DIY playhouse finishing roof and window details

[mattu27]

Hello,

I've been building a playhouse for the kids for a couple of weeks now and have taken a design as you go approach so far but it seems as though I've come unstuck with some details that need doing ASAP, it's my little girls birthday in a month and I'd like it finished by then.

I've built the roof in typical construction with bird mouth joints in the roof joists sitting on a central support and then 18mm OSB t&g board for the roof. This has then been covered in non breathable membrane ready for shingle felt but I'm not sure what to do with the fascias due to the design at the front.

I've attached some photos to detail but I'm hoping to have open eaves, how do I cover the front OSB board but leave the eaves open? Do I just get some 18mm thin strip wood at the front to cover the raw edge?

Can I shape a radius on the end of the roof joists and somehow hide the membrane behind the trim?

How much overhang should I give the shingle felt? I've read 15mm on all sides but didn't want to overshoot it as it might crack or droop in a few years.

I was thinking of caulking the fascias on the apex or should I do a traditional fascia and soffit and cover the lot?

With regards to the windows, should I use 80mm x 6mm thin strip to line them and then picture frame them in similar trim?

I have a rough idea but thought someone might be alot more knowledgeable than me! Not hard.

Thanks,

Matt

 

[blup]

Not sure an 18mm strip will suffice to retain the membrane. A fascia at eaves and gable end (with a scalloped detail?) will protect the membrane from being torn/ripped by a strong wind. Ideally the rafter feet would be cut vertical.

Great job though.

Blup

 

[mattu27]

Not sure an 18mm strip will suffice to retain the membrane. A fascia at eaves and gable end (with a scalloped detail?) will protect the membrane from being torn/ripped by a strong wind. Ideally the rafter feet would be cut vertical.

Great job though.

Blup

Thanks for the reply Blup,

Good point about the strip. So shall I just build the gable ends up in the usual fashion and box them in with soffit? I'm unsure whether to do it in wood or plastic, don't know whether uPVC will spoil the look. Hmm.

I hastily cut the rafter ends after one of them scalped me! The amount of times I've got my head is beyond a joke. If I extend them with an offcut back to square and then fascia them to about half way down with a scallop that should look ok and hold the membrane sufficiently do you think?

Around the windows do you think the thin strip and picture framing would work? Hard to get photos of the net which show the construction.

Thanks for the compliment, it's been a labour of love and has damaged the bank balance significantly.

Thanks

 

[blup]

I would use wood for the fascia, the fascia being built up in the way you describe. Don't know if a soffit is necessary but overall the effect might look "heavy". The important thing is getting the membrane/felting tucked under to avoid/reduce ingress of moisture and wind.

The window treatment would be fine as you suggest, and will look good for the intended purpose. Just my opinion.

Blup

 

[Ian H]

That looks quality!!!

Are you having the soffits horizontal? You could attach a batten onto the house then come off that with some wood to take the facia and soffits. You could do it and angle really, the cuts would just he harder.

Otherwise you could attach another with and angled cut onto the rafter to give a vertical facia and soffit following the rafter.

 

[mattu27]

That looks quality!!!

Are you having the soffits horizontal? You could attach a batten onto the house then come off that with some wood to take the facia and soffits. You could do it and angle really, the cuts would just he harder.

Otherwise you could attach another with and angled cut onto the rafter to give a vertical facia and soffit following the rafter.

Thanks,

Following on from both of your suggestions I'm going to set the saw up and extend the roof rafters back to horizontal with a filler piece which I'll glue and screw. I'm thinking of 100mm fascia capping the OSB and kicking up the end of the tiles slightly.
I can then hopefully scallop the underside to smooth of the extension piece and finish the look.

I see what you mean (Blup) about the heavy look, thinking 75mm side fascias attached onto some 2x2 but if I don't soffit you'll see all the cuts on the gable end unless I trim with some half inch moulding or strip?

Window and cladding depth is 82mm so I'm going 80mm x 6mm planed with a 50mm picture frame, same goes for the door.
I can then get some half inch square and line them for the perspex windows.

The dormers are a different issue entirely as I'm hoping for a penthouse shaped window effect so I need some more thinking time on them. I'll attach a pic.

That all seem reasonable?

Thanks for the advice.

 

[blup]

It's difficult to envisage everything from your description, the important thing is to protect the externally exposed osb - the fascia/soffit treatment should revolve around that.

Good luck and do post pictures the finished product in due course!

Blup

 

[mattu27]

Update, so I've started the tiling today, and have gone with a 20mm overhang on all sides. If it looks daft I can always trim but the instructions on the net for these shingles say to oversail by 50mm on the front! Which is madness.


Struggling now with the dormer windows, I've attached a photo mocking up how I aim to clad them after the tiling is done. Do I just tiles upto the wall, seal the perimeter and then seal under the cladding whilst fitting it?

How do I finish the front? I've seen that the Americans use L shaped aluminium sheet and upstand it against the front, this is then wrapped round the side and up the roof.


The window isn't lined, framed or fitted so I've got some leeway.


Thanks.

 

[mattu27]

Update,

Continued tiling the roof and have made flashings out of some spare velux roofing trim that I had sat in the garage, I made soakers from this aswell which saved me using the lead.


Got upto the valley section but am unsure how to continue as I've seen three ways of doing it. Overlapping, open valley and closed valley. Anyone got any tips? Should I put a lead valley in? How do I cut the membrane so that it doesn't cause issues?

 

[aptsys]

How are you getting on with this? Got a similar build coming my way...

 

[mattu27]

Only just seen your reply. To be honest not a lot has progressed, had to focus on my three year olds birthday in the garden so that's been my focus.

Next steps are to build the window frames and the door and find somewhere that does the double loglap cladding. I ran out and need about 8 pieces for the back wall but when I rang the timber yard they said the stuff I had was special order for a customer (didn't tell me at the time) and that they wouldn't be getting it back in! Grrr.

One word of advice, make sure you have an understanding partner as attempting something like this if you're an amateur like I am will consume vast amounts of time and will put a huge strain on your relationship if you've got children that you should also be looking after!

I wish you well.