A hip beam extends diagonally downward from the crest of the top of the cover at the corner of the building (the top of the plate is horizontal 2×4 ​​or 2×6 joining the upper ends of the studs). Neither plan view (looking down from above) and no elevation view (looking building on an outer wall) shows the actual length of the beam hip (as there is in ground or in the elevation plane ), or indicates the angles of cuts required at each end of the beam hip. However, you can calculate the length and angles with measures taken in the plane and elevation views, and then use this information to reduce the beam to length and angles.

Instructions

1. Draw a vertical line “b” down the crest elevation of the top plate in the front view of the architectural drawing.
2. Draw a diagonal line “a” from the top deck of the corner of the building until the end of the ridge in the view of your architectural drawing.
3. Measure “a” and “b”. You can multiply this way “to” itself (which is the square of “a”), multiply “b” itself (the square of “b”) and add “to” square and “b” square together to find the value of “c” square. The formula looks like this: “a” squared plus “b” square equals “c” square, and is called Pythagorean Theorem. This way you can find the value of “c” (the square root of “c” square) on a calculator that is the length of your beam. But using the Internet, there is an easier way.
4. Find the value of “c” looking at any number of online math URLs, like the page of Paul Hsieh, Square Root. Put the value for the sum of “a” squared plus “b” will square and “c”. This is the length of your hip measurement beam from the top that is the maximum length.
5. Short hip beam to length with a rotary saw, carefully cut both ends precisely at right angles.

Determine the angles of cuts at either end of your beam

1. Mark the two lines describing these angles on your beam with a carpenter’s square. Cut the beam to the right angles with a rotary saw.
2. Make two side cuts, one on each side of the upper end of the hip rafter, which allows it to fit the space formed by the intersection angle of the beams that rise at right angles toward each other to join the ridge. This sounds more complicated than it is. There are online calculators that will determine these angles for you, but in practice, if you extend the hip beam in its approximate final position, you can get close enough just take a look, checking your framing square and making two cuts with a rotary saw.
3. Make two similar lateral cuts at the lower end of the beam, unless your building will have a forward. If so, leave long and short the correct length after placing.