Best Book For Stick Building Roofs

Warren

Cheap labor is not really cheap. I prefer a better mix of skilled/semi-skilled workers.

katoman

I preset a ridge last year on a job. Was two stories, overhanging a swimming pool, 12/12 pitch, and I WAS BY MYSELF Helper was sick, and I ended up doing the whole roof myself, including the shingles. It still hurts just remembering that job.

Warren

I'd be willing to bet that that helper no longer works for you. Few years ago, we lost 4 guys of our 6 man crew. Two of us were left to finish a 3500 sq ft house. No fun setting trusses with only two guys.

wallmaxx

I like to draw out my roofs from the bird's eye view, then calc everything out.

That way, I can show a less experienced cut man, how each section of roof gets cut...the compound cuts for the jacks for example. And then I just tell him the order I will be erecting the whole thing. He cuts and stacks. I layout and joist. When its all done, everyone gets up there and we raise the roof.

If I could just find a guy to do the layout and erection stuff to my standards - I could have the fun being the cut guy again. But actually when I think about it. Things work out best when I am the final hand on the object being installed.

wallmaxx

I worked for a big time framer in Memphis as a lead / complex item solver back a few years ago.

I showed up and he had 15 men ready to frame this house. We were done in 4 days, ready for his cornice crew to take over.

The garage bonus room is a 16:12. Talk about alot of space!

I calculated everything in the roof - the evening following all the lines being popped out. The next morning myself and a cut man started cutting everything as fast as we could to stay ahead of the main element. Once he got used to my drawing, I left to cut and install the copper roof framing and the interior arches stairs, and other interesting things.

In my mind, there is no other way to frame a structure than to calculate as much of it as possible. Doing so, will keep you as close to virtual perfection as possible. The only down side is if any part of the wall framing or foundation is a bit out of whack - it will be magnified in a pre-cut roof. It never is a problem if care is taken to be "tight" with all your framing.

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cbfx3

I learned with a framing square but have since gone to the construction master. Much more accurate! I pretty much cut everything on the ground (ridge, hips if needed, rafters, temporary stiff knees to help with ridge) all figured with calc. I usually draw a full scale cornice detail for the cut man with all rafter, joist, kneewall, brick pocket details so he and I are on the same page if I'm on the house and need something.I too like to do a birds eye sketch detailing the pitch/bevels if it is an irregular hip just to keep mistakes from happening.. Most of my guys can figure all but the most complex stuff. My lead guy can figure anything that I can figure ( he has a physics degree!) I have come up with a few tricks of my own with the construction calc as well.

Timber1

I build timber frames and stick built homes and it always takes a long time figuring out all the angles. I usually sit down for about 3 hrs before I start the project and figure all angles I will need ie.. backing, valley/ hip pitch etc... But I just bought this new framing square square a friend of mine told me about. It is called the chappell Universal Framing square. He took a class with the inventor. He teaches Timber Framing courses. I have to say it is absolutly amazing. I highly recommend it. chappellsquare.com or foxmaple.com. Now I don't have to figure anything out it. as long as I know my pitch I can figure everything out on the fly and it takes no extra time. I recommend reading the manual. It is really clear and concise and explains everything very well. This tool has saved me so many man hrs. and in todays economic climate that can't be overstated.

kyle_dmr

I'm gonna have to throw down the Roof Framers Bible. The dual pitch section it is amazing. It is more geared towards knowing the basics of how to cut a roof, and it just speeds the process up by giving easier calculation numbers.

Kyle

woodworkbykirk

when i was in trade school we used two books "carpentry 3rd editon + 4th edition" by leonard koel and "simplified roof framing" which actually made very little sense most of the time compared to the koel book

__________________
putting down subfloor with glue and screws, well i saw dr. smith and the robot too , i had a martian burger and a sonic shake

Dirtywhiteboy

Maybe try,,, ditch the wetbacks and get some Americans or if they are Americans give em a "Welcome to America now learn the langue" and when you do come back and see if your jobs still open??

Dirtywhiteboy

OK Warren has said a lot here! cut one and test fit itbefore you fuop the whole pile of lumber

Jrickard

roof framers bible

FramingPro

roof framing by marshall gross is very good

pizalm

I'm in school right now and we use the 5th edition of by koel. It explains some of it but the instructor does a much better job.