More of a building question

[Nick Clayton]

Could anyone instruct me on how to use a framing square to make the birdsmouth cut and rafter to beam angle? I'm building(perhaps over building) a 5' x 5' shed to house some little Bantams for my wife. I wanted the roof to have an overhang which is why I'm using this method. Thank you in advance for any help you folks can provide.

Cheers,
Nick

[Rob Will]

Nick,
You can indeed use the marks on a square to calculate the birdsmouth but perhaps the best method would be to establish your roof pitch and then use a rafter to make a pattern.

Cut the upper end to the proper angle and position this one rafter about 1-1/2" higher than where it will end up on both ends. If you can lay this temporary rafter across your beam then simply use a block of wood on top of the beam to draw a horizontal line for the birdsmouth.

Once you get this one rafter cut, use it as a pattern for all the others.
Make sure your outer wall is plumb before you start.

Rob

[Mark Singer]

Rob gave you the best advice. Snap it out on the floor to full scale and lay the first rafter on the drawing on the floor.....that becomes your template rafter

[Nick Clayton]

Rob and Mark,

Thanks for the advice, I knew I could count on the forum! As always I over think and thus over complicate most evrything.

Cheers,
Nick

[Wes Bischel]

Nick,
Looks like you got the info you needed. But when I first read your note, I thought "Gee, and I was just in Butler, PA where they were made" - Bantams that is. Of course I then realized, though they were small cars, a 5' square shed wouldn't quite be big enough.:rolleyes: :eek: Yep, I'm a city boy.:D

Oh, and FWIW, I always prefab trusses for the shed in the shop with a fixture. I get better results there, than on-site.

Wes

[lou sansone]

I have done the same "snapping on the floor" and that has been fine for me

lou

[Bill Lewis]

I've laid them out in CAD, then worked it out on the floor, and also added blocking to the floor to build pre-fab trusses.