How to make a Chinese roof

Despite the difference in teachings and beliefs, the presence of unusual sacraments and exotic rites, European countries somehow gravitate to oriental traditions that attract attention with their mystery and sophistication, originality and brightness. The described trend is characteristic of almost all spheres of life and, first of all, for architecture. The buildings erected by the hands of the Eastern architects are distinguished by their originality and attractiveness, and the first thing you involuntarily pay attention to when looking at them is Chinese roofs that can be one- or multi-tiered. Regardless of this, the roof of the Chinese house is a massive structure characterized by the presence of bent edges and giving a Chinese building majesty and, at the same time, elegance. The curved shape of the Chinese roof is not only a design sophistication, but also a way to reduce the mass of a roof structure, which makes it possible to equip it without rafters, based on a rack-bearing beam structure. Unusual geometry is not the only advantage of the Chinese roof. Separate elements of this architectural survey are distinguished by the pretentiousness of the patterns and the wealth of mosaic decoration and are often found as part of traditional European buildings. They unusually harmoniously combine the severity of wooden ornaments and almost weightless, fragile decorative elements. Despite the apparent complexity of the design of the Chinese roof, even an inexperienced master, following the advice presented in the article, will be able to build it on its own. At the same time, it is important to pay attention not only to the main details of construction, but also to small nuances that facilitate the process of installation measures.

Content

1. Chinese roofs: a little story
2. Constructive features of Chinese architecture
3. The nuances of the construction of the Chinese roof: what to look for?
4. Scheme of the Chinese roof: original or imitation?
5. DIY Chinese roof: recommendations of specialists
6. How to build a Chinese roof: possible options
7. How to make a Chinese roof: manufacturing a rafter system

Chinese roofs: a little story

The traditions of the East that have developed over the course of several millennia determine the features of architectural attractions and their elements. The Chinese roof was no exception. Being the final element of houses and religious structures of China, it is characterized by the presence of a variety of jewelry and bent angles. There are even ancient legends that explain the design features of this architectural element. In accordance with one of them, at night, dragons descend from the roofs in order to harm people. Thanks to the bent angles of the roof, they fail to do this, and they are forced to fly back into the sky. However, this is far from the only and not the most popular reason that today explains the presence of roofs in the Chinese style of elevated corners. Modern architects offer a more prosaic and explained version, from the point of view of practical features. In accordance with it, the presence of raised curved corners at the roof in the Chinese style is explained by a large amount of precipitation in the territory where the most often the construction of houses ends with the arrangement of such architectural elements. The indicated design features of the Chinese roof contribute to a more efficient allocation of precipitation at a distant distance from the walls of the building. In addition, the protruding overhangs of the Chinese roof protect the internal space of the construction from excessive amount of sunlight.

Chinese roofs photo

Constructive features of Chinese architecture

Due to sufficiently frequent earthquakes, Chinese buildings are equipped in such a way that they can effectively resist the high seismic activity of the terrain. This is achieved by the design of the building and, in particular, the roof, which rests on the central pillar, often not even dug into the ground and intended to absorb the fluctuations of the earth's crust, which is aimed at protecting the building. In time immemorial, the roofs of poor houses were covered with bamboo, while wealthy people decorated their home with yellow glazed tiles made of clay. In addition, decorative images of animals were used to decorate such roofs, in the opinion of the eastern inhabitants who protect the house from evil spirits, and carvings, some elements were painted with oil paint.

Despite the similarity of the traditions of China and Japan, the construction of Japanese houses is carried out on a completely different principle. In most cases, they are a frame covered with paper, and therefore, they are more reminiscent of a design without windows and doors. All vertically oriented planes perform the function of the partitions, thanks to which, the construction of the construction is rapidly restored in the case of frequent earthquakes, and if the building is destroyed, the fragments will not cause much harm to a person. The absence of the foundation and powerful load -bearing walls of wood or stone only helps to increase the safety of the building.

The nuances of the construction of the Chinese roof: what to look for?

Before carrying out the device of the Chinese roof, it is necessary to highlight its main differences from European roofing systems. The main element of the Chinese roof is a pagoda, characterized as a step -linked square roof with raised edges. For the manufacture of Chinese roof, wood larch, pine, oak, spruce or bamboo are used, and stone tiles, metal or natural tiles as facing material.

The presence of several levels is a distinctive feature of the Chinese roof, which not only gives it a special charm, but also imposes certain obligations to the appearance of the house and its architectural concept.

Important! If you plan to arrange a gazebo, supplemented by the Chinese roof, the design should be open and easy, while the features of traditional oriental style should clearly be clearly traced in the conceptual solution of residential. When choosing a overall design of the building, pay attention to the combination of its individual elements, since a massive stone house with European features, complemented by a roof in a Chinese style, is unlikely to cause delight even with a simple layman who does not mean anything in architecture.

A spectacular openwork structure of the roof with edges, the main element of the building, attracted to the sky, attracting attention when looking at the works of Chinese architecture. Despite the fact that the reconstruction of the construction of the Chinese roof is associated with certain difficulties, subject to the main nuances, you will be able to avoid them easily. Consider what these nuances are.

The main parameters of roofs made in the Chinese style that distinguish them from works of European architecture:

• Unlike European buildings, the works of Chinese architecture are being built on the basis of a wastewater structure. The rafter system, acting as the basis for European houses, is based on the supporting walls, while the basis of the Chinese buildings is the central pillar, which takes on all the loads. The design of the hanging rafters, which occur in European architecture, involves the presence of struts, rafter legs and puffs. The supporting beams, ceiling beams and other elements characteristic of the European design are designed to give the design of stiffness and strength, but the works of Chinese architecture are devoid of these elements. If in European houses the arrangement of the rafter system is carried out according to the principle of a triangle, then the load distribution in the oriental houses is carried out according to the principle of a rectangle;
• For the installation of the Chinese roof, cylindrical tiles are used, the uniqueness of the shape of which is determined by the need to fasten it on angular joints. To give the roof of a special color, it is necessary to use a special profile and figures with fantastic images, called a dull show. The installation of the roof skate is carried out according to a similar scheme, while the dull shows is replaced with ceramic clamps, the specific horned configuration of which attracts attention when looking at the Chinese roof;
• A distinctive feature of the Chinese roof is the use of large cornices that are far out of construction and thereby protecting the construction from excessive climatic exposure, such as excessive ultraviolet radiation, strong wind and others. Due to the large weight of the cornices, the entire mass of the roof is distributed in such a way that the entire construction of the building acquires increased stability. As for the Dawgun cornice system, it fully acquires the weight of the cornices.

Important!Specific characteristics of the Chinese roof:

Uniform distribution of load in the horizontal and vertical planes of the frame;

The scheme of the Chinese roof involves the presence of angles bent upwards;

The upper part of the roof is characterized by the presence of a steep slope, which writes more gentle.

The integral element of the Chinese roof is massive cornices that are far from the external walls of the house;

To ensure timely precipitation from the outer surface of the roof and effective protection of its inner surface from excess sunlight, it is equipped with overhangs, which also protrude above the outer walls at a considerable distance;

In oriental architecture, Chinese roofs are not rare, characterized by a multi -tiered structure.

Scheme of the Chinese roof: original or imitation?

If you still prefer the Chinese roof, it is necessary to pay special attention to its design, since already at this stage it is important to decide whether to save its unique structure in the process of building the building or limit yourself to its external imitation. The construction of a unique design is a fairly expensive event, while, having completed only its external imitation, you can not only save, but also build a more practical building for the middle lane.

Important! The main difference in the design of the European and traditional eastern roof is the presence or absence of a rafter system. The construction of houses in Japan and China implies the absence of rafters, since they are replaced by a musculoskeletal system that is more resistant to the frequent manifestation of seismic activity. In this regard, in the case of the construction of a structure in a territory where there is no similar danger, you can maintain loyalty to the traditional structural systems for the middle lane.

With a careful study of photographs in which Chinese roofs are presented, you will note that they have many similarities with some of the most familiar structures for the European continent, the most striking example of which is a summer gazebo - a pagoda, successfully entering the surrounding landscape.

DIY Chinese roof: recommendations of specialists

First of all, decide on the configuration of the future roof and develop a roof project. Experts believe that the construction of a four -sided roof is fraught with certain difficulties, and therefore, they recommend that they opt for simpler designs, giving preference to a gable roof with two gables. Despite the fact that this option is one of the simplest, you can still satisfy your desire to become the owner of a building complemented by an exotic roof structure.

The next stage involves the design of the supporting system. Particular attention must be paid to rafters and a crate, since it is they who determine the reliability and appearance of the roof. At the same time, do not forget that the use of traditional frame technology is not characteristic of oriental architecture, and therefore, the usual walls should be replaced by a supporting pillar located strictly in the middle and fully assuming all loads. In traditional European construction, this function is performed by supporting walls.

Important!If the usual European roofing structures are characterized by a triangular distribution of load, then this principle is alien to the Eastern architecture. The load of the roof in Chinese buildings is distributed on the surface of the building in the form of a rectangle, according to the general form of the structure. In addition, Chinese roofs are characterized by multi -tier design, and therefore, they often represent several roofs laid on one another.

If you plan to build a multi -tiered design, contact a professional architect who will tell you how to correctly realize this idea so that it effectively protects from the rain and, at the same time, is resistant to earthquakes.

Before starting work, draw a detailed plan, displaying structural nuances of the rafter system in the smallest details. Thanks to this, you can most accurately assemble it and calculate the required amount of material. The most suitable material for the arrangement of coating for roofing material is moisture -resistant plywood, the use of which will make it possible to repeat all the roofing bends as accurately as possible. All wooden elements included in the design of the roof, including moisture -resistant plywood, is advisable to impregnate antiseptic compounds that prevent their damage to insects.

The design of the rafter system is carried out in accordance with the prepared sketch, while trying to achieve the distinctive feature of the Chinese roof of its concave profile as much as possible. To do this, two options for the performance of the Chinese roof have been developed.

How to build a Chinese roof: possible options

A rafter system, the basis of which is a pyramid with a rectangular base

• If you prefer this option of arrangement, know that a rafter quadrangle acts as a supporting system. By installing them on each other, you will receive the desired pyramid.

• If you equip a gable roof, the length of both quadrangles will be the same. To obtain a parabolic roof curve, it is necessary to choose the height of the racks and the width of the rafter farms. It is important to note that the most suitable material for the manufacture of the elements of the crate is boards of 20 mm thick. Starting from the skates, they are attached towards the cornice, and therefore, the number of segments located on the same line corresponds to the number of rafter quadrangles.
• The arrangement of the label boards is carried out so that their joints are located in the middle of the cut -off boards that make up the crate.

Rafter system in the form of hanging rafters

To arrange such a rafter system, you will need the following materials:

• Boards characterized by a section of 15x3 cm;
• The boards necessary for the arrangement of the crate, the thickness of which is 2 cm;
• Sheets of moisture -resistant plywood with a thickness of not more than 1 cm.

How to make a Chinese roof: manufacturing a rafter system

• Trying to clearly withstand a right angle (90 degrees), clearly in the middle of the supporting beam secure the rack;
• The distance obtained between the stand and the support beam is divided in half and at the resulting point fix one of the ends of the rafter leg. Fix the second end on the free edge of the rack;
• Determine the center of the rafter leg, after which at the resulting point, fix one end of the board. The second end must be attached to the edge of the support beam;
• In order to get a more smooth bend of the roof in the process of work, add an additional subcase;
• In a mirror reflection from the central rack, repeat all of the above operations on the other side of the supporting pillar;
• At the end of the work, you will receive a holistic rafter farm. Their number varies from the size of the roof. It is important to remember that an acceptable distance between the rafter farms is 50-70 cm;
• The next stage in the arrangement of the rafter structure is the installation of the crate, which should be located horizontally. It is important to remember that the step of the crate is determined by the width of the plywood sheet;
• After completing the arrangement of the crate, you can start installing plywood. On a sheet of plywood, perform cuts for 3/4 of its thickness, which is necessary to ensure a denser fit of plywood to the crate. The number of cuts performed variabled and depends on the bend of the roofing. Their number is directly proportional to the radius of the curvature of the slope (the larger it is, the more cuts must be done);
• Having set the plywood in place, proceed to the direct arrangement of the roof. Experts recommend using rolled materials or piece flexible material for the roof for this, for example, bitumen tiles, small slate tiles or Eurocerepits.

Important! If you want to fully realize your artistic plan, use a soft bitumen tile, which is characterized by a small weight, the ability to repeat all the bends of the Chinese roof and an attractive appearance.

• To arrange a roof, you can also use copper, which is one of the best and, at the same time, the most expensive materials for the Chinese roof.
• The curved ends of the Chinese roof are formed using ready -made metal or wooden structures.
• A specific flavor of the Chinese roof can be implemented using decorative figures of dragons and other animals, for the manufacture of which materials that are resistant to high humidity and temperature changes are used.

If you think that you are not able to independently realize the traditional design of the Chinese roof, but still want to build a building made in the oriental style, you should know that there are simplified versions of such structures.

• You can take as a basis the fachver roof structure and supplement it with specific elements to achieve the desired result;
• Or supplement the rafter system of the roof with metal profiles of increased flexibility, thanks to which, the configuration of the roof will acquire the necessary airiness.