New roof: Time, Money, Skills
Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 7:27 am
I've a double wide that is about 15 years old now. It has a skylight in the master bath I would like to get rid of, and there are three places in the facia that have just rotted through. The factory shingles are harder than a rock - or stiffer than road kill - or both. I am going to be taking 10 days of vacation time - and ready to do something about it all. I have a pretty good assortment of tools, and I am am generally not afraid to take on a home project. But this one is causing some trepidation.
Of course, the relationship between time and money is going to be a driving factor. If I have the time, I can use metal as I can channel the labor costs to a better roof. If I have to hire someone, I'll have to resort to asphalt shingles. Bear in mind, I have a brother who opened up his roof to make some repairs - and of course it rained and all of his ceilings collapsed and dumped about 40 years of nasty stuff into his house. So, I sure don't want to follow in those footsteps.
So here's the questions I keep rolling around in my head:
1> Does divide and conquer work with a metal roof project?? Can a metal roof be installed on one side of the double wide at a time? I would have to make some concessions at the ridge - maybe rubber matting or something for temporary protection. But, if the tear off reveals sheeting that needs to be replaced - well, I am worried about time running out on the vacation before all is back in place. (Note: closest Home Depot is 20 miles into town)
2> Once a metal roof is installed over the grid - how do you walk on it to remove tree limbs, etc?
3> My roof has at least four of those roof vents. If I use a ridge vent - can those old roof vents be eliminated?
4> As for making holes in the metal to go around vent pipes, is this accomplished with a hole saw?? And how does the metal roof seal to the rubber boot that goes over the vent pipe??
5> How far out over the facia should a metal roof extend? My existing rood (asphalt) is maybe 1/8 to 1/4" - and the rain runoff rarely hits the gutters.
6> What happens if the whole roof isn't quite so square to begin with? Does the "trim out" hide a multitude of sins and provide a place for slight variations in length or width?
7> And is the best thing to cut metal really a reversed blade in a circular saw?
I am just one guy and might get some from the family out on a weekend, but I am not feeling like this will be a two day (saturday/sunday) job. And then I have some reservations about too many people up on the roof to begin with.
Advice? Experiences? Any and all would be greatly appreciated.
Of course, the relationship between time and money is going to be a driving factor. If I have the time, I can use metal as I can channel the labor costs to a better roof. If I have to hire someone, I'll have to resort to asphalt shingles. Bear in mind, I have a brother who opened up his roof to make some repairs - and of course it rained and all of his ceilings collapsed and dumped about 40 years of nasty stuff into his house. So, I sure don't want to follow in those footsteps.
So here's the questions I keep rolling around in my head:
1> Does divide and conquer work with a metal roof project?? Can a metal roof be installed on one side of the double wide at a time? I would have to make some concessions at the ridge - maybe rubber matting or something for temporary protection. But, if the tear off reveals sheeting that needs to be replaced - well, I am worried about time running out on the vacation before all is back in place. (Note: closest Home Depot is 20 miles into town)
2> Once a metal roof is installed over the grid - how do you walk on it to remove tree limbs, etc?
3> My roof has at least four of those roof vents. If I use a ridge vent - can those old roof vents be eliminated?
4> As for making holes in the metal to go around vent pipes, is this accomplished with a hole saw?? And how does the metal roof seal to the rubber boot that goes over the vent pipe??
5> How far out over the facia should a metal roof extend? My existing rood (asphalt) is maybe 1/8 to 1/4" - and the rain runoff rarely hits the gutters.
6> What happens if the whole roof isn't quite so square to begin with? Does the "trim out" hide a multitude of sins and provide a place for slight variations in length or width?
7> And is the best thing to cut metal really a reversed blade in a circular saw?
I am just one guy and might get some from the family out on a weekend, but I am not feeling like this will be a two day (saturday/sunday) job. And then I have some reservations about too many people up on the roof to begin with.
Advice? Experiences? Any and all would be greatly appreciated.