The green building revolution has fueled the demand for sustainable, durable, and innovative roofing solutions for big commercial and residential projects.
Whether you are a roof frame distributor, designer, or architect, the custom roof framing plans or shop drawings you need must emphasize the eco-friendly attributes of carbon-neutral design and construction.
If you’re new to roof framing plans or have not worked with roof fabricators earlier, this guide is for you. Continue reading if you don’t want to miss out on our exclusive insights into the features, types, and roof frame trends for large building projects.
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As the global AEC industry thrives under new green initiatives and advisory, most commercial spaces, public buildings, community centers, healthcare facilities, and urban infrastructures incorporate environmentally conscious building materials and components.
Their sustainable design architecture incorporates green roofs, walls, interior landscapes, low-carbon emission products, and other impact-resistant features.
To design, fabricate, and assemble them ideally, you need different architectural construction drawings before starting. They may comprise detailed roof framing plans, mainly required for large-scale or commercial construction projects.
What are Roof Framing Plans?
Roof framing plans are layouts of the roof structure for constructing or renovating any building. They can also include shop drawings of prefabricated roofing elements, such as trusses, wooden panels, pre-planted green sections, insulation, and waterproofing membranes.
Roof manufacturers and contractors use these diagrams to get comprehensive and precise measurements of the structure, with specifications of shapes, design, materials, and installation of each section for framing purposes.
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What are the Components of Architectural Roof Development Plans?
Different types of roof framing use various materials to achieve a specific design and architectural purpose.
Here are the roof framing plan components you can get with shop drawing submittals.
Rafters and Trusses
In general, architects have two options—roof rafter stick framing and trusses—to design the load-bearing support of the structure. Trusses are wooden strips joined to form a solid beam and assembled in a triangular shape for a roof slope design.
Roof Rafters
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A rafter is a structural element or a roof framing board, usually cut into 2X10 or 2X12 inch-sized beams.
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A typical gable roof framing plan comprises the dimensions, designs, assembly, and other structural details of the rafters fabricated on-site. Constructors require custom CAD drafting solutions to get the description of unique patterns, styles, and materials of rafters installed with the roof frames.
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Rafters are recommended for residential renovations, including sheds, cottages, ranch-style homes, and net zero homes.
Trusses
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Professional woodworkers fabricate trusses at a factory, typically for the roofs of large spanning structures such as commercial spaces, community centers or hubs, cathedrals, etc.
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These structural roof framing elements, such as architecture designed for extreme cold, can withstand harsh weather conditions. Their size varies from 2X4 to 2×6 and 2X8 inches.
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Roof trusses distribute the load on exterior walls instead of interiors, adding more space options for open floor plans.
Key Facts: Traditional roof rafters are comparatively more expensive and heavier than modern trusses. At the same time, modern trusses are factory-made, lightweight, durable, and more precise in detailing, size, and quality.
Ridge Board
A ridge board is a non-structural component of a preassembled roof frame. It connects two opposite rafters on the top. It adjoins rafters intersecting at one point and forming slopes to connect with ceiling joists on the other ends, creating a triangular shape of the rafter roof frame.
Ceiling Joist
It’s a wooden piece connecting the lower ends of the rafters. Horizontally spanning from both exterior walls, it completes the frame’s triangular shape and forms the structure’s base or ceiling.
Ceiling joists are included in preassembled roof framing plans as they transfer the flooring weight to the support beams. Hence, they are carefully manufactured using precise measurement details.
Tail
The lower ends of the rafter are tails, and as they extend beyond the walls, they form roof eaves.
Collar Tie
The horizontal elements connecting two rafters on top are collar ties. Their placement is parallel to the ceiling joist, supporting the roof’s structural design.
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Types of Roof Framing Plans for Architects, Designers, & Fabricators
There are two roof framing techniques- truss framing and stick framing. New-age architects prefer roof framing with truss details for residential projects, typically those inspired by international-style architecture.
Truss roof framing is ideal for gable and hip roofs; however, it’s not recommended for a building with an attic or cathedral ceilings with a bottom base. If you’re unclear about selecting the correct type of roofing or roof framing with truss details, you must hire CAD drafters in the US.
Flat Roof Framing Plan
This type of roof framing plan is suitable for space remodeling projects. People who own mansions, cottages, and condominiums renovate and expand their building spaces.
Flat roof frames use timber material; each piece is placed horizontally at a specific gap. This placement forms a cage-like pattern as another layer is installed vertically over the first one.
Hip Roof Framing Plan
Hip-style roofs have traces of federal architectural style from the US history. These roofing frames denote a gentle slope on the sides and a downward design toward the side walls.
Hip roof framing plans include four rafters meeting at the ridge board in the center. Hence, the pointed structure of these roofs resembles a pyramid-like design.
Shed Roof Framing Plan
One of the most basic roof framing plans for pent or skillion roofs. As the name itself defines, shed roofs are shaped like a shed, which is a single-pitch roof.
These roofing framing plans shed are drafted with 3D floor plans of tiny homes, cabins, patios, shelters, garages, etc.
They combine the advantages of flat and roof frames, depending on the specific project requirements, such as space, dimensions, and site weather conditions.
Gable Roof Framing Plan
Top American-style architecture shows gable roofs, which use two right-triangled frames adjoined vertically to create a slope in both directions.
This roof framing plan presents the details of rafters, ridge boards, ceiling joists, and overhangs to guide fabricators and get the proposed gable roof design.
Sneak Peak: The trendiest sustainable building examples show buildings with gable roofs, which offer drainage support during rain and snowfall. They can even withstand stormy weather, making the structure more aerodynamic.
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Final Words
Drafting roof framing plans requires compliance with town building codes and approvals from central regulatory bodies or BIM for climate safety and carbon-neutral efficiency in the UK.
We at BluEntCAD go beyond the statutory guidelines for sustainable building and construction with mastery in architectural construction drawings, interior construction drawings, millwork shop drawings, and CAD conversions.
Our service offerings also encompass BIM consulting services, 3D rendering services, architectural walkthroughs, and tile and stone shop drawings.
Need eco-friendly roofing solutions for building projects? Get detailed roof framing plans from professional CAD drafters- Reach out now!