An exciting day when the bales arrive…. now to stack them under cover!
An advantage to having the roof built on a timber structure before the bales arrive is knowing that the straw will be protected from the weather. This roof was designed to have 3′ overhangs to keep driving rain and snow off the straw bale walls once they are stacked and plastered.
The rafters were the brain exercise on this curved roof, as the birdsmouths and end cuts changed on each one. Every rafter had to be calculated precisely and custom cut to ensure they would properly fit the angles of the curve.
Two different radiuses were used to create the elegant arch for this curved deck roof beam.
Part of the remodel we are doing in Nelson calls for a covered deck with a curved roof. Using a solid timber to create this beam would have required an enormous old growth tree and lots of cut off waste, so we used a different strategy to mitigate waste and achieve the complex curve.
The cedar soffit on this straw bale house has a one and a half inch vent running the length of the overhang to allow for the air flow through the roof structure. The vent has screen behind it to prevent entry of insects or small animals to the roof cavity.
To protect the straw bale walls on this studio from direct exposure to precipitation, the roof was built with large overhangs. This will also provide covered porch space around the perimeter of the studio for the owner to enjoy during inclement weather.
The framing for this roof is a symmetrical hip roof with large overhangs and a cupola. In order to allow for the cupola, the framing of the roof does not extend to the peak. This makes the framing a bit more complicated, but it accomplishes the owner’s goal of an unrestricted view of the cupola from the interior of the building.
The family that bought this house found what they thought was a minor roof leak causing a discolouring of the ceiling drywall. After inspection, they realized that the roof had been built without tar paper, causing major leak and insulation issues.