To conclude the conundrum regarding the hip roof rafter once and for all, the answer is 4.58m.

The reason the 4.90m brigade are incorrect is that they make the assumption that the angle of the hip rafter from the corner is 30 degrees. This is not the case, as otherwise the hip rafter would rise above the ridge line. The hip rafter is laid to a slightly lesser degree. Allan Mountford’s solution uses known dimensions and known pitch and is the correct solution.

Keith Barton, Gleeds, Manchester