Post and Beam Gazebo – Design & Plans, Part 3

DIY Post and Beam Gazebo. Plans available for download in PDF Format.

Part 3 of 3

See the How to Video.

In this the last part of our Pavilion Construction, we’ll finish the roofing.


Part 3 – Roofing the Post and Beam Gazebo

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Install Strapping

Strapping made from one by eights is then screwed to the top of the rafters.

Strapping supports the tin roof panels
Strapping supports the tin roof panels

I space them about 8 inches apart and add an extra board at the top and bottom of the slope to cover the overhangs.

The 1x8\'s are pre-stained and installed face down
The 1×8’s are pre-stained and installed face down

I laid the boards out on sawhorses and rolled on a coat of stain on what would be the underside and edges.

Extra strapping board at bottom and top to cover overhangs
Extra strapping board at bottom and top to cover overhangs

Even if you are used to being on roofs it can get get tricky sometimes. You always have to watch your foot placement walking on rafters and strapping. I added extra boards at the top and bottom of this Post and Beam Gazebo.

Front Roof Rafters

The front roof rafters are 2×6 cedar.

2x6 rafters laid over beams to mark the vertical plumb cut and horizontal seat cut
2×6 rafters laid over beams to mark the vertical plumb cut and horizontal seat cut

I cut them to length, trace the ellipse profile on one end, then lay them across the front beams to mark the birds-mouth cuts.

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A small block of wood is used to lay out the birds mouth cut
A small block of wood is used to lay out the birds mouth cut

I clamp the rafter to a pair of sawhorses to make the cuts with my jigsaw.

Rafters cut on sawhorses with jigsaw - Post and Beam Gazebo
Rafters cut on sawhorses with jigsaw
Post and Beam Gazebo - End profile quarter ellipse cut with jigsaw
End profile quarter ellipse cut with jigsaw

When they are done I chamfer the edges with power plane and angle grinder with a sanding disc.

Rafters dressed and chamfered with sanding disc on angle grinder
Rafters dressed and chamfered with sanding disc on angle grinder

A quick single coat of stain is applied with a small roller.

Roll on one-coat stain on rafters
Roll on one-coat stain on rafters

When dry, I take them back up to the beams and attach with screws.

When finished, rafters installed on beams with screws
When finished, rafters installed on beams with screws
Post and Beam Gazebo - Rafters installed and waiting for strapping and trim boards
Rafters installed and waiting for strapping and trim boards

Across these rafters I attach 1×6 strapping. I had a few extra so I spaced them a bit tighter.

1x6 boards installed to attach roof panels to
1×6 boards installed to attach roof panels to

Trim is ripped down on the table saw and stained and screwed to the end rafters and across the front and back edge.

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