Is that beam is any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness and prepared for use while rafter is one of a series of sloped beams that extend from the ridge or hip to the downslope perimeter or eave designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads or rafter can be a raftsman.
Roof rafter and beams.
A pair of rafters is called a couple.
Typically the roof beam is made by nailing together a few pieces of dimensional lumber.
Maximum rafter spans for a patio roof in areas with mild climates patio roofs are generally designed for loads of 30 psf pounds per square foot.
The table below shows built up beams for 31 3 psf of snow loading.
Rafters are the building components that run diagonally from the wall plate to the apex of a roof structure.
A rafter is one of a series of sloped structural members such as wooden beams that extend from the ridge or hip to the wall plate downslope perimeter or eave and that are designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads.
Some of these can support the roof and prevent ridge sagging and wall spreading.
Once again you will need to look at your local charts and use your local snow load factor to determine the maximum span for a given wood rafter size.
In home construction rafters are normally made of wood.
Collar ties rafter ties tension beams structural ridge beams.
You will need a roof beam as a nailing surface to support the rafters.
An essential part of planning a patio roof or gazebo project is determining the number size and spacing of rafters beams and posts according to the loads they will carry.
In traditional timber they are nominally 2 inches thick and typically 8 to 10 inches wide.