Rafter

This article is about structural members for support the roof deck. For people by this name, see Rafter (name). For nightclub in Manchester, see Rafters (nightclub). For other uses, see Rafter (disambiguation).

The Norman Truss which supports the roof. Note how the rafter poles for the gallerie tie-in. The Bequet-Ribault House was built c. 1793 near Ste. Geneviève, Missouri. It is one of three poteaux-en-terre buildings that survive in the US.^{[citation needed]}

A rafter is one of a series of sloped structural members (beams), that extend from the ridge or hip to the downslope perimeter or eave, designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads.

Design

A type of beam, which supports the roof of a building. In home construction, rafters are typically made of wood. Exposed rafters are a feature of traditional roof styles.

Applications

In many buildings, rafters have been replaced by engineered trusses (trussed rafters), normally because of span limitations and/or roof load (weight from above).

See also

• Soffit
• Fascia (architecture)
• Purlin
• Joist
• Truss
• Lookout (architecture)