Roofing question

[Mervin]

Elmo

Like BearFootFarms said, you'll be able to see the purlins. Even if you were doing it blind, you should be able to feel once the screw goes through the roof panel and hits the wood. If it didn't hit wood, it wouldn't feel like it "grabbed" anything.

 

[DaKid]

KenCoesta
Sweet, everyone!
Thanks for the advice - ROOF IS ON!
...a little crooked, but it's on there.

I don't think the chicks will care if it's a lil crooked

as long as it keeps them warm and dry

 

[Moabite]

I know it's too late but, what if you were to cover an OSB roof with a few horizontal slats and some pond liner. Then some perlite and grow grass or seedums or maybe strawberries up there? Protection from cold, heat and moisture.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
When you put down each sheet you can still SEE the purlins.
Simply screw down each sheet as you go

Use self tapping screws and there's no need for predrilling

Um, maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but I can't see through a metal roofing panel. Clear polycarbonate, sure, but not the opaque ones. And they recommend that you predrill on the poly panels to allow for expansion.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Yup, I had that happen quite a few times. But then I had a hole in my roofing panel that didn't need to be there! And I still don't understand how to you can "see" a purlin under an opaque panel.

 

[Mervin]

elmo

Some of the purlin should be exposed yet, off to the side. For instance, if you're working from left to right you should be able to see the purlin to the right of the roof panel. You could use a level to maintain a fairly straight line if need be. Or, since you're having trouble you could use a chalk line and measure it out and snap a line on the roof panel corresponding to where the purlin is. The chalk line won't stick too well, but probably good enough to get the roof on anyway.

 

[patandchickens]

Honest, it is EXTREMELY easy.

The panels are only a coupla feet wide. All you have to do is put the screws in a straight line between the last screw you put in, and where you see the purlin beyond the edge of the panel. Even my VERY unhandy husband can eyeball this

... although if you wanted you could snap a chalkline or draw a line with water-soluble magic marker or something like that. Truly though, it is SUPER easy.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[KenCoesta]

It really was easy.
My dad and I had 4 panels (2ft wide) layed out on the roof to make sure everything was cool.
Then we slid three off to the side to work on the first one.
So, YES, you really really can see the purlins - not THROUGH the metal (Superman!), but off to the side.

On that last panel, you can line up the edge of your purlin with the other screws - kinda like dot-to-dots.

We only missed one out of the whole 8x12 roof!
Now, how do you patch that?
Caulk?
Chewing gum?

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Um, maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but I can't see through a metal roofing panel.

I never said "through". I just said you could see them LOL

The black lines are your rafters, the red lines are the purlins, and the blue panel is your roofing material.
Can you tell where the purlins are UNDER the sheet?

You don't cover the whole roof and THEN try to screw it down.
You do each sheet as you go

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

We only missed one out of the whole 8x12 roof!
Now, how do you patch that?
Caulk?
Chewing gum?

Chewing gum will work, but RTV is MUCH better.
Silicone caulking or "roof cement" will also work​