Tiny House Construction – Week 7

Posted on 15/03/2016 under My Tiny House Project

Tiny House Construction – Week 7
Fresh from two whole days off (a first since starting the build!) I felt better prepared to start work on the roof. This week is all about the roof. Watch a time lapse to see what I got up to this week:

Day 31

Today was very much a production line. I needed to make lots of rafters, so instead of making them one-by-one I decided to apply one step to each rafter at a time. This way I was doing one job over and over and didn’t have to change my setup. To build each 45 degree rafter I cut them to length at a 45 degree angle then cut out the ‘birds mouth’ (a notch cut out of the rafter where it sits on the wall). I then added 1/2 inch ply to bottom of rafter. Once the insulation is added this will create a 1/2 inch air gap between the insulation and the roof sheathing to allow air to circulate in the roof. Once all of the rafters where made I fitted one pair and was extremely pleased with how they sat agaist the ridge beam. Maybe I am getting this angles thing after all!
Looking good. Better stop there.

Looking good. Better stop there.

I decided to end on this good note. I am learning. Just as I started to pack up it started snowing. This was rather unexpected and as I drove home I was cutting through fresh snow on the road.

Day 32

Time to start putting up all of these rafters I made yesterday! It came along surprisingly well so with all of the 45 degree angle rafters now in place, it was time to start making the rafters for the second pitch… all 18.4 degrees of it.
The 45 degree rafters in place

The 45 degree rafters in place

45 degree angles are much easier than working with a weird 18.4. This is because my chop saw and squares all  have nice 45 degree angles built in, but working with a non-45 degree angle I was left with my protractor and a sense of uncertainty. Being just 0.1 of a degree off really adds up at the other end, so I had to learn to work with what I have and relying less on my 3D model and 0.1s of an angle. Instead I went with holding one piece of wood up to another and mark the line I want to cut with a pencil.

Day 33

Today I went back to the production line and made all of the remaining 18.4 degree rafters.
Rafters. The rectangular cutouts are to accommodate 'lookouts' which will support the roof overhang

Rafters. The rectangular cutouts are to accommodate ‘lookouts’ which will support the roof overhang

I also had a visit from a local lady interested in building and living in her own tiny house. I was more than happy to talk her through my plan for the house and let her get a feel for the space.

Day 34

I was on target to get the last of the rafters installed today, but I broke the only jigsaw blade I have cutting some tricker bits out of the rafters so I decided to start ticking off a few of the smaller jobs I have stacking up instead. This took the form of adding the last of the strapping to the two end walls.

Day 35

Today I finished the end-wall rafters and build the second loft wall where the two roof pitches meet.
IMG_8526

Rafters and loft wall complete.

This was probably the most satisfying day so far on the whole build. The roof really came together and the rafters not only look beautiful all up there together, but they really make the house look like a house. It’s a shame that no one is going to see them once they are all covered up. So I made sure to take lots of photos!
It's starting to look like a house

It’s starting to look like a house

Time for another couple of days off. I have a few small tasks to complete before starting sheathing next week. I also have lots of things to research, figure out and make decisions on. So plenty to keep me busy.

5 thoughts on "Tiny House Construction – Week 7"

  1. Grandma' says:
    March 19, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    Well done. So much better than a flat roof. love, Grandma’

  2. MOG says:
    March 16, 2016 at 5:40 am

    I knew I’d come across 18.4 degrees before – it’s what you get from a 1 in 3 slope.
    I think the way you used is fine, but if you couldn’t mark it up, then you could have made a 1:3 triangle with your tape measure.
    Love from your know it all dad. 🙂

    1. Joe says:
      March 20, 2016 at 9:13 am

      We shall see when it comes to attaching the roofing!

      Joe

  3. MOG says:
    March 16, 2016 at 5:28 am

    Good to see you’ve mastered real-life geometry. 😉

    Now how about a fold-up geodesic dome to cover everything up during those winter months?

  4. mum says:
    March 15, 2016 at 1:27 pm

    You seem to be getting on really well,i am proud of my boy,we are looking forward to seeing you both latter on in the year.love mum xxx