Attached is a sketch of the way I propose to frame my roof.
I can't seem to attach a file to a post, so I'll try to describe the sketch of my proposed roof framing.
The house is 26 feet wide, the pitch is 6-12, the rafters and ceiling joists are 2x8s, the ridge board is 2x10, and the ceiling joist supports are 2x6s.
The ceiling joists overlap about 3 feet in the middle and are supported by (2) 2x6s. Each 2x6 goes from a rafter right next to its peak to the opposite ceiling joist just at the end of the overlap.
Basically, it will be a stick by stick built rafter roof with the ceiling joists supported by (2) 2x6 supports from the peak of the rafters; each support going from the peak of a rafter to the opposing ceiling joist at the end of the joist overlap (so as to stay in the same plane). Effective span of each side of the ceiling joists of about 11.5 feet ( 1/2 of house width minus the 3 foot overlap in the middle).
This is for a metal over plywood roof with no snow load.
Does anyone see any load or strength problems with this proposal ?
( Trusses are not feasible for this situation for a number of pertinent reasons, and I would prefer not to use posts to support the ceiling joists.)
Thanks,
Arky
I had a hard time understanding what it is you want to do. You really do need to post a sketch so we can understand it better.
If you don't have any drafting programs, try Google Sketchup. It's a free download, but it does take a little while to get used too.
Or you could just draw it on paper and take a pic with your digital camera.
Good luck
P.S. Why are trusses not an option. I didn't want to use store bought trusses either, but right now the prices are LOW; ie $56 each for 32' trusses with a 5 pitch, from Horner Truss right here in Hot Springs.
I have a jpeg image of my sketch but am unable to figure out how to attach or insert it.
Store bought trusses are not an option due to the remote location of the site.
(Also, I would not use them anyway since the lumber is from my own sawmill, basically free other than my labor.)
I could make my own trusses, but this is a strictly one man job and I really don't want to rig up a lifting pole to set trusses and don't want to try to wrestle them in place by myself.
Basically, it's just a rafter roof with ceiling joists, but rather than the ceiling joists being supported by an interior wall or by interior posts and beams, the joists would be supported from the peak of the rafters via (2) 2x6 members.
Arky
Is sounds to me like your attempting to build a King post or Hammer truss out of dimensional lumber. You'd be relying , HEAVILY, on the shear strenght of mechanical fasteners.
MAYBE , maybe it MIGHT work , but I'm not sure for how long :-\ It could fail in a collapse , or MTL just sag under it's own weight over time.
But I would not give it long term success.
(http://www.vermonttimberworks.com/home/commercial/trusses/images/Guillemard.png)
These guys call it a king post truss.
Link: http://www.vermonttimberworks.com/truss.html
Here's thier hammer beam truss,
(http://www.vermonttimberworks.com/home/commercial/trusses/images/UBC%20Hammer%20Beam.png)
I recommned using a center beam and posts, you could use big beams for longer spams between posts , and hide some or most of the beam by hanging your joist flush with the top of beam.
Similar to this effect,
(https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b299/PEG688/Aug27th3.jpg)
Here are instructions for hosting the images in Photobucket then displaying them here.
http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=3512.0