All about gables

To answer the question what it is - a pediment, just in general terms; in fact, there are a number of pitfalls. It is very important to figure out how to make a gable with a visor on the roof of a house with your own hands. We'll have to explore options from gas blocks and timber solutions, other widely used gables of private houses.

The term "pediment" has appeared in construction for many centuries. But even thousands of years before his appearance, such parts of the building were necessarily equipped. The essence of this building element is the visual and practical completion of the facades of various buildings. Sometimes colonnades and porticoes were equipped with pediments. On the narrow edges of the temples, built in the antique period, pediment elements were always present. In the Renaissance and in later times, they were equipped with roofs of houses and even ordinary baths sometimes. At the same time, the variety of pediment formats expanded.

The purposes of using such constructions:

• retention of roof slabs;
• increasing the overall rigidity of the roof;
• isolation of attics and attics from moisture, birds and insects, from various foreign objects;
• stabilization of the temperature inside the building;
• maintaining the ability to use verkhotura as a living or technical space.

This beautiful type of gable device got its name for its visual resemblance to the inverted keel of an old sailing ship. Such a design approach appeared in the Old Russian period. Keel-like structures are found mainly on roofs with a complicated broken configuration.

This format is much more common. The most commonly used configuration is an isosceles triangle. Basically, you can see a similar structure on gable roofs. It should be noted that triangular pediments were created recently, but have already gained wide popularity. The reason is quite obvious - it is a self-sufficient design that does not require additional design elements. It should be noted that roofs are often made with three or four gables at once.

This design became widespread during the Renaissance. It was then that the aesthetics of inclined cornices were highly appreciated. The final part is decorated in a semicircular form. It should be noted that some of the versions are made with an elliptical or oval arc - the classic round arc is not required.

Although the main components will be the same as in other cases, the specific design is often different. The bottom line is that the design is divided into clear steps. The closer to the top, the less such steps. Most often, stepped gables are formed from bricks. Such a solution is typical for Western European architecture, it is rarely used in domestic conditions, and according to some reports, it is not used at all.

The name fully characterizes the performance of such a pediment. Its edges do not fit at all.This gap is separated by decorations or other elements that improve the appearance of the building. The underlined unfinished look is a kind of highlight of this option. The most common ripped pediment was during the Baroque period, when it was found to radically enrich the façade.

Visually, the assembly resembles a bow and string. Profiles exit from one point. Sometimes an additional break is practiced. Bow gables began to be used again in the Renaissance era. By increasing the segment of the circle, a "circular" design is obtained.

It is mainly used in the preparation of attics. Such gables increase the useful space inside. You will definitely have to install additional beams. Otherwise, the roofing system will not withstand the resulting loads. Another nuance - the roof must have a half-hip device.

It is believed to be a subtype of ruptured construction. In addition to several spatially divorced parts, a cornice is also used here. It was his name ("raskrepovka") that gave the name to the entire format. This configuration became extremely popular during the Baroque period. Today it can be seen on many architectural and historical monuments.

The advantage of wooden structures is their low cost and ease of processing, moreover, no toxic substances are emitted from them. In the construction of private houses, assemblies from boards with a selected edge are used. The appearance is visually pleasing.

Plank gable structures come with:

• horizontal;
• vertical;
• inclined orientation in space.

Along with boards, you can also use lining solutions. Docking is carried out in the thorn-groove format. You can attach products to the lathing using screws or nails. The lining is recommended for complicated torn gables. But any types of wood are bad at susceptibility to attacks by parasites, which requires constantly renewing processing.

It is advisable to equip brick gables in brick houses. This method allows you to guarantee:

• solid strength;
• optimal tightness;
• impermeability to extraneous sounds;
• excellent thermal insulation.

Most often, you can refuse auxiliary finishing. The layout is already perceived respectably. True, there is still a need to insulate the attic - even an unheated one - anyway.

Metallic corrugated material wicks away moisture very well. This is very important if there are windows or entrances to the house below. Working with siding is not too difficult. However, you will have to use protective gloves to avoid hurting your hands on sharp edges. Given the high thermal conductivity of steel, insulation must be placed in any case.

Vinyl siding can also be used. It is easy to saw and even drill. There is no need for additional processing. The vertical crate is pre-assembled. The strips are attached to the frame elements using standard roof hardware.

Acrylic-based tiles can be used to reproduce the appearance of minerals. Most often they imitate:

• granite;
• basalt;
• marble;
• sandstone;
• amethyst.

The back of the artificial stones is completely flat. They must be attached using synthetic glue. Only cement-free adhesives are required. The joints are finished with facade sealants. The seams will have to be wiped off.

In some cases, pediments are formed from gas blocks or from gas silicate structures. Since this is not a load-bearing assembly, relatively light and loose blocks can be selected. A good alternative is the construction of lightweight foam blocks. Block elements are used mainly in houses built from the same material. This step allows you to significantly simplify the work and avoid many practical problems. The cladding is often made from a soft roof. This is a fairly strong and reliable material. It is easy to lay it. The weight of the structure will be low, which reduces the load on the walls and foundations. Temperature resistance is also attractive.

It is quite logical to put gables chopped from a bar on log houses. Such structures look attractive when arranging dwellings in the Old Russian or Neo-Russian style. Logs of various sizes can also be used for work.

The simplest solution is to install a frame pediment. It will have 3 or 5 corners. Frame parts are created from a bar or from paired boards. Outside, you will have to sheathe the assembly with facing materials. It is necessary to calculate the height and area as a whole, as well as on individual faces, in the process of preparing the project. There is nothing complicated in such calculations - you can start from the standard geometric formulas given in school textbooks. To accurately eliminate errors, it is recommended to use online calculators.

The height is determined taking into account the angles of inclination and the length of the slopes. The length of the end walls is reduced by 50%, and the result obtained is multiplied with the tangent of the angle formed between the slope and the base of the roof. In the case of a mansard roof, between 2.5 and 3 m should remain between the ridge and the overlap. For a cold-type attic, 1.4-2 m high skates are enough, but in addition, one must be guided by the harmony of the type of structure.

If the wall is made in the form of a triangle, you need to calculate the area by dividing half of the product of its height and the length of the roof base. An asymmetrical roof is calculated in parts. Determining the need for bricks depends on:

• type of masonry;
• dimensions of one brick;
• the thickness of the joints for grouting.

In the case of planking, the area of ​​the walls is divided by the area of ​​the individual elements. In this case, rounding up is obligatory, which makes it possible to eliminate errors and compensate for manufacturing defects. Siding calculations are best done using calculator sites. They will also show you the optimal number of fittings. Regardless of the material and scheme used, it is useful to leave an additional margin of 15 to 30% to be sure to cope with all the unexpected.

When creating a pediment with your own hands, you must not forget about the visor. Such auxiliary cornices protect the walls of the first floors, basements and foundations from water. Elongated overhangs perform this task in conjunction with pipes and gutters. A well-made assembly is effective even in heavy rain. The minimum outreach of the slope is 0.6 m; in more difficult cases, it is required to fly up to 0.8 m (this is important in areas with a significant amount of precipitation).

Visors that are too strong are not needed. Constructions from 1 m and more do not really add to the quality of rain protection. At the same time, in addition, they can disrupt the proportions of the house. If the roof slopes are extensive, a canopy with outriggers is recommended instead of a cantilever element.

Insulation of the frame of the gables is necessary. For the installation of heaters, vertical racks are usually used. The mount forces you to apply:

• ridge boards;
• steel studs;
• sealants;
• screws;
• plywood;
• building levels;
• insulation materials.

When figuring out exactly how to insulate the pediment for the attic, you need to understand first what materials will have to be laid out. The main options are as follows:

• glass wool (effective, affordable, inconvenient, damp);
• mineral wool (fire safe, must be protected from moisture);
• polystyrene (lightweight, convenient, fire hazardous, fragile);
• EPS is an improved, more expensive type of foam.

Basic rules of work:

• insulate in the same way as the rest of the house;
• carefully protect the pediment from moisture and winds;
• use external insulation whenever possible;
• be sure to prime the walls in 2 layers;
• count on the crate immediately and for fastening the cladding;
• use plastic dowels with wide heads.

In addition to installing the main elements, you will also have to fix the soffits. Such panels are externally similar to simple siding. At the same time, thanks to the width of up to 0.8 m, they are easier to install. Soffits are known from aluminum alloys, from plastics and from steel with a zinc layer. Some models are perforated, which allows you to protect against unwanted objects from entering the roof, maintaining stable air circulation; deaf modifications are used much less often.

Soffits can be hemmed using a diagonal or horizontal method. In the first case, the panels are fixed parallel to the roof overhang. Fixation takes place directly on the filly or on the legs of the rafters. Important conditions: the slope of the roof should not exceed 25 degrees, the length of the overhang of more than 6 m is unacceptable. Sometimes engineers even set a limit of 5 m. Ordinary builders do not really like diagonal installation either. The point is the need to mount spotlights in hard-to-reach places. It also takes more time and building materials. The horizontal technique allows you to work faster. All you need is to make a box first, and then fix the panels on it.

When preparing, carefully check that the legs of the rafters are the same in length. A wind board is attached to them, holding the brackets for fixing the drain. Before marking, the overhang of the roof is measured. According to the result obtained, a certain number of spotlights and guide parts are prepared.

It is worth considering the option with the design of the gable masonry. The brick structure is suitable for all roofs. To improve the appearance, glazed blocks are used, and sometimes they resort to additional finishing. Such a solution should be provided initially. If the house was built without taking into account such a serious load, it is impossible to make a brick pediment additionally - at least without reconstruction of the foundation and load-bearing walls, without reworking the project.

In order for the brick pediment to work reliably, it will have to be reinforced. In areas with intense winds, it is advisable to avoid equipping this wall with windows, doors. The parameters of the roof overhangs are determined individually. The preferred geometry is an isosceles triangle. Cut and lay out the sidewalls along the stretched cord; A wooden template helps to dramatically speed up the work. It is possible to refuse the frame only in the case of a flat wooden base. The lathing is a must when installing siding on stone or concrete. The use of wooden frames is common. Such assemblies are created from a 5x5 cm square bar. With a strong curvature of the wall, suspensions in the form of the letter P + are needed.

But simply attaching everything to its proper places is not enough. Ventilation grilles are required in any case. The total minimum area of ​​ventilation openings is calculated very simply: you just need to divide the floor area by 500. Experts advise using modern ventilation valves. By placing them over a heating radiator, it is possible to heat the air; while observing the safe distance given in the instructions.

Having dealt with the extension, frame and ventilation, it is worth pointing out the variety of materials that can be used to close (sheathe) the pediment from the outside. Experts give such advice:

• if visual beauty is in the first place, you need clapboard or siding;
• you can, at your discretion, either continue stylistically finishing the wall, or play in contrast;
• siding is the most profitable for the price.

For information on how to make a pediment from corrugated board, see the next video.