BOOK LIBRARY - ROOF

Son’s kindly volunteered to take on the role of chief door frame painter, leaving us free to concentrate efforts on creating a roof for the main library structure.

The original idea was to make one like this

The original drawing used as a blueprint for our little lending library shows a peaked roof held up by two triangular panels. The roof overhangs the main body of the book box to prevent rainwater dripping down it and is covered by some kind of waterproof material. Hmmm - how can we re-create something similar?

Firstly – we need to make the two triangular panels that will form the main support for the roof. Here’s how to do this:

Start by cutting two rectangles out of OSB or whatever material you are going to use for your roof structure. The rectangles should be the same width as your underlying book box.

The plan is to make 2 of these

Draw a pencil line on the OSB to mark the centre of the rectangle’s length. On each side edge, mark a point that is approx. 7 cms from the bottom. Join the mid-point mark to the side mark (see sketch) to determine your cutting line for the apex of the triangle.

Cut away the bits either side of your dotted line. Repeat for the second panel.

Cutting out your triangular shape 

Use chunky timber battens to cut smaller lengths for the sides of the roof structure.

Wood battens for sides

Your triangular panels are screwed onto these battens from the front. I’ve used one batten for each side and one in the middle for extra support. Use clamps to keep everything together as you work.

Making a roof truss

Clamps to hold it all together

The finished dimensions of the whole piece should be the same as the top of the underlying book box, nothing should overhang at this stage. I’ve left a small indent front and back to accommodate an identical panel made of white UPVC that will cover the OSB for additional waterproofing.

Truss should fit neatly on top of box

Permanently fix this triangular truss to the top of the main book box using long thin wood screws drilled in from the inside of the box. Countersink all the screw heads so nothing sticks out. Doesn’t look pretty but once painted they won’t really be visible from the outside.

Attach roof truss to top of box 

With the truss firmly fitted, time to make roof panels. Again, I’ve used OSB for this as I’m intending to cover the panels with some of the rubber roofing material leftover from our dormer refurbishment. You could also use felt or just paint them then coat in yacht varnish to waterproof.

Making the roof panels

Cut two OSB rectangles to sit on top of each side of the truss but this time each panel must be larger than the truss so that it creates an overhang on all sides.

Angle one side of the panel to create a mitred joint

As both bits of OSB need to join at the apex, cut an angle on one side to create a mitred joint.

Screw roof panel to truss

Make a tight joint at the apex

Secure each roofing panel to the truss using long thin wood screws. Again, countersink all the screw heads so nothing sticks out. Make sure your central mitred joint is nice and tight.

Roof attached

You should now have a book box with a nice overhanging roof ready to prime and cover with appropriate waterproof material of your choice. Here’s ours with its new rubber roof.

All primed up

Rubber roof stuck on

Now excuse me whilst I go off for a nice little drive to Somerset to drop off the finished book box to son who is waiting, paint brush in hand to spruce it up in a nice shade of rustic green.