How to Build a Gambrel Roof

A gambrel roof is a favorite design, for it allows efficient use of space. Because each side of the roof consists of two angles instead of one, you are able to get more usable square footage. It is no wonder that gambrel roofs can be found on many barns. Perhaps you wish to add a gambrel roof in your house or barn. Read the below steps that will walk you through the process.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Planning

1. Determine the number of trusses you need for your gambrel roof according to the size of the building you are constructing. The spacing between roof trusses is 16 inches on center.
2. Decide how tall you would like to make your gambrel roof. For example, a 36-foot-wide building may have a 10 foot 4 inch high ceiling (measured from the interior), or a 16-foot-wide structure may have a 5 foot 2 inch high ceiling. Ultimately, the decision is up to you. Generally speaking, the upper section of a gambrel roof has a 30-degree angle, whereas the lower section of the roof has a 60 degree angle.
3. Choose whether or not to purchase your roof trusses pre-made or to make them yourself on site.

Layout

4. Purchase the lumber you will need to make the roof trusses. 2-by-6 inch lumber works well, and is available at any building supply store or lumber yard.
5. Find a level section of ground and use that as your workspace to lay out the lumber so you can build the first truss of the gambrel roof. Employ stakes driven into the ground to help you hold the lumber in place.
6. Lay out four pieces of lumber in the configuration you decided, and use a chalk line to mark the lumber at the points were it needs to be cut as well as the angles needed to build the gambrel roof.
7. Make your cuts, and use these pieces as the template to cut the lumber for the rest of the trusses for your gambrel roof.
8. Trace the angles of the trusses onto cardboard, and use them as patterns to create brackets out of ½ inch plywood. You will find you have two bracket shapes: ones that are angled like "doglegs," and others that are triangular.

Assemble the Trusses

9. Assemble all of the trusses for the gambrel roof on the ground. Use the stakes driven into the ground to keep the lumber in place until you are able to secure it together.
10. Attach the braces to all of the trusses joints using 8 penny nails. Should you wish to reinforce the joints still further, by tying them together with strap metal.
11. Finish the truss by securing a 2-by-6 inch board between the dogleg braces. This will act as a joist and a stiffener.

Raise the Trusses

12. Lift the trusses into position, being very careful to make certain that each truss is plumb and straight before nailing it to the joist of the lower floor as you build a gambrel roof.
13. Secure a temporary brace in between each truss as you build a gambrel roof. This brace will help to keep each truss straight and true. You can remove it before adding the plywood sheathing for the roof.
14. Lay ¾-inch plywood on the trusses for roof sheathing as you build a gambrel roof and secure them in place. Depending on the area of the country in which you live, you may need to increase this thickness due to snow loads.
15. Cover the plywood with a waterproof layer, then finish the roof with whatever shingle or roofing material you wish.

The End Walls

16. Cut studs for the end walls when you build a gambrel roof. These studs need to fit within the slope of the roof by cutting notches into the trusses and angles in the studs so that both can fit together.
17. Frame in any window that you wish and install it or them.
18. Enclose the ends with plywood, and finish with the siding or shingle that you wish.

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