SUPPLIES
- Gable roof trusses (prefabricated)
- Box or common nails
- Roofing nails
- Plywood boards
- Waterproof roofing barrier or felt
- Roofing shingles and caps
- Hammer
- Ladder
- Level
Overview
The gable roof is the simplest and most employed roof design ever. Basic to elaborate variations of the triangle shape can be seen on homes, businesses, sheds and barns. Building a gable roof takes enough precision and skill to ensure stability, enduring strength and ease of repair. The process necessitates accuracy, taking your time with measurements and making sure all sides are level. The skill aspect revolves around your ability to master the simple tasks of sawing, hammering and assembling. For the purposes of this project, we will use prefabricated trusses, rather than building the entire roof framing by hand.
Step 1
Order your gable roof trusses. Go to your local lumberyard or home-building company and place an order for prefabricated trusses. Most builders space the trusses either 18 or 24 inches apart. If it is affordable, however, make your spacing 12 inches for greater strength and stability. Unless you have the means to pick up your materials yourself, remember to include delivery to your job site when ordering. You will need to know your intended dimensions (board sizes and lengths), pitches (the ascending angle of the roof) and roof pitch (in this case, gable).
Step 2
Begin assembling your roof by placing and securing the front and rear gable end trusses first. Before you hammer in the first nail, make sure each truss is straight, level and the same exact height in relation to the rest of the roof and the other trusses. Once all measurements indicate accuracy of placement, nail down the trusses (using box or common nails) to the outside end of the cap plate located at the top of your building's walls. Use at least three nails in each end of the truss.
Step 3
Begin installing the remaining gable trusses, going in between the front- and back-end trusses. If you place one truss at one end, move to the other to place the next one. It is crucial that each truss is straight, level and exactly as high with every other prior to securing to the cap plate. Do not forget to space each truss 12 inches apart. Secure each truss to the outside end of the cap plate using your box or common nails.
Step 4
Install the plywood boards on top of the gable trusses to lay the foundation for the actual roof. Use the box or common nails to secure the plywood down.
Step 5
Roll out the roofing barrier over the plywood. As you do so, secure it to the wood with roofing nails. Nail placement should be every 6 to 8 inches down the truss. Be sure to secure each plywood board to each truss it lays on top of, not just the outside edges.
Step 6
Install the roof shingles. Do this by starting at the base of the roof and going across the length of the roof from front to back. Use roofing nails to secure the shingles. You will lay the next layer of shingles on top of the first layer, covering the non-shingle area of the tile with the next shingle, creating a diagonal layering effect. You can use the roofing cap at the peak to finish off the roof and create a complete water barrier with the shingles.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : Many vendors will come out to check your measurements if you request it, as long as you are buying the materials from them.
- WARNING : Whenever you are working high off the ground, make sure you are wearing appropriate clothing and footwear that will not cause you to slip.
