My DW is an avid gardener and had requested a large birdhouse as a Christmas present. One that is similar to what appeared a gardening magazine. I have the wood structure almost complete except for the roof covering.
She has ask for a copper roof. But I know “squat” about dealing with copper, so I have questions! I have experience with aluminum coil stock on buildings.
Apparently copper is gauged by weight per sq.ft…..right? What kind of money is this going to cost ? There will be additional houses built….I’m sure.
I have access to a siding break, but not a tinners shear and bender.
What gauge/weight should I use? I want to be able to bend/break hemmed edges and interlocks for a roof side that would measure 18″ wide (2″ self supporting rake overhang) and have an 18″ rake run?
I was considering about three sections covering a side and inter-locked with an open hems to each other. This is a simple gable ended roof with a curved rake.
Some guidance would be appreciated.
………….Iron Helix
Edited 12/26/2008 7:42 am by IronHelix
Replies
16 oz would be fine... you can buy it in 3x5 sheets at a roofing supply..
don't know current pricing.... but i'd guess $50 / sheet
slateman & seeyou and others work with it every day..... me, maybe once a year or so
Come on. A man of your skill and talents should top that off with smaller copper shingles laid on a diagonal.
Sphere or CU will be along shortly to tell you how.
Even 12 oz. would be strong enough for your project if you could find it.
16 oz. would be more available most likely.
Your approach sounds fine.
Why not check with a local roofer to buy scrap pieces from him, almost every job creates some scrap big enough for a birdhouse.
Rich
For a lot of the local "roofers" a "flashing" is a gallon of tar! One of the few locals that actually flashes and counterflashes correctly does not return calls...you have to chase him down in person on his job site.
He would have scrap...he always does copper flashing if the customer does not insist on aluminum. Last time it took over a month to catch him!
..............Iron Helix
Go to da bank.
Get a few rolls of pennies.
Lay them one at a time on an anvil, and smash them with a hammer.
Drill a hole near one edge. (Or just glue them down with epoxy.)
Viola ! Tiny copper shingles. (Well, being pennies, theres a lot of zinc and other stuff in there.)
Just because they want to make it personal,
doesn't mean you have to take it personal.
That's a great idea!
be wishing Ida thot of that...
Steal this idea.=0)
Just because they want to make it personal,
doesn't mean you have to take it personal.
I still have a heap of flat pennies from puttin them on the railroad tracks when I was kid. I have no idea why I still have them after all these yrs, but at least they are "Pre-zinc" era.
We used to lay out a whole roll on the tracks when the freighters were headed our way, can stil make out Abe and the monument, just all distorted.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Get a few rolls of pennies.I got a five gallon bucket of pennies on the back porch, been waiting for someone too steal them, too heavy to pick up. the bank wont take them.
Go for the record, this guy is in Alabama...
http://www.coinstar.com/us/WebDocs/A3-2-7Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
brownbagg, where are you at? I'll take 'em if I'm in the neighborhood.
" ............... if the wimmen don't find you handsome at least they should find you handy"
"If I had my way, carmakers would create vehicles that run off of hot air. It's the kind of development that might make the U.S. Congress useful." - Scott Burgess
Good idea! I think I will re-roof my house wif smashed pennies.
That'd take a looooooong time....
Just because they want to make it personal,
doesn't mean you have to take it personal.
I'd do it meself. Cheaper that way. I'd get my grand kids over to mash them.
I think their grandkids would be smashing, before you finished...
Just because they want to make it personal,
doesn't mean you have to take it personal.
Ya keep rainin on my parade!
Not rain, pennies from heaven.
:)
Are you sure the plans have been approved by your Building Inspector? Why take a chance? Better to have an electrician and a plumber do their things, too. Norm
I kid you not, you need to put gutters on that birdhouse. I had a bend some half round gutters to keep the feed dry. (3/4" O.D gutters)
Hey BT'ers.
Some days it just does not pay to post an important question as it gets answered by a bunch of rowdy smart-butt kids that grew-up to be some kind of skilled tradesmaiden.
Don't you realize how serious this is?......My ticket to the my DW's "treasure" is in that copper roof. I'd even Fed-x the bird house to one of you to apply that "copper roof" so I could find that "treasure" again!
But alas, it seems I shall shrivel to nothing for 'lack of treasure"!
Have some mercy on a horny old man...........Iron Helix
I'm going on vacation for a couple of days, but if you'll email me a drawing of what you want made, I'll make it for you so you can install it with hand tools you probably already have.http://www.quittintime.com/ View Image
That is a grand offer, but I would like the experience and added skills. Who knows, I might have a late change of career.
Thanks........Iron Helix
PS...the comment in #19 fits my situation!
Edited 12/27/2008 8:15 am by IronHelix
I've got a bunch of pieces of 16 oz. that would be perfect for you - left over from a small standing seam job.
If you want I could ship you enough -- you pay for shipping and a few bucks for the product.
Walter
At a Christmas gathering last evening my seven foot tall birdhouse was a subject of discussion by several of the ladies...looks like I may be doing some additional pieces.
If I can't score locally on the copper, I ll drop you a line.......Iron Helix
My brother did a small copper roof with shingles he made.
I think if you make some decorative shingles it will look much nicer.
And it will be more fun.
Do you have any pics or references that would give me some ideas?
It does sound appealing.............Iron Helix
Unfortunately I don't have any pics of the roof he did. It is in another state now since we moved. I can remember that he just cut rectangular shingles out of sheet copper. He nailed them on with copper nails he had left over. He shingled his house with slate.
As builders, I think we can get stuck on the "right" way to build. Or the standard way because we are building to code and the stakes are so high.
But when you build a bird house you can literally make it up as you go. And we can forget how advanced our skills are. You know the basic rules of shingling a roof. Just apply those principles and skills.
You can make shingles any shape want. In the shape of hearts? The women would love it. You could hammer them a bit to give them some texture. That way you don't have to be real careful with them. If there is a hammer mark on them you meant to do that. And don't worry about the copper turning green. It's supposed to do that!