Roof Rake Vs Eave

Gable or rake trim is attached to the sloping edges of roof gables to prevent wind driven rain from penetrating the exposed undersides of the roof panels that connect the ridge and the eave of your home.

Roof rake vs eave.

When you reach a corner where an eave and rake edge meet you need to make a cut to ensure a proper fit. In contrast a gable or rake is the overhang of a building that occurs on the side that is topped by a gable roof. It creates a smooth appearance to the edge and protects the roof from weather damage. Refer to my architectural roof types blog.

From left to right. The rake of a roof is the outer edge that runs from the eave to the ridge or peak of the roof. Eaves also protect pathways around the house by preventing washout around the footers and base. The soffit extends from the side of the structure to the edge of the eave.

When designing an open eave with roof trusses make sure that you raise the heel of the truss and use a thicker top chord. Closed eaves with angled soffit closed eaves with flat soffit and no raised heel. Fascia also provides a point for the gutters and drain pipes to attach to. Start with the rafter tails the main component of any eaves detail is the rafter tail the part of the rafter that extends beyond the exterior wall.

I recently built a small outbuilding with a 6 in 12 pitch roof that offers a perfect example for showing the process i use to build eaves and rakes. Roof rake boards are installed in different widths based on the surface being covered. An eave is defined as the edge of the roof that overhangs the face of a wall. This is the portion of the roof that protrudes beyond the side of a house or building.

Doing so raises the eave which prevents it from conflicting with the window head height. The eave for readers who are not familiar with the term is the roof s horizontal edge along the exterior wall. The purpose of the eave is to keep rainwater away from the walls of the house. It is designed for maximum effectiveness and aesthetics.

Use larger rake boards such as 1 by 4 inch and 1 by 6 inch when there isn t an eave overhang on the gable end. It is typically perpendicular to the eave. Mark where the drip edge begins to overhang and one inch further out from that overhang. One by 2 inch rake boards often cover the exposed top edge of the siding when there also is an eave overhang on the gable end.

First place your drip edge on the rake edge. Open eaves with trusses.