Free Playhouse Plans

Putting on the playhouseA small house for children to play in. roof cover

fig.1 FixTo secure with nails or screws. 12mm (1/2″) plywoodA piece of wood made of three or more layers of wood veneer laminated together with glue. sheathingA protective covering of boards or plywood applied to the studs or rafters of a building to strengthen it and serve as a foundation for a weatherproof exterior. on top of the roof rafters. A standard 2400mm x 1200mm (4ft x 8ft) sheetAny broad, thin surface. should fit each side neatly without the need for any cutting.

Nailing should be a maximum of 200mm (8″) apart on all rafters, ridgeThe horizontal line at the top of opposing sloping sides of a roof running parallel with the building length. beamA supporting member. and lower horizontalParallel to the horizon, flat, level. roof frame memberPiece of lumber that is part of a frame or structure..

Next fix the fasciaExterior horizontal visible flat front trim board that caps the rafter tail ends. boards (one each side of the roof) to the lower horizontal roof frame members.
The fascia boardThe top horizontal board cappingCovering the top ends of the rafters. should be flushBeing even with. with the top and ends of the lower horizontal roof frame member.

fig.2 Cover the plywood sheathing firstly with building wrapA building paper that envelops the exterior walls or roof frame prior to the cladding being fixed. Reduces air movement and helps avoid the risk of water ingress. and then with the cementA powdery type substance made from a mixture of earths materials such as limestone and shale, which is sintered (cause to become solid mass by heating without melting), ground, and mixed with small amounts of calcium sulphate and calcium carbonate. Cement is activated by water and when mixed with gravel and sand, forms concrete. fibre boards.
Cut the boards the same length as the roof. See below for cutting instructions.
Begin by fixing the bottom boardA piece of sawn, or dressed lumber of greater width than thickness. Usually 19mm (3/4") to 38mm (1 1/2") thick and 75mm (3") or more wide. in place overhanging the fascia board by 30mm (1 1/4″) and work up towards the top so that each board is overlapping the previous board by 30mm (1 1/4″).
See below for nailing instructions.

fig.3 Fix a length of galvanizedCovered with a protective coating of zinc. flashingAny piece of material, usually metal or plastic, installed to prevent water from penetrating the structure. on the ridge covering the cement fibre boards by at least 50mm (2″) each side.
Fix the barge boards to the fly rafters flush with the top of the cement fibre boards. Run the barge boardExterior visible flat trim board that follows the rake of the roof. about 150mm (6″) past the fascia board and round the bottom corners so as to eliminate any sharp points.

Next fix the barge capA board covering the ends of the roof boards and sits flat over the barge board. over the top of the barge board and covering the ends of the cement fibre boards.
Round off the lower ends of the barge capCover and caulkTo make watertight or airtight by filling or sealing. To apply caulking (example: he caulked all around the door frame). between the barge cap and the cement fibre boards.

Note: Cutting cement fibreboards
Cement fibreboards can be cut by scoring (scratching a deep mark) across the board and then by snapping. Score repeatedly against a straight edge to a depth of about 1/3 of the board thickness and then snap (bend) the board upwards to achieve the break.
You can use a purpose-made score and snap tool that has a hardened scoring tip or similar type tool.
Also hand or pneumatic guillotine (shears) can be used.
There are also other ways of cutting cement fibreboard, but this method produce the least dust.
Note: Nailing cement fibreboards Use 50mm (2″) galvanized flathead nails. Only nailA short nail with a large flat head used for securing roofing felt, plasterboard, sheet metal to wood etc. where there is something solid beneath the board such as a studA 100×50 (2×4) vertical framing member used to construct walls. or a rafterStructural member of a roof that supports the roof load and runs from the ridge to the top of the side walls.. Nail where the boards overlap. Do not nail closer than 20mm (3/4″) from the end of a board. Pre-drill any nail hole that is closer than 50mm (2″) from the end of any board.

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