Jack rafters do not extend all the way to which structural component?

Jack rafters are typically used in roof structures to support the roof's sheathing and are shorter than the main rafters, often serving to fill in the space between the top of a wall and a ridge. The correct answer indicates that jack rafters do not extend all the way to the ridge board.

This is because the ridge board, which is located at the peak of the roof, is connected to the tops of the main rafters. The jack rafters angle down from their connection points at the plates or the wall and usually meet at the top edge of the roof but do not reach up to the ridge board. Their primary function is to complete the roof layout, providing support for the roofing material without needing to meet at the ridge itself.

Understanding the role of jack rafters in the context of roof framing clarifies their relationship with the ridge board and underscores the structural design principles involved in roofing systems.