Building material question.

[rabbidrabbit]

OK,

If you wanted to seal a roof permanantly what would you use.  My parents built a house 25 years ago and sheathed it in Red Cedar shingles with tar paper underneath.  They are thinking about simply tearing the house down because of the water damage that occured over the winter because they don't want to repair it.  Instead they are thinking about building something more simple to maintain.  They might consider restoring the existing building only if there is a way to make it weather tight.  Any good rollon options?  a better shingle?  Ideas?

[rpm]

If I had to replace my roof today, I'd go with metal. 25 year warranty, fireproof, easy to install and inexpensive. The architectural rage around here lately is Austin Stone walls and metal roofing. It comes in many colors and textures. Some are hard to tell they are not shingles until you look closely.

[lasersailor184]

Put up all good possibillities please.  I'd like to know also.

[loser]

Yes, metal roofing is definately an option.

Really the only downside is it can be noisy in a heavy rainstorm...and is subject to hail damage. Wind damage can also occur if not installed correctly.

The key to installing a metal, or any, roofing system is to put whatever you are going to use on a good base.

3/4" Structural grade OSB should suffice..or plywood if you want to spend the extra money. Of course you will want to inspect the trusses etc. as well.

There are other options of course. Sprayed polyurethane roofing, Coldtacked roll-on roofing (ugly as all hell,) 25 year interlock asphalt shingles...blah blah blah.

Look into the soffits and facia and eavestrough as well. If the roof is porked
that stuff will be too. Dont forget to install new drip edge whatever you use! Water running off a new roof into soffits and into walls in teh suck. (Been there done that)

Cod I hate roofing.

[rabbidrabbit]

I have metal roofing on my house and it is really not any louder than asphalt.

Here is the problem:


So, you see that standard roofing materials will not do well..  need some sort of tile  and some serious undersealer.

[Maverick]

If you do not have things that will be falling on the roof (large tree branches etc.) then a tile roof is also good for long term.

[ramzey]

http://www.tamko.com/ContractorHomeLandingPage/tabid/116/Default.aspx?audience=builder

i would go with laminate shingles , but metal one are good too, with proper underlayment and metal flashings

[Roscoroo]

paint it black .. Call up le-paul and breath heavily
("I am your Father, And Ive got this house you must fix up")

[eskimo2]

Where is this?  What is the climate and how bad is the fire hazard in that area?

[storch]

I don't know about shake roofs, but we applied an elastometric paint to our 50 year old clay barrel tile roof for esthetic purposes as the roof had no leaks.  it was the only roof that withstood katrina and wilma when they hit our neighborhood last year.  I can't say enough good things about that plastic paint.

[capt. apathy]

I don't have many details (because I really wasn't that interested at the time), but a year or so ago I was watching one of the home improvement shows ('this old house', I think).

they used a roofing material made from recycled tires that was suposed to last damn near forever.  it looked like a slate shingle roof when they were done.

[Chairboy]

Nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

Barring that, I'd like to second the metal suggestion.

[Morpheus]

metal is nice until it snows and you happen to be standing at the side of your house when the snow desides to let loose. If for some reason it does leak, the leak can be a Mthr Fker to find. When you think you've found it and fixed it, it'll be back... leaking. It's noisy as hell in a rain storm, dont even mention hail or sleet.... Or pine trees when they drop their pine cones. Sounds like a war is taking place on the roof.

We had a 40x20 addition put on for working on cars and what not. The roof is metal. Its nice because it will last forever and there is very little to maintain. I guess if you want to put it on your house that would be ok too. It's just not what I think of when I think of a good roof for a house. The asphalt shingles they have today will probably outlast you. You'll be long gone and planted by the time they need to be replaced.

[rabbidrabbit]

Originally posted by eskimo2
Where is this?  What is the climate and how bad is the fire hazard in that area?

Waterfront property in New Hampshire,  gets cold (-30)and windy(80MPH gusts) in the winter ,  Summer avg in the mid 80's with rain showers.

As you can see its not something you want to worry about in the next 80 years once its done.  My parents built the place from scratch by themselves on weekends using the best they could find but the top of the roof was compromised and water leaked down all long the whole shell.  As a result the building has sagged down and most of the drywall on the upstairs is toast.  The frame is pulling apart in some places so at minimum the upstairs drywall and insulation will need to be removed and the building pulled back straight then the outer sheathing will need to be replaced to ensure it does not leak again.  Thats the big problem with domes.  They better not leak.   My dad is too depressed about so much happening to something he spent 6 years building and just wants to tear it down and build something smaller on the foundation.  If they do rebuild whats there they will need some sort of waterproof forever coating instead of relying on cedar shingles and tarpaper.

[eskimo2]

Rebuild it and use a metal roof.

Sad, but less work and safer in the long run.