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Create a veranda

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO BUILD A VERANDA!

First of all, you should think about what you intend to do with the veranda. Do you want to lounge under your veranda? Or do you want a place to dine? Is it useful to have a shed in the roof, or not? The purpose determines the size and model of the veranda. Watch the video below to see how you can quickly build your veranda. Hardwood Discount delivers ready-made shelters, with almost no screws.

EXAMPLE: MAKE YOUR OWN OVERHANG FROM WOOD

In 5 steps, we summarize how you can make a roof yourself. A detailed step-by-step plan can be found below.

1. INSTALLING POSTS

Building your own overhang begins with the installation of the uprights. These are the vertical poles that are put into the ground and form the basis of the roof. The uprights can be ordered without or with a concrete base. Place the concrete base in the ground in a hole at least 40 centimetres deep. The concrete base should protrude 15 cm above the ground. Make sure the concrete base is level and stable, and then fill the hole with sand.

2. ASSEMBLING THE ROOF BEAMS

Next, you can assemble the roof beams of the roofing. A distinction is made between crossbeams and supporting beams. Start with the load-bearing beams, so that the uprights are connected at the ends. Then you can place the numbered roof beams. Drill a hole at the ends of the beams, place the roof beam and screw it down with a long screw. With the braces you can then connect the roof beams of the roofing with the uprights. This creates a sturdy construction.

3. INSTALLING THE SIDWALLS

Now you can attach the sidewalls. Start with the frame by placing the lighter beams between the uprights. You will need 4 vertical uprights and 2 horizontal beams per sidewall. Saw the beams to size and then mount them. Then you can install the wall cladding or the gunwale boards horizontally. Use 2 counter head screws for each intersecting beam. For a side wall of a roofing, approximately 12 planks are stacked on top of each other. Of course, this depends on the height of the roofing.

4. FLOOR INSTALLATION

If you wish, you can then install a floor under the structure. This will give the roof a luxurious look, the floor will stay cleaner and it will feel warmer. Hardwood decking is an ideal addition to any conservatory. Depending on the size of the roofing and the width of the boards, you will need more or less boards. We recommend the use of sturdy hardwood decking boards, as they do not sag and will remain in top condition for years.

5. SEALING THE FLAT ROOF

With the supplied roof boarding you can easily make a roof on your shelter. Put the planks of the roof boarding in the middle of one of the roof beams. In most cases the boards have a length of 3 or 4 metres. Sometimes you may have to saw off a piece of the board. Then screw the roof boarding with two screws per board. Repeat this process per board until the roof is completely covered. It is recommended to put EPDM roofing on the roof of the roofing. This prevents leakage.

A WOODEN PORCH CAN BE MADE IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS

Would you like to build a veranda with a flat roof and an overhang, a large or a small roof? Or are you looking for a porch with a pointed roof and an indoor shed?

Making a wooden roof with one or more side walls is very well possible. Hardwood Discount sells easy to assemble shelters. You can specify the details in our calculator, so a large but also small roofing can be easily done. You can also come to us if you want to make a shelter!

Making a simple roofing is very easy to do yourself. Minimal experience is enough to set it up.

It starts with the basics. Where do you want the freestanding roof to be placed in the garden? You have to take into account the sun's rotation. Therefore, if you do not want the sun to come in under the veranda, it is sometimes better to close off a part of the veranda. A wooden veranda is also very well suited to an existing shed or house. Bring the indoor life outside!

WHICH WOODEN PARTS OF THE DO-IT-YOURSELF PACKAGE WILL YOU RECEIVE FROM US?

With each oak or Douglas roof from Hardwood Discount you will receive the wooden frame. This consists of uprights, beams for the ring, wooden beams as roof supports, curved braces and wooden pins. Also you always receive a construction drawing.

All the wood is numbered, follow the clear construction drawing, then it is not complicated to set up the roof.

As an option you may also receive the screws, the roof boarding, EPDM roofing, wooden planks for the walls, fascias in white or black, beams for the framework of the walls and concrete paving stones.

Always check upon receipt if the above parts have been delivered to you.

TOOLS REQUIRED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WOODEN SHELTER

  • A long spirit level, and if required a lazer for the foundation
  • A heavy rubber hammer and an iron mallet
  • A drill with a bit holder
  • A shovel
  • A handsaw
  • A hand circular saw or circular saw table
  • 2 or 3 persons with light construction experience are desirable

THE STEPS FOR BUILDING A ROOF

STEP 1: LEVELLING THE GROUND

A freestanding porch or a roof added to an existing structure must always be level. The location of the pillars that will support the structure must be level with each other. First of all, dig a hole about 40 cm deep and twice the width of a shovel. Repeat this operation for all the posts that your roof will have. All holes must have the same depth, and together they should be level. A small deviation of one centimetre is not a problem; you can easily correct it later during construction. We will explain this in further construction steps.

Whether you are building a small gazebo or a large stand-alone gazebo, the process of laying the foundation is the same. A good foundation is essential for a good result.

To get the mutual depths equal with all dug depths or holes intended for the concrete pits, it is easiest to use a lazer. If you do not have an advanced device like this, you can also use a spirit level, but this is less accurate than a lazer.

If you have ordered our concrete pedestals, it is best if they protrude approx. 15 cm above the ground. This gives extra cachet to your construction. If you do not have ready-made concrete bases, we recommend that you use quick-formed concrete to make a similar base.

The concrete foundation has two functions. The pole provides good pressure distribution and prevents subsidence of your wooden roof. In addition, the wood is not in direct contact with the sand, which extends the life of the wood considerably.

We now assume that you will not be building on a hard or level surface. If you decide to build on concrete or existing paving, a foundation is not always necessary. You can then build straight away. We will be happy to advise you on the best option for your situation.

STEP 2: FOLLOW THE ORDER OF THE CONSTRUCTION DRAWING

We always deliver our shelters with a good construction drawing. This blueprint clearly indicates by numbers where which pole and which upright should be mounted. If you follow this sequence, you can't go wrong with the construction of your porch.

Always start with a pole which functions as a corner post. We always advise starting with a left or right rear post. But you can also start at the front with a corner column or post. Building an oak or Douglas tree shelter makes no difference in the construction and assembly at Hardwood Discount. The construction method is the same for both wood species.

STEP 3: PLACE THE UPRIGHT IN THE FOUNDATION

Place a support in the foundation and brace it with 2 laths or with 2 ropes. The intention is that the upright is vertically level. By bracing it with a lath and a picket fence post, the upright will remain in place. This allows you to easily continue with the construction.

If you have secured the upright, repeat the process with the rear 2 or 3 uprights. Make sure the uprights are not rotated, otherwise the beam will not fit on the upright. The girder, which is a ring beam around all the uprights, only fits in one way. If it does not fit, turn the upright a quarter turn.

STEP 4: FITTING CURVED STRUTS

Take two curved struts for each upright and mount them on the upright. Drive one pin halfway into the upright so that the bent strut stays in place. Do not fully drive the pins through yet, this will come later in the assembly.

STEP 5: SIMPLIFYING THE FIT

Tip: Putting some clear grease or lubricating oil into the mortise and tenon joints will simplify the fit. The wood will slide together more easily.

With 2 or 3 people, place the beam on top of the uprights you have ready. The beam has a recess on either side so that it falls over the upright. With a rubber hammer, hit the end of the beam so that it falls over the notch of the upright. Then, hammer the wooden peg in half to create a connection between the upright and the beam. Sometimes you have to hammer hard to make the wood fit together.

Repeat this process with all the uprights at the back.

STEP 6: PLACING THE REMAINING UPRIGHTS

Position the remaining uprights, brace all uprights and level them. Repeat step 4 with the remaining side-panels.

Please note: it may be necessary to fit the two side uprights before fitting the horizontal front upright. You can see from the cut-outs whether this applies to you or not.

STEP 7: HAMMER THE PINS INTO THE BRACES

Now you have placed all the uprights and the ring beam on top of them. The curved struts are in place.

Now drive all the pins into the braces and into the ring beam and uprights. Don't hammer them in yet!

Check whether the roof is level. A small slope to one side is not a bad thing, as rainwater will run off to the drainpipe more easily. If you are not satisfied with the leveling, you can still adjust the wooden structure by means of a jack and placing a beam.

When you have adjusted everything, you should fill all the holes you dug with sand. Don't forget to compact the sand well, so that you have good, firm ground.

STEP 8: ASSEMBLING THE ROOF BEAMS

All roof beams are numbered. Start by assembling all the roof beams. Take the supplied butterfly drill or speed drill and drill a hole at the ends of the roof girders. Place the roof beam on the ring beam at the marked position, and screw down with one long screw on each side. Repeat this process until all roof beams are assembled.

STEP 9: TAPPING ALL PEGS

Use a hammer to drive through all the roofing pegs. You can saw off all pins, flush with the uprights, or leave them in place. This can be done at your discretion.

STEP 10: PLACING THE ROOF BOARDING

You have received lengths of 3 or 4 metres of roof boarding. Make sure that when you put a board of roof boarding on the roof beams, it always ends in the middle of one of the roof beams. You may need to cut a small piece of the roof boarding. Screw down the roof boarding with two screws per board and repeat the process on each crossbeam. Many screws are used.

STEP 11: PLACING THE FASCIA BOARDS

Place the fascia boards on the horizontal ring beam. Keep in mind that the fascia board is also the upstand for the roof. So the fascia board must extend approx. 4 to 5 cm above the roof boarding.

It is possible that you will now see the head side of the roof trusses. You can chamfer these crossbars or leave them as they are. You must decide for yourself what is the most aesthetically pleasing.

STEP 12: CUTTING OF THE WATER OUTLET

Determine where you want to place the water outlet and the rain pipe. Saw out the part of the buoy where it should come.

STEP 13: LAYING THE EPDM ROOF COVERING

Place the roll of EPDM foil on the roof. Use the supplied sealant to seal the edges of the roof. Place 2 beads of sealant approx. 10 cm apart, like a ring along the roof's fascia boards.

Roll out the EPDM membrane and use a broom to smooth it down. Press the edges where the sealant and the EPDM meet at the sides well for the right adhesion.

Cut away the excess EPDM foil with a Stanley knife.

As an option you can install a roof trim, which we do not supply. It is not necessary to do this.

STEP 14: PLACING THE WOODEN FRAMES

First make a wooden frame with the delivered lighter beam wood. Our advice is to make the frame between the uprights. You need 4 vertical uprights and 2 horizontal beams for each back wall. Saw the beams to size and mount them vertically on the uprights. Fit a horizontal beam to the horizontal ring beam. Attach a horizontal beam to the underside between the uprights. Place 2 vertical beams between the 2 horizontal beams. Use the supplied screws for assembly.

Your wooden frame is ready.

STEP 15: CLADDING THE WOODEN WALLS

The oak or Douglas fir wall covering or gunwale boards must be mounted horizontally. Two countersunk screws must be used at each intersection of the frame.

For a back wall, 12 or 13 planks are stacked horizontally on top of each other. This depends on the ground height up to the roof. Lay three planks on the ground and measure the total width. You can then determine how many boards you need on top of each other. You should always work from the bottom upwards. This simplifies the process. The top gunwale plank should be cut to the right size.

The wall covering can be fitted from the inside or from the outside.

If you have chosen double-sided cladding, that goes without saying.

With black pot lid wall cladding you have received black counter head screws, with plain wood you have received yellow galvanised counter head screws.

Repeat this process with all the side walls. The sealing of the roof is now complete.

STEP 16: MAKING A HARDWOOD DECKING

Look at our website hardwooddiscount.co.uk for the calculator of a hardwood deck or terrace. There you will quickly and directly have the price for the decking and you can put together all the decking boards. We wish you a lot of pleasure with your roofing, summerhouse or veranda.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which wood is the best for my roofing?

The best wood depends first of all on your personal preference. Each type of wood has its own unique colour and appearance. However, always consider the quality and durability of wood. We recommend the use of Douglas fir or oak. These types of wood last for years, require little maintenance and are easy to work with.

How do I assemble a wooden roofing?

Do you want to build your own shelter? And have you chosen a custom-made covering, standard model or one you have designed yourself? You'll always receive a clear building kit, including numbered parts. This makes assembly very easy for people with little architectural insight. You will need your own tools such as a spirit level, saw and shovel.

Can I design my own roofing?

You don't want a standard gazebo in your garden? Then design your own covering using the Calculator. Simply select the type of roof, the thickness of the beams and the desired dimensions. Things like wooden sidewalls, doors and concrete legs can be added optionally. Furthermore, for the construction of a pergola or shelter at Hardwood Discount is also the right place.