Birdsmouth joint
In this article we want to address the topic of Birdsmouth joint, which has been the subject of numerous studies, debates and controversies throughout history. Birdsmouth joint has had a significant impact in various areas, from politics to the economy, to society in general. The relevance of Birdsmouth joint has been such that it has aroused the interest of academics, experts and researchers, who have dedicated numerous efforts to trying to understand its influence and scope. Throughout these pages, we will explore the different facets of Birdsmouth joint, analyzing its origins, its evolution over time and its impact today. We hope that this article can contribute to shedding light on a topic as complex and significant as Birdsmouth joint.
In light frame construction, a birdsmouth joint or bird's beak cut is a woodworking joint that is generally used to connect a roof rafter to the top plate of a supporting wall. It is an indentation cut into the rafter which consists of a "seat cut" (the face of which rests on the top plate) and a "heel cut" or "plumb cut" (the face of which lies parallel to the supporting wall), forming a shape resembling a bird's mouth. The indentation should not extend unsupported on the interior in order to maintain the structural integrity of the rafter because the unsupported section can split along the grain of the wood. The joint is generally fastened with nails by toenailing the rafter from the side into the top plate below.
The depth of a rafter cut varies according to local building code differences in different locations. As a general rule, no more than one third of the depth of the rafter should be removed, in order to maintain structural integrity.
References
- ^ Wagner, John D. (2009). Ultimate Guide to House Framing. NJ: Creative Homowner. ISBN 978-1-58011-443-1.
