Traditional stick-built roof framing has been largely replaced by the use of pre-fab trusses but there are still situations where it is appropriate such as smaller buildings garages sheds and the like cathedral ceilings in houses unusual house designs where prefab loses its economic advantage and renovations where stick-built is the easier method to work.

If you can build a wall frame you can probably pitch a roof if you know the correct angles - many carpenters use The Roof Builders Manual as their guide.

Originally published in 1988 its usefulness is proven by the fact that it has been reprinted seven times and has just recently been released as a Second Edition. The book is aimed particularly at carpenter apprentices and presents the often complex maths and trigonometry involved in the most straightforward manner possible - simple charts. Half the book consists of charts which provide the angles for the hip plumb cut purlin face cut rafter plumb cut purlin edge cut hip edge cut jack rafter edge cut rafter seat cut and the hip seat cut - for every angle roof pitch from 5-75°.

Using the tables the length of the rafters and hips can be calculated through a series of simple additions rather than resorting to trigonometry. The bevel diagrams are designed so that the builder can set the angle of the part by laying a sliding bevel face onto the edge of the book and aligning the blade with the line provided for the angle.

The manual provides explanations of the most common roof styles such as gable skillion and lean-to dual pitched unequal pitch gable Jerkinhead dutch gable hip and hip and valley roofs. A large composite diagram of a roof lists all the common roofing members and shows clearly where they fit.

Using the tables the length of the rafters and hips can be calculated through a series of simple additions rather than resorting to trigonometry. The bevel diagrams are designed so that the builder can set the angle of the part by laying a sliding bevel face onto the edge of the book and aligning the blade with the line provided for the angle.

Using the tables the length of the rafters and hips can be calculated through a series of simple additions rather than resorting to trigonometry. The bevel diagrams are designed so that the builder can set the angle of the part by laying a sliding bevel face onto the edge of the book and aligning the blade with the line provided for the angle.

The manual provides explanations of the most common roof styles such as gable skillion and lean-to dual pitched unequal pitch gable Jerkinhead dutch gable hip and hip and valley roofs. A large composite diagram of a roof lists all the common roofing members and shows clearly where they fit.

Combine all of the above with a definitive explanation of how to mark out top plates ridges and rafters as well as cutting the parts and erecting the roof itself - and you get the ultimate guide for Australian roof building.

Illustrations: Black & White

Units of Measurement: Metric

Simple Roofing Basics Roof Designs Roofing Members & Where they Fit Roofing Terms The Triangle Makes it Easy The Rafter Length The Slope Marking out the Top Plates & Ridge For Hip Roofs For Hip & Valley Roofs For Gable Roofs Marking Out Rafters Make the Common Rafter Pattern The Birdsmouth Rule Make the Hip Jack Pattern Rafters Valley Jack & Cripple Jack Rafters End Jack Rafters Hip & Valley Rafters Cutting Out Erecting the Roof Erecting Common Rafters & Ridges Site Measuring & Erecting Hip Rafters Erecting Hip Jack Rafters Erecting Broken Hip Rafters Site Measuring & Erecting Valley Rafters Erecting Valley Jack & Cripple Jack Rafters Aligning Members Other Roof Members Strutting Measuring & Cutting Struts Ceiling Joists & Hanging Beams Cathedral Ceiling Roofs Tie-down & Roof Bracing Eaves Construction Rafter Lengths & Bevels Actual Example Marking the Cutting Lengths Tables & Bevels