The top ends of the rafters often meet at a ridge beam but may butt directly to another rafter to form a pair of rafters called a couple.
													
																	Girder roof structure. 
									
	
		
	
																	Buildings constructed in l or t shapes use girder truss systems where the roof changes direction. 
																	Understanding how a girder is different from a beam is a necessary skill for any builder engineer or constructionworker. 
																	It is the main horizontal support of a structure which supports smaller beams. 
																	Notches on the outer thirds must not exceed 1 6 of the width of the board. 
															
													
									
	
		
	
																	A girder truss is designed to support other secondary roof supports. 
																	A truss is a roof or floor support structure built from a connected series of box or triangle shaped elements to distribute load to a building s walls or foundation. 
																	Girder is a type of roof truss or beam that is built stronger than a standard truss to support in construction. 
																	Girders are the main horizontal supports of a structure and support smaller beams. 
															
													
									
	
		
	
																	See the figure below the girder trusses usually are specially made with heavier chords and plates and can consist of a number of trusses laminated with nails or bolts. 
																	All girders are beams but not all beams are girders. 
																	A girder ˈɡɜːrdər is a support beam used in construction. 
																	It can bear the load extra loads imposed on it. 
															
													
									
	
		
	
																	Here s a look at the fundamental differences between these two elements. 
																	Construction of a rafter roof a simple rafter roof consists of rafters that the rafter foot rest on horizontal wall plates on top of each wall. 
																	Girders often have an i beam cross section composed of two load bearing flanges separated by a stabilizing web but may also have a box shape z shape or other forms.