rafter

architecture

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July 13, 2026

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A rafter is a structural timber used in construction, typically in roofing. In architecture, rafters are inclined beams that extend from the top of a wall to a ridge or beam, forming the slope of a roof. There are different types of rafters, including common rafters, which directly support the roofing material, and hip rafters, which form the angle of a hip roof. Jack rafters are shorter rafters used in hip or valley roofs. The term "rafter" can also refer to timbers used in a rafter dam, a structure formed by angled timbers meeting in a stream. Historically, rafters have been part of timber framing since at least the Neolithic period.123456

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construction
Primitive building: the Stone Age
…columns along the long walls; rafters were run from the ridgepole to the wall beams. The lateral stability of the frame was achieved by burying the columns deep in the ground; the ridgepole and rafters were then tied to the columns with vegetable fibers. The usual roofing material was thatch:…
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…columns along the long walls; rafters were run from the ridgepole to the wall beams. The lateral stability of the frame was achieved by burying the columns deep in the ground; the ridgepole and rafters were then tied to the columns with vegetable fibers. The usual roofing material was thatch:…
Read More