A client has asked me to build her a trash shed in a 4×6 spot she has. She would like it to have a salt box style roof where the smaller, front part of the roof would swing up to provide access. There would also be a door and opening about 1/2 way down the 6 foot side. So the roof would pop up for throwing things out but then the roof and the door would open to take the cans out on trash day. Anyone have any ideas about roofing materials that would be light enough to work in this design and about how to cover the ridge so that most of the rain stays out but also would allow for the roof to go up?
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I'm thinking a pair of counterweights, steel cables and pulleys to off set the weight of the roof. If you do it right even if the roof is made using regular shingles (heavy) the counter weights should allow the roof assembly to be opend with the force of a few fingers.
A single-layer sheathing and waterproofing would be good. Maybe corrugated fiberglass patio roof panels/pole-barn skylight material.
Matt’s counterweight idea is also good. I’d lean towards a more low-tech version -- hinge the entire roof, and locate your weights in a soffit in back.
Around here we use rolling trash and recycling carts with hinged lids. The worst-case scenario with them is that some people have to bungie them shut if they have really persistent raccoons.
We’ll never go back to trash cans.
AitchKay
you could maybe try those hydraulic pistons like on a hatch back car or car hood
if not those there is probably something like that that would work