Garage door awning question

[Jbmotorsports]

Garage is finally at the point where I can add the awning over the doors. It was going to be around 36" angled down and around 22' wide with exposed rafters and will be metal roofed. A coworker was going to help me build it and is trying to convince me to not do exposed rafters because of the maintenance that will be involved: painting, animals nesting in it etc. I believe those to be valid points but I really like seeing the rafter tips poking out at the end like the attached picture. I'm a little torn so looking for some guidance from those with more experience

 

[Metallitubby]

I did exposed rafter tails on my new house. I cannot speak to the maintenance yet, but the wasps/hornets are loving the new opportunities already. Keep a good can of wasp killer around if you do. Otherwise, it looks great!

 

[bradpac]

Around here wasps, hornets, etc will build a nest on the eave overhangs, brick ledges, soffits, whatever they can find. If you like exposed rafters do exposed rafters, a good coat of paint lasts years and a spray down with a water hose every so often keeps it looking good.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Yeah, we already have wasp and hornets but they aren't aggressive and I can just spray them. Ok, I know it didn't take much, but it's what I really want so I should just do it. Then in 5+ years I can complain about how I shouldn't have

 

[quickfarms]

Whithout knowing your location it is hard to comment on weather the exposed rafters are an issue

in Southern California they are common and not much of an issue

 

[Stuart in MN]

As long as the rafter tips don't stick out beyond the roof it should be okay. It's a little more work to paint, but under cover like that the paint should last a long time.

 

[CraigStu]

Look at it a bit and do things in such a way that it would be relatively easy to close in. I am thinking make the ends of the rafters long enough to see but recessed enough that you could cap the ends w/ a pvc trim board and still have enough overhang of the metal roofing. I don't remember what the named purpose of the PVC board I looked at the other day was but they were only about 3/8 thick. So a 3/8 x6 capping the rafter ends and then put plastic soffit on the bottom of them. Usually soffit or other ceiling under a porch is done horizontal but I have seen some where the soffit is attached right to the underside of the rafters and it looks fine.

 

[kbs2244]

It is your place
Make it to please you

 

[dfiler2]

I would do like CraigStu suggested, if it gets to be a problem, enclose it. It will probably depend a little on which way it's facing and if there is other shade as to whether bird nests or wasps are an issue.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Thats exactly what I was thinking. I'm in southeast PA so it's not exactly ideal but i believe the way its constructed leaves the possibility of enclosing if issues arise. I thought about pvc caps for the tips but can't really figure out how that would work. Maybe thing composite board mitre cut to form caps. I appreciate all your guys' input as I have no one to really bounce these ideas off

 

[ace10]

Carpenter bees, above ground stinging insects and birds will all appreciate the housing opportunity.

 

[CraigStu]

Sorry that I used the wrong term. What I was thinking of when I said cap the ends is properly referred to as the facia.

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My thinking is that the thickness of the facia board determines how much overhang you need of the roof material beyond the ends of the rafters. So, if you build in a little extra overhang beyond the amount you need w/ just rafters, you could later, if needed, attach a facia board to begin closing in your awning. That 3/8 thick board I mentioned would need less overhang than the more typical 2x6 or 1x6 facia.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe have it so that if I needed or wanted to enclose it later I would be able to do so without major overhaul. Thanks guys!