How to Nail a Rafter

Rafters, which are often 2-by-4 boards of wood, run horizontally across the ceiling of a room and support roofing materials such as shingles. Because rafters sometimes support their own weight, as well as the weight of roofing materials, they need to be properly installed. Use anchors and nails to secure rafters to the support beam on which they sit. Nailing rafters into place provides enough stability to support the rafters and the roofing materials they hold.

Galvanized nails
Seismic anchors
Saw
Hammer

Instructions

- 1
  Position the rafter on top of the support beam so the 2-inch side of the 2-by-4 touches the support beam. Mark the locations of the support beam on the rafter with a pencil. Where you mark it, use a saw to cut a 1/2-inch-deep notch into the rafter where it sits on top of the support beam. The notch will help keep the rafter in place.
- 2
  Push the rafter down onto the support beam. The support beam should fit into the notches on the rafter.
- 3
  Position a seismic anchor so one portion sits against the rafter and the other portion sits against the side of the support beam. Secure the seismic anchor with galvanized nails.

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