What are beams in construction?

Although a rafter is a beam, depending on the construction, shape, and material used, you may hear them called by different names. Here are some of the different beams you might hear:

• Main Beam - The main beam will always be one of the larger beams and will always be placed on a tie beam. In some cases, you may hear the top part of a truss called the main beam because that's what it looks like.

• Common Rafter - This type of rafter is a little smaller than the main rafter, but it is still quite important. Although you see these beams alone, it's also common to see them combined with a main beam. They may also be called minor beams or, in the case where both are combined, they may be called major/minor or primary/secondary.

• Half-water roof - This type of rafter can be found on a half-water roof.

  Auxiliary Beam - An auxiliary beam is considered a secondary beam and supports the main beam that is located above it. This type of beam is rare, but you may also hear it called gusset, composite, or sub-crate.

• Compass Beam - A compass beam is curved at the top or at the top and bottom.

• Hip Beam – Hip roofs require hip rafters and the base of this rafter will be located on a support beam.

• Intermediate Beam - These beams are rarely seen, but will be located between the main or common beams to strengthen a specific part of the roof.

• Back Beam - This beam is used when there is a dormer in the way or across a shorter landing area.

• Eave Beam - An eave beam is used if you want to form a roof overhang and is the outermost beam at the end of a gable.

There are many advantages to having beams within a building, but as with everything else, there are also disadvantages. Fortunately, the pros outweigh the cons, which is why so many people choose to install beams.

When a person chooses rafters for their work, they are ensuring that they will have more space in the attic. This is excellent for those who want to use this space for more than storage. The beams will allow the homeowner to create an extra room in the attic, be it a home office, bedroom, gym, playroom or simply a large empty space that can be used for different things.

The beams will also allow people to choose different ceiling options as there is enough space in the attic. This means that homeowners who need cathedral-style ceilings can have them, as can those who want vaulted ceilings. The extra structures for these ceilings will easily fit in the attic and there will still be plenty of room for an extra room.

These days, everyone is trying to be more energy efficient, which is why more people are choosing to insulate their attics. When a person installs rafters, they will have no problem installing insulation in the attic. They will also be able to install a radiant barrier or anything else they think will help them save energy. The installation process is very simple and takes less time than it would if a person had something other than joists in the attic.

Although beams are excellent for supporting buildings, they take some time to construct. For this reason, some contractors are starting to use trusses because they can be built off-site and up and running in no time.

However, because contractors don't have to wait for beams to be completed before adding them to a building, they can start work much sooner. This means there will be no downtime as contractors wait for the trusses to be completed and shipped to the construction site. Instead, they can gather their supplies and begin building and putting the beams in place.

As mentioned above, it takes time to construct these beams, which is one of the disadvantages of using them in buildings. It also costs more to make them, mainly because of all the time required on site. It is also necessary that those who construct the beams are qualified employees who are trained in how to construct them properly. After all, a small mistake can cause big problems later.

Whoever builds the roof beams will need to know some information before they even begin the construction process. First, they will need to know the pitch of the roof. They will also need to know the roof span, plumb cut, and heel or seat cut.

Roof pitch refers to the angle or slope of the roof. To obtain this measurement, the builder will need to measure the number of inches the roof rises vertically for every foot it raises horizontally. Roof span is the width measured between the outer surface of all exterior walls.

The place where the rafter contacts the ridge is considered the plumb cut, while the cut at the bottom, where the rafter sits on top of the exterior wall, is called the heel or seat cut.

There are many different ways to construct roof rafters, as each professional seems to have their own way. However, they all get the end result of sturdy beams that support a building's roof and the rest of the building.

Those who can't decide whether they want beams or trusses for their construction will want to consider the above-mentioned pros and cons for beams. Trusses also have pros and cons, and while some of the pros fix the cons of rafters, the cons of trusses can also take away the pros you would receive from installing rafters.

This is not an easy decision to make for many people, but as long as everyone knows the differences, they can make an informed decision that will work best for their needs.