How to calculate/guess angles for steeples, dormers, etc.

[paulrace]

A reader writes:

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I have just started attempting to make my own templates for cardboard Christmas houses. I am having a hard time figuring out how to make the templates for dormer windows and the roof section of the dormer windows. Also church steeples. Specifically the angle measurements of the peices. How do I know what angles to cut compared to the roof instead of just trial and error? Thanks!

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Anybody?

[BurghGal]

I feel your pain! Anyone who can provide an easy answer gets my undying gratitude. I’m guessing it involves a compass and a protractor, but as a math challenged individual, I am clueless. Paul, thanks for voicing what I was too embarrassed to ask.

[Lucy]

I don't measure or calculate angles for dormers. I just match the angle of the dormer that is going to fit on the roof to the angle of the gable. I found a photo that demonstrates this. That part is easy.

Church steeples are trickier and something I still struggle with. I often use a commercial die to make church steeples so it's not my own pattern.

[Howard]

first...Lucy has it right on the dormers...

now...here's my "old school method" of making steeples...(since i slept through high school geometry plus creative writing and english)...see the photo...

make a cardboard pattern of one side of the steeple...i can't give you specific measurements or angles since each steeple project is different...

using the cardboard pattern that i "think/hope" will work...transfer the outline to cardboard five times...the fifth segment will be the glue tab...

score the fold lines, cut out and assemble with glue and do a test fit...

and if the fit still isn't right...make another one!...

note...many times i have to make more than one dormer, dormer roof and church spire to get the right fit...but you only see the final one...not the ones in the trash can...i've also cut test patterns for parts out of old manila folders...sometimes quicker and easier that cardboard...on once if get the fit i want...then transfer to the cardboard...

hope this helps...

howard...

[Clinton]

Yes Howard, simple, yet-- effective!

[paulrace]

The reader says thank you all very much.

[Lucy]

Paul, I finally figured out how to draw a steeple pattern with a compass. There are 2 ways drawn on the page below.

Method #1 Intersecting arc method

1. Decide on your dimensions. In this case, the width of the triangle at the bottom is 1" and the 2 long sides are 2 inches long.

2. Draw the first triangle.

3. Set your compass to 1 inch and make an arc with the point on one lower corner of the triangle. Before you have an idea where it is going to intersect, go ahead a draw a large arc.

4. Now set your compass to 2 inches and put the sharp point on the top point of the triangle. Make another arc towards base of the triangle. Where the 2 arcs intersect is the connecting point of the next triangle. Repeat for the next 2 triangles.

5. Make a tab but you don't really have to measure it. Just make it a little smaller than the sides.

Method #2 Circle and chord method

1. Using your compass, draw a circle making the radius the length of the 2 equal sides of the triangle. In this example, the radius of the circle will be 2 inches so set your compass at 2 inches.

2. Draw one line to represent the radius of the circle (and one side of your triangle).

3. Measure from the bottom end of the radius 1 inch to where it intersects the circle. Draw a line to this intersecting point. This is your one inch chord or the bottom of your triangle.

4. Draw a radius line to connect the top of the triangle with the bottom chord.

5. Repeat until you have all the sides drawn.

6. Include a tab.

The nice thing about either of these methods is that you can draw a many-sided steeple just as easy as drawing a 4-sided steeple.

Let me know if these instructions aren't clear. I can draw better instructions if it is not.

Lucy
https://paperglitterglue.com/how-to-dra ... tle-house/

[Robin S]

Before I found this thread I did manage to make a steeple by using the same method that Howard posted. After finding this thread I tried Lucy's method and really like it a lot. I think it will be easier for me later on in my project when I want to add a steeple with more than 4 sides. For some reason I can "see" the final product with Lucy's method. Thanks to both of you for posting these methods.

Now how about dormers. Those are really giving me fits at the moment.

[Lucy]

Robin,
Just match the angle of the roof. If your dormer is not curved or angled it is easy to match to the roofline angle. If it is a curve or a dormer with angles in it, I usually just cut cardstock, make a test fit, cut cardstock, make a test fit until I get one that works. I know there is a better way to do this, but I haven't figured it out yet.

One of our members, Steven Leeds< draws his patterns on a relatively inexpensive CAD program - qCAD. I think it costs $33 Euros so I don't know what it would be in US dollars. I read reviews about something called PadCAD for an iPad, but it doesn't look like they have updated it so I didn't buy that. I think if you have a CAD program, it will figure out the angles for you.

The cardstock test fit method works until we come up with a better method.

I'm glad you like the steeple method. I was so happy when I figured that out. I need to make some 6-sided steeples now.

Lucy

[Robin S]

That's what I've been trying to do and maybe the problem is I don't really know how to find the angle of my roof. I can seem to get close after some trial and error.

Can you guys and gals explain to me how you find your angle. I always struggled with math and I just don't know if I'm doing it properly. Perhaps this new hobby of mine will help me to improve my math!

Thanks for any help.

Robin