
How Do I Extending a Hip Roof
A hip roof, also commonly referred to as a hipped roof, is a roofing style with a characteristic of downward slopes from all walls sides, causing it not to have any vertical side. It is easily found in North American buildings and gable roof styles.
There are many hipped roof extension designs and styles out there, but regardless, here are essential steps of extending a hip roof:
- Measuring the house’s ridge board length: In this step, you simply need to measure the building’s width and reduce the figure with the building’s length. So for an instance, if the building has 25 ft. of width and 40 ft. of length, the ridge board must be 15 ft.
- Trimming the length of the common rafters: This step is pretty much identical with the step of trimming gable roof rafters. Determine what length you need to cut based on the size of the building and pitch of its roof. To let the rafter fits comfortable on above the wall which result in properly sturdy and a well-fit rafter, you need to create a seat cut in the roof rafters.
- Nailing the common rafters into the ridge board on every side of the roof: Secure the ridge to its place by elevating the ridge board and nailing it to the common rafters on its side. After all the common rafters are secured to the ridge, they will be locked firmly in the place and not be able to move.
- Measuring the hip rafters’ length: This step involves working out the hip rafter that extends from the ridge board to the building’s corner, and it has to perform at 45º angle.
- Making sure that the hip rafters is secured in place: while the jack rafters are fitted, you need to make sure the hip rafters don’t move by using a piece of string. They need to be maintained at 45º angle.
- Measuring the jack rafters’ length: You can look up the table of rafter length online. Then you need to cut them according to the size and install them similarly to the regular rafter. Make sure that the hip rafters are still locked securely to their place while performing this steps and stay at 45º angle while the rest of the project is finished.
The guide of extending a hip roof above also works for adding a gable roof addition to a hip roof. However, it has to be noted that this project is not for amateurs. It may require a structural engineer to design the rafter and trusses, so it’s recommended to ask for a professional’s help.
