| If you are building or renovating your house and | | | | for the other trusses. Then take some cardboard |
| would like to have more storage space than you | | | | and trace the truss angles onto it. Use the |
| used to, you can try erecting a gambrel roof, | | | | resulting patterns to create brackets from 1 |
| which with its arch shape, will provide ample room | | | | 2-inch plywood. You should come up with two |
| to store your possessions. Read on to find out | | | | bracket shapes-triangular and doglegs-like. |
| the steps to follow if you decide to beatify your | | | | Step 3 - Assemble the Trusses |
| home with this stylish yet practical type of roof. | | | | After you have cut the boards and brackets for |
| Tools and Materials: | | | | the trusses, you need to join them together. |
| * Boards | | | | Attach the brackets by using eight penny nails. If |
| * Chalk | | | | you aim at further reinforcing the joints, tie them |
| * Cardboard | | | | with metal straps. |
| * Plywood | | | | To finish the trusses, take a 2-by-6-inch board |
| * Penny nails | | | | and secure it between the dogleg brackets to |
| * Temporary brace | | | | serve as a joist. |
| * Metal straps | | | | Step 4 - Lift the Trusses into Place and Cover |
| * Shingles | | | | Them |
| Step 1 - Plan the Gambrel Roof | | | | Raise the trusses into position and having made |
| The first thing you should do is calculate the | | | | sure each truss is plumb and straight, nail them to |
| trusses you will need. The trusses of the roof | | | | the joists of the lower floor. |
| should be 16 inches apart from one another. | | | | Have a temporary brace fixed between trusses |
| Decide how high the gambrel roof will be. For | | | | while you are building the roof. In this way the |
| example, a good height for a 36-foot wide building | | | | trusses will not tilt sideways and will form a strong |
| would be 10 feet 4 inches, but there are no | | | | foundation for the roof. |
| restrictions. Ultimately it is up to you how tall the | | | | For roof sheathing, cover the trusses of your |
| roof will stand. Just remember when making the | | | | gambrel roof with 3/4-inch plywood and secure it |
| calculations that the upper section of the gambrel | | | | in place. (If you live in an area with heavy |
| roof typically has an angle of 30 degrees, while its | | | | snowfalls, increase the thickness of the plywood.) |
| lower part is slanted at 60 degrees. | | | | Place a layer of waterproof material over the |
| Step 2 - Lay Out the Trusses | | | | plywood and finish working on the gambrel roof |
| Buy the boards you will need for the construction. | | | | with shingles of your choice. |
| (The most appropriate will be 2-by-6-inch boards.) | | | | Step 5 - Build the End Walls |
| On a level plot of land, lay out four boards in a | | | | Cut studs for all end walls and fit them within the |
| design of your choice and mark with chalk the | | | | slope of the roof by cutting angles into the studs |
| places where you will cut and the angles you will | | | | and notches into the angles and trusses. If you |
| need for the roof. | | | | want, frame and install windows. Finally use |
| Make the cuts and use the boards as templates | | | | plywood and shingles to cover the ends. |