Replace Damaged Roof Rafters

Use a hammer and nails to.

Replace damaged roof rafters.

Very easy to do. How to replace rotted wood rafters step 1. The owner had a different idea. With the proper tools anyone can do this.

Remove an area of the roof shingles from the edge of the roof to the upper line of the overhang using a 16 inch nail bar and hammer to pull the roofing nails. If the entire rafter was rotten use the length. If a part of a truss has been cut out then replacing the board or piece cut out is generally not to hard or expensive. Note that a squirrel had built a large nest above the soffit shown here.

While a roofing contractor would perhaps have proposed a complete tear down of the roof replacing it with straight modern size rafters the owner preferred to keep the roof sheathing in place and to straighten the roof by applying force from below while adding additional framing members. Use a reciprocating saw to chop out the rotted rafter. Remove the rotted wood with a chisel and pry bar. Replacing rotted rafter ends on a gable roof is a matter of removing the existing ends and installing new wood.

Measure the dimensions of the old rafters beneath your roofing surface. Assuming it s in good shape you can leave it in place and install the new materials around it. Measure the length of framing wood needed with a measuring tape. Although it is a straightforward process it is necessary to take your time to ensure a solid repair.

Cut out the section of the roofing. If it shows signs of rotting water damage or other wear you ll need to chop it out using a reciprocating saw. Pull down to remove the old soffit. Discard the wood in a.

The rotten wood will come away easily. Cut a replacement piece from pressure treated lumber. Step 1 place a stepladder or extension ladder under the rafter end with the most damage. Examine the condition of the rafter the thick beam running the length of the overhang.

If a board is cracked then placing a similar board on each side of the broken one and bolting or nailing the three together may correct the issue. Cut away rotten or damaged rafters. This video shows how to repair a split rafter. How to replace the rafters without removing the roof step 1.