Replace Damaged Roof Rafters

Remove the rotted wood with a chisel and pry bar.

Replace damaged roof rafters.

The owner had a different idea. Pull down to remove the old soffit. If it shows signs of rotting water damage or other wear you ll need to chop it out using a reciprocating saw. Step 1 place a stepladder or extension ladder under the rafter end with the most damage.

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. If the entire rafter was rotten use the length. Examine the condition of the rafter the thick beam running the length of the overhang. Cut out the section of the roofing.

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. Cut a replacement piece from pressure treated lumber. Assuming it s in good shape you can leave it in place and install the new materials around it.

Cut away rotten or damaged rafters. 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. Measure the length of framing wood needed with a measuring tape. Be careful not to damage any nearby roof shingles or flashing.

This video shows how to repair a split rafter. Use a hammer and nails to. Use a reciprocating saw to chop out the rotted rafter. Note that a squirrel had built a large nest above the soffit shown here.

Slide one of the newly cut rafter legs into position directly next to the old rafter. Although it is a straightforward process it is necessary to take your time to ensure a solid repair. Use your tape measure to record the. 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.

The rotten wood will come away easily. Very easy to do. With the proper tools anyone can do this. How to replace rotted wood rafters step 1.