Where rafter tail sits on top plate of wall,...does that HAVE to be notched? or can i just side staple it (sister), to joist end?...
or can i just side staple it (sister), to joist end? approaching pre made trusses.
That rafter wishes to be notched and nailed along side the ceiling joist, and even using some sort of rafter tie to the top plate(code in some areas). Doing adjectives of these things make for the strongest triangle and roof system. Do not try and cut corners, this is the roof that give somebody a lift all the loop and elements to keep you undamaging.
No offense to answer 1 at all, but you didn't state that this is a ROOF situation. If so it may depend on a design that extends a ROOF smirk beyond the top plate, in which satchel a BIRDS MOUTH should be cut, which might adjust the roof pitch fractionally.
If you aren't asking about ROOF support, next at the very most minuscule you should use the specific PLATES/Brackets, made for such a purpose, and even if a ROOF support beam, a Plate as overkill wouldn't be a bleak idea.
No offense, but so much of your notion might also depend on codes/ zoning/ insurance issues.
Answers: It depends on the size of your rafters. If you are using 2" x8" rafter or larger, then you own enough meat on the rafter to afford adjectives a notch (birdsmouth) contained by the rafter. Anything under that I would suggest you fastener the rafter securely into the ceiling joist, next toenail the ceiling joist into the top plate.
Some people fashion mistake of cutting too low a (birdsmouth) notch within rafter and thus weakening the rafter at this point.
If you want a more protected method, and you don't want to notch rafter. Cut wedge blocks to fit below the rafters. Nail them to the underside of the rafter which will later lay flat on top plate.
Remember to cut your ceiling joist off on angle of rafter at the top. You can do this near a sawzall after the ceiling joist are up.
Line and brace your walls first (make sure they are straight and plumb (vertically correct). Then install ceiling joist first - this holds building together, then install ridge board (if this is double pitched roof), later make a rafter guide, check to make sure it's right- spawn one more and tack them up to check. Then cut them adjectives and install.