A sloped framing member that forms the framework of a pitched roof and carries the roof's weight to the walls below.
A sloped structural member that forms the framework of a pitched roof and supports the roof covering. Rafters extend from the ridge board or ridge beam at the peak down to the wall plate or beam at the eaves. They carry roof loads—including dead load, live load, snow load, and wind load—to the supporting walls or beams.
Rafter framing affects both takeoff quantity and labor productivity — pitch, span, and spacing determine board footage, the cut complexity, and crew hours, especially on stick-framed roofs versus trussed alternatives. An estimator comparing rafter framing to prefabricated trusses must weigh material, field labor, and schedule, since the wrong assumption can swing the framing bid and the crew's exposure to weather and fall-protection cost.
Pricing a custom home with a cathedral ceiling, the estimator chooses stick-framed rafters over trusses and adds field-cutting labor hours because the open ridge beam design rules out prefabricated assemblies.
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