Rafter thrust and I give up

[fatboy]

Well, in my neck of the woods we get some snow also, and I have seen plenty of structures the the ridge has sagged, the walls have bowed, due to inadequate rafter ties. From what I could see in the pic, they need ties. Maybe it works sometimes, somewhere, but...........code requires ties where there is not a beam supporting the ridge.

 

[incognito]

If the vaulted ceiling joists bearing on the interior wall had not been installed would the beam, that many are advocating, be required to support the actual rafters? Probably not but we really do not know because the picture is not showing enough of the roof construction. There is quite possibly, and probably likely, that a ridge exists at the top of the gable end with additional support for the ridge and roof rafters making the pictured vault little more than drywall backing. We are not being provided with enough info.