What is the name of the roof of Chinese houses? Chinese style roof - practicality of the east or influence of fashion? What is good for an Asian roof is a novelty for a European one

The structure of the entire Chinese style house is created in such a way that they can withstand even earthquakes, since they occur quite often in their area. The Chinese roof rests on a central pillar and most often it is not even dug into the ground. As a result of this, the pillar restrains all vibrations of the earth's crust, and neither the house nor the roof can be destroyed.

A few dozen years earlier, the roofs of poor houses were covered with bamboo, and glazed tiles were only on expensive houses, and most often such roofing material was made from bright clay yellow color. In addition, the roof was decorated with various images of animals playing the role of protectors of the house from evil forces. And besides, the roofs could be decorated with carvings, and its individual elements were decorated with oil paints.

Difference between Chinese and Japanese roofs

The Chinese style roof is somewhat different from traditional Japanese roofs. The fact is that in Japan houses are built using a slightly different technology, there it is mainly a frame covered special paper. In our understanding, there are no windows or doors. And there all vertical planes are used exclusively as partitions. Such buildings are built for the reason that they are easily restored after an earthquake and do not cause much harm to people when a house collapses under the influence of underground forces. Also in the case of Japanese houses, there is no strong foundation used, and load-bearing walls made of stone or brick.

If we take a closer look at Chinese roofs, then in essence they are a certain hipped roof with well-known corner shapes. But this is an exclusively external property. The internal structure of the roof and its rafter system differs significantly from traditional European-style models.

Before you start creating a Chinese-style roof, you need to decide whether it will be a real Chinese roof or an imitation of it. If you create a real roof with a Chinese slope, then it will be an expensive pleasure, and if you are willing to spend a considerable amount of money on creating such a roof, then this option is for you. But if you want to make a summer gazebo in the Chinese style, then it is quite possible to use an imitation of a Chinese roof, since it will also blend harmoniously with the landscape.

Chinese roof - how to create it correctly?

The fashion for things in oriental style spreads all over the world from time to time and gains its fans. But there are also those people who do not succumb to such temporary fashion, since they are constant adherents of the East in literally everything, from food to architecture.

How is a Chinese roof created, can it be used to create a roof in a residential or utility room with your own hands, you can find out a little below.

A building built in the style of Far Eastern architecture can be easily distinguished from afar and literally at first glance, since such structures have an original and somewhat unusual appearance.

The main reason is the pronounced Chinese-style roof, with smoothly elongated upward corners. For any non-specialist in oriental-style roofing, such a roof is absolutely distinctive and original.

But upon closer examination of the roof, it can be noted that it has analogues in traditional architecture European style, these can be so-called half-timbered or “Dutch” roofs. And the main difference is the bend at an angle and the complete absence of reverse bending of the ribs.

And therefore, in appearance, for Western classification, the design of a Chinese roof is not something special, since it is ordinary hip roof with a broken slope (here different parts of the slope have different angles tilt) or half-hip. But a half-hip window is used only when there are dormer windows on two slopes opposite from each other (there may be pediments).

But the fact is that this will only be correct for the shape of the roof, since the fact is that load-bearing structures in Japan or Asia are specifically different from each other. And, therefore, before you start building a roof in the Chinese style, as already mentioned, decide whether it will be the original design of a Chinese roof or just its imitation, since there are a lot of differences.

Creating an original Chinese roof is much more difficult, and in fact you need to create a building exclusively according to the Chinese canon. But in the case of an imitation of a Chinese roof, it will be possible to create it using familiar design solutions. But still, only professionals and experts in this matter can cope with the creation of both the first and second versions of the roof, because it has many features and difficulties

Before you build such a stylish roof with your own hands, you need to decide why it is so different from others. Its main element is a pagoda, that is, a stepped square roof with slightly curved edges. This type of roofing is made of wood; pine, larch, bamboo, oak, spruce are excellent for this; natural tiles, metal, and stone tiles are used for cladding.

Such a Chinese-style roof can have several levels, which gives it a special charm, but also imposes certain obligations on the appearance of the entire house or building.

In this case, the gazebo should be light and open, and the residential building should have features similar to the traditional Chinese style. A stone and massive mansion with European features and such a roof will look ridiculous, so when choosing the overall design, pay attention to the consistency of its individual elements.

The roof, made in the oriental style, is a hipped structure, the corners of which are greatly changed, although its internal structure is quite traditional. Its unusual appearance is due precisely to the corners that are curved upward. During construction, this most often causes difficulties. Difficulties arise in covering it with roofing materials and arranging the under-roof space.

You can build such a roof with your own hands, but this requires consultation with professional builders who will tell you the intricacies of Chinese architecture.
Nuances of construction

Why did roofs in China take on these particular shapes? What prompted the architects of that time to give them such unusual features? The answer, in general, is quite simple: this region is subject to increased seismic activity, so all buildings had to be not only durable, but also withstand any tremors that could destroy the roof and walls.

Therefore, this particular form of roof was chosen, which in the center would rest on a load-bearing pillar fixed at depth. The roof of houses of this shape became very reliable and durable, similar to an umbrella that sways in the wind but does not tip over. Almost every adult local resident could build such a structure.

When building a Chinese roof, you must immediately take into account all the nuances, which include:

feasibility of construction;

· availability of materials suitable for the work and, in general, the possibility of installing just such a design;

· Availability financial resources, since the construction of such a structure is quite expensive.
We analyze the complexity of the work and carry out installation

So how to build a Chinese-style roof with your own hands? Particular attention should be paid to the rafters and sheathing, since the reliability and appearance of the roof will depend on them. It is worth recalling that eastern architecture does not know what traditional frame technology is, that is, instead of the usual walls, there should be a special support column strictly in the middle, taking on the entire load. In European construction, load-bearing walls take on a similar load.

The roof load is distributed throughout the building in the form of a rectangle, according to general form, the roofs we are used to have a triangular distribution. In addition, the design of a Chinese roof is often multi-tiered, consisting of several roofs stacked one on top of the other.

When constructing such a building, you need to contact an experienced architect who can tell you exactly how to implement such an idea correctly. The result should be a building that will protect from rain and will not suffer from earthquakes.
Roof installation

Let's now consider how to build a Chinese-style roof with your own hands. First, select the desired roof option and make a drawing of it. Do not forget that our climatic conditions allow us to make only an imitation of such a building. When constructing a simple structure, you can do it yourself. If you want something on a larger scale, then the work should be entrusted only to trusted specialists. An inexperienced team of workers who have only seen such a roof in pictures is unlikely to help you do anything worthwhile.

After calculations, we purchase materials and begin installation. First, we attach boards with a length of one and a half meters and a width of thirty centimeters in the center. We place the rafter leg in the center of the resulting base, that is, we get a support beam connected to the middle. Now we repeat the same with the other side of the structure. We thus obtain a quadrangular figure in the form of a cone with edges and a slightly curved base.

The sheathing is very simple: we nail it onto the rafters and supporting side beams. wooden boards, which should go perpendicular. So, the main structure, so to speak, the skeleton of the roof, is ready. Now we take plywood sheets, which we give flexibility with a number of notches, and attach them to the sheathing.

Soft roofing material is excellent as a roofing covering. bitumen shingles, which is light in weight, perfectly follows all the curves of the roof, and has an attractive appearance. You can cover the roof with copper, but this option is very expensive; before you decide on it, you need to carefully weigh the need for such a step, although copper plating and is considered the best. So, we looked at how to build a Chinese-style roof with your own hands, now let’s move on to the tips.
Tips for building a Chinese roof

Most often, for Chinese roofs, bitumen shingles are used as roofing.

As we can see, the design is distinguished by its complexity and some simplicity, which greatly distinguishes it from traditional structures. We offer some advice from our experts that will help you independently figure out the construction of the simplest modification of an eastern roof and completely transform any structure that it will crown.

Before starting work, draw a thorough plan that will display the entire rafter system, which will allow you not only to correctly assemble, but also calculate the material. As a covering for roofing material, it is best to use moisture-resistant plywood, which will allow you to completely follow all the curves of the roof. Preferably plywood, and anything else wooden elements thoroughly impregnate with special antiseptic compounds that will help protect the structure from insects.

Chinese roof drawing

All roof elements are set according to a certain template, so before starting work, prepare such a full-size template. This will help reduce construction time and make it of better quality.

The roof is the first thing you notice when you see a house made in the Chinese style. It can be single- or multi-tiered, but in any case, its massive design with curved edges gives the Chinese house, on the one hand, a kind of majesty, and on the other, elegance. The curved shape contributed to a significant reduction in the weight of the roof (by almost a third), which made it possible to build Chinese roofs of houses without rafters based on a post-and-beam structure.

The design of the Chinese roof is characterized by an angled bend and the absence of a reverse bend at the ribs. By internal structure, design rafter system it differs significantly from European standards in certain details. For example, in contrast to the Western version, the absence in the Chinese version of a rafter system based on load-bearing walls or the absence rafter legs and struts, tightening of suspended rafters.

Note that the load experienced by the roof, according to Chinese technology, is distributed throughout the structure, in contrast to the “European” triangle, in the form of a rectangle.

The construction of a Chinese roof in accordance with the relevant rules of traditional oriental architecture is a rather expensive undertaking. Therefore, it may be more advisable to start creating an imitation of it or limit yourself to erecting a small pagoda on your site.

How to make a Chinese roof: stages of construction

Development of a roof project

First of all, you need to understand the configuration of the future roof and make a sketch. It should immediately be noted that the construction hipped roof associated with great difficulties. Therefore, it is better to opt for a simpler option - gable roof with two gables. This option will satisfy the desire to have an exotic roof, and the work will be quite simple.

Design carrier system

The rafter system is designed according to the prepared sketch. In this case, it is necessary to achieve the result distinctive feature Chinese roof - its concave profile. There are two possible options for this.

Rafter system in the form of a pyramid with a rectangular base

With such a device, the main element load-bearing structure is a rafter quadrangle. Installed on top of each other, they will form the desired pyramid.

When gable roof The quadrilaterals will have the same length. The parabolic curve of the roof is obtained by selecting the width of the trusses and the height of the racks.

The material for the sheathing elements is boards with a thickness of 20 mm. They are fastened starting from the ridge towards the eaves, so the number of these segments on one line corresponds to the number of mounted rafter quadrangles.

The sheathing boards are positioned so that their joints are located in the middle edged boards rafter system.

Hanging rafter system

To install the rafter system you will need following materials:
boards with a section of 15x3 cm,
2 cm thick boards used for lathing,
plywood, the thickness of which is no more than 1 cm.

How to make a roof truss
The stand is fixed strictly in the middle of the support beam, while clearly maintaining a right angle (90⁰);
the distance between the stand and the edge of the support beam is divided in half. Next, one of the ends of the rafter leg is fixed at the resulting point, and the second is attached to the free edge of the rack;

find the center of the rafter leg and at this point fix one end of the board, and the second, accordingly, attach it to the edge of the support beam;
to obtain a smoother bend of the roof, add an additional strut;
All these operations are repeated once again on the other side of the central pillar - in a mirror image relative to it.

Thus, the result will be a single truss truss. Number of such structural elements determined depending on the size of the roof. It should be noted that the optimal distance between trusses is 0.5 - 0.7 m.
The next step after the device truss structure is the installation of the sheathing. The sheathing should be positioned horizontally, with its pitch determined by the width of the plywood.

Roofing device
After installing the sheathing, the next step is to begin installing the plywood. Cuts are made on the sheet to approximately ¾ of its thickness. This is necessary to ensure a tight fit of the plywood to the sheathing. The number of cuts is determined based on the bend of the slope: the larger the radius of its curvature, the greater the number of cuts required.
After installing the plywood in place, they proceed directly to installing the roof. It is recommended to cover such a roof either with roll materials or with individual flexible roofing materials, for example, bitumen shingles.

Tiles, of course, are more suitable for realizing the overall artistic design.

The Chinese style roof has curved ends. Which are decorated using ready-made metal or wooden structures.

The traditions of the East that have developed over several millennia determine the features of architectural landmarks and their elements. The Chinese roof was no exception. As a finishing element in Chinese homes and religious buildings, it is characterized by a variety of decorations and curved corners. There are even ancient legends that explain the design features of this architectural element. According to one of them, at night dragons descend from rooftops with the aim of harming people. Thanks to the curved corners of the roof, they fail to do this and 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 raised corners on Chinese-style roofs.

Modern architects offer a more prosaic and explainable 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 the large amount of rainfall in the area where the construction of houses most often ends with the arrangement of such architectural elements. These design features of the Chinese roof contribute to more efficient removal of precipitation at a distant distance from the walls of the building. In addition, the protruding overhangs of the Chinese roof protect inner space buildings from excessive sunlight.

Design features of Chinese architecture

Due to enough frequent earthquakes, Chinese buildings are equipped in such a way that they can effectively withstand the high seismic activity of the area. This is achieved by the design features of the building and, in particular, the roof, which rests on a central pillar, often not even dug into the ground and designed to absorb vibrations earth's crust, which is aimed at protecting the building. In ancient times, the roofs of poor houses were covered with bamboo, while wealthy people decorated their homes with yellow glazed tiles made from clay. In addition, to decorate such roofs, decorative images of animals were used, according to the eastern inhabitants, protecting the house from evil spirits, and carvings; some elements were painted with oil paint.

Despite the similarity of traditions of China and Japan, the construction japanese houses is carried out according to a completely different principle. In most cases, they are a frame covered with paper, and therefore they are more reminiscent of a structure without windows and doors. All vertically oriented planes serve as partitions, thanks to which the building can be quickly restored in the event of frequent earthquakes, and if the building is destroyed, the debris will not cause much harm to a person. The absence of a foundation and powerful load-bearing walls made of wood or stone only helps to increase the safety of the building.

The nuances of building a Chinese roof: what to pay attention to?

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

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 on the appearance of the house and its architectural concept.

Important! If you are planning to install a gazebo, complemented by a Chinese roof, the structure should be open and light, while the conceptual design of a residential building should clearly show the features of traditional oriental style. Choosing overall design buildings, pay attention to the combination of its individual elements, since the massive stone house with European features, complemented by a Chinese-style roof, is unlikely to delight even the average person who knows nothing about architecture.

The spectacular openwork roof structure with edges directed towards the sky is the main element of the building, attracting attention when looking at works of Chinese architecture. Despite the fact that recreating the design of a Chinese roof is fraught with certain difficulties, if you follow the basic nuances, you can easily avoid them. Let's look at what these nuances are.

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

· Unlike European buildings, works of Chinese architecture are built on the basis of a gutter-beam structure. The rafter system acts as a basis for European houses, rests on load-bearing walls, while the basis of Chinese buildings is a central pillar that takes on all the loads. The design of hanging rafters, which take place in European architecture, implies the presence of struts, rafter legs and tie rods. Support beams characteristic of European construction, ceiling beams and other elements are intended to give the structure rigidity and strength, but works of Chinese architecture lack these elements. If in European homes the arrangement of the rafter system is carried out according to the triangle principle, then the load distribution in eastern houses carried out according to the principle of a rectangle;

· For the installation of Chinese roofing, cylindrical tiles are used, the unique shape of which is determined by the need to fasten them onto corner joints. To give the roof a special flavor, it is necessary to use a special profile and figures with fantastic images, called “qiang shou”. The installation of the roof ridge is carried out according to a similar scheme, with the Qiang shou being replaced with ceramic clamps, the specific “horned” configuration of which attracts attention when looking at a Chinese roof;

· Distinctive feature Chinese roofing is the use of large eaves that extend far beyond the building and thereby protect the building from excessive climatic influences, such as excessive ultraviolet radiation, strong wind and others. Due to the large weight of the eaves, the entire mass of the roof is distributed in such a way that the entire structure of the building acquires increased stability. As for the dougong cornice system, it completely takes on the weight of the cornices.

Important! Specific characteristics of Chinese roofing:

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

The design of the Chinese roof assumes the presence of corners curved upward;

The upper part of the roof is characterized by the presence of a steep slope, which becomes gentler downwards.

An integral element of the Chinese roof are massive eaves that extend far beyond the external walls of the house;

To ensure timely removal of precipitation from the external surface of the roof and effective protection of its internal surface from excess sunlight, it is equipped with overhangs that also protrude over the external walls at a considerable distance;

Chinese roofs, characterized by a multi-tiered structure, are not uncommon in oriental architecture.

Chinese roof diagram: original or imitation?

If you still prefer a Chinese roof, you need to pay special attention to its design, since already at this stage it is important to decide whether you will preserve its unique design during the construction process or limit yourself to its external imitation. The construction of a unique structure is quite an expensive undertaking, whereas by performing only its external imitation, you can not only save money, but also build a more practical one. middle zone construction.

Important! The main difference in the design of European and traditional eastern roofs is the presence or absence of a rafter system. The construction of houses in Japan and China involves the absence of rafters, since they are replaced by a support-beam system that is more resistant to frequent seismic activity. In this regard, in the case of erecting a structure in an area where there is no such danger, you can remain faithful to the structural systems traditional for the middle zone.

If you carefully study the photographs showing Chinese roofs, you will notice that they have many similarities with some structures familiar to the European continent, the most striking example of which is a summer gazebo - a pagoda that fits well into the surrounding landscape.

First of all, decide on the configuration of the future roof and develop a roofing project. Experts believe that the construction of a hipped roof is associated with certain difficulties, and therefore they recommend opting for a more simple designs, giving preference 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 roofing structure.

The next stage involves designing a supporting system. Particular attention must be paid to the rafters and sheathing, since they determine the reliability and appearance of the roof. However, do not forget that the use of traditional frame technology not typical of eastern architecture, and therefore the usual walls must be replaced with a support pillar located strictly in the middle and fully taking on all the loads. In traditional European construction, this function is performed by load-bearing walls.

Important! If the European roofing structures familiar to us are characterized by a “triangular” load distribution, then this principle is alien to eastern architecture. The roof load in Chinese buildings is distributed over the surface of the building in the form of a rectangle, according to the general shape of the structure. In addition, Chinese roofs are characterized by a multi-tiered structure, and therefore they often consist of several roofs laid one on top of the other.

If you are planning to build a multi-tier structure, contact a professional architect who will tell you how to implement this idea correctly so that it effectively protects from rain and, at the same time, is resistant to earthquakes.

Before starting work, draw detailed plan, displaying in great detail the design nuances of the rafter system. Thanks to this, you will be able to assemble it as accurately as possible and calculate required amount material. Most suitable material for arranging the covering under the roofing material, moisture-resistant plywood is used, the use of which will allow you to repeat all the roofing bends as accurately as possible. It is advisable to impregnate all wooden elements included in the roof structure, including moisture-resistant plywood, with antiseptic compounds to prevent damage by insects.

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

How to build a Chinese roof: possible options
A rafter system based on a pyramid with a rectangular base

· If you prefer this arrangement option, know that as a supporting system, in in this case, the rafter quadrangle protrudes. By placing them on top of each other, you will get the desired pyramid.

· If you are setting up gable roof, the length of both quadrilaterals will be the same. To obtain a parabolic roof curve, it is necessary to select the height of the racks and the width of the trusses. It is important to note that the most suitable material for the manufacture of sheathing elements are 20 mm thick boards. Starting from the ridges, they are attached towards the eaves, and therefore the number of segments located on the same line corresponds to the number of rafter quadrangles.

· The arrangement of the sheathing boards is carried out in such a way that their joints are located in the middle of the edged boards included in the sheathing.

Rafter system in the form of hanging rafters

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

· Boards with a cross-section of 15x3 cm;

· Boards required for arranging the sheathing, the thickness of which is 2 cm;

· Sheets of moisture-resistant plywood no more than 1 cm thick.

How to make a Chinese roof: making a rafter system

· Trying to clearly maintain a right angle (90 degrees), secure the stand exactly in the middle of the support beam;

· Divide the distance obtained between the stand and the support beam in half and fix one of the ends of the rafter leg at the resulting point. Secure the second end to the free edge of the stand;

· Determine the center of the rafter leg, then secure one end of the board at this point. The second end must be attached to the edge of the support beam;

· To obtain a smoother bend of the roof during the work, add an additional strut;

· In a mirror image from the central pillar, repeat all of the above operations on the other side of support pillar;

· Upon completion of the work you will receive a complete roof truss. Their number varies depending on the size of the roof. It is important to remember that the acceptable distance between trusses is 50-70 cm;

· The next stage of arranging the truss structure is the installation of the sheathing, which should be positioned horizontally. It is important to remember that the pitch of the sheathing is determined by the width of the plywood sheet;

· Having finished arranging the sheathing, you can begin installing the plywood. On a sheet of plywood, make cuts to 3/4 of its thickness, which is necessary to ensure a tighter fit of the plywood to the sheathing. The number of cuts performed is variable and depends on the bend of the roof slope. Their number is directly proportional to the radius of curvature of the slope (the larger it is, the greater the number of cuts that need to be made);

· Having installed the plywood in place, proceed to the actual installation of the roof. Experts recommend using rolled materials or piece flexible roofing materials for this, for example, bitumen shingles, slate tiles small size or European tiles.

Important! If you want to fully realize your artistic vision, use soft bitumen shingles, which are characterized by their low weight, the ability to follow all the curves of a Chinese roof and an attractive appearance.

· For roofing, you can also use copper, which is one of the best and, at the same time, most expensive materials for Chinese roofing.

· The curved ends of the Chinese roof are formed using ready-made metal or wooden structures.

· The specific coloring of a Chinese roof can be realized with the help of decorative figurines of dragons and other animals, for the manufacture of which materials resistant to corrosion are used. high humidity and temperature changes.

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

· You can take a half-timbered roof structure as a basis and complement it specific elements to achieve the desired result;

· Or supplement the roof truss system with metal profiles of increased flexibility, thanks to which the roof configuration will acquire the necessary airiness.

The world of the East is always surrounded by a mysterious atmosphere. Culture, art, traditions, architecture - everything is different from the usual European way of life. In this regard, it is not surprising that oriental motifs periodically gain popularity in all spheres of life. In house design, similar trends are also not uncommon. The Chinese roof is what is popular among lovers of oriental exoticism.

Chinese-style houses would not attract such attention if not for their openwork, spectacular roof with edges raised to the sky. Graceful buildings, as if rushing upward, are full of majesty and dignity. Recreating such a work of architectural art is not so easy.

A Chinese-style roof differs from European solutions in a number of ways:

• during their construction, not rafters are used, but a post-and-beam structure;
• For the roof, tiles made in the shape of cylinders are used.
• the cornices are made large and heavy.

For information ! The houses of the poor in China were covered not with tiles, but with cypress bark or other materials of plant origin.

The design of the Chinese roof is characterized by upward-pointing corners and protruding eaves

The unique shape of the tiles is needed so that they can be fastened at corner joints. The use of a special profile and figures with fantastic images (qiang shou) gives a special flavor to the roof. The roof ridge is created using a similar scheme, the only difference is that the qiang shou are replaced with ceramic clamps. It is their “horned” configuration that catches the eye when we look at an oriental-style roof.

The design of the Chinese roof involves large eaves, which, protruding far beyond the walls, protect the house from excessive climatic manifestations: heavy rain, aggressive sun, etc. The considerable weight of the eaves allows the total mass of the roof to be distributed in such a way that the house becomes more stable. The weight of the cornice rests on the bracket system - dougong.

Original or imitation

Having decided to erect a roof in the Chinese style, it is worth deciding already during the design process: whether to preserve the unique architecture of the building or limit it to an external imitation of the structure. The main difference in the roofs of European and Eastern architecture is the presence or absence of a rafter system. The construction of houses without rafters in China and Japan is quite justified - the support-beam system better withstands seismic activity. By creating a roof free from such danger, there is no need to move away from conventional systems.

The rafter system of a hip roof is similar to the design of a Chinese roof.

If you carefully study the Chinese roofs in the photo, you can see their similarities with some examples of European architecture. Most of all, this design resembles hip roof, in which the shape of the corners has been changed or a fantasy design on the hanging rafters.

Roof design features

Eastern architecture avoids the construction of load-bearing walls - the entire weight of the house rests on the pillars. The central vertical support takes on the load from the horizontal ties. Since as a building material bamboo is used, and the top of the roof is decorated with heavy tiles, it is not surprising that the bending of the corners is gradually formed. This natural process has become the canon for eastern architecture.

For information ! The load of the roof in Europe falls on the triangles of the rafters, while in the East it is based on a rectangular shape.

Describing the classic Chinese roof, we can list all its specific characteristics:

• the load is distributed in the vertical and horizontal planes of the frame;
• the corners of the roof are bent upward;
• the cornices protrude too far external walls Houses;
• You can find roofs with a multi-tiered structure.

Chinese roof designs are based on a system of rectangles

Mounting options

So, for lovers of oriental motifs, we can offer several projects for implementation:

1. Reproduce in full original design houses - without load-bearing walls on vertical foundations and with prominent overhangs on a powerful bracket system. However, such a configuration is economically infeasible and inconvenient for Europeans to live in.
2. Use ample opportunities rafter systems and create a truss of a suitable configuration with a familiar base on the walls of the building. The cost of such work is high, but the result is indistinguishable from the original.
3. Use hanging rafters and imitate a Chinese roof on them using decorative elements and suitable roofing material. The best solution is if you are attracted to oriental forms by the idea itself, and not by the complexity and originality of architectural solutions.
4. Take advantage metal structures, whose bent beams are excellent for creating roofs of complex shapes. Metal is an expensive material, and installing a roof on it involves additional difficulties.

For information ! Not all roofing materials are suitable for Chinese-style roofs. The most natural look will be: bitumen shingles, euroroofing felt, sheet metal coverings.

The following materials are most suitable for the roofing of a Chinese roof: bitumen shingles, euroroofing felt, as well as sheet metal coverings of various types

If you want to go through all the stages of constructing a truly Chinese structure, then it is recommended to start with a pagoda - a small gazebo in which there are no walls, and therefore there will be no difficulty in reproducing the desired structure as accurately as possible according to all the canons of craftsmanship.

If we're talking about about a residential building, it is better to settle on an imitation, which will externally look like the required structure, and structurally it will be possible to comply with all the requirements for thermal and waterproofing of the building. A house created according to such a project will turn out elegant, unusual, but it will not be damaged performance characteristics.

Secrets of installation work

Chinese roofs are best made using hanging rafters. The sequence of operations from the first to the last step will consist of the following steps:

If the instructions seemed complicated, then there are other solutions:

• take the design of a half-timbered roof as a basis and make a number of changes until the desired result is obtained;
• supplement the rafter system with flexible metal profiles, which will allow you to achieve an airy roof configuration.

Large overhangs are an integral part of a Chinese roof. To install them, you should use decorative cornices or consoles of the required size. Also a mandatory attribute will be decorative elements– figures of dragons, snakes, animals. They will help to recreate the necessary oriental flavor.

To cover such a roof, it is best to use soft bituminous materials or different kinds leafy metal coatings

If you are planning to decorate your home with a Chinese-style design, do not expect to do everything yourself. Competent project and great experience in the construction roofing structures- this is what is required to implement such complex work. Professional craftsmen will cope with this kind of task and create a house, approaching which you will feel the mysterious atmosphere of the East.

If you decide to design a recreation area for suburban area bright and unusual, then the best solution there will be a gazebo made in Chinese style. This design combines smooth lines, symbolism, versatility, and at the same time a focus on attractiveness and convenience.

Moreover, such a structure can be made independently, and then we will look at how to build a Chinese gazebo with your own hands.

Chinese gazebos are usually light and open structures.

They can be of different shapes:

• Square;
• Round;
• Polygonal.

A characteristic feature of these structures are the rising corners of the roof, which are reminiscent of the roofs of traditional Chinese pagodas. Since the roof makes the gazebo so recognizable, it is this that needs to be given special attention.

Construction of a gazebo

The construction of a gazebo includes several stages:

• Project preparation;
• Preparation construction site;
• Construction of the foundation;
• Execution of the frame;
• Construction of the roof.

Project

So, you have decided to decorate your site with a Chinese-style gazebo. First of all, you need to create a project on paper that will allow you to calculate the amount required material, and will also serve as a construction plan.

If you look at any drawing of a gazebo in the Chinese style, it will become clear that the frame of the building itself is not anything complicated and consists only of supporting wooden poles, sometimes the spaces between them are sheathed, but more often they are made open. Hainan pear is considered traditional materials, pink tree or sandalwood, however, the price of these wood species is very high, so larch or oak logs are more often used.

Drawing a frame drawing with your own hands is not at all difficult, unlike designing a roof, which must first be drawn. And only on the basis of the drawing a design drawing is already made.

When designing a Chinese roof, it is necessary to take into account that its rafter system differs from the traditional European one, which rests on load-bearing walls, since in Eastern architecture there are no load-bearing walls. Therefore, the entire load falls on the central pillar.

Materials

It should be noted that an oriental-style gazebo is very demanding on material, especially for the roof. For example, the boards must have a cross-section of 150x30 cm. There are also requirements for plywood, which will also be needed for constructing the roof. The thickness of its sheet should not exceed one centimeter.

Construction of the foundation

The next stage of building a gazebo with your own hands in the Chinese style is the construction of the foundation.

Its type depends on the size of the structure:

• Large buildings are erected on a stone plinth, so they can be used as a foundation. concrete slab.
• For a small gazebo, you can make a columnar foundation. In this case, the number of columns should be equal to the number support posts, together with the central column.

The instructions for constructing the foundation are as follows:

• First of all, the site is prepared - removed upper layer soil and marking is carried out.
• Then trenches are dug under the foundation pillars of the gazebo.
• Next, anchors for the support pillars are installed in a strictly vertical position and the trenches are filled with concrete.

After completing this procedure, you will have to stop construction for a while until the concrete hardens.

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Installation of supports

The next stage is the installation of support logs and the subsequent implementation of the lower and upper trim.

The work is performed in this order:

• Holes for anchors are drilled in the logs;
• Then the pillars are put on the anchors;
• After this, the lower and top harness timber 15x15 cm.

You can make a low fence around the gazebo, which must have a Chinese motif. The structure can also be planted in a circle climbing plants, in this case, a do-it-yourself Chinese-style gazebo will look even more authentic.

Note!
The length of the vertical support must correspond to the width of the rafter system.

In the photo - the construction of the roof of a Chinese gazebo

Erection of the roof

After completing the strapping, you can begin building the roof.

This is done as follows:

• First of all, it is necessary to install a board in the center of the structure, a length equal to the width of the rafter system, in a strictly perpendicular position.
• Next, a rafter board (rafter leg) is installed, which should touch the middle of the support beam and the top point of the support post.
• The next step is to install the board, which is attached to the edge of the support beam and the middle of the previous board.
• The same operation should be performed on the other side. In the end it will work out finished item roof truss.
• Using a similar template, parts for the remaining trusses should be made, taking into account that the step between them should be 50-70 cm, if you additionally perform the lathing with a step that is a multiple of the width of the board.
• Cut the plywood to three-quarters of its thickness and secure it to the sheathing. The frequency of cuts is made depending on the radius. Thanks to this, it is possible to improve the tightness of the plywood sheets to the sheathing.
• After installing the rafter system the desired shape, you should make the original bends characteristic of a Chinese roof. For this you can use bent structures made of wood or lightweight metal profiles.
• Final roof covering It is better to do it with flexible tiles made on a bitumen basis.
• Large overhangs can be made using decorative cornices or consoles, which will serve as decoration and give the building an oriental style.

Roofs in Chinese architecture have not only a purely practical, but also a mystical meaning. It is believed that Chinese roofs are curved upward for protection from evil spirits - Buddhists believed that curves ward off evil spirits, in an attack on the house, usually taking the form of a straight line. The temple roofs, made of glazed ceramic tiles, resemble cave vaults with their graceful shapes. The unusual appearance of the roof is achieved by complex adjustment of short and long rafters. In China, even ordinary houses had such a complex roof.

However, the most special roofs were those of rich houses and palaces. A great example is the Forbidden City and the 13 Ming Dynasty Tombs near Beijing, whose roofs are covered with shiny tiles in shades of yellow, green and red. The beams of each roof are topped with figures of strange mythical creatures, and the most elaborate structures usually point towards the southeast. However, one had to be careful when decorating the roofs: the enormous weight could eventually crush the entire structure. This is why the Chinese add an additional column to support the roof at the outer edges, reducing the fasteners to mere decoration. The clips are decorated with intricate carvings, paintings of bright flowers and other eye-catching beauty.

A distinctive feature of Chinese roofs is a large amount of symbolism. It is present in the color of the eaves, and in the choice of roofing materials, and in the decorations of the top. The roof usually consists of wavy tiles that run horizontally and round ridges that run vertically. Vertical beams are made of bamboo, which symbolizes youth and longevity. Since gold is so good, imperial roofs were usually made gilded or yellow. Green roofs symbolize bamboo shafts, which, in turn, as already mentioned, in China have the meaning of youth and longevity.

Beautiful curved roofs can be found in temple complex Wong Tai Sin in the Kowloon area of ​​Hong Kong. Decorations on the roof include dragons with bells, a man riding a chicken, a variety of guardian animals and a carp that brings success. The more important the building, the more such guardians “live” on it. The number of levels of a Chinese roof is also a status symbol. Roof guards are usually called upon to protect a building from evil spirits, fires, and other disasters.

For example, there are a lot of guardians on the roof of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City (Beijing). Their team includes various beasts, the aforementioned man on a chicken, Shin Ona (a winged demon with a sword, the only one in the Forbidden City), dragons, which symbolize imperial power. In total, 11 figures. The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the most important building in the Forbidden City. The double-layer roof makes the palace even more majestic.

Animal figurines on the roofs of Chinese palaces, temples and other ancient buildings are not only original jewelry- they also represent the status of the owner in the feudal hierarchy.

The construction of a roof for a pagoda must begin with a detailed drawing of the future roof configuration, on the basis of which a drawing of the rafter system is developed. When installing the rafter system, it is preferable to use a board 30 mm thick and 150 mm wide, as well as thin plywood, the thickness of which does not exceed 1 mm.

The installation procedure is as follows:

A board is selected that is equal in length to the width of the rafter system. It is installed strictly perpendicular to the center;

Two other boards are used as rafter legs. They are attached in such a way that they simultaneously touch the perpendicular at its top point and the middle of the support beam on both sides;

The lower third of the rafter leg is determined and connected with a new board to the end of the support beam;

Another board is also connected to the second end of the support beam;

Two more boards are used to connect the middle of both rafter legs to the middle of the connecting boards.

The result was one of the elements of the necessary rafter truss for the pagoda roof. Taking into account that the pitch between the trusses should be from 500 to 700 mm, the required number of trusses are manufactured and installed in exactly the same way.

Lathing is placed on the trusses in increments equal to the width of the plywood sheets. Plywood is attached to it with cuts previously made in it to ¾ of the depth, necessary for a better fit to the sheathing. Roof bends are created using bent structures using lightweight metal profiles. The work ends with laying flexible bitumen-based tiles on the plywood. Sometimes small-sized slate tiles and shingles are used for these purposes.