The Easiest way to Build a Valley in 2020

Prerequisite Skills:

• Ability to read a tape measure.
• Familiarity with using a Speed Square.

Tools:

There are several approaches to building valleys. I’ll cover the most efficient method I’ve found, which uses RedX Roof App and a layout square. The only other tools necessary for layout are a tape measure and a sharp pencil.

The app we will be using will automatically calculate

• Ridge length
• Every rafter length
• Lay-in length

Inputing Measurements

Here is what the app will need to get all of the measurements for us.

• The first roof pitch that the ridge sits on.
• The other roof pitch.
• The first truss height (we will go over this)
• And finally truss spacing (rafter spacing)

You can use the image bellow to help understand where we are getting all of our measurements from.

Roof Pitch is the incline of the roof, expressed as a ratio of the number of inches of rise (vertical travel) for every foot of run (horizontal travel).

Entering measurements into the app

Roof Pitch the ridge sits on: In our example, we have a 6:12 roof — 6 inches of rise for every foot of run.

Lay-in Roof Pitch: If both your roof pitch’s are the same then enter the same roof pitch in our example we will also use a 6:12 pitch. Otherwise here you enter the other roof pitch see 2D Front View on the image above.

First Truss Height: See image above, in our example we will use 60 inches,

Truss Spacing Is how far spaced out you want your rafters to be. In our example we will use 24 inches from one rafter to the other.

Hit go and let the app get all of the measurements.

RedX Roof App will get all of the measurements for every piece along with every angle.

(Keep in mind that the app is also compatible with Centimetres and Millimetres)

Now that you have all of the measurements, I recommend cutting all of your parts on a lower floor its safer and easier to work on level ground.

Installing

1. We will start by installing the ridge (colour yellow). If your first truss is level, then when you install your ridge it will automatically become level as well. Make sure it is centred properly. I also recommend marking where all of your rafters will go on top of your ridge, it’s easier to do it now before its installed.
2. You will install both lay-in boards (colour red).
3. We will install our rafters, I like to start with the longest rafter and work my way up. Since we marked the top of our ridge where our rafters will go, nail the top of the rafter and if done correctly you shouldn’t have to mark where the bottom of the rafter goes, just line up the bottom of the rafter with your lay-in board. Do the same for all other rafters. Also make sure that your ridge board stays straight when you are nailing your rafters.

Thats it your done! It should look like this.

Conclusion

This is the fastest way to build these valleys. You can pre-cut every piece on the ground safely, you don’t have to measure anything the app gets every measurement (except for the first truss height).

The bigger the valley the more time you save.

If you want to learn more about RedX Roof app click here.

Now let’s get back to work!