Roof Ridge Beam

A classic example of the exposed ridge beam structure can be seen on our magnolia residence which is currently in construction.

Roof ridge beam.

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. A ridge board is a non structural member that serves as a prop for opposing rafters to rest against and connect to. Ridge beam sizing is based on the span of the beam between supports and the amount of roof load supported by the 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.

I always always build trusses. Ridge beams are required by code if the roof slope is less than 3 in 12 irc section r802 3. Yes either a ridge board or a ridge beam is necessary and required by the building code where roof rafters meet at the the center of their span. Now if you have done any looking around this site you ll quickly see that i am not a fan of using a ridge beam in shed construction.

A structural ridge beam is a horizontal beam placed at the peak or ridge of a roof and is designed to carry much of the live and dead loads or weight of the roof structure by itself. 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. Here s a picture of a gable style shed using a ridge beam.