Rating: 
Summary: BEST ROOF FRAMING TEACHER NO CONTEST FUN FUN FUN
Review: ...I have always been fond of the REAL carpenters that could cut roofs that would make you want to cry. It is also my personal belief that the roof makes the house. What I mean is, if you stand back and look at any house with a piece of paper covering the roof all you see is just a big box with windows and doors ! But, add a really nice roof and plain Jane becomes a castle ! I taught myself and I have used this book to teach several kids and adults that I have met through Habitat for Humanity. The best part is the Mr. Gross, he tells you first thing he wanted to be a good teacher and he has gone far beyond that ! First he takes you right into a project and you can easily teach anyone how to cut roofs (and teach yourself)by going along. I love the way he has the knack of explaining complicated math. He has done more for my ability to understand complex math than any of the college professors I have taken math classes from...I wish that one day I could met Mr. Gross, such a craftsman and such a good teacher...Good luck and remember, Jesus was a carpenter !!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Totally awesome. Roofing made simple
Review: I built the 3' by 5' roof model according to the plans for my kids' playhouse.
My neighbor said, "Wow, you're talented!"
My friend said, "This is really a sturdy playhouse!"
My wife said, "It adds a realistic touch."
My kids just love it and they spend endless hours playing Yu-Gi-Oh card games in it.Thanks Marshall Gross! You made it plain enough for even a beginner like me to build a roof.
Rating: 
Summary: A very comprehensible book on a complex topic, but...
Review: I have been thumbing though this book on and off for the past few years. I covers aspects of roofing, such as determining the ridgeline on complex buildings, that no other books seem to deal with. In general, Gross's book is very comprehensive, easy to understand and follow, BUT, as another reviewer mentioned, it must be understood that if you are to get anywhere with this stuff, you MUST be dedicated. I have recently come across a problem with the book though. I specialize in timberframing, and one of the important cuts in a hip roof is the backing cut for the hip rafter. In conventional stick framing this cut is less critical, as the hip is more often dropped than backed, and even if it is backed the error in Gross's book would not add up to anything too obvious. However, with larger timbers, a few degrees error is obvious and unacceptable. I read Japanese and have been studying, in my Japanese framing texts, the cuts particular to an Octagonal roof. I found to my surprise that after comparing the cut angles by the Japanese method and Gross's that they differed. Then I cross-checked to some old (pre-1920's) builder's square textbooks that I have, and found that they agree with the Japanese developed drawing results and it is Gross who is wrong. In short, he shows that the backing cut angle is the same as the hip rafter slope (ie, hip rafter run to rise), whereas what is correct is to take the hip rafter LENGTH and the rise. On a 6/12 roof slope, Gross's method gives an angle that is out by a little over 1 degree - again, not significant with 2x stock, but a factor in timberwork. Gross makes this error with both regular hip roofs and octagon roofs. Any easy mistake to make, to be sure. All in all though, Gross's book is excellent and should be part of any roofer's 'tool' collection.
Rating:
Summary: A very comprehensible book on a complex topic, but...
Review: I have been thumbing though this book on and off for the past few years. I covers aspects of roofing, such as determining the ridgeline on complex buildings, that no other books seem to deal with. In general, Gross's book is very comprehensive, easy to understand and follow, BUT, as another reviewer mentioned, it must be understood that if you are to get anywhere with this stuff, you MUST be dedicated. I have recently come across a problem with the book though. I specialize in timberframing, and one of the important cuts in a hip roof is the backing cut for the hip rafter. In conventional stick framing this cut is less critical, as the hip is more often dropped than backed, and even if it is backed the error in Gross's book would not add up to anything too obvious. However, with larger timbers, a few degrees error is obvious and unacceptable. I read Japanese and have been studying, in my Japanese framing texts, the cuts particular to an Octagonal roof. I found to my surprise that after comparing the cut angles by the Japanese method and Gross's that they differed. Then I cross-checked to some old (pre-1920's) builder's square textbooks that I have, and found that they agree with the Japanese developed drawing results and it is Gross who is wrong. In short, he shows that the backing cut angle is the same as the hip rafter slope (ie, hip rafter run to rise), whereas what is correct is to take the hip rafter LENGTH and the rise. On a 6/12 roof slope, Gross's method gives an angle that is out by a little over 1 degree - again, not significant with 2x stock, but a factor in timberwork. Gross makes this error with both regular hip roofs and octagon roofs. Any easy mistake to make, to be sure. All in all though, Gross's book is excellent and should be part of any roofer's 'tool' collection.
Rating:
Summary: My most valuble tool? This book.
Review: I have framed a lot of roofs in my 20 years as a framer. However, I always felt as if I was missing something. I knew there had to be a book that explained how to cut and fit a basic roof, with hips and valleys, mathmatically. After seventeen years of searching I found it. Much to my suprise, the book explained how to cut even the most complicated roofs, (regular or irregular). The last $750,000 house I framed was for a retired framer who now only trims the houses he build. He said he has never seen a complex roof, as straight, the cuts as good, nor one done as fast as this house. Since I have had this book I have been able to command my price, and have earned one of the best reputations in Central Kentucky. It will take the average person years to learn all the information in this book, however, after a few days of reading, one will learn more about roofs than he could imagine. I have used this book so much I have worn it out. Because I could not imagine framing with out this book, I am going order four copies today!
Rating:
Summary: SIMPLY THE BEST BOOK ON THE SUBJECT EVER.
Review: I REFER TO THIS BOOK BEFORE EVERY MAJOR ROOF FRAMING JOB. I AM ABLE TO CUT ALL THE RAFTERS WITHOUT LEAVING THE GROUND. TEACHERS OF GEOMETRY AND TRIGONOMETRY SHOULD READ THIS BOOK IN ORDER TO GIVE THEIR STUDENTS A PRACTICAL MODEL TO UNDERSTANDING THEOREMS AND EQUATIONS. THANKS MARSHALL, YOU HAVE SAVED ME ALOT OF TIME AND MONEY.
Rating:
Summary: a trigonometric approach to an esoteric art
Review: The advent of the mass-produced computer-designed truss roof has made the true roof-cutter a dying breed. There is a dearth of information on this complex subject, and this text is a welcome entry for that void. Unfortunately, while Mr. Gross is himself a talented roof-cutter and carpenter, he is less talented as a teacher and writer. I found his explanations lacking, although well-supported with drawings and diagrams. He introduces some very useful concepts, such as theoretical lengths and height-above-plate, and he encourages the solution to roof calculation problems by means of a trig calculator, rather than obsolete math tables. I found this book very useful, although weakly bound for the rigors of an oft-consulted text. In conjunction with Gross's book, I also recommend "A Roof Cutter's Secrets to Framing the Custom Home" by Will Holladay.
Rating:
Summary: Lost art
Review: This book needs to be studied more than just read. Each chapter builds on the previous and will enable you to cut complicated roofs accurately. For the math challenged it is a good book because it walks you through the calculator steps. Forget the math illiterate oriented construction calculators costing way too much.. This book teaches you to use an ordinary scientific calculator with trig functions to cut roofs. If you make a living as a carpenter, then simple tips like methods for cutting sheathing in the appendix are worth the price of the book. If you want to break out and escape the McBox truss roof assembly line then this book will enable you.
Rating:
Summary: Lost art
Review: This book needs to be studied more than just read. Each chapter builds on the previous and will enable you to cut complicated roofs accurately. For the math challenged it is a good book because it walks you through the calculator steps. Forget the math illiterate oriented construction calculators costing way too much.. This book teaches you to use an ordinary scientific calculator with trig functions to cut roofs. If you make a living as a carpenter, then simple tips like methods for cutting sheathing in the appendix are worth the price of the book. If you want to break out and escape the McBox truss roof assembly line then this book will enable you.
Rating:
Summary: Very Thorough
Review: This is the best book for the "nuts and bolts' of roof cutting. Not only does he emphasize the important topics, he reinforces them by using problems to test your newly acquired skills. The presentation of alternate ways to measure and cut a roof helps by providing tools to enable any framer to become an expert. Highly recommended to any carpenter who wants to take the next step or to the pro who just wants to hone his skills.
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