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Chapter 17 Constructing Structures
See Figure 17-16. The type of roof is chosen
for its appearance and how it withstands
the weather. For example, flat roofs are
poor choices in areas with heavy snow.
This type of roof cannot easily support
the weight of deep snow. Likewise, a hip
roof looks out of place on a Spanish-type
home. This kind of roof does not give the
“Spanish-style” look.
Roof construction involves two steps.
First, the roof frame is built with rafters.
Rafters are angled boards resting on the
top plate of the exterior walls. Often, a spe-
cial structure called a truss is used. A truss
is a triangle-shaped structure including
both the rafter and ceiling joist in one unit.
Trusses are manufactured in a factory and
then shipped to the building site. The raft-
ers or trusses are covered with plywood
or particleboard sheathing. This step com-
pletes the erection of the frame.
Enclosing the Structure
After the framework is complete, the
structure needs to be enclosed. The roof
and wall surfaces need to be covered. This
process involves enclosing the walls and
installing the roof. With regard to enclos-
ing the walls, all homes have both interior
and exterior wall coverings. These cover-
ings improve the looks of the building and
keep out the elements (rain, snow, wind,
and sunlight).
Enclosing the exterior walls involves
sheathing (covering) all the exterior surfaces.
See Figure 17-17. Plywood, fiberboard, or
rigid foam sheets are used to sheath the
Sheathing
Rafter
Ceiling
joist
Doubled
top plate
Stud
Figure 17-15. How the roof meets the wall
frame.
Gable
Side view Side view Side view Side view Side view
Flat Hip Gambrel Shed
Figure 17-16. Some popular types of roofs used on homes.