I thought someone on here might help me. All I need is a clear illustration or explanation of what a purlin and a purlin brace are. I have searched the web, looking under "gable roof", "roof framing", "roof diagram", "roof blueprint", "roof illustration", "purlin", "purline", "purlin brace", "roof rafter", and so on. I might as well have typed "ixelvis\=7blah892/catinhat" because I could not find one illustration of a purlin. Piecing together the little bit of info that I did find, I have now formed an idea that the purlins run front to back somewhere under the ridge board, and the purlin braces sit on the purlins and brace the rafters at an angle. If that is correct, then the purlins would have to tie in on each end at a collar tie. See what is happening--I am now so desperate for info that I am redesigning an ages old roof design to meet my disfunctional knowledge of roof construction. I tried to find some home construction message boards, but then I thought about you guys. All I need is a simple drawing or a simple explanation...I have several home construction books but none of the roof diagrams show a purlin. Lots of info on metal prefab roofs on web, but I am thinking about a basic wood gable home. I realize this is not an inspection-type question, but was hoping I could get away with asking this.

BTW, this is for my "Residential Inspection for Real Estate Agents", a great course which simply reinforces the fact that agents are not inspectors, but instead are people who, among many other things, show homes to buyers and sometimes need to point out a potential problem by saying to the buyer: "I don't know what that is. If you buy this house, be sure and ask your inspector to check that out for you."

My book came with an illustration of a roof, but the page is not dark enough to see the details. If this is an inappropriate post, the moderator can just delete me. Don't let the fact that my real estate career hangs on passing this test be any factor in your decision to help me...

Thanks, everyone.

Darlene

Hey, Darlene.

See if this site helps you:

http://www.roofing-center.com/s/purlin

Wow, Russel Ray, that is some resource site. One of those links may have solved my problem. It showed a diagram viewed from the gable end of the roof. They are saying that a brace runs from joist to rafter, and that a board running horizontally across the rafters touching these braces where they touch the rafters is the purlin. So, I was on the right track...but would never have quite figured it out without the Roof Center diagram. I now think maybe the brace actually braces the rafters, but the purlin is reinforcing the brace-to-rafter connection, so to speak...something like that reasoning, anyway. Despite the problems with that explanation, I now know where the purlin is located. Thanks so much for the site link. Just went back to check my book on how to build your own garage, which has great diagrams and blueprints, but guess what...no purlins or braces in any of them. That probably is the book used by the carptenter who built my garage at my old house, since only the conrete pad remained by the time I bought it.

I am now prepared to move ahead to the insulation chapter, which is pretty important in this part of the country. Thanks for letting me post my roof question here.

Darlene

Hey, Darlene.

Another good place to post questions is over at the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors. They have about 9,600 members and you can get an answer in hours, sometimes even minutes, to your posts. Check them out at http://www.nachi.org/forum/

Russel Ray, that info is gold. I'm heading over there now just to check it out. Thanks a lot.

P.S. Like your web site name. That should get the buyer's attention.

Hey, Darlene.

If you post over at NACHI, let them know that I referred you to them.

Also, I'm a native Texan, born in Kingsville, graduated from Texas A&M, Class of 1977. Where are you?

I'm in Pasadena, TX. Graduated San Jacinto College...Associates in Management...worked out for me since I have mainly worked in small industrial companies the last ten or so years. But I do go steal from your alma mater (Texas A&M RECON site) regularly.

I do BPO's usually...but they say more and more REO's are coming. I thought this course would help with that and my interest in home building. Wish I had given this inspection thing a little thought years ago. Now I fear I may get stuck in the attic. And according to my study guide, that's where the Drywood Termites and the raccoons live. Seriously, your job is not for the faint hearted.

Question about NACHI. The membership rules definitely rule out the possibility of anyone not serious joining. Do they have a membership category for non-inspectors? I shot them an email asking when I went in earlier. I want to take that free test after I take this test I am studying for now. I am not too worried about this one, but the NACHI test--that is probably an eye opener for newcomers. I did read on there that you have to make 80% BUT NOT THE FIRST TIME. NACHI is not for people just wanting to put their membership on their business cards.

Yep, I definitely will let them know you referred me. In the email, I said "member of another profession forum referred me" because I did not know if you wanted me to mention your name. I'll do that for sure next time.

Thanks.