Cabins And Lofts

rakuz66

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I've been looking at cabins to buy and every one I look at has the same basic plan. Loft area of with an open cathedral ceiling in front. However, there are never any ridge beams, only ridge boards. Does the loft hold the entire structure together at the top plate??

genecarp

Yes , a loft does work as a structural element to keep the building from spreading, additionally, collar ties are in place...G

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rakuz66

So that's all you would need?? I mean there is 15 - 20 feet of open ceiling w/out a ridge beam?

Aframe

If the ridge runs left to right and loft is parallel to it over front half.
If you have collar ties (at loft joist level) that run to the back wall that will hold it. Additional collar ties 1/3 from the ridge too.

If the loft is one the side (other side open) you will need something from front to back in cathedral area to keep them together

rakuz66

I'm confused Aframe. Cabins run left to right 25 ft with ridge running at 11 ft . Width , or front to back is 22 ft. First 10 ft left to right is loft with ceiling joists, the rest (15 ft x 22 ft) is open with just ridge board/rafters, no c.joists. To me, there should be a ridge beam, as there are no c joists.
X X X X
X L L LX
X O OOX
---------- ridge--------------------
X F F F X
X T F T X
X X X X X
_____________ 25 ______________

KentWhitten

what the hell is that? Sorry, I've come in late, but what the hell is that?

From what you are saying, it sounds like there should be a beam there, not just a ridge board.

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SLSTech

How about some pics? Then maybe we can figure out exactly what you are trying to say. The FLOX above makes no sense. The cathedral ceiling is made of what - Logs & Bead board or ???

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rakuz66

Framerman, that's my poor attempt at drawing the structure. I've been looking at cabins to buy and that's how they are built. No insulation or wiring yet, just being sold with the walls and roof unfinished on the inside. So I can see the studs, rafters, etc. They are 25 ft long by 22 ft wide. 10 ft of loft section followed by 15 ft of an open cathedral ceiling with just a ridge board. I've always thought a ridge beam was needed or beams every 4 ft or so at plate level to hold walls together. However, I'm being told the loft holds the entire camp together? How can the loft which ends at 10 ft hold the rest of the 15 ft??
The ridge board runs the entire 25 ft. In the loft area(10ft) there are ceiling joists at plate level ( which becomes the floor in the loft) which tie the walls /roof together. The next 15 ft is open with just rafterrs.
__________________ 25________________
X Loft =10 ft ------------Cathedral = 15 ft
X
X
22
X
X
X
X
___________________25__________________

Thompsy

Is the roof pitch really steep? We have built a few cabins almost identical to the one you are describing. We just used a ridge board not a beam. The pitch on ours was 12/12 or more. The steeper roof helps lessen the forces that spread the wall I think.

rakuz66

Thompsy, yes the pitch is 10/12 or 12/12. That was my thought as well. It must be that the steep pitch sheds the snow and lessens the weight on the roof, thereby reducing thrust and wall spread.

Aframe

Raku

your drawing is my second description, loft at one end of gable.

even with a steep pitch I would think you would need collar ties @ plate level or structural ridge for cathedral area.

Maybe they sell that as an upgrade, just in case you want straight walls and level ridge in 20 years

rakuz66

That's my hesitation in buying one Aframe. I'm certainly no master carpenter, but I did work w/ one for a few yrs. I distictly remember when building a cathedral ceiling, you either use a ridge beam or use exposed beams every 4 ft at plate level. And these cabins are in a 70# snow load area.