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What is a rafter?

A rafter is a sloping member of a roof’s supporting frame. A common rafter runs from the wall’s top plate to the ridge, meeting both at 90° in plan view. Name the rafter type and its endpoints when defining a framing job.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Updated

What this means for your home project

  1. On the framing drawing, identify the members running from the wall plate to the ridge; label those common rafters. Source: U.S. Navy, read 2026-11-05.
  2. Request the specified horizontal projection from building line to rafter tail in the written scope, so the overhang dimension is explicit. Source: U.S. Navy, read 2026-11-05.
  3. Ask the written material schedule to separate lumber volume from the rate per board foot. Source: U.S. Navy, read 2026-11-05.
  4. Ask the proposal to identify whether it covers individual rafters or an assembly with top chords, bottom chords and webs. Source: U.S. Navy, read 2026-11-05.
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What are rafter tails?

The Navy manual (read 2026-11-05) helps you locate the overhang dimension to request before agreeing to a rafter framing scope. “Rafters usually extend a short distance beyond the wall to form the eaves (overhang) and protect the sides of the building.” (source) “Projection, the horizontal distance from the building line to the rafter tail, must be located from drawings or specifications.” (source)

What is the difference between a collar tie and a rafter tie?

AWC (read 2026-11-02) and Greene County’s 2012 IRC guide distinguish tie locations; use WFCM section 3.2.6.1 when discussing ridge connections. “Ceiling joists or rafter ties resist outward thrust of the rafters in the lower third of the attic space.” (source) “Collar ties or ridge straps to resist wind uplift shall be connected in the upper third of the attic space.” (source)

What is the difference between the “line length” and the “run” of a rafter?

For the Navy manual’s symmetrical roof example (read 2026-11-05), distinguish horizontal run from sloping line length before reading framing drawings. “Total run is equal to half the span, or the base of one of the right triangles.” (source) “The distance is measured along the rafter from the outside edge of the top plate to the centerline of the ridge.” (source)

What affects the cost of rafter construction?

Use the Navy manual (read 2026-11-05) to distinguish material quantity from unit rate when reviewing the lumber portion of a rafter proposal. “To calculate the cost of this piece of lumber, multiply the cost per board foot by the total number of board feet.” (source)

What is the difference between a rafter and a truss?

The Navy manual (read 2026-11-05) identifies the assembly’s components, helping you distinguish individual rafter work from a proposal covering trusses. “The basic components of a roof truss are the top and bottom chords and the web members as shown in Figure 10-132.” (source) “The top chords serve as roof rafters.” (source) “The bottom chords act as ceiling joists.” (source) “The web members run between the top and bottom chords.” (source)

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