To prevent the ridge board or beam from separation due to uplift pressure from wind, collar ties or ridge straps are preferred. Sometimes masonry structure within the gable wall is also feasible if other structures are there along the span. You can either use a wood or steel post at the end for the load to be transferred to the foundation. SupportsĪs the ridge beam must be supported, it must be clear to know what type of support is feasible.
Although conventional hip-roof construction or a gable roof doesn’t need a ridge beam, but there’re some pros of using a ridge beam instead of a ridge board. It’s pretty easy to assemble your roof trusses if you use the ridge beam using LVL (laminated veneer lumber). It’s more stable than a conventional roof ridge board (that doesn’t sits atop the end posts) that doesn’t take any loading. Do I need rafter ties with a ridge beam?Ī ridge beam or more specifically a structural ridge beam is a load-bearing element that acts as an independent support for rafters at the apex (high end) of the roof.What’s the difference between Ridge boards Vs.