A lookout is a horizontal framing member cantilevered out from the wall plate or exterior studs to frame a roof's eaves. It ties into the first inboard rafter or truss and projects outward to provide a solid nailing surface for the fascia board and soffit. Lookouts create the structural skeleton for the roof's overhang, protecting the siding from weather.
Cut a dozen lookouts at 16 inches so we can finish framing this gable overhang.
Notch the gable wall framing so the lookouts sit flush, tying back securely to the first interior rafter.
Related terms
Wall plate
A horizontal timber laid flat along the top of a wall to support roof trusses or floor joists.
Gable roof
A roof with two sloping sides that meet at a top ridge, creating triangular end walls.
Cantilever
A structural beam or slab that is anchored at only one end and extends outward into space.