I started installing the roof, which is complicated due to the finishes I chose for the dollhouse tower. The installation will need to be done in segments. I began with the easier left side.
I applied glue along the edges and installed the roof according to the instructions. I'm not worried about the unsightly interior joints, as they will be covered with trim later. Just be careful not to let glue drip onto the wallpaper, and use masking tape to clamp everything securely, especially at the top edge. I don't apply glue where the roof panels meet at the top edge; I only glue the wall edges. There is usually a gap at the top, and applying glue there could lead to drips on the wallpaper. The top edge will have roof trim added later, which will hold it in place for now.
Next, I moved on to the right side roof, starting with the tower. I needed to finish this part completely before installing the right side roof panel. This included wallpapering it, adding a border, and installing all ceiling and flooring trim as well as back edge trim. The right side roof panel presented a significant challenge. The extra layers from finishing the tower and its window affected how well the roof fit. I had to sand down the opening for the tower significantly to allow it to fit properly.
Additionally, I had to break off part of the left side of the roof to install it in two sections. I marked the area that needed to be removed for installation in the photo below, which shows where I rejoined it afterward. However, this was just the beginning of my modifications. I wanted a permanent tower roof so that I wouldn’t have to lift it to see into the tower room; even if lifted, visibility is limited. Instead, I decided to modify the back walls of the tower by making them shorter, which allows more light into the room and improves visibility. I marked this new opening in the photo below.
I also needed to adjust the eaves of the roofs that meet at the center of the dollhouse. These had to be shortened to accommodate a back cover that I plan to use.
Now, regarding trim - this dollhouse still needs a lot of trim work before it looks finished. I've only just begun, but you can see how much custom trim is required in the attic. Every joint in this area needs trimming, as do all openings and flooring. I added trim to the eaves of the roof panels to prevent the back cover from collapsing inward. The two rooms are separated by trim, and I added custom apex trim to support the interior walls better. I still need to add trim to the joints in the attic ceiling. Once I finish installing the back piece of the roof, that will need trimming too.
I managed to patch up some wallpaper around the chimney slot. After trimming so much, I took a break to do some shingling on the left side roof panel.
