Timber for a roof...

[dougclay]

I'm trying to work out what timber I need to finally build a roof and wondered if anybody had bought timber from Jewson.

Do they sell by the metre or are their prices fixed length?
I ask because in my research I came across a pricelist and was a little overwhelmed by the choice...

Treated, soft, carcass, regularised, unsorted, sawn, rough, feather edge, structural, etc, etc...

The pricelist pdf is available here...
www.nfuonline.com/Membership/Farmer-and-Grower/Member-benefits/Exclusive-member-savings-at-Jewson/

[scottme]

What I bought was 75x100mm regularised, treated timber, and 38x25mm battens, both of which as far as I recall came in 2.4m or 3m lengths - I got 2.4 because that fitted nicely on my roof rack and meant I'd have only small waste offcuts. I think that's the kosher stuff that builders use for roofing anyway.

[conic]

Listen, dont pay for WFO roof timber, You need pallett wood, some good 4" x 4" for the rafters and the planks to brace them and also nailed on top to hold your slates / tiles.

they are everywhere if you activly look, damaged ones cant be used by companies for H&S and also they cant get rid of them so are glads you can take them.

look around they are everywhere, use google to find industrial estates or warehouse distribution then us the google maps earth view to look closer. drive there and ask if you can have some, they always give when you mention what its for as they get interested in a WFO

The money you save you can spend on good quality flour and wine

Conic

[dougclay]

Hi conic,

I am with you on using pallets, and will probably end up using some in the roof construction. I live within walking distance of a ready supply and used them to build my woodstore but I found dismantling them quite a chore, the wood gives way before the 6 inch nails. I've seen the odd pallet with something approaching 4x4 dimensions in parts, but not longer than 1 metre in length and usually with only 2 good surfaces... I've used these to make my baking door.
Most of the pallets I see are made with 1/2inch thick boards nailed to 4x4x4" cubes...

maybe, I have to look further afield tho, IIRC the pallets nearby are from a cake toppings warehouse :-)

Cheers

dougclay

[surfingspider]

I got a bargain of 6x 3m 4"x4" fence posts for £25 on ebay. and it made a lovely chunky roof. I think that was my best ever ebay bargain

[conic]

The longer 4x4 x 7 foot long are normally at steel stockholder, roofing sheet companies and conservatory stores or UPVC guttering/facia/drainpipes stockists/.

last year I had some 18 foot long from a sheet roofing company for free.

This morning my log splitter arrived on a truck and I even had the palett it was on off the truck for free,

see the link below, this is the best one I have seen to dismantle a palett

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtPmUZ-k3aI


Conic

[dougclay]

Yes, that vid does make it look easy... although I reckon that pallet in the vid is a bit less "used" than the ones I see... :-) I've had a lot of nails that were already snapped or that snapped when I put pressure on...

I'll have a look around, but I'm determined to get on with this roof so I may end up just going for the easy option, with the 70% discount on timber, it shouldn't be too expensive.

[dougclay]

OK, so I went a bit further afield and found some longer and chunkier pallets. I even grabbed a couple that are topped with 1mx1m of 2cm thick plywood which will go on my roof...

I knocked up the basic frame today using a couple of 2nd hand decking boards and several pallets. The wedge shaped flat roof will be removable for fireup and replaced once the baking door goes in. I'm chuffed with how it turned out, especially as I was just making it up as I went along :-) most design decisions were forced by the limited space.
Now just got to dismantle the plywood from the pallets and cut to size. not yet sure how I will cover the roof tho... I have some roofing felt, but am on the lookout for tiles... Any thoughts on using pallet wood shingles? :-)



Cheers

dougclay

[conic]

weell doner douglasy i am proud of you, depenbding on the type pof nail used on the plywood if you have trouble than I have found it easier punching the nail through half way then get the crow bar between the plywood and the palett wood then you will leave the nails behind sticking out about 10mm.

Now palett wood shingles sounds like a good idea but may split once the frost gets in the end grain, go for it and see what happens. if they dont work then boot up your WFO with them and get a pizza on.



Conic

[Fat Bob]

We use large fallen branches checkout your local forest.

[cannyfradock]

Doug

Love your roof structure. I like the idea of palette wood shingles. As long as there is felt underneath your oven will be protected. Reclaimed roofing slates always look good also.

Terry

[dougclay]

Is roofing felt the same as the stuff on top of a shed, that's the kind I have, or something specific for the job? or it this just the same stuff? roofing slates sound nice but round here reclaimed stuff costs more than new...

conic, thanks for the tip. although there doesn't seem to be any "pallet wood" in these... the blocks in the corners are made of super stacked plywood, and the strips across the bottom are also plywood.
I'm thinking the easiest way might be to split the corner blocks, but it depends how they are fixed together...

cheers

dougclay

[cannyfradock]

Doug

The stuff you see on sheds is the hard fibrous stuff. This will work, but roofing "felt" what roofers use nowadays is more like fibrous paper.....and it's breathable. I've got half a roll of the stuff under my stairs.....not much good to there though.....unless your'e passing S.E.Wales in the near future.

Terry