How To Repair Rotted Roof Rafters

Remove the rotted wood with a chisel and pry bar.

How to repair rotted roof rafters. Cut the last soffit board to fit then cover the sawn edge with the trim strip. Cut out the section of the roofing. How to replace the rafters without removing the roof. Measure the length of framing wood needed with a measuring tape.

Cut a piece of 1 by pressure treated lumber that is longer than the replacement board by 4 to 6 inches. The rotten wood will come away easily. Use cardboard or plastic baffles opening photo to keep your insulation from blocking the airflow. Assuming it s in good shape you can leave it in place and install the new materials around it.

Remove an area of the roof shingles from the edge of the roof to the upper line of the overhang using a 16 inch nail bar and hammer to pull the roofing nails. If the entire rafter was rotten use the. Examine the condition of the rafter the thick beam running the length of the overhang. If it shows signs of rotting water damage or other wear you ll need to chop it out using a reciprocating saw.

Use your tape measure to record the distance of both rafter legs. Cut a replacement board from 2 by pressure treated lumber that is the same size and width as the rafter tail you just cut using a circular saw. Slide one of the newly cut rafter legs into position directly next to the old rafter. Discard the wood in a garbage bin as you work to.

Cut off the rotted rafter tail with a reciprocating saw. Measure the dimensions of the old rafters beneath your roofing surface. How to replace rotted wood rafters. Use galvanized finish nails to fasten the soffit boards.