Existing blocking

Instead of removing the existing blocking, I had cut around them to fit the new rafters. Everything was a nice snug fit. A gap resulted from the change in roof pitch. So for nailing purposes I filled the gap with angled pieces. Once glued, it's as good as a solid single piece. 10d nails also help to penetrate all the way through.

Flatwise blocking

Edge of plywood needs nailing, so I added these flat 2x4's as blocking fastened with Simpson A34's. They should be just right for the ring-shank 8d nails I've been using on the 5/8" plywood sheathing.

Steel beam has been brushed and sprayed with a coat of primer.

Skylight cutout

Why have a skylight in an outdoor porch roof?

Well, it's all about solar orientation and the needs of nearby rooms. I have an existing bedroom (possible future office or dining room) window just below it. The sun hardly shines in there, even with the previous short eaves. Now with the skylight, it's much brighter. Yet the deep roof shields midday sun nicely, providing a large protected walk-up area.

The framing stage at this point still allows changes. It can be closed off or cut larger. I think it's just right.

See solar animation.

L-corner false rafter

Underneath, the rafter tails tell a deceiving story. The closest one to the steel is a false member. It's actually just a nailing block for the plywood. One of the cut-offs was salvaged to mimic a regular rafter tail because the underside will be left exposed to match existing conditions.

The face-nail method right next to the steel was a tough decision. It means I would have to cut the cedar board around it, and it would look half-hidden. The only other choice was to nail to the cedar, which was logistically impossible because the cedar comes later.

L-corner plywood

This corner resulted from having multiple divergent constraints -- maximize headroom clearance under the beam (though minimized with the shortest possible beam profile), steepest roof pitch available, and closest match to existing gutter line without showing a gap or looking like a mistake. This photo shows it like a mess, but it came together well.