Purlin & Beam Installation
The base load-bearing elements of the roof structure - purlins, supports, and rafter bearing points.
New structure
New-Build Roof Construction in Riga and Pierīga
Building the frame, rafters, battens, and ventilation system from the ground up - for new builds and extensions where there's no roof yet. A precise structural solution that determines how long the whole roof will last.
Who it's for
For New Builds and Extensions - Not an Old Roof
New-build roof construction is a service for those building a new house, an outbuilding, or an extension who don't have a roof structure at all yet - just walls or a frame. This page doesn't cover rebuilding an existing roof or replacing its covering: if a roof structure already exists and just needs renewing or re-covering, the full roof replacement or covering replacement page is the better fit.
We work on single-family home construction, two-storey new builds, outbuildings, and extensions to existing houses. In every case, the roof structure has to be coordinated with the layout of the building's load-bearing walls, the expected load (snow, wind), and the architectural project, if one has been developed.
Clients are often private individuals managing house construction in stages themselves - foundation and walls first, then the roof structure as a separate order. In these cases, it matters that the roof builder works to match the already-built wall height and width, rather than requiring additional corrections. Another common situation is a family home planning an extension (garage, terrace, extra room), where the new section needs its own roof structure that connects correctly to the existing roof.
Why it matters
Why the Structure Is the Critical Stage
The roof structure is the one part that can no longer be fixed without a major rebuild once the covering is on - mistakes here are expensive and long-lasting.
Load-Bearing Capacity Must Be Calculated Precisely
Rafter cross-section and spacing depend on roof pitch, area, and the snow-load zone.
Ventilation Has to Be Planned Into the Frame
An incorrectly built ventilation gap causes condensation and rot within years of handover.
Ridge and Overhang Details
These connections determine how long the structure stays dry and stable under the covering.
Scope of work
What's Included in New-Build Roof Construction
Rafter Installation
Precise rafter spacing and cross-section to match the calculated load and roof pitch.
Breather Membrane Installation
A wind and water protective membrane over the rafters with correct overlap and sealing.
Battens & Counter-Battens
A ventilation gap between membrane and covering, batten spacing set to the chosen covering material.
Ridge & Overhang Construction
The ridge support structure and roof overhangs above walls and fascias.
Impregnation & Timber Protection
Structural timber is treated against rot and pests before installation.
We offer the covering (metal, tile, shingles, or other material) as the next stage of the same project - see our roof installation page for the full system from structure to covering.
Structure
Roof System Layers, Inside to Outside
Each layer serves a specific function - skip one, and the whole system's lifespan suffers.
| Layer | Function |
|---|---|
| Load-bearing structure (purlins, rafters) | Carries the roof and covering weight, snow and wind load |
| Breather membrane | Protects the structure from rain and wind, lets vapor escape from inside |
| Ventilation gap (counter-battens) | Removes moisture beneath the covering, prevents condensation and rot |
| Battens | The load-bearing base for the covering, spacing depends on the material |
| Roof covering | The outer waterproof layer (installed separately or together with construction) |
If you're planning to use the space directly under the roof as living space (a loft) in the new build, the insulation layer between the rafters needs to be planned in already at the construction stage - read more on our roof insulation page. If the attic will stay cold and unused, insulation is fitted at ceiling level instead, not on the roof slope - that's a different service, described on our attic insulation page.
Materials
Choosing Structural Materials
Most single-family home roofs in Latvia are built with a timber structure - the choice is about timber class and treatment, not the type of structure.
C24 Structural Timber
Strength-graded sawn timber for rafters and purlins - the standard solution for single-family home roofs.
Glued Laminated Timber Beams
For larger spans or more complex shapes where a longer unsupported section is needed.
Gable, Mono-Pitch & Broken-Pitch Structures
A structural solution matched to the chosen roof shape and architectural project.
A mono-pitch roof is the structurally simplest solution - suited to garages, outbuildings, and some modern-architecture homes, since it needs only one rafter direction and no ridge detail. A gable roof is the most common solution for single-family homes in Latvia - symmetrical, with a proven drainage layout and comparatively simple ridge and overhang construction. A broken-pitch (mansard-type) structure gives more usable space under the roof, but requires a more complex rafter and support solution with additional horizontal elements.
Critical details
The Details That Determine a Roof's Durability
The ridge detail, eaves, and overhangs are where problems most often arise - an incorrectly built ventilation flow or a lack of sealing here causes condensation, rot, and heat loss within just a few years.
Ridge Ventilation
Ensures continuous airflow from eaves to ridge - the structure's guaranteed service life starts here.
Eaves and Verge Detail
Correct overhang length and flashing connection protects the wall from water ingress.
Process
How New-Build Roof Construction Happens
1
Site Visit & Project Review
We assess the building's walls, load-bearing structure, and any available building project.
2
Structural Solution & Quote
We determine rafter spacing, cross-section, and material, and prepare a detailed quote.
3
Purlin & Rafter Installation
Building the load-bearing structure onto the walls or ceiling supports.
4
Membrane & Battens
Installing the breather membrane, counter-battens, and battens to the covering's requirements.
5
Detail Construction
Precise execution of the ridge, eaves, verges, and overhangs.
6
Quality Control & Handover
Structural inspection, photo documentation, and issuing warranty documents.
Quality
Quality Control
Before installing the battens, we check rafter spacing, verticality, and membrane overlap. After the battens are in, we check that the ventilation gap runs continuously from eaves to ridge - a stage that can no longer be visually checked once the covering is on, so we document it with photographs. We also check that every structural connection (rafter-to-purlin joints, ridge connections) is fixed with proper metal fasteners, not just nailed joints.
Price
What Affects Cost
The cost of new-build roof construction is affected by roof shape and pitch, area, rafter cross-section and spacing, timber class, and how difficult the site is to access. See our pricing page for a detailed breakdown with typical price ranges - we prepare an exact quote after a free site assessment.
Timeline
How Long the Work Takes
Building the roof structure for a single-family home, including battens and membrane, usually takes 1-3 weeks depending on roof shape and area. A broken-pitch roof or a structure with multiple ridges takes longer than a simple gable roof. We give an exact timeline in the quote.
Warranty
Warranty
We provide a written warranty for the completed structural work, covering both the labor and the timber and membrane materials used. See full warranty terms on our warranty page.
Completed project
A Roof Structure for a New Build in Mārupe
For a new build in Mārupe, we constructed a broken-pitch gable roof structure over a loft floor - rafter spacing and cross-section were calculated to leave room for insulation at the next stage. Ridge ventilation and eaves details were completed before the covering was installed, with photo documentation at every stage.
More Completed Projects
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
New-build roof construction means building an entirely new load-bearing structure - the rafter system - for a new building or extension from scratch, where there are no rafters or covering yet. Roof installation can also include covering for an existing structure. In practice, the two often merge into one project if the new build needs a covering right away too.
If you have an approved building project with structural drawings, we build to those. If there's no project, or it's missing roof structure details, we propose a solution based on the building's load-bearing wall layout, roof pitch, and expected load.
Building the roof frame for a single-family home, including battens and membrane, usually takes one to three weeks depending on how complex the roof shape is, the area, and the weather. We give an exact timeline in the quote after the site assessment.
The core service is the structure - frame, battens, counter-battens, and membrane. We install the covering (metal, tile, shingles, etc.) as the next stage of the same project, if you'd like to order it together.
Yes. For an extension's roof, we pay extra attention to the connection point with the existing building - waterproofing, avoiding a cold bridge, and draining water from both roof areas.
Start Your New Roof With the Right Structure
Request a free site assessment - we'll evaluate your new-build or extension's needs and prepare a precise structural solution.
We'll be in touch within 5-10 minutes