Cathedral ceilings: gable-end wall stud must extend to roofline (no hinge at top plate)
HUD RSDG §5.6.2Description
Cathedral-ceiling framing does NOT brace the top of the exterior wall at the wall-roof intersection on the gable end — the ceiling isn't in the plane perpendicular to the wall. A hinge forms at the wall-roof connection unless the wall studs extend all the way up to the roofline. Specify continuous balloon-framed or platform-extended studs on cathedral gable ends.
Why this exists
A hinge at the top of the wall is a lateral-load failure waiting for a storm. The fix is design-time: spec the studs to run full-height on gable ends with cathedral ceilings. Retrofitting is expensive.
Categories
Source
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Continuous load path from roof to foundation · HUD RSDG §2.4
- Residential structural reliability targets 1-in-100 to 1-in-1000 annual probability of failure · HUD RSDG §2.5
- Residential floor live load: 40 psf minimum (30 psf sleeping rooms) · HUD RSDG §3.4
- Wind load design uses ASCE 7 basic wind speed for the locality · HUD RSDG §3.6
- Ground snow load for Virginia: 25 psf eastern, up to 40 psf western mountains · HUD RSDG §3.7
Last reviewed 2026-05-14.