Small flat roof completely shot, what would you do?
Ted W.
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Hi Gang, I’ve been away for a while playing truck driver, but now I’m back and fixin people’s homes again.
I’m looking at a small roof in desperate need of replacing and wondering what you guys would do… and pleas don’t tell me you’d call a pro 
It’s a metal roof, or at least it used to be, with practically no pitch at all. I didn’t have a level with me but I’d say it’s 1″ in 4′ if that. It has a built in gutter which is completely clogged. The roof measures about 14′ wide by 6′ deep
I’m in Chicago so it will be exposed to winter conditions. Please share what you would do, start to finish if you don’t mind. This will be a first for me, so I need all the advice / ideas I can get.
Thanks
Replies
Well, if you weren't in Chicago I'd say insure it and burn it, but they're kinda sensitive about fires there.
Dan H, I'm not sure the customer would pay me for that but I'll be sure and ask. ;-)
1. remove anything loose you can scrape off
2. built in gutters probably have rusted thru galvanized sheet, tear that out and replace any rotted wood with PT lumber.
3. Take a diamond saw and cut a 1-1/2" deep kerf in the lowest mortar joint on the stone wall.
4. scrape off all the crap on the stone
5. Install single sheet of epdm on the surface, wrap it up the stone wall to within 1/2" of the saw cut in the mortar joint. Wrap the epdm into the built in gutter trough, making sure there are no wrinkles, wrap the edge down 1" over the outside edge, fold corners as needed without cutting a slot. EPDM held in place on stone wall with copper of galvanized 1/8" thick bar, same with outer edge.
6. Install copper or galvanized sheet (if low budget) flashing into the diamond saw cut and grout or epoxy in place. Bend down over epdm that come up the wall.
7. get paid
UBawldun.
Junkhound, thanks for the clear rundown. I'm thinking scrape what's loose then a layer of plywood for a couple of reasons... people will occasionally walk out on that roof, and better to glue down to it.
On another note, how would you seal the downspout?
Are you sure the roof is shot and not just the paint job? That's probably a terne roof.. The tar smear tactics are unfortunate, but you might have a repairable roof under that mess.
You may be right, but at least one of those pictures makes it look as tho that asphalt roofing overlay was aniled down at the lap, so there are a bunch of holes in the metal roof, plus whatever damage caused them to think it needed that treatement once before.
I'd get a copper man to do this, or go with EPDM glued over recovery board
It's all in the detailing and the owner has to hope the OP has the head and skills to detail it.
Ideally you'd pull off all the crap and see what's holding it all up, fix what needs fixed, add a new layer of ply to put the new roof on and add an EDPM membrane.
On small sections EDPM is easy to install if you can find a good price on the material in less than 100' rolls. Some roofing installers will sell you partial rolls, some won't. I picked up shipping damaged rolls for less than half price - ask at the supplier if they have any damaged rolls or if they know where you can buy a partial roll. The supplier will have all the corners, tape, glue and primer you'll need along with pretty easy to follow instructions from the manufacturer. Once you've done one flat roof the next one will go twice as fast and you'll find all sorts of situations where EDPM membrane can be used.