The roof may be covered with slates, with Broseley tiles, with wood shingles, or with thatch. A part plan of the roof is shown in Fig. 99. An enlarged section of the front angle of the gable is given in Fig. 100. Two boards, each 1 ft. 1 in. wide by 1-1/4 in. thick, are fixed to the outer rafters and run parallel with them; the heels of the two boards abutting on the front top rail, to which they are nailed. The split-twig herringbone ornament is also nailed to these boards. On the inner edges of the boards are secured twigs of about 1-3/4-in. in diameter, which are rebated to fit to the edges as shown in Fig. 100. The front projecting ends of the roofing boards are concealed by split twigs of about 2-1/2-in. or 3-in. diameter, which do duty as bargeboards. The method is shown at A (Fig. 100).
[Illustration: Fig. 98.--Enlarged Detail of Cottage Porch at Eaves.]
[Illustration: Fig. 99.--Part Plan of Roof for Cottage Porch.]
The panels have now to be filled with stuff ranging from 1-1/2 in. to 2-1/4 in. in diameter. The vertically placed twigs between the posts and rails should be fitted in place before the rails are finally jointed up to the posts. The ends are roughly hollowed, and are secured with cut nails. Alternatively, the vertical members could be fitted so that their inner edges coincided with the centre of the rails. The major portion of the twigs being on the outer side, the smaller diameter of the twigs will thus bring their front edges flush with the larger diameter edges of the rails. The herringbone and the diagonally placed twigs are quite easy to fit, the ends being simply pared off till they are sufficiently shortened to assume their correct position in the panels.
[Illustration: Fig. 100.--Section of Gable for Cottage Porch.]
The decorative effect of the porch will be greatly improved by the addition of a suitable door, as shown in the front elevation (Fig. 94). The cost of manufacture of such a door is but slightly more than that of an ordinary six-panel door. The bottle ends in the top glazed panel form a quaint and pleasing feature of the general scheme.
[Illustration: Fig. 101.--General View of Rustic Canopy for Swing.]
Fig. 101 is a general view of the canopy and swing, and Fig. 102 a side elevation slightly more elaborate in design than Fig. 101, the chief members, however, being exactly the same. The material used is stripped fir saplings. Six of these are required for the uprights.