Splice Roof Rafters

When you prepare to make the splice note the rafters location.

Splice roof rafters.

A ridge board is a much better way to secure rafters to your roof and will almost always be a better way to go. A 16 foot board will end at a rafter with 24 inch spacing. Rafter splicing is typically used as a last resort for erecting rafters and is not generally the preferred method of constructing roofs. Rafter plates are load bearing beams that support either a single rafter or a truss.

The roof rafters are 2x8 on 16 centers with 2x10 ridges. A splice should end between rafters not where a rafter lands directly on the splice. A 30 foot roof for instance will need at least two boards. Calculate where a ridge beam splice will be needed.

Several roof rafters have been spliced in a v pattern near the roof ridge. Rafter plates are almost always spliced due to the length of most structures. Several have a plywood scab brace on the side but several do not. How to splice a roof rafter plate.

Pictured at left is a 2x6 rafter spliced together using 3 4 plywood. In this case the rafter as a whole is actually stronger than it would have been because the splice is more than adequate and the plywood adds to the strength. Rafter splice forgive the crude drawing will post pic but it is hard to see.