The roof is the top covering of a building, protecting the structure and inhabitants from rain, snow, sunlight, extremes of temperature and wind. Domestic roof construction, found on houses and smaller buildings in most cold and temperate climates is typically made of timber framed using inclined rafters that meet at the apex or peak. The rafters are supported by principal trusses which in turn support the ridge board and other ceiling components. Rafters and trusses are typically made from a wide range of timber species but spruce, Douglas fir, western red cedar and pine are the most common. The eaves are finished with a fascia board and the whole framework is held together with a ridge cap that is secured to the ridge boards.
Other features of a timber frame roof include a gable end wall or parapet, and a hip rafter that joins two sloping side walls of the same length. A gable wall may be finished with an eaves verge and gutter or it could be left open as a verandah. A eave is where the roof overhangs and is normally terminated with a fascia board and soffit that supports the gutter or drainpipe.
There are many facets to carpentry and most carpenters specialize in particular areas of framing or finishing work. A framing carpenter builds the skeletal structure of buildings while a finish or trim carpenter focuses on the doors, windows and other finishing details. Increasingly though, concrete and steel construction is taking the place of wood framing in many larger projects. The role of the carpenter is becoming more of a supervisory one with less hands on work. roof carpentry