What exactly is a barge rafter, in construction?

If you’ve ever admired the intricate detailing along the edge of a roof, you’ve likely noticed a barge rafter. This essential roofing component is both functional and decorative, playing a significant role in the structure and style of a home. Let’s break it down here and explore why barge rafters are so important.

What is a barge rafter?

Interestingly, the word barge rafter is a derivative of the French word ‘verge’, meaning ‘edge’. A barge rafter is the outermost rafter on a sloped roof. It extends along the roof’s edge, providing support and framing the gable end of a house. Basically, these structures extend beyond the end of a building – providing an overhang at the gable ends. 

Often, barge rafters are more than just structural elements. They can be beautifully crafted to enhance the aesthetic appeal of a home.

Rafters – molded or flat – are usually put side by side at the top edge to provide a foundation for the roof deck and roof covering. These barge rafters can be made from materials such as wood for their natural look and versatility, metal for durability and weather resistance in modern designs, and composites, that mimic wood while offering greater durability and low maintenance.

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Why is a barge rafter important?

Barge rafters are vital for their structural support, connecting to the top plate to distribute weight and strengthen the gable roof. Moreover, they shield the roof’s edge from wind, rain, and snow, preventing water damage to walls and the roofline. Additionally, they enhance a home’s visual appeal, adding decorative charm to styles such as a craftsman house or a cottage design.

How do you make a barge rafter?

Since a barge rafter is joined at a rain gutter or a fascia board, it extends along the eave. The overhanging feature is fastened to the ends of the rafter tails. Keep in mind that it’s important to do a decent job at installing or replacing barge rafters because any shoddy work might cause the rafters to rust and weather. This will result in expensive home repairs later on.

Read more: What is fascia on a house?

Here are some steps to build a barge rafter for your roof:

• Make a pair of 2x4s, with the pitch angle on one end and square on the other, and cut them to the same length.
• Begin from the point of the pitch angle.
• Cut the blocks to the length you want – allowing for the 3″ of the side boards.
• On the center marks, nail the blocks to the long pair.
• At both the bottom and top ends, place a block. Place the top end block so that it does not protrude past the angle cut on the long pair’s top end.
• Install the barge on each side of the ridge at the top of the roof. Match the barge’s peak to the ridge board’s center point.
• Nail the rafter to the interior board of the barge. Nails should be spaced every 12 inches or so.
• From the bottom end of each barge to the rafter tail, measure the remaining length needed.
• Build and install the bottom “b” rafters to size. To match the rafters, cut the bottom end of the last section with the pitch angle.

And, your barge rafter is ready!

What supports a barge rafter?

For houses with flat ceilings, the bottoms of opposing rafters should be secured together with ceiling joists, which form rafter ties. In such cases, the rafter ties are often put perpendicular to the ceiling joists.

But for sloped roofs, common rafters extend from the roof’s apex to the top of the building’s outer walls. The rafters are affixed to a ridge board at the peak and to the horizontal top plate of the wall framing.

What are the types of barge rafters?

In roofing systems, you can use different types of rafters – depending on the type of roof you have. For example, it could be common rafters, hip rafters, valley rafters, jack rafters, or barge rafters.

Among them, a barge rafter is often the simplest way to get the eave overhang on a gable end. However, you’ll require sleeper braces if the overhang is more than 16 inches. 

Are there any maintenance tips for your barge rafters?

To keep your barge rafters in great shape:

• Regularly inspect for signs of wear, such as rot, cracks, or rust.
• Repaint or reseal as needed to protect against weather damage.
• Ensure proper drainage to prevent water from pooling around the roof edge.

Last words

A barge rafter is a key component of a roof design – placed on the overhang of a gable. There’s a reason the structural component is used as part of a roof; it gives strength and protection to the projecting gable, conceals the end of the gutter, and is a decorative element of your roof. 

Written by Ramona Sinha. February 18, 2023

Ramona is the Senior Content Writer for Kukun. This experienced blogger uses simple and succinct words to decipher the complex phenomenon called life. She has written articles covering a broad range of topics, such as real estate, lending and mortgage, finance, business, taxation, home designs, home improvement projects, decor concepts, and more. An avid traveler, she’s a digital nomad at heart and an animal lover from the depth of her soul.