The first book of architecture, by Andrea Palladio. Translated out of Italian: with an appendix touching doors and windows, by Dr Le Muet architect to the French King: translated out of French by G.R. Also rules and demonstrations, with several designs for the framing of any manner of roofs either above pitch or under pitch, whether square or bevel, never published before. With designes of floors of variety of small pieces of wood, lately made in the pallace of the Queen Mother, at Sommerset-House; a curiosity never practiced in England before.

OF ROOFS. RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS, FOR Framing all manner of Roofs, whether Square or Bevel, either above pitch or under pitch, according to the best manner practised in England.

Also to find the length of the Hips and Sleep∣ers, with the back or Hip-mould, never yet Published by any Architect, Modern or Antique; a Curiosity worth the Regard even of the most Curious Workmen: Exactly demonstrated in the following Rules and designs; By that Ingenious Architect Mr. William Pope, of London.

CHAP. XLVI. Of Roofs.

Having raised the Walls to their designed height, and made the Vaults, laid the Joists, brought up the Staires, and per∣formed all those things spoken of before; we are now to raise the Roof, which imbracing every part of the building, and with its weight equally pressing upon the walls, is as a band to all the work; and besides defends the Inhabitants from Rain, from Snow, from the Burning Sun, and from the moisture of the night; adds no small help to the building, casting off from the walls the Rain-water, which although for a while seems to do but little hurt, yet in processe of time is cause of much Dammage. The first Men (as saith Vitruvius) built their houses with flat Roofes, but finding that thereby they were not defended from the weather, they (constrained by necessity) began to make them ridg'd (that is to say) raised in the middle: These Roofs are to be raised to a higher or lower pitch according to the Country in which they are; wherefore in Germany by reason of the great quantity of Snow that falls there, they raise their Roofs to a very great pitch, and cover them with Shingles, which are small pieces of wood, or of thin Slate or Tyles; for if they should raise them otherwise, they would be ruined by reason of the weight of the Snow. But we who dwell in a more temperate Country ought to choose such a pitch which may secure the building and be of a handsome form; therefore we divide the breadth of the Roof into four equal parts, and take three, which makes the most agreeable pitch for our Country, and is the foundation for the raising of any manner of Roof, whether Square or Bevel; as ap∣peares in the following designs and descriptions.

The Manner of Framing a Floor, with the Names of each Member,

• 1. THe thicknesse of the Wall, and Lintel or Wall-plate; and if it be in Timber worke, then a Bressummer.
• 2. The Summer.
• 3. Girders framed into the Summer.
• 4. Spaces between the Joists.
• 5. Joists.
• 6. Trimmers for the Chimney way.
• 7. Trimmers for the Staire-Case, or well-hole for the Stairs.

[illustration] diagram of a floor

CHAP. XLVII. Of the Design A.

THe Breadth of the House, * 1.1 Cantilivers, Cornices, and Eaves; The Length of the Rafters and Furrings, which ought to be ¾ of the breadth of the house A A.

The principal Rafters to be cut with a Knee (as in the De∣sign) that they may the better support themselves and the bur∣then over them upon the upright of the wall, and also secure that part from the dripping in of the Rain; which otherwise would happen if the Rafters were made straight and furred.

The Beam to the Roof, or Girder to the Garret floore, ought to project without the work, as far as the Furring or Shreading, which is the Projecture of the Cornice.

This manner of framing the Roof will be useful from 20 to 30 foot, or thereabouts.

• 1. Ground-Plate.
• 2. Girder, or binding Interduce, or Bressummer.
• 3. Beam to the Roof or Girder to the Garret floore.
• 4. Principal post and upright brick wall.
• 5. Braces.
• 6. Quarters.
• 7. Interduces.
• 8. Prick-post, or Window-post.
• 9. Jaumes or Doore-post.
• 10. King piece, or Joggle piece.
• 11. Strutts.
• 12. Coller-beam, Strutt-beam, winde-beam, or top-beam.
• 13. Doore-head.
• 14. Principal Rafters.
• 15. Furrings or Shreadings.
• 16. Ends of the Lintels, and pieces.
• 17. Bedding-moulding of the Cornice over the Windowes, and space between.
• 18. Knees of the principal Rafters, which are to be of one piece.
• 19. Purline Mortices.

[illustration] diagram of a structure's scaffold

CHAP. XLVIII. Design of the Gable End or Roof B.

LEt the whole Breadth of the Gable End or Roof A A be 20 foot, divide the same into 4 equal parts, take thereof three for the length of the principal Rafter A B, and placing that perpendicular from the point C to the point D, begets the length of the Sleeper A D, which will be 18 foot. And the length of the Dormers principal Rafter from A to E, when laid to its pitch upon the back of the principals, will reach to the level line F B, or top of the principal Rafter; And this is a general rule for all Breadths.

• 1. Summer or Beam.
• 2. King piece, Crown post, or Joggle piece.
• 3. Braces, or Strutts.
• 4. Principal Rafters.
• 5. The Sleeper.
• 6. Purline of the Dormer.
• 7. Principal Rafter of the Dormer.
• 8. Single Rafter of the Dermer, standing on the Sleeper and Purline.
• 9. Point of the Sleeper.
• 10. 11. The thicknesse of the Wall and Lintels, or wall-plates.

[illustration] diagram of a roof scaffold

CHAP. XLIX. Of the Italian or Hip Roof C.

THe Breadth of the Roof, * 1.2 being 20 foot.

The length of the Sleepers or Hips, * 1.3 being 18 foot, which is proportionable to the breadth of the House.

The height of the Roof perpendicular. * 1.4

The length of the Hip, * 1.5 and the Angle which it maketh upon the Diagonal line, which is shewed by the prick line G, from F to C.

• 1. 2. The Wall and Lintells.
• 3. Dragon Beam for the Hip to stand on.
• 4. Beam or Summer, wherein the Dragon-Beames are framed.
• 5. King piece or Crown post.
• 6. Strutts or Braces from the Crown post to the Hip Rafter.
• 7. Hips as they make the Angle equal to the breadth of the House.
• 8. Hips as they make the Angle in the Diagonal lines from Corner to Corner.
• 9. The Additional length which the Hips make upon the Diagonal line, more then the breadth of the House.

[illustration] diagram of a roof scaffold

CHAP. L.

Of Flat Roofs D.

WIthin a Camber-Beam and Rafters joggled in, whose weight lyeth not chiefly in the middle, and may be so made that without hanging up the Beam, the principals may discharge the weight; And how Drips may be made to walk on.

• 1. Camber-Beam.
• 2. Principals joggled into the Camber-Beam.
• 3. The place where the principals are joggled in.
• 4. Punchons or Braces.
• 5. Drips to walk on, and may be made with the lesse current that the Roof may be made the more pitch for the strengthening thereof: And may be made higher or lower according to the Building and Discretion of the Architect.
• 6. Battlements.

A Flat Roof, with a Crown post, or King piece.

[illustration] diagram of a roof

CHAP. LI. Of the Hip Roof E.

INstructions to find the length and back of the Hip, so as it may answer the side and the end; of the perpendicular line, of the gable end, the two Skirts, the side of the Roof in plano, or lying in ledgment with the hip and gable end; the Diagonal and perpendicular lines being laid down proportioned to any bredth or length, by which the most Ingenious may serve himself, and an ordinary Capacity (already acquainted with the use of the Ruler and Compass) may plainly demonstrate all the parts of a Roof whether Square or Bevel above Pitch or under Pitch by lines of proportion, as may appear in the Designs following.

Suppose the Roof 20 foot Broad, and in length 30.40. or 50 foot more or less.

LEt A. B. C. D. be the sides and ends of the said Roof one end to be Hipt, the other a gable end. Draw the lines A. B. C. D. the bredth and length of the Roof. Then Araw the gable end A. B. E whose sides or prin∣cipal Rafters being ¾ of the brodth of the House; then draw the perpen∣dicular line E F. the heighth of the gable end, which line is of general use to level the ridge of all Roofs; and if the other end be Hipt as in the de∣sign D. C. G. then it serves to find the length of the hip, and the back of the Hip, so that it may answer both sides and ends of the Roof, alwayes observing that the middle of the bredth of the house is as I. H. then draw the line K L N through the center I. which will make right angles to the line E F. H. G. both in bevel and square houses. Then extend the line A. B. on both sides to O. being the length of A. E. or E. B. the length of the principal Basters or of the bredth of the house. So will O. N. and O. K. make the length of the ridge I. F. and K. D. and C N. the two skirts.

To find the length of the Hip.

DRaw the Diagonal lines D. I. and I. C. over which the Hip is to hang when in its due place; then take the perpendicular line E. F. & place it from the point I. to P. P perpendicular to the Diagonal or Base lines D. I. and I. C. at I So is I. P. and I. P. the pitch of the hip equal to the gable end E. F. and when erected will hang perpendicular to the point I. Then take P. D. the hypotenuse of the triangle D. I. P. and C. P the hyporenuse of the triangle C. I. P. placing them from D. to G. and C. to G. gives the length of the hip D. G. C. and when laid to their pitch, will all meet perpen∣dicular to the point I.

To find the back of the Hip. so that it may answer both sides and ends of the Roof, whether Square or Bevel.

LAy the Ruler from the point L. to the point H. and from the point H to M and mark where it cuts the Diagonal lines D. I and I. C. at Q. Q. then set one foot of the Compasses on the point Q. and extend the other foot to the hip lines D. P. and C. P. at the nearest distance with that mark the point R upon the same Diagonal lines, then draw the prickt lines L. R. H. and H R M. which makes the back of the hip for the two corners of that Roof.

This Rule serves for all Roofs whether over or under pitch.

CHAP. LII. F Of Roof Bevel at one end, and Square at the other; the Gable end Square, the Bevel end Hipt.

SUppose the bredth of the Roof 20 foot, the length more on one side then on the other, as in the design A. B C. D. then draw the gable end A. E. B. whose sides from A. to E. and from E to B is ¾ of the bredth of the house, or is the length of the principal Rafters; then draw the perpendicular E. F. the height of the Roof from the floor; and if kneed, then from the top of the knee, as in the design of a kneed Rafter before-going.

The sides of the Roof which makes the Ridge G. H. I. K. to be drawn as is described in the fore-going design.

Divide the bredth of the Roof in two equal parts, as F. L. Q then take the distance L. N. which is the ½ bredth of the house, and make it parallel to C. Q. D. as M. L. M. and L. will be the point whose perpendiculars O. T. will meet the principal Rafters and hips.

To find the length of each Hips distinct one from the other. Of the longest Hip.

DRaw the Diagonal line L. C. and take the heighth of the gable end E. F. and place it perpendicular to L. C. at O. So have you the heighth of the Roof perpendicular from O. L. equal to E. F. the gable end; and the line O. C. will be the length of the hip Rafter, which will be equal to C. H. the skirt for that side of the hip, and C. P. the side of that hip end.

To find the back of the longest Hip C. O.

LAy the Ruler from the point M. to Q. and mark where it cuts the Dia∣gonal line at R. then set one foot of the Compasses at the point R. and extend the other foot till it touch the line C. O. at the nearest distance, then make it touch the Diagonal line at S. then draw the lines M. S. Q. which is the back of the hip for that corner of the Roof.

To find the shortest Hip.

DRaw the Diagonal line of L. D. and take E. F. the perpendicular of the gable end as before, & place it from L. to T. perpendicular to L. D. then draw the line T. D. which is the length of the hip for that corner, and is equal to the skirt D. I and the side of that hip D. P. which when erected, will meet with the other principals perpendicular to the point L.

To find the Back of this Hip.

LAy the Ruler from the point Q to the point M. and mark where it cuts the Diagonal line L. D. at V. Extend the Compasses from the point V. to touch the line T. D. at the nearest distance, and carry that distance on the Diagonal line to the point W. Then draw the prickt lines M. W. Q. which will make the back of that hip fit for that Bevel corner.

And this Rule serves for all Bevel Roofs whether over or under pitch.

CHAP. LIII G. Of a Roof Bevel at both ends, and broader at one end then the other.

[illustration] architectural diagram

[illustration]

[illustration]

THE length and bredth of the house. * 1.6

The length of the Rafters or pitch between the widest and narrowest end about the middle of the house, to stand over the prickt line T. T. as the foot F. to stand on the one T. the foot G. to stand on the other T.

The point of the two Hip ends when brought to their due place, * 1.7 will be perpendicular to P. P. and will meet the sides I. K. L. M. over the points P. P.

The points of the perpendiculars and lengths of the Hips from A. B. C. D. * 1.8

The backs of the Hips or Hip mould due to each corner. * 1.9

The points to find out Q. the point for each backs. * 1.10

The lines representing ½ the bredth of the house parallel to each end. * 1.11

Representing the middle of the house. * 1.12

Notwithstanding the Bevel ends you may place your Beams for your principal Rafters to stand on, Square, or so near a Square as may be, or between both, as from the ends of the prickt lines I. K. L. M. bringing the out-side of them straight under P. P. which will be more handsome for the house in the inside although it Bevels outward.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A. A. A. B.
• * 1.2

  A. A.
• * 1.3

  A. B.
• * 1.4

  E. D.
• * 1.5

  C. D.
• * 1.6

  A. B. C. D. E. F. G.
• * 1.7

  H. H.
• * 1.8

  O. O. O. O.
• * 1.9

  Q. Q. Q. Q.
• * 1.10

  R. R. R. R.
• * 1.11

  S. S. S. S.
• * 1.12

  T. T.