Looking for some insight into framing a monitor roof on a small shed, about 12'x16'. Probably going to be building a sap house(sugar shack) at some point this year. Thanks.

We did one at Heartwood 6 or 7 years ago for a scribing class. We only scribed the lower portion, so I never saw it go up. Josh Jackson designed it--so he or Will may have some pictures.

I know I've seen monitor designs in the Vlach barn book, but I don't have it near me right now.

Can't remember the project Brad (there have been so many!) but I think on a building that small it would be pretty simple. One thing is to make the rafters carrying the monitor a bit wider than the monitor posts to pick up the roof sheathing, and install headers at the monitor base for the same. The base of the monitor walls would also need backing for nailing sheathing/siding.

Hi Dave,

What's a monitor roof ?

Regards

Ken Hume

Ken:
It is a raised section in the middle of the ridge area.

If you do a Goggle search for "barn monitor roof", and click on images you'll see lots of photos of barns with monitor roofs.

Some go gable end to gable end, some don't go all the way to the ends.

These are usually used on small shed, or shacks where they boil maple sap to make maple syrup so that the steam from the boiling of the sap can vent out the top of the building through the roof.

If you Goggle search "sugar house" and click on images you'll see some with the steam pouring out the roof vents....

Hope that helps.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Now I know the meaning of the term - monitor roof. I wonder if it has been included in the Timber Framing Glossary ?

As it happens my current project is to design an early style aisled open hall with genuine design features appropriate for circa 1180. One of the things that I have included in this design is an octagonal louvred cupola with smoke hood and flue to gather and duct the hall smoke up through the thathed roof covering. I did consider looking at sugar house roof designs to see how this is normally achieved but got sidetracked. A concern that I have is if the rafters have to be cut thru near the apex and altering the normal behaviour of a rafter couple and so I wonder if there is an increased reliance placed on purlins and roof bracing to keep both the roof and monitor stable.

Does anyone have a Sketchup image or drawing showing typically how a sugar house roof is framed ?

I'll also do a web search as recommended - thanks Jim.

Regards

Ken Hume

Since monitors usually are for ventilation rather than occupation, we run the common rafters right up into the opening and don't cut them, then frame the monitor after on top.

"Monitor" would not appear in the Glossary, Ken, because I think it's thought to be limited to timber framing related terms, and not an architectural dictionary.