A pitched roof has many elements which make up the roofing structure. When your roof needs repairing or even if you are undertaking a new build project, you'll need to know a little about the various terms the trade use, so you can make informed decisions.
Some parts of a pitched roof include:
€¢ Joists €“ The ceiling joists are the fixed to adjacent walls and hold the ceiling up in the room below the roof. Because of their size, they are not usually suitable for load bearing.
€¢ Struts €“ The struts support the purlins and are fixed from the purlin to the wall or ceiling joists angularly.
€¢ Purlins €“ These are the long pieces of timber which reduce the span of the rafters, they are normally fitted between adjacent walls.
€¢ Rafters €“ The rafters form the pitch of the roof and support the batterns and tiles
€¢ Ridge board €“ The ridge board is the apex timber in the roof and is where the rafters fix on both sides.
€¢ Roof ties €“ The roof ties are those timbers which support the A-frame of the roof. Some houses use the ceiling joists as the ties; in others they are fitted half way up the A-frame of the roof structure.
As well as these essential structural components there is insulation and a breathable vapour barrier which sits below the roof tiles or slates that are used to cover the roof.
Roof windows can be mounted in between the rafters and at the top of the roof, ridge tiles are used to cover the point where the two surfaces of slates or tiles meet and prevent water ingress at that, the highest point.
In addition, chimney stacks might be added, with a capper or spinner cowl used to reduce the risk of a blocked flue and to eliminate a downdraft that might reduce the energy efficiency of your home.
