Installation of the Porch Roof
Installing the porch roof is a complex task that requires careful organization and a few days to complete.
Start by installing the roof supports. Use glue to secure them in the wall slots as indicated in the instructions. Allow the glue to dry completely, ideally overnight, before proceeding. These supports are delicate, as they have limited surface area against the vertical wall and will bear various roof components without additional support. Be generous with the glue and ensure it dries fully.
Once the supports are dry, fill any gaps around them with spackle and paint them. Although these supports will mostly be hidden by the roof, they will be visible from below, so it's important to finish them properly now while you have easy access. If you neglect this step, it will be difficult to address later.
While the paint on the porch roof supports dries, paint the vergeboards, ensuring both sides are finished before installation. Install these vergeboards according to the instructions, using a mallet to tap them into place. This highlights why it was crucial for the supports to be completely dry before this step, as it requires some force.
After installing the vergeboards, I prefer to install the roof next instead of applying the vergeboard trim. The underside of the roof needs to be painted and finished before installation. Again, you'll use a mallet to fit the tabs into their slots, with corner pieces fitting together like puzzle pieces. At this stage, your porch roof may appear crooked due to possible warping of panels or slight discrepancies in size and shape of the supports. These variations can become more noticeable as additional components are added. For example, my front wall roof is slightly lower than the side wall, but don't worry; the trim will help create a straight appearance. The porch roof top trim will go around the edge of the roof to enhance its straight look.
Since I'm applying a back cover to my dollhouse, I modified my porch roof top trim by cutting off part of the right side overhang that goes under the bedroom opening. You'll need to dry fit this trim several times and sand the corners until it fits flush against the roof edge. Finish painting this trim and the edge of the roof before installation; I used a charcoal base coat for my roof since I plan to add texture later.
Once you've applied and allowed the roof top trim to dry completely, you can proceed with texturing the roof. Texturing is recommended because achieving a smooth finish with just paint can be challenging due to bumps and edges from different components. I considered using sandpaper but found it impractical for such a large area. Textured paint also posed challenges since spray painting isn’t an option after completing the dollhouse interior. Instead, I opted for spackle texture, which I've successfully used before.
I taped off the surrounding walls and trim to prevent texture from getting on those surfaces while ensuring any gaps between the roof and trim or walls are filled. To create a textured surface, mix spackle with acrylic paint in a container. Apply this mixture using a paintbrush, spreading it like stucco. You can dab it with brush bristles for added texture or lightly press a foam brush on any bumps for smoothing. This texture effectively hides imperfections in the roof. Allow it to dry overnight. By morning, it should be thoroughly dried; you can then peel off the masking tape and touch up any areas on the walls and trim as needed.
Finally, there is an additional trim that goes along the edges of the roof top trim, creating an overhang that makes the roof appear thicker. I stained mine to match the top trim for a cohesive look. You can refer to photos for guidance on how this trim is positioned.
