In other words you would space a roof joist 15 inches apart from another roof joist but never 17 inches apart.
How far apart are studs in a flat roof.
The spacing between rafters in a given building is part of the engineering calculations that determine the required structure of the roof.
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.
For heavy roofs or in areas with substantial snowfall or winds call your local building department for code requirements.
When starting to space out the roof joists always start at the end of the roof.
The size height and spacing of studs shall be in accordance with table 23 i r 3 except that utility grade studs shall not be spaced more than 16 inches 406 mm on center or support more than a roof and a ceiling or exceed 8 feet 2438 mm in height for exterior walls and load bearing walls or 10 feet 3048 mm for interior non bearing walls.
Measure from the ends.
Other relevant factors include the type of wood being used for the rafters the size of the rafters and the load that the rafters need to support.
Ceiling joists are usually installed either 16 or 24 inches on center which means roughly 16 or 24 inches apart.