What size should a ridge beam be?

Generally for 2×4 rafters, you should use a 2×6 size ridge beam, for 2×6 rafters, use a 2×8 ridge beam, for 2×8 rafters, use a 2×10 ridge beam, for 2×10 rafters, use a 2×12 ridge beam, for 2×12 rafters, use a 2×14 ridge beam, and so on.

What can I use as a ridge beam?

Ridge Rafter Connector

Top ridge rafter hangers or ties are a great way to place and fasten rafters to ridge beams or boards.

Is a ridge beam necessary?

Yes, either a ridge board or a ridge beam is necessary, and required by the building code, where roof rafters meet at the the center of their span.

How do you support a ridge beam?

The ridge beam must have adequate supports, typically provided by built-up wood columns. Columns must be sized to prevent excessive slenderness. Each column must have adequate support from attic floor framing and bearing walls below that support attic floor framing.

What size beam do I need for a 16 foot span?

For a 16 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×14 or 6×14 size of wood beam. Thus, a 3 nailed 2×14 or 3-2×14 or 6×14 wood beam can allow to span 16 feet. For a 16-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 14 inches in depth and 6″ in width (3-2×14) used for residential building, wood frame structure or projects.

What size beam do I need for a 20 span?

For a 20-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 16 inches in depth and 8″ in width (4-2×16) used for residential building or projects.

How do you calculate ridge beam?

For example, if the slope is 4 in 12, and the run is 12 feet, the ridge beam height (M) will be 4 feet. The finished ridge beam height (Z) above the top of the wall will be (M) plus the Y Height. The formulas are: M = (R * X) / 12.

How much weight does a ridge beam support?

For 10 feet spacing of supports, design load applied to each support is at least 4,800 pounds, depending on span conditions (simple, continuous). This relatively large load likely may require reinforcement of attic floor framing and even floor framing below, down to foundation.

How thick is a ridge beam?

1 inch

Ridge boards can only be used in roofs with slopes from 3 in 12 up to 12 in 12. Ridge boards shall be at least 1 inch nominal thickness and not less in depth than the cut end of the rafter (IRC section R802. 3).

How far can you span a 2×8 ridge beam?

Span is determined by species, grade, dimensions, spacing, use, and load. A rule of thumb is 1.5 times a joist’s depth but in feet when spaced at 16” centers. In general, a 2×8 will span 1.5 x 8, so 12-feet. Based on all factors though, a 2×8 joist span is 7′-1” to 16′-6”, and a rafter 6′-7” and 23′-9”.

How long should a ridge board be?

The ridge board’s length will be the outside measurement of the building plus the length of the overhang, at both ends. You may splice two boards together to achieve this length, if necessary, using a 14 and 1/2-inch block of the same material.