In Roof Construction No Ridge Board Is Needed If

A ridge board is a non structural member that serves as a prop for opposing rafters to rest against and connect to.

In roof construction no ridge board is needed if.

The ridge board s length will be the outside measurement of the building plus the length of the overhang at both ends. Ridge beams are required by code if the roof slope is less than 3 in 12 irc section r802 3. You may splice two boards together to achieve this length if necessary using a 14 and 1 2 inch block of the same material. If you have serious doubts about the integrity of the new roof a second opinion should be.

You don t need a ridge beam but you do need a way to keep the walls from spreading. 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. But if you use nailing that s at least equivalent to what s required for the ridge board connection there shouldn t be any questions. This can be accomplished with collar ties boards spanning the shed at ceiling height or with large gussets further up the rafter slope.

No ridge board is needed in roof construction if the pitch is steep and the rafter are directly opposed. This is the only time a ridge board is not needed. The ridge board is installed to provide a bearing point where the rafters meet and it also helps with alignment along the ridge. The irc more carefully addresses the connections of the rafter ties to the lower ends of the rafters the heel connection because the loads that work to thrust the walls outward change dramatically with roof pitch snow load and rafter span.

It is true that no ridge board is needed if the pitch is steep and rafters are directly. It is true that no ridge board is needed if the pitch is steep and rafters are directly opposed. As to the ceiling stain in the living room this may have occurred prior to installing the new shingles. If the rafters are directly opposite each other than it s a ridge board not a ridge beam and it only aids in placing the rafters no structural function.

Many older houses were framed without a ridge board. One collar tie would be enough in your case. For 2 x 4 rafters use a 2 x 6 ridge board.