Picnic shelter roof plans

This step by step woodworking project is about building the roof for the picnic shelter. This is PART 2 of the picnic shelter project, so make sure you take a look over the first part, to learn more about building the frame. Follow the building codes and hire a professional contractor if you don’t have the right skills to undertake the project on your own.

Building the roof for the picnic shelter is the last part of the project. You have several alternatives when building the roof, as you can install slats, asphalt shingles or corrugated metal sheets. Fit decorative trims to the sides and to the faces of the shelter, to enhance the look of the woodworking project. Make sure you apply a few coats of paint to protect the components from the elements.

We recommend you to invest in the best materials you could afford. Therefore, you should buy weather-resistant lumber, such as pressure-treated lumber, pine or cedar. Always take accurate measurements before adjusting the size of the components at the proper size. Drill pilot holes trough the components before inserting the wood screws, to prevent the wood from splitting.

Made from this plan

Building a picnic shelter

Materials

D – 4 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 39 1/2″ long, 4 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 39 1/2″ long BRACES
G – 4 pieces of 3/4″ plywood – 48″x96″ long, 4 pieces – 48″x48″ long, 2 pieces – 20 3/4″x48″ long, 2 pieces – 20 3/4″x96″ long ROOFING
H – 2 pieces of 1×6 – 144″ long, 4 pieces – 121″ long TRIMS
I – 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 39″ long TRIMS
J – 250 sq ft of tar paper, 250 sq ft of asphalt shingles RAFTERS

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Add trims to the pavilion
Secure the roofing slats to the structure with galvanized screws

Time

One Week

PART 1: How to build a picnic shelter
PART 2: Picnic shelter roofing

Building the braces

Adding braces to the picnic shelter will not only enhance the look of the construction, but it will also increase the rigidity of the structure. Build four pieces of each type of brace.

Fitting the braces

Fit the braces to the picnic shelter, as shown in the diagram. Align the edges with attention, drill pilot holes and insert 3 1/2″ screws to lock them into place tightly.

End trims

Build trims for the gable ends of the picnic shelter. Mark the cut lines on the 2×4 slats and get the job done with a circular saw. Smooth the cut edges with sandpaper and remove the residues using a damp cloth.

Fitting the end trims

Fit the trims to the front and back faces of the pavilion. Align the edges, drill pilot holes and insert 2 1/2″ screws to lock the trims into place.

Fitting the side trims

Attach 1×6 trims to sides of the shelter. Use 1 5/8″ brad nails to lock the trims into place tightly.

Attaching the roofing sheets

Build the roofing from 3/4″ plywood. Take accurate measurements and adjust the size of the sheet to the right dimensions. Lay the sheets to the rafters, starting with the bottom to the top. Insert 1 5/8″ screws into the rafters, every 8″. Leave no gaps between the sheets, to prevent the wood from splitting.

Building the end trims

Build the end trims from 1×6 lumber. Cut both ends of the trims at 60 degrees.

Fitting the gable end trims

Attach the trims to the end rafters and lock them into place, using 1 5/8″ finishing nails.

Fitting the roofing

You could fit asphalt shingles to protect the shelter, as it is a straight forward solution. Therefore, install roofing felt over the roofing sheets, making sure the strips overlap at least 2″. Secure the tar paper to the plywood sheets with roofing staples. Fit the side drip edges over the roofing felt, while the bottom drip edges should be fit under. Place a starting course at the bottom of the roof, before installing the asphalt shingles. Always read the manufacturing instructions before starting the installation, as there are several aspects that differ.

Smart Tip: The first course should star with a 3 tab shingle, the second course with a 2 1/2 tab , the third course with a 2 tab, the forth course with a 1 1/2 tab, the fifth course with a 1 tab, the sixth course with a 1/2 tab. Repeat the process from the beginning, starting with the seventh course. Don’t forget that the shingles should overhang from the drip edge about a 1/4″. In addition, secure the asphalt shingles to the roof decking with tacks.

How to build a picnic shelter

Fill the holes with wood putty and let it dry out properly. Smooth the surface with sandpaper and remove the residues with a damp cloth.

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