Video

Here is the only video footage that I had captured of the second reciprocal roof frame construction. This is the final step, after removing the support braces from the ‘charlie stick’ (or temporary post): knocking charlie out of its support position.

As you might be able to see, the roof did not drop at all, since the construction was very tight. We actually had to pry the last rafter into position, which pretty much guaranteed that the frame would not settle once the charlie stick was removed.

Here’s the video clip (be prepared to tilt your head!):

By sheer chance, I found this YouTube video in which several builders remove the ‘charlie stick’, or temporary support for a reciprocal roof frame. It looks like it is perhaps Tony Wrench’s account, but unfortunately he has no other videos about the building process. But this is indeed helpful! It gives me clues about the construction process:

– The charlie stick does not seem to be buried at all, which makes me think that they simply braced it (making it easier to remove later)

– The whole structure does settle once the post is removed, but not much, so the pitch is indeed “what you get”

– The top of the rafters look to be left untrimmed to their final size, which I assume gives the builder some wiggle room