The latest issue of The Owner Builder is in the post to subscribers, and will be on sale nationwide from 27 May 2013.
Each issue, we choose one article to share online. Rob Hadden is a regular contributor, building mostly with earth. This time, he shares the porch addition he has made to his house, plus details how he laid the slate roof.
The individual photographs from the article can be viewed here
The church porch at St Baglan, Llanfaglan in Wales that started it all.
A fantastic original ‘replica’.
Inspiration from a very unusual window in the circular stone staircase of ‘The Old Post Office’ in Tintagel, Cornwall.
The resulting ‘replica’ window.
Close up of eaves detail from underneath
Close up of timber arch
View from inside the porch
Detail of underside of slate and timber joints
The new timbers needed a little help to make them look the part.
It is best if copper nails are used as they do not rust. Even galvanised nails can rust over time and as they expand with rust, they may break the slate.
As with laying flat tiles that are double overlapped, the first course (eaves) is shorter than the rest and has to be top nailed. This is to ensure that it will be properly lapped and watertight at the bottom.
Markings for overlap still visible
Neatly finished slate roof plus stone window
If the nail hole is not slightly countersunk, the flat head of the nail will protrude and cause the next slate laid over it to ride up giving a gap.
Correct head lap and side lap, combined with gauge, provide a watertight seal.
Beautiful pics! And I am looking forward to this edition arriving in my mail box soon. Thankyou for the continued inspiration the mag and contributors provide 🙂
The Owner Builder magazine 
Beautiful pics! And I am looking forward to this edition arriving in my mail box soon. Thankyou for the continued inspiration the mag and contributors provide 🙂
Thanks HappyCobber! Looking forward to featuring you in the not to distant future…