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I have a carport 24 x 19 with a gabled wood roof, the ridge…

I have a carport 24'...

I have a carport 24' x 19' with a gabled wood roof, the ridge is 10' above the beam. The rafters are 16" oc. I have crossbeams on each rafter, 30" below the ridge. I now have a colleague telling me that those cross beams are not enough. and I need at least 2 cross beams just above the beams.

Do I?

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6/2/2014

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 8 years ago

StructuralEng, Consultant

Category: Structural Engineering

Satisfied Customers: 9,772

Experience: Structural Engineer

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StructuralEng :

Hello

StructuralEng :

How are you doing?

StructuralEng :

I'll be happy to assist you

Customer:

Ok. Thanks.

StructuralEng :

Are you an engineer doing this design?

Customer:

No. I'm the owner.

Customer:

It's just completed.

StructuralEng :

Gabled roofs are not typically designed with cross beams above or below teh rafter unless there is a need to have very small rafters

StructuralEng :

The rafters typically "span" from ridge to eave and have compression due to the tied arch nature of the system.

Customer:

So no need for cross beams to connect the rafters?

StructuralEng :

Not if the rafters were properly engineered

Customer:

Maybe gabled is the wrong name. It's a simple open raftered roof with a 10-12 pitch with gables at the end. How can it be rigid side-to-side without cross beams? I think all carports I've seen have some crossbeams.

StructuralEng :

Cross beams typically at the eave only, not along the span.

StructuralEng :

Do you have pictures you can share to more clearly illustrate your concern?

StructuralEng :

I will pause the timer until you can upload some pictures witht he paper clip icon

Customer:

This carport is 24' long and 19' wide. The crossbeams span the 19'. so they're not at the eaves. I'll up load a photo.

StructuralEng :

Then, no, I don't typically see gables roofs with crosbeams along the length of the rafters.

StructuralEng, Consultant

Category: Structural Engineering

Satisfied Customers: 9,772

Experience: Structural Engineer

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StructuralEng and 87 other Structural Engineering Specialists are ready to help you

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Customer reply replied 8 years ago

You weren't responsive, then you said you'd pause the timer for a photo, which you didn't.

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 8 years ago

I wasn't responsive? I've been having a discussion with yo. I'm telling you that your description is not typical. I did pause to wait for the picture. but there were apparently only seconds left.We can continue via the Q&A format and you can still attach the pictures.

Customer reply replied 8 years ago

carport picture

2014-06-02_150738_carport.jpg2014-06...jpg

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 8 years ago

What you described in the original question as cross beams would be beams that are perpendicular to the rafters and physically supporting the rafters. The picture shows what are generally referred to as collar ties, which connect the rafters that oppose each other.

Unfortunately, what you show in the picture is a problem. Collar ties are ineffective that high on the rafters and the cathedral ceiling will impose large lateral forces on the beams at the eave. You should have true ties (which can be joists) connecting the opposing rafters very close to the eave beams. The closer to the bottom of the rafters, the more effective they are in doing their job.

Customer reply replied 8 years ago

How many collar ties?

Structural Engineer: StructuralEng, Consultant replied 8 years ago

Collar ties are generally at the top like you have. These are essentially ineffective. Ties where they should be (near the bottom) are just ties. I would put one at each rafter or you'll need to make sure the beam at the eave can span horizontally between the ties for the lateral loads imposed by the rafters that are not tied.

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