How To Repair A Broken Roof Rafter

How to Repair Cleaved Rafters

Over time, broken or cracked roof rafters can appear when wood gets one-time and dry out. Rafters tin besides exist damaged by a blow to the roof from falling branches. Although the rafter must be replaced if it is completely broken, smaller areas of damage tin can be repaired through the awarding of a scab board.

Repair damage to a rafter using scab boards.

This board is a section of lumber that is the same thickness equally the rafter, and 2 anxiety longer on each side of the damaged section. A scab board installed on each side of the damaged rafter is preferable to a lath on just one side.

Tip

For greater strength, install truss supports to the rafter on each side of the scab board area, running them downwards to the floor (or to a horizontal rafter support on the floor) at a perpendicular angle to the rafter. Use the same size lumber equally the scab boards, and install them with the same size nails. This will aid transfer some of the weight load from the broken rafter to the flooring/horizontal rafter attached to the floor.

Measure the length of the damaged area on the rafter using a tape measure. Add 4 feet to this measurement.
Measure and mark two pieces of hardwood lumber to this length using the record measure, a carpenter's pencil and set foursquare. Ensure that the lumber is the same thickness every bit the existing rafter (usually 1-1/two inches, which is the thickness of a standard 2-by-4, 2-by-six or 2-by-x plank). Cut through the lumber with a circular saw or miter saw. Remove all splinters from the sawed ends of the lumber with medium sandpaper.
Marker each piece of the scab board on one side at its middle using the pencil and ready square (a 6-foot piece of lumber would be marked at 3 feet). Mark the side of the existing rafter at the eye of the damaged department.
Position ane of the scab boards on one side of the rafter with the eye marking on the board facing outward. Line upwardly the board's centre marking with the marking on the side of the rafter.
Driver galvanized 12d 3-inch nails through the scab board and into the rafter with a hammer. Nail simply in the 2-foot-long ends of the rafter that are non straight over the damaged section (the number of nails will exist determined by the width of the scab board). Repeat the process with other scab boards.

The Drip Cap

Over time, broken or croaky roof rafters can appear when wood gets old and dry.
Although the rafter must be replaced if it is completely cleaved, smaller areas of damage can be repaired through the application of a scab lath.
Measure and marker two pieces of hardwood lumber to this length using the tape mensurate, a carpenter'southward pencil and set square.
Position ane of the scab boards on 1 side of the rafter with the center marking on the board facing outward.