How to Measure a Wooden Roof Frame

Framing a roof is a labor-intensive process that can make veteran homeowners nervous. Proper measurement of the roof before building or repair will prevent unnecessary material waste. Many websites have roofing calculators that you can put your measurements into, as well as tables to find the correct lumber for your project. When resources are available, use them; roofing with guesswork is never a good idea.

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the width of the building that the rafters will sit on. This is the span.
- 2
  Divide the span by 2 to get the run of the roof.
- 3
  Use the horizontal run of the rafter to determine your rafter size. Compare the horizontal run to the American Wood Span rafter calculator.
- 4
  Place a carpenter's square on the roof so that the body is lifted up from the roof. Place a level on the side of the square until the square is level. Measure from the bottom of the square to the top of the roof. This is the pitch.
- 5
  Add all the calculations into a rafter angle calculator to find the rafter angle.

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