Def of timber roofs:

Wall plate:
Usually 100 x 50 mm softwood timbers are fixed to the top of load bearing walls to distribute
loads and provide fixings for roof timbers.
Ceiling joist:
These are timbers which provide a support for fixing ceiling finishes and act as a collar to
prevent rafters spreading.
Common rafters:
These are inclined timbers fixed between wall plate and ridge which transmit live and dead
loads to wall plate.
Ridge:
The ridge is a horizontal board set on edge to which the rafters are attached (not required on
trussed rafters).
Hip Rafter:
A hip rafter is a rafter running from the wall plate to the ridge which forms the external angle of
the sloping side of a roof.
Purlin:
This is a horizontal roof member supporting the rafters and usually at right angles to these. This
enables small section timbers to be used for the rafters.
Hangers :
These are timbers hanging from the purlins to the mceiling joist to give additional support to
binders.
Fascia :
A board fixed vertically to rafter ends, which provide an additional fixing for gutters.
Soffit:
A horizontal board fixed to the underside of rafter outside the building.
Bargeboard:
Verge or gable board.
Eaves:
The lower part of the roof, which usually includes the end of
the rafter, ceiling joist, soffit, fascia and gutter.
Dormer:
A vertical window coming through a sloping roof.
Valley:
This is the name for the intersection between two sloping surfaces, forming an internal angle (
the opposite to a hip).