I'm going to add on to our storage shed and extend the roof over an 8'x10' patio. The roof has a 6/12 exterior pitch, and an 8 foot span.
We want a vaulted ceiling over the patio, with T&G boards on the underside, and no beams or ceiling joists overhead.
The obvious solution would be to add a ridge beam and take out the ceiling joists. But, a ridge beam needs a supporting post, and the 8' span of our roof would mean a post every 4 feet. Kind of cluttered. I would also have to devise some method of supporting the ridge beam where it meets the shed. I also want avoid any horizontal beams that could be potential resting spots for birds.
We have an 8' wide pump house I built many years ago that uses metal brackets to build a small gambrel roof. There are no ceiling joists but the roof is still quite strong. But, I haven't seen any brackets like those in years?
I've also briefly looked at storage sheds at the home centers that use simple plywood gussets to accomplish a similar task. Again, no ceiling joists.
So, I'm curious if I can use a similar approach to frame the roof over our patio.
The roof has a 6/12 pitch, which means the peak only rises 2 feet in the middle. I would like the interior ceiling to have the same 6/12 pitch if possible.
I'm willing to use larger rafters (2x6, 2x8, or 2x10) if needed for strength, and can space the rafters closer together if needed as well.
I have not been able to track down any information on the strength of a simple gusseted connection. I have no idea if two rafters gusseted at the peak would be able to resist the outward thrust, or support a 30lb/ft roof load (We can get a foot or two of snow each year).
Has anyone built a roof like this?
Thanks,
Anthony