RAFTER and PURLIN FORMULAS:

It would be an exercise in futility to attempt to enumerate all the

possible formulas, as every case is different. Knowledge of how the angles
relate to the overall roof structure and to each other are the keys to
successful results. First, some formulas for working on the roof plane:

JACK RAFTERS: Given spacing O.C. on Eave / Ridge

Difference in Lengths = (Spacing O. C.) X tan (90 – P2)
= (Spacing O. C.) ÷ tan P2 ** Note:
Spacing on Valley = (Spacing O. C.) ÷ sin P2 cos SS = cos C5
cos R1
= (Spacing O. C.) ÷ cos (90 – P2)
÷ cos R1 **
Jack Rafter Depth = (Valley Depth X cos SS)
Housings: Length on Roof Plane = Housing Depth ÷ cos A7
x = Distance from Rafter end
= * (Length on Roof Plane) X sin (90 + A9)
Jack Rafter:
sin P2 Projected Square cut angles.
* Law of Sines: A similar relation 90 – A9
can be used in conjunction with P5, Length on Roof Plane
and angle P4 on the Jack Purlin. P2 P5
x

JACK PURLINS: Given spacing O.C. on Common Rafter

Difference in Lengths = (Spacing O. C.) X tan P2
= (Spacing O. C.) ÷ tan (90 – P2) ** Note:
Spacing on Valley = (Spacing O. C.) ÷ cos P2 cos P1 = cos C5
cos R2
= (Spacing O. C.) ÷ sin (90 – P2)
÷ cos R2 **
Jack Purlin Depth = (Valley Depth X cos P1)
Housings: Length on Roof Plane = Housing Depth ÷ sin Q1
x = Distance from Purlin end
= (Length on Roof Plane) X sin (90 + A8)
cos P2 Jack Purlin;
Projected Square cut angles
90 – A8
Length on Roof Plane
90 – P2 x P4
 OFFSETTING the VALLEY TROUGH LINE:

C5a C5m
In the event that the pitches d
and deck angles are irregular, this
layout will force the transverse
axis (width) of the Valley to be at
right angles to the length. Adjacent Main
Subsequent joinery is simplified, = Side Side =
and as an aesthetic consideration,
equal arcs will be visible on each
side of the log Valley rafter
cutting.
w W
V

Overall VALLEY WIDTH = V = W + w

W = V tan DD ÷ (tan DD + tan D)
w = V tan D ÷ (tan DD + tan D)
Consider two Valley peaks that meet at a center post. A similar calculation
with the R4B angles can be carried out directly on the Valley rafter.
W = V tan R4Bm ÷ (tan R4Bm + tan R4Ba)
w = V tan R4Ba ÷ (tan R4Bm + tan R4Ba)
Both sets of calculations return the same respective values for W and w.
Assume that the Main side pitch is the lesser value, hence DD is greater than D.
Common sense dictates that W should be greater than w.
The figures may further be checked using the formula:
d = W tan C5m = w tan C5a
In other words, there can only be one resulting dimension for the trough
line depth. Note how the dimensions can always be double-checked, since
they are linked by more than one set of angles.
 VALLEY PEAK: MOVING the WORKING POINT:

Trough lines on Valley

W tan P2 / cos C5 rafters are often cut with a chain
W tan R1 tan C5 saw. This makes it difficult to
= d tan R1 measure from the trough or the
actual end point of the Valley.
It would be preferable to
work from the square end of the
P2 stock, giving an accurate reference
point for measurements.

Isometric
R1 Sketch of
Valley Rafter

C5

W tan R1 tan C5

W tan P2
cos C5
W

Working from the designated reference line

R4B
W tan P2 / cos C5 + W tan R1 tanC5
= W (tan P2 / cos C5 + tan R1 tanC5)
Top View = W / tan R4B.
of Valley This is the anticipated angle at the Valley
Rafter peak or ridge before the backing angle is cut.
Again, note how more than one calculation may
be used to check the dimensions.
 VALLEY FOOT at COMMON RAFTER:

C5
Isometric Sketch
of Valley Rafter Foot:
The tenon and housing
cuts are not depicted.

P2
V
w

W. P.

v2
SS
90 – R1

b
R4P

v1
R5P Sketch of
Compound Face
Let the overall Valley width = V:
The dimension along the bottom face, v1 , is V ÷ sin R4P
Projecting the same measurement through the upper face angles:
v2 = V ÷ (cos C5 sin P2) … … or, V ÷ sin C1
The width across the compound face is:
b = v2 cos SS = v1 cos R5P
Note that V cos SS ÷ sin C1 = V cos R5P ÷ sin R4P = V ÷ cos DD
A sketch of the Valley rafter in plan will confirm this result.
Stock length: Given the measurement to the Working Point, add
(H tan R1) + (w ÷ tan R4P)
 MORE VALLEY RELATED RATIOS:

Valley Foot meets

Common Rafter:

VALLEY DEPTH X cos C5

90 – SS

Level line
Blade angle = DD
R5P

Blade angle = 90 – DD P6

Blade angle = A5B Square cut

Plumb line

VALLEY DEPTH ÷ cos R1

HEADER DEPTH =
Valley Peak meets Header R5B COMMON DEPTH
cos SS
Blade angle = C1

90 – P1
P3

VALLEY DEPTH X • cos C5

Valley Peak meets Square Cut

Main Purlin
Angle Q4 is required as a “correction factor” at the bottom faces of the adjacent
Valleys; the cut here is not a square cut. Note how the intercepting planes create
same angles and lines as the Purlin
DIMENSIONING meets Valley joint,
SHEATHING andbutSIPS:
arranged differently.
 DIMENSIONING SIPs and SHEATHING:

Complex roof system angles are not limited to dimensioning the logs
and timbers. The angles govern all the materials used in the roof, including
hardware such as gussets. Sheathing would simply follow the P2 angles. The
SIPs in the following example lie transverse to the rafters; they are in
essence purlins and therefore are treated as such.

90 – P2

Sheathing and SIPs

conform to the angles on P2
the roof plane.

SS

Blade angle = C5
Plumb line

SIP parallel to
the Ridge line
90 – P2
SIP with edge 90 – SS
adjacent to
90 – R1
Valley rafter
x
S
90 – R2
90 – P1

The plane of x follows the side face of the Valley, let the thickness of the SIP = S:
x = (S cos R2 ) ÷ cos P1 = (S cos R1 ) ÷ cos SS = S ÷ cos C5
The same ratios are to project the depth of a purlin (or, a common rafter) to the
side face of the Valley.
The depth measured along the ridge line would be S ÷ cos SS,
the formula used to project the common rafter depth to a header.
 SQUARE CUTS: HOUSINGS and TENONS:

* The intercepting planes actually form

two sets of supplementary dihedral
angles = 90 ± Blade angle.
Dihedral angle =
Dihedral angle =
90 – C5 * 90 – DD

P2

Sketch of
Common Rafter
meets Valley
90 – SS
Section A-A through Square Cut
A
H = Housing depth

C5
H tan C5:
90 – C5 dimension on A
H ÷ cos C5: compound face
dimension on
bottom face Intercepting cuts create a line
perpendicular to the face.

The Square cuts, by definition perpendicular to the Compound face of

the tenoned member, intercept to create a line perpendicular to the face.
Defined as the Housing depth, this dimension serves as the reference length
for dimensioning both of the Square cuts. Note that the compound face is
equivalent to the face being mortised, in this case the Valley rafter side face.
A tenon is treated as an extension of the housing; mortise angles and
measurements are equal to their corresponding tenon counterparts.
Angle C5 was used in the above example, but the method may be
applied to all such cuts by substituting the appropriate angles. The angles in
question are always known: the Blade angles along the miter and bevel of the
tenoned member.