Fig. 153.—Joint of Garden Retreat at C ([Fig. 151]).
The garden retreat shown in front view by [Fig. 149], and in plan and side elevation by [Figs. 150] and [151], is constructed from straight unbarked fir saplings, the small twigs of which should be carefully trimmed off. As the bark is to be left on, it should not be cut or bruised; then no artificial finish will be necessary, the bark in itself being sufficient protection against climatic conditions, and presenting the desired rustic appearance. A new feature in the design is the introduction of a roof or canopy, which may be covered with a sun blind as shown in [Fig. 151]; or a creeping plant may be trained over it.
The two front posts are 3 in. in diameter at the base by 6 ft. high, and the back posts 3 in. in diameter by 5 ft. 6 in. high; the middle back post is 3 ft. 2 in. high, and the front leg 1 ft. 4 in. The seat rails are 2½ in. in diameter. The front rail is 6 ft. long; the back is in two parts, dowelled to the middle post, which comes between. The side rails are 1 ft. 9 in. long; it is advisable to allow a fair margin for hollowing the ends to fit the posts—3 in. on the length would probably be sufficient. After the ends of the rails have been shaped roughly to fit the posts, they are bored for the reception of 11/8-in. oak or elm dowels; these are driven into the rails, and should also be a good fit in the posts. The dowel joint is shown in the top corner of [Fig. 152].
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Fig. 154.—Detail of Front
Joints (See C. Fig. 151). |
Fig. 155.—Alternative Method of Joining Rails to Posts. |
The lower rungs, arm-rests, and back rails are jointed to the posts by tapering their ends slightly, and then tapering the dowel holes to suit with a gouge, so that the rails will just drive up nicely; this joint is shown in the bottom corner of [Fig. 152]2. The rails, etc., are finally driven home, and secured with nails or screws inserted at suitable angles. The back and the side panels are filled with twigs about 1¼ in. in diameter, the ends of the twigs being trimmed to fit the rails, and afterwards nailed in position.
The seat battens are half-round in section, and are cut from 3-in. saplings, the flat part being placed downwards. The method of fixing them is shown in [Figs. 152], [156], and [157]. The seat having been fitted, the struts under the seat rails are next cut and fixed in position.
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Fig. 157.—Detail of Middle Rail at B ([Fig. 152]). |
Fig. 156.—Section of Middle Rail at A ([Fig. 152]). |
The canopy must now be put together. The tops of the posts are first hollowed to form a seating for 2¼-in. saplings, 4 ft. 6 in. long; these act as principal rafters. Before nailing or screwing them to the posts, it is advisable to sight across them to see if they are in the same plane; any alteration that may be required to bring them to lie in the same angle can be effected at the seating on the top of the posts. The halved joint at each end of the principals should also be cut (before fixing up) for receiving the purlins; the principals are further steadied with struts, screwed or nailed to the posts. The purlins are about 2 in. in diameter by 8 ft. 6 in. long, and are fixed to the halved joint previously made on the principal rafters. Smaller twigs, which act as common rafters, are in turn fixed to the purlins. [Fig. 153] shows the method of jointing at the back of the canopy at C ([Fig. 151]), and Fig. 154 is the detail of the front joints. [Fig. 129] (p. 94) is the top of the post hollowed to receive the principal rafter, [Fig. 155] is an alternative method of joining the rails to the posts, [Fig. 156] is a section near the middle rail at A ([Fig. 152]), while [Fig. 157] is a detail of middle rail at B ([Fig. 152]).