Roof Ridge Beam

Ridge beam sizing is based on the span of the beam between supports and the amount of roof load supported by the beam.

Roof ridge beam.

The ridge beam is typically a larger member like a 4 x 12 and carries the gravity load of the roof joists just as the bearing wall or header does at the envelope. The difference between them is that a ridge beam is a structural member that bears half of the live and dead loads of the rafters on either side of it but a ridge board is not structural. Here s a picture of a gable style shed using a ridge beam. Framing in a ridge beam in shed roof construction is not hard.

A timber frame roof has rafters and a ridge beam as with stick framing but the ridge is a large structural beam that the rafters sit on top of or sometimes fit into notches cut into the beam. A ridge board is a non structural member that serves as a prop for opposing rafters to rest against and connect to. A classic example of the exposed ridge beam structure can be seen on our magnolia residence which is currently in construction. The loads on the ridge beam are carried by vertical posts at the beam ends down through the building structural walls to the building foundation.

Ridge beams are required by code if the roof slope is less than 3 in 12 irc section r802 3. I always always build trusses. With this design the ridge beam bears much more load weight than the ridge board on a standard stick framed roof.