13 replies to this topic

[Victory Pete]

I would like to put the same shingles on my ROR as on my house and other building. They are lifetime GAF architectural shingles. I realize there will be some weight added. What else is being used?

 

[Bob4BVM]

Painted steel standing seam .

 

Lightest weight and a true forever roof, no cracks for bugs and moss, impossible to leak, snaps together. Windproof, ice proof, fire proof, and inherently sealed by design as all screws are covered under the snap-together standing seam..

Quite a contrast to the thousands of exposed seam areas on a shingle roof.

 

Available in many colors

Fastest installation.

Also did the entire house in same. A one-peak house is an easy 1-day project for 2 people

Edited by Bob4BVM, 25 April 2025 - 01:56 PM.

[Eric Weder]

No issues using the same shingles as on your house - assumiing the RoR is sheeted with plywood / chipboard same as the house. Then it will match and the neighbors won't complain  .

Edited by Eric Weder, 25 April 2025 - 01:59 PM.

[bobzeq25]

Metal is popular. Pretty light. I just tried to match the color somewhat.

Edited by bobzeq25, 25 April 2025 - 02:34 PM.

[DLuders]

Standing Seam Metal (SSM) roofing is not suitable for slopes less than 2:12 pitch (2" vertical rise for every 12" of horizontal run).  Rhode Island can get some slushy snow, so the slush acts like a sponge and allows liquid water to seep through the crimp between each metal panel.  The surface of the metal roof can get very hot (more so than shingles), although metal may cool down faster after dark and not create thermal currents that affect Seeing.

 

Shingles are not suitable for low-slope roofs either, so a piece of seamless EPDM (rubber) roofing would work better.

[kkeduda]

I have regular shingles on mine.   However, they are over 20 years old and showing some wear.   I too would like to do a metal roof!

[Victory Pete]

I had bought galvanized metal roofing for the other building 20 years ago. When it arrived, it had footprints, cigarette butts and dents all over it, back it went. Even though it is a 2 pitch, I used shingles. What is under them is another rabbit hole event I partook in. I put down 1/2" plywood over the existing pine boards. then there are 2 layers of ice and water shield, done 2 years apart with a tarp over it for those 2 years. This was while I was deciding on what to use. Being obsessed with a quiet recording studio, I then put down 3' wide aluminum flashing and connected it to 2 ground rods as a Faraday shield. Actually, the inside walls have similar aluminum shielding. There was no more radio Moscow or the guy with the CB radio coming in anymore. But now the studio is silent I don't think I will ever haver a leak anymore, radio or rain.

[Bob4BVM]

Standing Seam Metal (SSM) roofing is not suitable for slopes less than 2:12 pitch (2" vertical rise for every 12" of horizontal run).  Rhode Island can get some slushy snow, so the slush acts like a sponge and allows liquid water to seep through the crimp between each metal panel.  The surface of the metal roof can get very hot (more so than shingles), although metal may cool down faster after dark and not create thermal currents that affect Seeing.

 

Shingles are not suitable for low-slope roofs either, so a piece of seamless EPDM (rubber) roofing would work better.

How do you fasten down a sheet rubber roof without making holes in the membrane ?   Contact cement ? Tar ? How long do such adhesives last ?   Would need some way to hold it down in a strong wind, once it starts to flap it will eventually blow off.

 

Sounds very messy to me. What is the lifespan of the membrane material in summer sun and winter rain/snow/ice ?

A SSM roof lifespan is literally indefinite. The coating is guaranteed 50 years. If it starts to fail after that, you get up there with a paint sprayer and some hi-quality, ie automotive paint, and you're good for another decade or two, at least.

 

As for wicking in snow-slush-ice conditions, I have seen no evidence of that, including on my low-pitch barn roof, where such leakage would be visible & obvious. I have had plenty of snow, and melting snow up there over the years.

 

That's my experience with SSM roofs, FWIW.

[900SL]

Standing Seam Metal (SSM) roofing is not suitable for slopes less than 2:12 pitch (2" vertical rise for every 12" of horizontal run). Rhode Island can get some slushy snow, so the slush acts like a sponge and allows liquid water to seep through the crimp between each metal panel. The surface of the metal roof can get very hot (more so than shingles), although metal may cool down faster after dark and not create thermal currents that affect Seeing.

Shingles are not suitable for low-slope roofs either, so a piece of seamless EPDM (rubber) roofing would work better.

EPDM is good, but heavy once you add up the ply substrate and framing.

Standing seam can go down to 2 degrees with the right system. It does require more skill in the installation, edge details and flashings

[speedster]

Single ply membranes like PVC, TPO, EPDM go down with adhesive.  TPO can come self-adhesive peel and stick and have a 120 mph wind rating.  It also happens to be bright white and we get 20-year warranties on buildings.  RV roofs are the same stuff. 

[Bob4BVM]

Single ply membranes like PVC, TPO, EPDM go down with adhesive.  TPO can come self-adhesive peel and stick and have a 120 mph wind rating.  It also happens to be bright white and we get 20-year warranties on buildings.  RV roofs are the same stuff. 

Go for it.

All of us with RV experience know that the roofs never leak...

Edited by Bob4BVM, 27 April 2025 - 01:58 AM.

[Galaxyhunter]

The best thing with a steel roof is the lack of thermal mass.  I never have to worry about the heat bleed off in the evening. It's basically ambient temperature before the sun has set.

[Victory Pete]

Lots to think about, thanks.

[gabriellewhite]

I had a similar situation and ended up using emersonproservices.com for my roofing needs after getting stuck deciding between shingles and metal. They were super easy to talk to and helped me figure out what worked best for my setup. Their crew handled some tricky flashing areas without any drama, which was a relief since my observatory sits in a spot that gets slammed by wind pretty often.