Gazebo Roofs

Rafter Splay

The gazebo above has what is called a regular, square, hip roof. Here's where that description comes from. First, when all four sides of a roof are pitched inward, the roof is called a "hip" roof. Second, since all the sides are equal, it's consider "square". And finally, the peak of the roof is located exactly in the center of the building resulting in all four sides of the roof having an equal slope , hence the term "regular".

Check Point - Removing or moving bracing further up makes for an attractive, uncluttered, open cathedral look. Unfortunately, rules of thumb for sizing rafters fall short when bracing is removed or relocated higher up. This is even more true when the gazebo is being built in a part of the country that gets snow. Get a password today, and learn how to properly size the rafters and wall headers for your gazebo.

You may have noticed that the roof framing for the gazebo above does not have a center support post to hold up the peak/apex of the roof - where all the rafters come together. Typically, a post would be needed to prevent the weight on the rafters from splaying out the tops of the walls. Designing gazebo roofs to have an uncluttered look like the one above requires special construction details.

All roof framing needs to be braced in order to neutralize the splaying forces that the rafters exert on the tops of the walls. In effect, the rafters act like a big pair of scissors that tend to pry the tops of the walls outward. This spreading force increases with the load on the roof and the span of the rafters. Regardless of the style of roof, the tendency of the rafters to spread out at their bases must be counteracted with some type of bracing.

Check Point - Getting the joints between roof rafters to fit together without gaps can be a challenge. It is the hallmark of real craftsmanship and especially important for gazebos where the underside of the framing is exposed. Get a password today for immediate access to tips-and-tricks from a seasoned builder that will help ensure your framing fits together with precision.

The content under the "How-To" menu is a small sampling of all the material covered on BestDeckSite. For immediate access to in-depth information on sizing roof rafters and wall headers, wind bracing, sizing posts, and installing floor framing, as well as, comprehensive coverage of all aspects of gazebo and deck building, get a password and log-in now.

     Gazebo Roofs

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