Hi guys...new to the forum. I am getting ready to build a patio cover in the back yard. I'm a rookie carpenter, but I can swing a hammer and turn a wrench. However, I do not know how to read a framing square. I originally planned on a simple shed type roof under the eaves and it has kind of grown from there. I quickly realized that head room issues would severely limit me if I went under the eaves, not to mention for just a little more money I could do it better. With that said, I now plan to tie into the plate of the exterior wall and put in a 5/12 hip roof. This is going to tie into my existing 5/12 gable. I will use double 2x12's on notched 6x6 posts for the beams. The dimensions will be 16' wide (to outside of beams) and 14' deep (outside of beam to exterior wall) with a 16" overhang. The first thing I need to tackle will be the ridge board and common rafters. Since its not simply a square room I don't know how to figure out the length of my ridge. I plan to use the step-off method on the rafters. The biggest question I have here is how do I determine where to cut my birdsmouth once I make my plumb and seat cuts for the soffit and fascia?

Hello all, I am framing interior walls in a balloon framed house. The whole house is gutted to the outside walls. I am going to frame partitioning walls throughout the entire house. The house was an old railroad style, about 15 foot wide and 50 foot long each floor. I am having an issue snapping my chalk lines though as the outside walls of course are not square. I have tried using a few lasers but no luck. I have framed walls before but always in platform style houses with exterior walls that were much more true. I know this should be easy, but really having a hard time here. I understand the 3-4-5 method, but with the walls running out, I never can seem to make everything work. If anyone has a few pointers or links to vids that would help, I would be much appreciative. My fiancée is about to knock me out of square for taking so long with this. :wall: