I'm building a small and simple house. It's going to be more like a shed than a house, really. I've already sketched the plans for building it, using online sources as a guideline. I'm stuck on how to build the frame of the wall with the door and also another wall with a window. The walls will be 10x10'. I don't have a preference yet on what I want the size of the window and door to be.I'm also wanting to build it with a flat roof but I was wondering why that may be a bad thing. I'm going to be putting a tarp on it when it rains and sweeping leaves off of it regularly. I was wondering what could go wrong with having a flat roof. The purpose of the flat roof is that I'm wanting to just lay ontop of it, maybe stare at the stars at night.If you have any tips for me that would also be great, this is my first major-ish building project.
To install a door when building the shell is simply, you build up to the height of the door and then install a concrete lintel and then carry on building over the lintel.The lintel holds the weight of the bricks above the door Simply leave a gap for the door then when you reach the height of the door install the lintel and then build over the top Yes flat roofs can be a pain. but they are also a cheaper way and easier way or doing it.
first you get a door, w/a frame and a window, then you measure the length and width of the door [at the casein] and the same for the window when your building the building you frame in a place for the door [with the measurement you did for the door] and do the same for the window opening, as for a flat roof make a 4 inch slope on it for rain to run off and you can still lay on it, keep every thing square as you go
Your studs are the 2x6 lumber that make up the exterior walls. Interior walls can be 2x4 if they are not carrying much weight. Each stud should be placed 16 on center apart. When you want to place a door or window in the wall, you will add an extra stud on each side of the door opening leading up to the header which is a 2x10 board that will span the width of the door or window and transfer the weight that the stud that would have extended down to the ground would have carried, over to the extra studs on either side of the door. Same for the window. A flat roof is fine if you use tongue in groove plywood decking and then cover the roof in a rubber membrane that you glue down. don't use the tarp, it won't hold up to wind or sticks falling on it and other abrasions and tears.
The best way is to put the compound on thinly to begin with - scraaaaape it on. I have had good results with damp sponge to knock down joint compound. Use several thin applications with sponging in between. The final application looks better with a light sanding, but if you were careful up to the end, the amount of dust will be minimal.
