The First Time on a Framing Square
Chappell Universal Square is the first to crack the code on bastard roofs, and provide a comprehensive unequal–pitch rafter tables. The Chappell rafter tables include the following values:
- Hip and Valley pitch in inches of rise per unit of run.
- Hip and Valley pitches in degrees.
- Difference in length of runs side A to side B.
- Length of Hip or Valley per unit of common run.
- Difference in length of jack purlins per unit of spacing.
- Top Cut of purlin.
- Difference in length of jack rafters per unit of spacing.
- Top Cut angle of jack rafters.
- Backing and bevel angles in degrees.
- Top Cut saw angles for jack rafters and purlins.
- Purlin/Frieze side face layout angle.
- Fascia miter angle.
- Housing angle of purlins to hip or valley.
- Side layout angle hip & valley to purlin header.
- Fascia/Frieze bevel angle for rafter tails cut at 90°.
Unequal Pitched Rafter Tables
The Chappell Universal Square Unequal Pitched Rafter Tables bring a new depth of knowledge to roof framing. The truth is, throughout most of western building history only the most experienced carpenters dared tackle unequal pitched roof systems. And for good reason. It required builders to dig deeply into their bag of tricks—accompanied with a good measure head-scratching along the way. In the end, the tricks provided only the most fundamental rotational angles and length ratios. The rest was left up to dead-reckoning and intuition.
Once reserved for carpenters who had proven their mettle, this coveted knowledge was passed only from master to apprentice for generations. Now it’s at the fingertips of any aspiring builder in the Unequal Pitched Rafter Tables, etched into the blade of the Chappell Universal Square.
They call’em Bastard Roofs for Good Reason
Builders of every ilk and region on the planet lovingly refer to unequal pitched roof systems as bastard roofs. The reason being that there have never really been any rules-of-the-road laid down to deal with these irregular roof systems. That’s why they’ve been seen as a pain in the ass to most builders throughout the ages. And why it’s always been up to the carpenter to find their own way to get the job done. That was that! The Unequal Pitched Rafter Tables on the Chappell Universal Square marks the first true innovation in the approach to building unequal pitched roof framing, and the first real rules of the road to follow.
Unequal pitched roof systems are lovingly referred to as bastard roofs by builders of every ilk and region on the planet—for good reason. This was mostly, due to the fact that there have never been any real rules-of-the-road laid down. Every carpenter found their own way to get the job done, and that was that. The Unequal Pitched Rafter Tables on the Chappell Universal Square marks the first true innovation in the approach to building unequal pitched roof framing, and the first real rules of the road to follow.
Prior to the Chappell Universal Square
The clearest formal system for building bastard roofs was perfected by the French around 1100 AD. Today, this is commonly known as the French-Scribe-Rule System. Essentially, this is based on the same lofting technique used by boatbuilders to this day. While this approach is brilliant and absolute, it requires a lot of movement of timbers. The builder must physically lift and position each full-scale timbers above the footprint plan chalked onto the lofting room floor. The crossover angles and lengths are then marked—or scribed—in the same relationship and orientation they will have in the standing roof. This entails handling and moving the timbers several times during the process. So, by virtue of weight and logistics, this process essentially excludes a single person from carrying it out alone.
Patented Unequal Pitched Rafter Tables
For the first time in building history, Chappell Square’s Unequal Pitched Rafter Tables unlock the mystery of Bastard Roof Systems. The revolutionary tables provide 17 key rotational angles for Unequal Pitch Roof Systems. This includes even the most elusive Purlin/Frieze Side Cut, Facias Mitre Angles and Backing Angles for Unequal Pitched Roof Systems. No more dead-reckoning. No more head scratching. And no more lugging heavy timbers around your shop floor to set up the precise orientation.
No Batteries or Calculator Required
Now, the only thing a would-be-roof-framer needs to master unequal pitched hip & valley roof framing is a Chappell Square. Throw in a pencil, and a scrap of wood to scribble out simple math—addition and multiplication—and that it. The data in the tables provide factors to determine member lengths, spacing reductions, roof pitch angles and saw cut angles. All requiring only the Chappell Square and simple grade school math.
This is where the pencil and scrap piece of wood come into play. The base 10 decimal system allows fluid long-hand math simply scribbled on a scrap of wood. No frustrating fractions to convert EVER, and NO BATTERIES OR CALCULATOR REQUIRED.
Find your peace-of-mind by adding a Chappell Universal Square with Unequal Pitched Rafter Tables to your tool box. The only thing left to do is to get on with the work-at-hand of building your next roof system.
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Also check out these useful quick links:
1218 Traveler Framing Square
1824 Master Framer Framing Square
Chappell Square Center-Rule Bench Squares
Chappell Metric Framing Squares & Bench Squares
EQUAL PITCHED RAFTER TABLES
UNEQUAL PITCHED RAFTER TABLES
POLYGON RAFTER TABLES
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