# Timber rafter separation at ridge **URL:** \ **Category:** Structural Inspections\ **Created:** [December 14, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883 "2025-12-14T18:11:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mbatson2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mbatson2/32/57038_2.png) [@mbatson2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mbatson2)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/1 "2025-12-14T18:11:54Z")
2007 custom log home with some timber frame components. Noticed a decent size gap of maybe 3 inches where two of the timber rafters meet at the ridge. Most of these had a 1x6 board covering the gap/intersection. But the ones at the two skylights were not covered by these one by’s. In the report I’m telling what I see and that it is unknown if this was built this way, or if its moved over time. ![IMG_0399](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/d/1/e/d1e6b9f1a4c9d9e85c978a41e22b1e32a42e2174.jpeg) ![IMG_0417](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/6/b/9/6b9e5ef3ec9631becdfe8000d03fbf09f22b7ecd.jpeg) ![IMG_0416](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/8/5/3/8531fa1895d4136a18bd4855ff2723b697fc4cbe.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![dwigger](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/dwigger/32/58670_2.png) [@dwigger](https://forum.nachi.org/u/dwigger)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/2 "2025-12-14T18:22:30Z")
A few pictures would help. ---
**Author:** ![mbatson2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mbatson2/32/57038_2.png) [@mbatson2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mbatson2)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 6:25pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/3 "2025-12-14T18:25:24Z")
![IMG_0418](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/5/d/2/5d2b97d1e704e2a045947f38f65cc51062231d19.jpeg) ![IMG_0399](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/d/1/e/d1e6b9f1a4c9d9e85c978a41e22b1e32a42e2174.jpeg) ![IMG_0400](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/a/3/f/a3f910dad627992bc91b5469e6e209fecbd5ca70.jpeg) ![IMG_0402](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/c/8/8/c886d41284a3af0cb86cbbe1984ad3b18929af22.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![mbatson2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mbatson2/32/57038_2.png) [@mbatson2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mbatson2)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 6:57pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/4 "2025-12-14T18:57:29Z")
yeah I had hit send before attaching pics for some reason… I’m thinking it is nothing….but I’m super careful these days and of course will kick the liability can down the road with referral to qualified contractor eval ---
**Author:** ![dwigger](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/dwigger/32/58670_2.png) [@dwigger](https://forum.nachi.org/u/dwigger)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/5 "2025-12-14T19:03:00Z")
With the other rafters having the 1”x6” band-aids covering them, my thought is the only one left exposed was their best of the job, so it was left exposed. There is a lot of variables with this type of framing that can cause gaps, shrinkage, cracks (checking), etc. ---
**Author:** ![lhenderson2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/lhenderson2/32/58205_2.png) [@lhenderson2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/lhenderson2)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/6 "2025-12-14T19:33:30Z")
I don’t see a problem needing fixed. ---
**Author:** ![mbatson2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mbatson2/32/57038_2.png) [@mbatson2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mbatson2)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/7 "2025-12-14T21:22:50Z")
thank you both for that…I think I suspected that this was not a big deal, but figured it wouldnt hurt to ask. appreciate ya matt ---
**Author:** ![rbleich](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rbleich/32/423577_2.png) [@rbleich](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rbleich)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 10:08pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/8 "2025-12-14T22:08:54Z")
It appears to be a structural ridge supported by posts. It probably isn’t going anywhere. ![IMG_9913](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/7/8/e/78e4cb1e76aa5231b03ab714ffe9e484b8617f2c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![lhenderson2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/lhenderson2/32/58205_2.png) [@lhenderson2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/lhenderson2)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/9 "2025-12-14T23:05:13Z")
Gaps like that always cause me to pause and ponder. Here’s one I saw last week. ![IMG_0117](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/original/4X/d/2/4/d241f4b1e7178f30dcb24f8f9b1b4619ff557a0c.jpeg) I start with what is this doing? In this case, it was mostly cosmetic. The tenon appeared solidly in the mortise. Note it. Explain to the client that it doesn’t look like something that needs fixing and move on…after twenty minutes in that sunroom looking at all the timbers. ---
**Author:** ![mbatson2](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/mbatson2/32/57038_2.png) [@mbatson2](https://forum.nachi.org/u/mbatson2)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/10 "2025-12-15T15:39:30Z")
truly appreciate everyones responses. this forum is such a great resource of knowledge/experience ---
**Author:** ![rmayo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/internachi/user_avatar/forum.nachi.org/rmayo/32/59218_2.png) [@rmayo](https://forum.nachi.org/u/rmayo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://forum.nachi.org/t/timber-rafter-separation-at-ridge/262883/11 "2026-03-22T17:32:24Z")
If the mortise and tendon were flush when the wooden pegs were installed either the wood pegs sheared off or the tendon split out a chunk the thickness of the pegs.