I am building a shop with a shingle roof, My rafters will be about 10' long, Can I use 2x4 for my rafters?

no, not even close. 2x8

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Originally Posted by ballengerb1

no, not even close. 2x8

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Thanks just thought I may be able to get by with a little less than that being they are only 10 foot long and in south Louisiana

Who sets the buildings codes in your building site, county or city? Lots of shed go up without permit but if you pull a permit they will stipulate rafter size.

Since your rafter is 10 feet long and it's a peak roof then that's means the building is about 20 feet wide. Is this close. If it is then an ordered truss may be the way to go. All of those trusses are "Stressed " and many X for the top cord ( rafter) if this is a (W) type truss and has a bottom cord. The bottom cord on a Web truss many time can be heavier lumber to help carry the top cord or stressed 2x4s and metal gussets on them

It may be cheaper to order a truss .

It depends on where the collar beam is from the both sides of the top cord. A 2x6 as top cord could work depending on the truss design

The biggest engineered wood truss we ever had was a 2x8 cords spanning 49' clear span with double 5/8 fire rated drywall on bottom cord. That's the strengths of webbed cords

Just on a side not the 2x4 truss etc that's made up in the truss plant is "stressed" lumber. You can see the stamps on the truss for the ratings, at least in my area. There is also a camber in the engineered truss for roof loads so the truss compresses right under shingle and snow loads


As bal mentioned check codes in your area. Its possible to build your own truss and use gussets on the W part or the right location of a collar beam an (A) truss design. Also pitch needs to be taken into account here also. As well as OC of the truss.

Signed 21 Boat

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