| Gazebo: Adding the Roof and Finishing Touches |
From "Weekend Handyman"
episode WKH-201 |
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Time: 16 hours over two days. Difficulty Rating: This project rates a 2 on the Weekend Handyman scale. Materials: Gazebo kit Tools and other materials not included in the kit: 2-1/2" screws
Screw gun
Staples and soffit stapler
Level and framing square
Circular saw
Chop saw
Ladders
Building blocks
16" anchors
Cable
Fiberglass screening
Long 1x4's Note: Before you begin this project, determine the size and location of the gazebo. Then order the kit and gather all the tools and materials you'll need to complete this do-it-yourself project. Day Two: Assembling the Roof The roof has a core block (figure A) in the center -- just like the one that was installed in the floor. This block has a cutout on six sides, and each rafter fits into one of the cutouts. - Screw one rafter onto the core block and then another one on the opposite side. Once you have two opposite rafters attached, raise the core block (figure B).
- Fit the pre-cut bird's mouth (figure C) where the rafter meets the header. Put the other corner rafters up one at a time by first attaching to the core block and then to the header board.
Note: One of the concerns when building a roof is its pitch. The beauty of a gazebo kit is that the bird's mouth cutouts (see figure C) help you align the rafters with the corners and core block perfectly. - After the corner rafters are up, it's time to attach the six middle rafters. (Pre-mark the center of the header boards so all you'll have to do is align the rafters and attach.)
- The corner and middle rafters are up (figure D), so it's time to install the 12 short rafters -- two per rafter, which are pre-cut with the correct angle to meet the other rafters. They have a bird's mouth fitting as well on the header with the tail at the end.
- Align the short rafters against the longer middle and corner rafters -- seen here (figure E) -- and attach w/a screw gun.
- Once all the rafters are in place, you'll need to square up the gazebo walls using 1'x4'x8' boards to make a cross brace in the wall. Attach the brace board to the upper corner post of the gazebo wall (figure F), plumb the wall and then attach the bottom brace board to the opposite corner post. Do one wall, skip one, and then do the next.
- The kit comes with six 1'x4' fascia boards that will meet the ends of the rafters all around the gazebo. They come a bit long so that you can trim them to the exact length needed. Attach the fascia boards (figure G) -- mark board, match the angle on the chop saw and cut each board to necessary length.
- After the fascia boards are attached, it's time to put up the batten ceiling boards, which come pre-cut (figure H).
- Start at the bottom of the gazebo with one of the longest batten boards and work your way up the middle, assembling one pie wedge at a time. Place the longest board and center it in the middle of corner rafter (figure I). It should also be flush with the outside edge of the fascia board.
- For the rest of the batten boards, center the batten end in the middle of the corner rafter.
Tip: Be sure to eyeball the boards as you go along to make sure they look evenly spaced. Use 1/2" crown sheathing staples to attach. - The second pie should line up on the center rafter next to the first. Work your way around, stapling to both main and middle rafters (figure J).
Shingling the Roof Note: Aside from cutting the fascia boards, this is the only other time you'll have to do any cutting with the gazebo kit. - Again, do one pie wedge at a time, starting at the bottom. Double up the shingles in your starter row to provide the angle for the rest of the shingles. Use 1/4" galvanized staples that are 1" long. For the first pie, you can let the shingles run wild -- or hang over -- the corner rafters (figure K). This is where the cutting come in.
- Make a chalk line (or you can use a snap-line) from the peak down to the center rafter, using a saw to make a cut all the way down.
Tip: Be sure to set the blade on the saw shallow to cut the shingle only . - Now it's time to start the second pie, which means you're going to need corner pieces of shingles to fit along the edge. To do this, take one of the widest (or longest) shingles, put it flush against the fascia, mark the corner where it hits the rafters and this will be the angle you need to cut (figure L).
Timesaver Tip: Make 15 piles of four shingles each, lay your cut shingle on top of a pile, mark it and then use a saw to cut through all four shingles at a time. - Work on the second pie: Start with the cut shingles and work left to right. Continue all the way around. Cover the seam between each section of pie with ridge shingles (figure M). Use double-ridge shingles on the first row. Continue doing this all the way around the gazebo until the shingles are attached.
Attaching the Cupola The next-to-final step for building the gazebo is to install the cupola (figure N) on top. The cupola comes in six sections that have to be pre-assembled (use instructions that come with the kit). - All you have to do is drill down through the shingles into the rafters to install the cupola.
- Have someone check to make sure the cupola looks centered from the ground (figure O).
Attaching the Upper Balusters The final step is to attach the upper balusters. Host Paul Ryan left this step for last because it was much easier to install the corner posts without the balusters getting in the way. - Butt the baluster up against the header and attach it with three screws at the top and two at the bottom (figure P).
- Attach the corner brackets with a staple gun. Pre-drill four holes in each one and screw them into place.
- Screw in the 1x4 kicker board. Pre-drill and use four screws in each.
- Now you can take out the braces that were holding the gazebo in place.
RESOURCES :
Gazebo Kit (Mark's Cedar Sheds and Gazebos)
Model Name: Sunset
Model #: 12 ft. Hexagon
Color: Cedar
Manufacturer: Sunset Products, Inc.
Product Information:
- Precision cut components.
- Screen kits available on all gazebo styles.
- All gazebos come with cedar shingles.
Mark's Cedar Sheds and Gazebos
Website: www.marksgazebos.com
Start-to-Finish Sheds and Gazebos
ISBN: 0897214773
Author: Ortho Books Editors
Order this title from Amazon.
Ortho Books
Columbus, OH 43216
GUESTS :
Lou Peterson
Owner, Mark's Cedar Sheds and Gazebos
Website: www.marksgazebos.com
Mark Peterson
Owner, Mark's Cedar Sheds and Gazebos
(See contact information above.)
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