II.

Pitched Roof
1. Forms of pitched roof
 Lean to roof: in this type of roof, one wall is carried up sufficiently higher
than the other to give necessary slope to the roof.

 Gable roof: this is the common type of sloping roof, which slopes in two
direction. The two slopes meet at the ridge.

 Gambrel roof: this roof like gable roof slopes in two direction but there is
break in each slope.
 Hip roof: This is formed by four sloping surfaces in four directions.

 Mansard roof: This roof like a hip roof, it slopes in four directions but
each slope bas a break.

 Deck roof: A deck roof has slopes in all the four directions, like a hip roof
but a plane surface is form at the top.
2. Basic elements of pitched roof
 Span: the horizontal distance between the internal faces of walls or
supports is known as span or clear span.
 Rise: It is the vertical distance between the top of the ridge and wall plate.
 Pitch: It is the inclination of the sides of a roof to the horizontal plane. It is
expressed in degrees or as a ratio of rise to span.
 Gable: The triangular end of a pitched roof, or the triangular upper part of
the gable wall.
 Hip: The edge of a hipped roof that runs from the ridge to the eaves. It is
formed when two sloping surfaces intersect.
 Eaves: This is the lower edge of the roof surface that overhangs the walls.
 Soffit: This is the underside of the eaves that is fixed to the back of the
fascia and the wall. It forms an enclosed element all around the building.
 Ridge: This is the uppermost line of the roof and is formed at the
intersection of two sloping surfaces.
 Valley: This is the line formed at the internal intersection of two sloping
surfaces. It runs from the ridge to the eaves.
 Verge: This is the underside surface of the eaves and the soffit of a gable
roof which overhangs the gable wall.
 Wall plates: The timber component, which sits upon the top of the walls of
a building and to which the foot of the roof rafters, are fixed.
 Fascia board: A vertical timber of plastic trim, which is fixed to the feet of
the rafters and, along with the soffit, encloses the eaves.
 Soffit board: A timber or plastic trim which is horizontally fixed to the
underside of the rafters and which, along with the fascia encloses the
eaves.
 Bargeboard: A vertical timber or plastic trim which is fixed to the face of
the last common rafter at the end of a gable roof.
 Common rafter: A rafter that runs from the ridge to the wall plate.
 Jack or cripple rafters: These are short rafters that run from the hip rafter
to the wall plate. These short rafters form the lower portion of a valley or
hip.
 Hip rafter: This is the main rafter of hip roof. It is to this rafter that all jack
or cripple rafters are fixed to form the hip.
 Gable ladder: This is a framework comprising two common rafters and
noggins. The noggins and the rafters form a ladder frame which is built
into the top of the gable wall and extends beyond the gable wall to form
the gable eaves and to which the bargeboard is fixed.
 Purlin: This is a strong, large sectioned timber member which, is fixed to
the common rafters midway between the ridge and the wall plate and runs
parallel to the wall and the ridge. On gable roofs, the ends of the purlin are
 built into the gable walls. This component gives added strength to the roof
structure and allows heavier roof coverings to be used.
 Joist hangers: These are metal hangers by which ceiling joists are fixed to
the wall plate, or they may be built into the supporting walls.
 Ceiling joists: These are timber components which span from wall to wall
and to which the ceiling covering is fixed.
 Roof binder: These are horizontal timber components which span from
wall to wall and which are fixed to the feet of common and jack rafters.
 Roof struts: These are angled components which are fixed to the common
rafters and roof ties. The strut is usually fixed at right angles to the
common rafter to offer greater strength.
 Roof hangers: Hangers are vertical timber components similar in size and
cross section to a common rafter and are fixed to the top of the common
rafter close to the ridge and the ceiling joist or roof binders.
 Battens: Thin strips of wood which are fixed on rafters or ceiling to
support the roof ceiling.
 Cleats: Small blocks of wood which are fixed on truss to prevent the
sliding of purlins.
.
3. Types of pitched roof structure
a. Single roof
In this type of roofs, common rafters are provided to each slope without
any intermediate support. This type roof is used only when the span is
limited to 5m.
Single roof is divided into the following types:
 LEAN TO ROOF
o It is the simplest form of a pitched roof and it is known as
pent roof or Aisle roof.
o In this type of roof, one wall is carried up sufficiently
higher than the other to give necessary slope to the roof.
o A lean-to roof is generally used for sheds, out houses
attached to main buildings verandah etc.
o This is suitable for a maximum span of 2.4m.

 COUPLE ROOF

o This type of roof is formed by couple or pair of rafters

which slope to both the sides of the ridge of the roof.
o In this type of roof the common rafters slope upwards from
the opposite walls and they meet on a ridge piece in the
middle as shown in the fig.
o A couple roof is suitable for spans up to about 3.6m.
 COUPLE CLOSE ROOF

o This roof is just similar to couple roof except that horizontal

member, called tie beam, connects the ends of the couple of
the common rafters.
o The tie beam prevents the tendency of rafters to spread out
and thus danger of overturning of the walls is avoided.
o The tie beam may be a wooden member or a steel rod.
o This roof can be adopted economically up to the span of
4.2m.
 COLLAR BEAM ROOF
o When the span increases or when the load is more the rafters
of the couple close roof have the tendency to bend.
o This is avoided by raising the tie beam and fixing it at one-
third to one-half of the vertical height from the wall plate to
the ridge. This raised beam is known as collar beam.
o This beam roof is adopted to economies the space and to
increase the height of room.
o This roof can be adopted up to a maximum span of 4.8m.