How to Build Corner Eaves

Hip Corners

• 1

  Build corners on hip roofs around the hip rafters, which run from the center peak to the corner of the wall. Miter the ends of the hip rafter at 45-degree angles with a circular saw and nail a fascia or facing board, the same depth as the rafters, to the end of the hip rafter and the rafters along each wall from that corner.

• 2

  Brace the fascia corner with short support rafters about halfway between the fascia and the wall corner. Measure the distance on each side of the hip rafter corner and cut angles with a circular saw to conform to the angle of the hip rafter. Fasten all these boards with 16d framing nails, driven with a hammer through the fascia into the rafter ends.

• 3

  Cover a hip corner soffit by installing a 2-by-4-inch ledger board horizontally on the wall with its bottom at the same height as the bottom of the fascia. Space horizontal 2-by-4-inch "lookouts" every two feet. Cut them to the length between the fascia and wall, and fasten them with framing nails. Add a second board over the first or subfascia, enough wider to accommodate a soffit covering. Cut soffit boards to fit between the fascia and ledger and nail them to the subfasciia, ledger and lookouts.

Gable Corners

• 4

  Make gable corner eaves to fit the type of overhangs; some gable roofs end flush with the gable wall, others have fly rafters to extend them another foot or so. Leave flush gable ends open or finish them with returns, boards cut to fit between the bottom of the end rafter and the wall corner. Figure this length using a level and tape measure, and cut the rafter end of the return at an angle to connect with the rafter.

• 5

  Install a basic return for an open gable corner eave with an end overhang. Measure from the bottom of the last rafter to the house wall. Cut a board the same width as the rafter to that length. Set it level against the house wall and mark the rafter angle on one end. Nail it to the fascia board on the rafter end at toenail it with diagonal framing nails to wall studs.

• 6

  Enclose a gable corner eave using a ledger board and end and bottom boards. Install a 2-by-4 ledger level horizontally from the end fascia to the house wall; end it at the house wall or extend it onto the wall if the gable end has an overhang. Cut plywood panels to make a bottom, a vertical end and triangular side to form a box on the corner. Put plywood or other covering over the soffits of both side and end eaves.