Customer Reviews

Roof Framer's Bible: The Complete Pocket Reference to Roof Framing 2nd Edition

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been a framer for 16 years and this book has been useful on most of the houses I build. Not only does it have all the standard rafter tables but the irregular combinations as well. It is very easy to understand and gives all the needed formulas. A MUST have for any framer.

I am a residential framer and I use my Roof Framer's Bible almost every day especially when I am framing complicated houses. Circular stairs, conventional rafters, round bays, all the calculations and tips are there for you. I have been framing for about 20 years and it is one of the essential tools I use on the site. I am on my 4th copy as the others have been gradually destroyed by weather (and one was stolen). This is the best useful framing book I've seen. I also liked The Roof Cutter's Secrets to Framing the Custom Home.

I'm a very experienced and highly trained union carpenter, and trust me, this guide is a must! It's one of the very best there is, I wouldn't have only one, I have at least two.

It's got all the info. on cuts 3/12 thru 16/12, tables for "irregular" hip roofs 4/12 thru 16/12.
** THE BEST are the tables for 5,6,8,10, and 12 sided polygon roofs!!!
It also has guides for the layout of the trickiest elements like Arches, Ellipses, Non-centered ridges, and math guides. It IS amazing!

It has a very rugged hard cover, and it even has a "ribbon" book mark attached into the binding at the top like a real Bible!

I thought this was pretty great and had to include it.
The author dedicated it to his Father (a master carpenter) saying, "His skill is surpassed only by his Boss, the carpenter from Nazareth."
He also included this verse for carpenters on a cover page: Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it...for by wisdom a house is built, and by understanding is is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches.
Psalms 127:1 & Proverbs 24:3-4

This IS the best guide book we've found!

Bruce Q.
NE Illinois

Had hoped for information as to how roof framing elements join together in various configurations, but found very little on this on this.

This is a mistake review. This site will not allow me to change the 1 star rating that was accidently entered. Please disregard this review.

We ordered a few of these reference for the owner and employees. They are finding the book easy to follow and extremely informative.

20yrs ago I read a book by Swanson, "the bluebook" and taught myself how to build a roof. It would have been easier with this book. It is truly a Bible which is defined as an authoritative text. Along with the construction master 5 calculater any roof will be conquered.

You will learn nothing from this book other than what angles to cut for roof framing... save your money by using a little trigonometry and you can figure it out for yourself...

Book has a lot of good info, but it is missing a couple of key details in the irregular hip roof framing explanation. When keeping overhangs the same and using an adjusted seat cut height, what is the seat cut height for the hip rafter(which is offset to the steeper side), and the valley rafter(which is offset to the shallower side). Also missing info on attaching the top of said rafters. Couple other details I had to find elsewhere but you get the point. All in all, the book is worth the price. Just wish book writers wouldn't assume things.

If roofing has always been 'magic', this book shares the secrets. I've always known that roofing is no more than triangles, but the trigonometry was too complex. This book saves your calculator batteries and reduces the roof to a series of arithmetic calculations. I work with a Habitat for Humanity affiliate. We use volunteer labor to build and this book will cut our roofing costs by 50% just by making it easy for us to cut our own roofs without hiring contractors or buying trusses.