How to Build a Cross-Hipped Roof

The popular cross-hipped roof is simply two hip roofs set perpendicular to each other. Hipped roofs offer less internal roof space, but stand up well to hurricane force winds and so are excellent choices if you live in areas prone to tropical storms.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Blueprints
• Ladders and scaffolding
• Tools
• Work gloves, boot, knee pads, hard hat, tool belt
• Lumber and shingling

Create the Plan

1. Contract an architect or engineer to formulate a design. He'll draw up a floor plan, give you some idea of elevations along with the general shape and suggestions for materials.
2. Review the design with a structural engineer. Visit the site and take measurements with her. The engineer then develops the blueprint from this information.
3. Obtain permits and schedule inspection dates. Check with your local code office for building code requirements.
4. Calculate your roof area. Measure the roof length and width, multiply these numbers and round up to determine the square footage. Estimate from the ground for awkward or dangerous roof slopes. Add 10 percent for waste. Divide by 100 to get the number of square feet. Round up and use this number to figure cost and material.
5. Choose the materials based on your budget and how long you want the roof to last. Allow for climate conditions while at the same time complementing the house style.
6. Check your insurance coverage for liability and check with your state for worker's compensation requirements. If you hire day laborers or specialists, you may need to withhold and file payroll taxes.
7. Interview several contractors. Base your choice on previous experience, work ethic and compatibility as well as price. Purchase and arrange for delivery of materials. Provide all tools and arrange for skilled labor for shingling.

Constructing the Roof

8. Prepare the job site. Cover AC units, plants and any other landscaping elements that might get damaged. Also rent a dumpster and set up a platform for the tools.
9. Determine the ridge board length by subtracting the building width from the length. Add the thickness of the ridge board to the actual length. The common rafters are shortened by half this thickness. Cut the ridge boards once you measure.
10. Start the framing with common rafters. A cross-hipped roof has two ridge boards set perpendicular to one another. All the common rafters are cut to the same length.
11. Start with the main ridge board. Nail a common rafter to one side at either end. Raise the ridge and nail two rafters on the opposite side. Push the ridge up until the birdsmouth lines up to the walls. Nail the rafters into place.
12. Nail two common rafters to the ends of the ridge board and to the center of the end walls. This locks the ridge board in place. Nail two common rafters to one end of the Cross-Hip ridge board. Raise the ridge into place, lining up the birdsmouths and butting the ridge board against the main ridge board. Nail into place.
13. Add the remaining common rafters to both hips. Nail in the hip rafters from the outside building corners to the intersection made by the ridge end and first common rafters. Run plumb lines from the hip rafters to the birdsmouth and nail in the jack rafters.
14. Lay in collar ties and fascia boards. Nail on the sheathing. Finish the roof with flashing in the valleys, underlying and shingling.

Tips & Warnings

• Inspect the roof from the attic to determine if you need to replace or repair the foundation. This increases your cost in time and money. New construction works from the inside out, each new layer protecting the one beneath.
• Determine the pitch of your roof. Steep slopes eliminate certain styles. Complex, extremely steep or houses having two or more stories require professional installation.
• Maintain your balance at all times. Never over reach and insure that all ladders are properly supported.
• Never work in rain or lightning storms.
• Keep the roof free of debris. Dump debris directly into a container if possible. Secure the dump area from pedestrians.
• Keep away from the power line into your house. Keep track of power tool cords and pneumatic air hoses.
• Work from the ridge down. Stack materials at the ridge of your roof and disperse the weight across the frame.
• On steep roofs, work with a ladder jack that holds one or two scaffold planks.

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