Here at DEC Associates, we fabricate a very significant amount of rafter tails each year.  We fabricate both custom and standard profiles in fiberglass (FRP), glass fiber reinforced cement (GFRC), and glass reinforced gypsum (GRG).  Typically, the rafter tails are cast with an integral wood grain texture on all exposed sides. These rafter tails provide the means to install a false rafter tail on most any soffit condition and since they are lightweight, they appear to be large pieces that can be installed on structures with a minimum of support.

On one hotel structure alone, we supplied over 2,400 false rafter tails that replicated a heavy timber beam.  Given the huge number of beams, a wood beam would have been more expensive to purchase and install while a cast product is so consistent that an installation team can preset blocking and install in a fraction of the time.  The contractor had originally anticipated an 8% rejection of the wood product that he received thus requiring over-ordering of material.  With the FRP rafter tails, they knew that each one would be consistent and predictably high quality.  Since it was less cost per unit and was so much faster to install, the decision to switch was very easy.

Using a composite rafter tails, a building gets a no maintenance rafter tail that will not rot, split check or peel over the buildings lifetime.  These lightweight versions of a rafter ends can be installed on new and existing structures with a simple concealed perimeter angle clip over conventional construction.  At 1.5 to 4.0 pounds per square foot, these durable parts can be easily installed by two men.  Unlike foam products, composites are not vulnerable to burrowing insects or nesting birds.

While exposed beams and rafter tails do not occur on all buildings, many of the styles that do use them are located by the ocean or often exposed to harsh weather such as snow.  Fiberglass (FRP) and glass fiber reinforced cement (GFRC) are both formulated to be immune to those difficult environments.  The glass reinforced gypsum (GRG) is so lightweight and non-combustible that we often convert more than just interior beams and rafter tails from wood to glass reinforced gypsum (GRG).

So either standard or custom rafter tail profile, use an expert with over 30 years experience in making wood beams and rafter tails for all types of architecture in the right material for your application.  Let DEC provide the solutions to your architectural vision.

Fiberglass rafter tails, GFRC rafter tails, and GRG rafter tails are all composite, false rafter tail materials. 

Please call us for our recommendation of material for your project.

http://www.decassociates.com/products/raftertails.aspx