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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Tin or asphalt roofing ?
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Rick004
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 09:10
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I will be building a 14x20 cabin with a loft , the pitch will be 12/12 . One way or the other I will be sheathing the roof with aspenite . The square footage of the roof is approx 600 sf. And I will be installing gutters to harvest rainwater . My question is would tin be better or these new asphalt 4x6 panels made by Ondura ?

neb
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 09:26
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If you talk to the experts most will say asphalt and they have their reasons why to go with asphalt. I have heard some bad things with tin but I put tin on my shack but it is small roof but have had no problems yet.

Bevis
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 10:48
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after having tin on all my roofs for the last 15 years, I'd never go back to shingles. I initially had shingles on my TN cabin, and always had little shingle sand/grit in my rain collection barrels, and I hated it.

OwenChristensen
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 12:48
Reply 


You need tin so the bats have a place to be.
Seriously, I have built a lot with both. The new lifetime architectural shingles look good and seal very well and cost less than cheap tin. Metal is faster to put on, so I charge the same for either. I just look at twenty year old roofs and don't like the faded paint on the metal.

Owen

Martian
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 13:36
Reply 


Owen, what are you paying for those architectural shingles? Here they go for around $100/sq. The 26ga metal roofing I recommend cost $72/sq. In addition, with metal they get a reduction on their homeowner's insurance as well as energy credits if it is a light color.

I'm a big fan of metal roofs. If properly done, it'll probably outlast the people who pay me. Eventually it will fade; paint it! There is a painter around here that specializes in painting old house and barn roofs. He's a lot cheaper than new shingles.

Tom

dvgchef
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 15:58
Reply 


I have to agree with Bevis - if you are collecting rain water, skip the shingles and go with metal.

Rick004
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 16:14
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Thanks for the info but I was interested In the Ondura asphalt panels they come in 4 feet by 6 Foot panels and have no grit on them ?

Martian
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 18:17 - Edited by: Martian
Reply 


Rick, I Googled them and did some reading. My only concern would be the nails they recommend using. In my experience, nails leak before screws do. Other than that, my only other concern would be the asphalt leaching into the water you're collecting. Have you seen them used someplace?

Tom

Rick004
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 19:03
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Hey Tom ! I have seen them while walking around lowes and Home Depot I also checked their website as well ! I was hoping someone here has used them on a cabin ? I think I'm leaning towards a metal roof , like you said I'm not crazy about asphalt in my only water supply !!

johng
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 20:51
Reply 


I work with a lady that has put Ondura on 2 of her horse barns, she highly recommends it.
You have probably seen it on Pizza Huts, Dairy Queens and several hotel chains and not even realized what it was.
You can also order it in 19-3/4" tiles and install it to look like a Mexican clay tile roof at a fraction of the cost or weight.

clearwater
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 21:53
Reply 


Isn't there a tar content in any form of asphalt, which is a prime carcinogen?
Aussie cabin-dwellers in almost every case use rainwater catchment for water supply- I guess because we don't have a problem with pipes, etc, freezing in winter- and I have never heard of any case where asphalt was used on a roof where the water is used for domestic use.
I left my foof unpainted for the same reason, and use a 3,000 gal tank for storage.

OwenChristensen
Member
# Posted: 22 Nov 2012 21:55
Reply 


Martian, It just reversed of that here. Metal is $100 and Timberlines are $80.
Hey, it's all what you like.

Owen
metal
metal
same cabin with shingles
same cabin with shingles


TheWildMan
Member
# Posted: 23 Nov 2012 09:10
Reply 


you shoud go with metal (its not tin, the old roofing was tin but its a rare metal so the new stuff is a grade of sheet steel), this is since you plan to harvest rain water.

the shingles i observed tend to hold some of the water while smooth metal roofs slick it off easy. the shingles also leave a gawd aufull taste to the rain water even after filtering. i have shingles on my cabin but i only harvest water on the tool shed because of this. otherwise if they are properly installed and maintained you won't see much difference.

rayyy
Member
# Posted: 23 Nov 2012 17:57
Reply 


I'm convinced that good quality steel roofing is the way to go.Shingles look great for a few years but tend to collect dirt and gunk and can start holding moister that permotes mold and fungus especially in the woods.Steel washes it self clean with snow and rain.I don't expect to ever have any roof leeks in my life time.Especially with that steep of a pitch you want to go with.You don't have to sheet over the rafters with plywood or osb either.you can use 2x4 perlings at 2 foot spands instead.Steel comes in a dozen different colors,you can mix and match.I have done all three of my buildings in forest green.Picking your colors is the toughest thing!

Rick004
Member
# Posted: 23 Nov 2012 18:48
Reply 


Thanks Rayyy !! Forest green would definitely be my first pick !! If I'm insulating and using the loft as a bedroom would it not be better to sheet the roof with OSB or plywood before the steel roofing ?

evrmc1
Member
# Posted: 23 Nov 2012 21:56
Reply 


lowes has this http://www.lowes.com/pd_12747-1115-158_0__?productId=3010607&Ntt=roof I used some stuff in the Keys on roof that was cool stuff http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ecodZ5yc1v/R-100317815/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogI d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=roof+coating&storeId=10051#.ULA2-u_BF1s I put 2 coats on a roof. If you used roof felt or rolled roof then put this stuff on it I think it was good for 20 years

Montanan
Member
# Posted: 24 Nov 2012 01:46
Reply 


In our experience metal was super easy to install with just 2 novices and looks great. We HAVE to have metal to insure the place- forest fire risk, so we never considered anything else but I would definitely recommend it. We have a 22X26' cabin with a 12/12 roof. We haven't done rain collection yet but it seems better for that, too.

OwenChristensen
Member
# Posted: 24 Nov 2012 07:34
Reply 


I'll bet you guys who like metal know some secrets that make it easier.
I have trouble in one area. I don't know a good way to put on the ridge on a 12/12 pitch.
I built a ladder that hooks over the peak to install the sheets, but it's of no use on the ridge.

Owen

Martian
Member
# Posted: 24 Nov 2012 08:11
Reply 


Owen, the only way I know of is to straddle the peak. Since you can't sit down, it means holding yourself with your knees..........yes, it does get painful!

I've taken to stitch screwing the ridge caps together, it holds them straight, and then screwing them down with screws long enough to reach into the decking.

Tom

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