The roof spars and blocking provides stability and lays the foundation to mount the window and fan as well as the foundation to glue the outside skin. The roof blocking was created in a similar way to the hatch ribs. I used the wall template to cut out the section that would follow the mortise in the walls.
Here is a finished blocking section resting on the inside wall template.
You can see how the blocking fits nicely up against the front of the deck.
For the roof spars I used 4/4 poplar boards. I ran them through a jointer and plainer and then ripped them down to 1×2 size (3/4″ x 1.5″) and cut them to 5′.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="1620 http://teardropbuilder.com/?p=1620">4 Comments
What was your reasoning behind choosing poplar 4/4’s instead of using another material such as 3/4″ plywood?
The main reason is stability. Plywood is made up of many laminated sheets, and when you cut smaller strips it bends very easily in the direction of those laminations. Poplar is ridged in both dimentions and is best used for framing. In reality any solid wood such as oak could be used but poplar is cheap and light.
I’ve been studying your plans and pictures for quite a while. The blocking is actually backing for the inner roof material where it meets the wall. The poplar you used looks like you started with a plank not a 4″x 4″, am I missing something?
4/4 is “four quarter” rough cut board not 4×4, so you are correct.