What is a hip rafter?

• A. A rafter running parallel to the ridge
• B. A rafter that extends from an outside corner of a building to the ridge board, usually at 45 degree to the ridge.
• C. A decorative ceiling beam
• D. A bottom supporting member of the roof

Answer: (B)

A hip rafter is the diagonal structural member that runs from an outside corner of the building up to the ridge board, typically at about a 45-degree angle to the ridge. This placement is what defines a hip rafter: it connects the corner where two roof planes meet to the upper ridge, carrying load from both roof facets. It differs from a common rafter, which spans from the wall plate to the ridge along a single roof plane. A decorative ceiling beam is not part of the structural roof framing, and the bottom supporting member of the roof is not described by this term.