Table of Contents
The Roof Rafters and Hub
Ft and inch version: (metric version below)
Take 8 lengths of 2×4 sawn treated pine lumber approx 74″ long, from which the rafters will be cut.
Cut one piece to the dimensions of the diagram above and then use that piece as a template to mark and cut the other seven.
Once all rafters are cut, you will need someone to give you a hand to assemble them.
Start by nailing two opposing rafters to the hub whilst laying them flat on the ground.
Nail with 4″ galvanized nails and drill first if necessary.
Place a scaffold plank (approx 9ft or longer) on top of the gazebo beams and spanning the gazebo close to the center.
One person will need to be up on the scaffold plank and the other to pass up the two opposing rafters nailed to the hub.
While the person on the scaffold plank balances the first two opposing rafters, the other can fix the birds-mouth (see drawing above) end of the rafters to the beam, central over the post.
Once the rafter is nailed in place, attach an angle clip for added strength on top of the beam and against the rafter (one each side) and fix with 2″ galvanized (flathead) nails.
The next rafter can then be put into place followed by an opposing rafter, and so on until all eight are in place and firmly fixed.
Metric version:
Cut one piece to the dimensions of the diagram above and then use that piece as a template to mark and cut the other seven.
Once all rafters are cut, you will need someone to give a hand to assemble them.Start by nailing two opposing rafters to the hub whilst laying them flat on the ground.
Nail with 90mm galvanized jolt head nails and drill first if necessary.
Place a scaffold plank (approx 2600mm or longer) on top of the gazebo beams and spanning the gazebo close to the center.
One person will need to be up on the scaffold plank with another to pass up the two opposing rafters nailed to the hub.
While the person on the scaffold plank balances the first two opposing rafters, the other can fix the birds-mouth (see drawing above) end of the rafters to the beam, central over the post.
Once the rafter is nailed in place, attach an angle clip (see fig.3 on page 3) for added strength on top of the beam and against the rafter, one each side and fix with 50mm galvanized clouts (flathead) nails.
The next rafter can then be put into place followed by an opposing rafter, and so on until all eight are in place and firmly fixed.
Dear BuildEazy,
I used your simple but excellent Gazebo plans in metric (also in imperial) this Spring 2010 and was able to complete the project with not too much hassle, the greatest weapon by far was the electric planer and I have bought another one as a result to finish a door project – well done to all with your BuildEazy site.
Here is my Gazebo – done by me and the missus in Livno, Western Bosnia…
best regards Brian Eager
Hi, Thanks for the plans! Here is a photo of the Gazebo. My son, father-in-law, and I built this Gazebo for his Eagle Scout Service Project! We really enjoyed it and the plans were easy to follow. The roof was the most challenging part!
-Brian McKenna
Hi. Just a photo of the garden gazebo that I made from your plans , really easy to make.
Simon Rowley