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Pygmy Goat Pallet House
Roofing

Contents

Introduction
Prep Work
The Foundation
Side Walls
Front Door Frame
Finish the Door
Back Wall
Roofing

Adding the Roof

In the previous section, we finished the back wall. In this section, add the roof using a simplification of traditional shingle roofing techniques. Remember, if you don't have a forklift, put the house in its final position, and use a sacrificial pallet beneath it to shield the floor pallet from rot, termites and decay.

We're going to put about fifty-one linear inches of slats on each run of the roof. The roof will be flush with the front of the house so that we can use our medieval latch. On the back of the house, we'll overlap about two inches with a nice eave. Each run should use similar materials in both thickness and width. A good use for small children is to sort through all your (denailed) slats to collect similar materials. One person can then start manufacturing shingle runs, usually in groups of three slats, squared and cut to length on the miter saw.

To save measuring, math and mental confusion, prepare a convenient measuring station where you lay squared boards down and mark the final length on the last one. We made a mark on a deck step for just this purpose, and screwed a piece of scrap slat into one end of the step to represent inch zero. Suitably prepared, the shingle maker will produce runs faster than you can install them.
 

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To the left, we see the first run of shingles. The end with the door is off to the right. We started this run flush to the front edge of the door side slats, and then worked to the left. This run simply sits atop the side wall brace rails.

A few things are of note here. First, although the shingles look tight here, we leave a tiny space between them, less than an eighth of an inch. This is because the boards will expand some in humid weather (even if painted) and contract in hot, dry weather. Second, note how the boards in this run are similar in width and height.

Next, we've screwed them down with two small drywall screws each. As you will recall from the pallet construction primer, our small drywall screws are only 1-1/8" long, and typically won't penetrate through into the goat area. If you've ever added insulation to a typical subdivision home, you and your goat will appreciate this feature.

Finally, notice that the screws are located in the top inch or so of the board, and favor the middle rather than the ends. This not only avoids splitting, but it also allows more expansion and contraction without concern. If you hit a tough spot, don't hesitate to pilot-drill if need be.
 

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Here we've started the second run. Notice that the shingles overlap about a half inch at the bottom, and that this time we started from the left (back wall) side. If you start each run with more or less half-slats, and end with the small piece of each set, and alternate from left to right, you'll hardly ever have gaps that overlap.

Try to keep each run level, but it isn't necessary to be exact. When you get about halfway up, you can adjust your work by eyeing the middle rail.
 

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To the left we see the finished roof for this side. The most important run is the last one. To the right, we see this run from a different angle. We've carefully placed this run to be flush with the upper rail and ends of the slats. This detail will be important for a later step: flat and straight is important.

Shingle the other wall the same way.

Now, prepare fifty-one linear inches of a semi-dimensioned rail, similar to the one shown as the ridge beam. We're going to lay a second ridge beam atop that one.
 

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Here we've installed the roof ridge. Note that the short piece should have been installed on the other end, with the longer piece hanging out with the eave. Oops. We've secured this ridge to the original beam with a few medium deck screws.

You can also see that it isn't necessary to pull or sink the nails in this ridge beam.

And yes, flash would have helped these photos a lot!
 

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Now, prepare a bunch of slat pieces five inches long. Then, start securing them to the ridge with the long drywall screws. We've left this one sticking out to better illustrate the placement and angle. Be sure to pilot-drill each one of these shingles.

You can see a few more cap shingles sitting on the ridge beam. You will probably find that most of these five-inch shingle pieces are cupped. Place them so that the cup collects water to the middle, rather than shedding it into the cracks. Also, leave a small expansion gap between each shingle.

As with the side shingles, you can have someone manufacturing cap shingles for you. You will need a total width of about a hundred and two inches of these five-inch pieces. This is a great use for all of those slat scraps that have a little bit of good wood and a whole lot of bad.
 

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To the left we see the finished runs of cap shingles. The right side is nice, but the left side shows too much reliance on the straightness of the underlying pallet. A simple sighting along the top of the last run of wall shingles would have highlighted and solved this problem.


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The last step is to install a ridge cap. This will take fifty-one inches of nice slat pieces. This time, point any cupping downward. For our house, we selected some slats that were already beveled. Secure with pilot-drilled medium deck screws, but don't tighten too much or you'll jack the cap shingles out of place.
 

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After you're done, you can paint it or stain it with whatever paint or preservative you have lying around, or scoop up cheap at an auction or whatever. Any paint, even an interior latex, is better than none. We've had some test pieces painted with interior latex that are holding up pretty well after a few years. You just have to apply it really thin, and almost rub it in. But again, even that is better than nothing.

Well, that's it! Put some cardboard on the floor, toss some hay or straw above that, and add one goat!

But before you do, stick your head in the door, look around, and imagine this thing about two or three times larger in each dimension. Now imagine that you've had everything you own taken away. And it's snowing outside. Mmmm. Cozy. Goat, you can sleep outside...


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