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The whimsical "crooked house" look is deceptive: it takes MORE precision to build than a square one, not less. Every truss is a different, deliberate compound angle — 30°, 40°, 10° combinations cut long-point-to-long-point — and if you're sloppy instead of precise, you don't get charmingly crooked, you get a roof that doesn't close up right. Cut each truss exactly to its stated angle and the crookedness comes out looking designed, because it is.
Build all four trusses before you touch the floor panel, and dry-fit the whole roofline before you commit to gluing anything — the front and back overhang trusses have to land the same way the main trusses do, or the roof plywood won't lie flat. The curved gable shapes cut into the two large plywood panels are the other place to slow down: trace them from the plan's pattern, don't eyeball them, since those two panels are visible from the street on both sides of the house.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Exterior plywood, 1/2", 4x8 sheet2-1/2 sheets called for; buy 3 to allow for cutting waste on the angled panels. | 3 each |
| Pine or fir, 2x2, 8 ftTrusses and roof supports. | 11 each |
| Pine, 1x3, 8 ft | 4 each |
| Pine, 1x2, 8 ft | 1 each |
| Pocket hole screws, 2-1/2" | 1 box |
| Finish nails, 1" | 1 box |
| Wood glue, exterior/waterproofThis lives outside — use a waterproof formula, not standard interior glue. | 8 oz |
| Wood screws, 2" and 3" | 1 box |
Overall cost: $$$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Truss top members, longPineTop end cut at 45° off square, long-point measurement. | 6 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 34 1/2" |
| Truss top members, shortPineTop end cut at 45° off square, long-point measurement. | 6 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 30 1/2" |
| Truss bottom chordsPineBoth ends cut at 10° off square, NOT parallel, long-point measurement. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 29" |
| Truss angled braces, set APine30°/10° compound ends, long-point measurement. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 23 3/4" |
| Truss angled braces, set BPine40°/10° compound ends, long-point measurement. | 4 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 21 3/8" |
| FloorExterior plywood | 1 | 1/2" × 29" × 39" |
| Ridge supportsPine | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 48" |
| Side panel, lowerExterior plywood | 1 | 1/2" × 39" × 19 1/4" |
| Side panel, upperExterior plywood | 1 | 1/2" × 39" × 22" |
| Front/back gable panelsExterior plywoodCurved gable shapes cut from these — trace the pattern, don't eyeball it. | 2 | 1/2" × 42 3/8" × 40 3/8" |
| Side trimPine | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 37" |
| Side trim, lowerPine | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 18 3/4" |
| Side trim, upperPine | 2 | 3/4" × 1 1/2" × 21 1/2" |
| Front/back trim, straightPineBoth ends 10° off square, long-point, NOT parallel. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 29 3/4" |
| Front/back trim, angled APine40°/10° compound, long-point. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 23" |
| Front/back trim, angled BPine30°/10° compound, long-point. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 25 1/4" |
| Door trim, topPine | 1 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 25 3/4" |
| Door trim, sidesPineOne end of each cut at 5° off square, long-point. | 2 | 3/4" × 2 1/2" × 18 1/2" |
| Roof panelsExterior plywoodOne side 48" x 36", the other 48" x 32" — the crooked roofline doesn't match side to side. | 2 | 1/2" × 36" × 48" |
Buy 19 boards at 8 ft.
9 boards
Glue and fasten each truss with countersunk screws, driving pilot holes into the ends before assembly so the screws don't split the 2x2 stock. Every truss uses a different angle combination, so keep your cut pieces labeled and match them to the right truss.
Mark the truss locations on the floor panel. Apply glue to the tops of the panel where each truss lands, then screw down through the floor into each truss with 2" screws.
Attach the two end panels to the trusses as shown, using glue at every joint.
Attach the lower and upper side panels using 2" screws and glue.
Trim out the sides using 1" finish nails and glue. The stated measurements run to the center of each stud, which makes for easier, more accurate nailing than measuring to a board edge.
Trim out the front and back panels the same way, following the angled measurements exactly — this is where a sloppy cut turns "charmingly crooked" into "actually doesn't fit."
Trim out the front door opening with glue and 1" finish nails.
Attach the front and back overhang trusses, making sure to join the tops with screws and glue. If you want extra support, add ridge poles between the trusses — not strictly required, but cheap insurance on a roof this shape.
Attach the two roof plywood panels last. Because the truss angles differ, the two roof panels are different sizes — double-check you're installing the right one on the right side before you commit any fasteners.
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2 boards
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Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →