non-asphalt options for tool shed roof
I’m fixing to build a tool shed and am trying to decide on a reasonable roofing material that isn’t asphalt shingles.
It’s a simple structure, 12 x 20, 12/12 gable roof with a small shed roof off one side (for firewood storage). Sketch is attached if you’re curious.
Trying to balance aesthetics and costs. Siding will be board and batten, 1 x 6 hemlock locally sawn. Got a materials quote for white cedar shingles just for kicks (Maibec “B” grade), fairly pricey (almost $150/sq.).
Also got a quote for galvalume, even pricier.
Really like to avoid asphalt. What else should I be considering here?
Thanks for the ideas.
Replies
Hard to beat archy shingles for cost and ease.
Don't like the look?
Not particularly. And long-term, they just don't seem like the most sensible material to use, what with having to strip them all of in twenty years (if I'm lucky--probably less), bury 'em in a landfill somewhere, and buy a bunch of new ones, only to do the same thing all over again. I really like the idea of a roof you put on once.
And it may sound silly, but as a general principle I like the idea of not using petroleum products if there are other reasonable alternatives (despite what Dick Cheney thinks, the country'd be a lot better off if we took it a little easier on the oil consumption--but that's a topic for another thread).
I'm prepared to spend a little more to go this route--just wondering if there's a material I haven't considered.
Standing seam metal, fake slate, real slate, tile, flat metal, thatch theres plenty to pick.
I'm prepared to spend a little more to go this route--just wondering if there's a material I haven't considered.
Just went through a similar discussion this weekend with a friend. He knows I only use copper standing seam. When we factored in using cheap 1x4's instead of expensive sheetgoods, the copper started looking very good, compared to asphalt.
Does require some special tools that may not be readily available to you.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Interesting. . .copper does seem like the ultimate long-term material for roofing. But you do pay a bit more for copper (depending on the copper market) than, say, galvalume, don't you?
I'd guess. Don't know galvalume. Copper would be pretty much, put it on, forget it forever. I believe greencu recently posted that his recent bids had copper chosen over glavanized, due to the closeness of cost. Copper's up, but not as much as steel. Your mileage may vary.
Any roofing that doesn't need sheet goods under it has the potential of successfully competing with asphalt if you can get lumber cheap enough. Around here we can get tulip poplar for a quarter/ft if you're willing to add a little time with the sawyer.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
How about cement? Seems like I saw some shingles that looked like slate but were recycled rubber too.
Concrete tiles can be nice. I've had them on two different places.
However, his drawings don't look solid enough to handle the load.
Down here in rural Florida metal is the way to go. The painted galvalume type metal is going up rapidly in cost? Because it's popular I guess. I have a couple of sources of roof metal in this area that sell "seconds" of both galvalume and galvanized 3' wide metal. It is used on all the AG buildings from small sheds to 500 foot poultry houses.
I can get the galvanized for $.80 a running foot, galvalume costs $1.20. That's less than 30 cents a sq. ft. with screws at 6 cents included for galvanized! This metal looks like first quality, it just does not have any warranty. On sheds I usually just use galvanized attached to 1 x 4's on 2 ft. centers.
You can paint it quite successfully. The best way I have found is to apply it and just let it weather for 6 months... Then paint it with any good acrylic house paint.
Here is a couple of examples I forgot to attach... --- BRICK
"They say that there is a fine line between genius and insanity. I like to color outside the lines...and then eat the crayons." ~ Me
thanks for sharing the photos--looks like a "roof it and forget it" type of deal!
Ed - for a simple shed, pick up a copy of Uncle Henry's and find the cedar shingle mills around Jay or Morril and you can get local cedars for 80-90 bucks, slightly thicker, but not R&R.
Oooops - now that I think of it, I believe I have about 4-5 squares of predipped Maibecs in a green colour left over from a job. I think you've got my phone # email me if not and if you are interested.
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Hey, that sounds promising. I'll give you a shout.
As long as we're on the topic, though, I'm curious--is B-grade fine for a shed roof (that's what I used on my outhouse and it's been bone dry in there for a couple winters now), or would you go A?
I gather for a house roof you'd want no knots whatsoever, but for a shed would a few unexposed knots matter?
The site for the shed is relatively shaded in summer, roof pitch should keep the snow mostly off.
There's knots and then there's knots.
pin knots and tight are OK in the ppper half of the shingle. Never any loose knots in a roof at all. seconds with loose knots in upper half of shingle are a pain to use and a waste of time. Good only for starters.
On a shed, you get drying from back side as well as surface drying. Taht helps them all last longer, but when you hav eknots, the swelliong and shrinking will make the growth wood (clear) pull itself away from the knot and cause holes or splits over time.
Short version - more knots = lower quality.
I'll grab a cup of Java and run out to the shop to see how many and what the colour.
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Sheesh... Mr Piffin... I need about 6 squares of wood shingles for a repair job too. If you have any to sell... and the other guy doesn't want 'em.
I can't belive what they want locally here... $258. a square! Ouch. --- BRICK
"They say that there is a fine line between genius and insanity. I like to color outside the lines...and then eat the crayons." ~ Me
Well, Ed lives right across the Bay from, me here, but if he doesn't want'm and you can wait 'till my next Florida vacation, can write off the trip costs, right?
Man, Oh Man, the freight and delivery charges are gonna kill you on this job!
;)
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Well, shingles are $56. a square from Canada... and $258. a square here... I can afford to eat some shipping, I think. Where are you anyhoo? --- BRICK
"They say that there is a fine line between genius and insanity. I like to color outside the lines...and then eat the crayons." ~ Me
Canada
no - not quite. Penobscot Bay in Maine.
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