T
The Daily Insight

How far should Roof sheathing overhang rafter tails

Author

Andrew Campbell

Published Feb 26, 2026

Measure up the rafter 45-3/4 inch from the cut end of the truss tail and snap a line along the trusses. This indicates the upper edge of the first row of roof sheathing—leaving enough overhang that the subfascia and fascia will tuck neatly underneath when the time comes.

How far should Roof sheathing overhang fascia?

The best installation method is to leave a gap between the drip edge and the fascia board, about the width of a finger. The shingles should also overhang the drip edge 3⁄8 to 1/2 an inch.

Should sheathing overhang fascia?

Ideally the sheathing should be on top of the fascia without extending beyond it. Guesswork can create a situation in which it extends too far and it interferes with flashing installation, or you have to cut it. If the fascia is to be one layer of 1x, I overhang the sheathing 5/8.

Is roof sheathing flush with fascia?

In view A, the sheathing is started flush with the tail cut of the rafters. Notice that when the fascia is placed, the top edge of the fascia is even with the top of the sheathing. … You can see that the edge of the sheathing is flush with the fascia.

How far should rafters overhang?

Overhangs can vary from a few inches to a few feet depending on preference; however, the suggested width of an overhang is between 12” and 18” for eaves and no more than 8” for rakes. That said, overhangs can extend as far as 2′ without the need for external supports.

How far should shingles extend over drip edge?

Shingles should not extend more than 3/4” (19 mm) past the drip edge. If shingles overhang the edge of the roof by more than 3/4” (19 mm), then they are not supported and may crack and break off. In addition, the wind resistance at the roof edge may be compromised.

Do you overhang roof sheathing?

Measure up the rafter 45-3/4 inch from the cut end of the truss tail and snap a line along the trusses. This indicates the upper edge of the first row of roof sheathing—leaving enough overhang that the subfascia and fascia will tuck neatly underneath when the time comes.

How do you protect a rafter tail?

  1. sand them to bare wood.
  2. drill and insert boron rods maybe 1″ down from the top surface.
  3. plug the boron rod holes with epoxy and sand again.
  4. soak the end grain with a borate solution.
  5. soak the heck out of the entire exposed surface in an epoxy solution (I like CPES for this)
  6. restain with solid body stain.

How much should a gutter overhang?

A safe distance between the gutter and the roof edge should be between 2 to 3 inches. If the gutter distance is more than 3 inches, the rain will run off the roof and won’t drain properly.

What is the average roof overhang?

There is no true standard size for overhangs, but typical overhangs that are used for protection from rainfall are 16-18 inches wide. Overhangs wanted for shading should be minimally 24 inches. More commonly, they are 36 inches wide or more.

Article first time published on

Are H clips required for roof sheathing?

H-clips are referred to in the APA Guide as “edge support.” For the most common roof sheathing in our area, which is 1/2” nominal (7/16” actual) sheathing over trusses or rafters at 24” on center, there is no requirement for H-clips. … One or two H-clips will often allow a longer span between roof trusses/rafters.

Does roof sheathing need to be staggered?

Staggering panels by at least two supports is recommended. During the installation of OSB, the rough surface side should be facing up. This rough side is a screened or skid-resistant coated side. The panels should be spaced 1/8-inch apart at the ends and edges.

What is roofing drip edge?

Drip edge is metal flashing installed at the edges of the roof to keep water away from your fascia and from getting underneath your roofing components. If your roof doesn’t have drip edge, water gets behind your gutters and rots out both your fascia board and roof decking.

What side goes up on OSB plywood?

OSB roof panels should always be installed with the grade stamp facing into the attic and the screened surface (with the nail guide lines) facing up.

How far should roof overhang deck?

Typically, a porch overhang should be at least 12-inches long. However, they can range from two feet to very minimal in length depending on the area’s climate, so be sure to account for the amount of rainfall you might expect.

What is roof overhang called?

What Is a Soffit? Your roof by necessity, will often times extend over the walls of your home. This overhang can go by a few names, such as the house eaves or the rafters of your roof. The underside of this overhang, when given a finished appearance, is known as the soffit, which means “something fixed underneath”.

Do you need a Subfascia?

Though not required by building codes, the reasons for subfascia have more to do with evening out the rafter tail irregularities, and providing structural support for the roof edge and gutters. … Another reason many trim manufacturers include 2x subfascia in their installation details is for gutter support.

Does fascia go on before shingles?

Fascia and soffit are installed after the roof installation is finished. It is ideal that soffit and fascia materials be installed before you place tiles or any other type of roofing material on the roof.

Do shingles have to overhang drip edge?

Asphalt shingles should overhang the exterior edge of the drip edge by ¼ to ¾-inch. Check local building code for drip edge requirements prior to the start of your roofing project.

How much should a starter overhang for shingles?

Starter shingles should always overhang the eave and rake edges of the roof by about 1/4″-3/4″ to ensure adequate rain water drainage. It is also important that the seal strip is placed facing up and close to the edge of your roof; otherwise, your roofing system won’t seal properly.

Should drip edge be tight to fascia?

A vertical drip edge lip extends down roughly 1 5/8″ and as Steve points out, should not be set tight against the fascia board or water may run behind the gutter and down the fascia, inviting leaks and rot.

How far under roof should gutters be?

3 Answers. 3-5 centimeters is in the 2-3 inch range. Any more and you run the risk of water running off the tile and overshooting the gutter. The gap can vary some because the gutters must slope towards the downspout.

How far should gutters be above drip edge?

It is recommended that gutters are placed under or ‘behind’ the drip edge of your roof. A drip edge refers to a component that hangs over the roof and has an outward projecting lower edge.

How far can a roof overhang without support?

Two feet is the general maximum length for a typical roof overhang. This will protect a roof from most types of damage. Roof overhangs can extend farther than 2 feet, but beyond this length, they begin to lose structural integrity and require external support.

Are rafter tails expensive?

The cost is approximately $60 per “tail”.

What is a rafter tail?

Rafter tails are the exposed exterior portion of a building’s wood structural truss that projects beyond the perimeter wall of the structure. … We call them Rafter tails because they are the tail end or exposed end of a rafter.

How do you find rafter tails?

Rafter Tails: Rafter tails are the bottom end of the rafters. These ends of the roofing material are either exposed or boxed in using fascia and soffit to protect them. Within older construction, rafter tails are standard, however, in more modern structure, the ends of the trusses are boxed in with fascia and soffit.

How far can you cantilever a 2x6 Rafter?

Joist Spacing (o.c.)16″Douglas Fir-Larch, Hem-Fir, Spruce-Pine-Fir2x61′-0″2×81′-10″2×103′-2″2×123′-11″

Does sheathing go over the rim joist?

The wall sheathing should extend below the rim joist, which is inset on this house to allow for a continuous band of insulation. The wall sheathing below dictates the overhang.

Should sheathing be horizontal or vertical?

On roofs and floors, sheathing is installed perpendicular to supports because this is the orientation that results in the strongest roof or floor. Wind loads perpendicular to a wall are similar to floor and roof loads, and installing sheathing horizontally makes walls better at resisting wind pressure.

Should sheathing overlap foundation?

In the same way that siding should overlap the foundation, so should sheathing. … The logic is that by overlapping the sheathing over the foundation by 1/2-inch, your 2-inch siding overlap is still significantly past the edge of the sheathing.