Hey guys, I've got a job to do, I'm wondering if any of you have ever worked with this kind of material. I need to mount a non illuminated sign on this storefront. It's like big metal shingles, they interlock with each other, by means of a few simple folds. What I'm wondering is: 1 Since these all have to be attached with nails or screws, there must be some sort of sheeting behind them, like plywood. Since they're staggered, there's about no way there couldn't be plywood behind them.( The store owner thinks there isn't any.) 2 Has anybody ever worked with this stuff? 3 What would you do? I can work with steel angle iron and such, but I'm thinking it will rust sooner of later, and stain the orange color. I'm thinking of having an aluminum or stainless bracket welded that hooks over the top, and screws to the plywood. There's no access to the inside of this big false front thing, it's angled down to the roof on all four sides. My concern is with the duration of the screws to the plywood that I hope is there. I've been on the roof for a close look, and there's no way to be sure what's under the shingle things. Thanks for any help
[ May 19, 2009, 11:59 AM: Message edited by: James Donahue ]
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
get a prof roofer to do it
Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
Go inside the store with a stepladder, remove one of the ceiling tiles near the outside wall, by pushing it up and away from the hole. You should be able to see the interior structure from there. It's probably plywood behind the roofing, or osb, and if the sign has no weight to speak of, screws should suffice, with a dab of silicone for good measure.
Ordinances may dictate what you really need to do, unfortunately. Be careful on this one, liability-wise.
btw...it's a mansard roof, with a "d"
[ May 19, 2009, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: Jeff Ogden ]
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
James...I have never seen that particular type of metal roof. But up here in Canada a metal roof similar to that is usually installed over a traditional shingle roof.
What the installers do is strap over the existing roof with 2x4s laid flat and then screw the metal roofing to the 2x4s.
If, wnen you look down along a line of screws, they are all perfectly aligned, it is probably a strapped roof.
As far as brackets are concerned, forget mild steel, galvanized steel or aluminum. All will eventually oxidized and stain the roof. Use Stainless if the budget allows it.
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
I guess we really need to know the size and relative weight of the sign you're proposing, and what it's made of.
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
again, let a roofer with insurance do it
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
James, it looks like it's along the same principle as vinyl siding, which is basically attached to any number of things based on what was covered - anything from stud framing, to batten-board siding, to block!
It does matter exactly what you are putting up and how heavy . . . For example, if I were installing a flat .063 sign panel, sheet metal screws would suffice . . .
But anything heavier will require research as Jeff has outlined - though bear in mind, I have tried to look behind facades and found facades upon facades in older buildings . . . each era having remodled over existing design rather than doing it right . . .
It may be you have to remove a small portion of it to KNOW fer'shur for yourself . . .
Stein, I would only be interested in getting a professional roofer or contractor IF I could find THE roofer or THE contractor who actually built this - only he would know for sure what's there - if he can recall . . . again, it may be you'll to remove a small portion of it to KNOW fer'shur for your own peace of mind . . .
Meanwhile, I would'nt expect any professional to be able to research & install it any better than I could as a sign professional.
. . . However, a roofer SHOULD call me if HE wants a sign installed on a roof . . . Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
Thanks for the replies. What I want to put up is a 3 foot X 24 foot (1 meter X 6 meter?) .040 aluminum sign, very light weight. I came up with this frame idea because the store owner wasn't sure if attaching it to the roof with sheet metal screws was sufficient. I do think it would be strong enough, but the issue is that once this sign gets taken down X number of years from now, it would be replaced with a 4 X 10, or whatever people felt like putting up there. The mansard would be full of holes. As it is, there are none. I wish I could remove a ceiling tile and access it that way, but I'm thinking that it's made over the porch extension, not the roof itself. Stein, are you talking about me making the frame, and the roofer installing it? I don't suppose many would know much about fabricating metal.
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
sheet metal screws will work 10 years from now it won,t matter.
Posted by Robare M. Novou (Member # 3711) on :
Be sure to contact the owner of the building for their approval.
RMN
Posted by Dale Feicke (Member # 767) on :
I like your idea of hooking it over the top, James. I did that many years ago on a somewhat similar job, and it worked out fine.
It also makes it fairly easy if they should ever decide to paint the roof, or to clean out the usual bird nests that seem to accumulate.
Posted by Jeff Ogden (Member # 3184) on :
>040 is light, and screws will distort the metal, over shingles like that. It (the sign) would be WAY better on .090 or 3-4 ml Dibond.
Good luck.
Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
make a 1x1 or 1x2 frame OUT OF ALUMINUM! Attch the sign to it and then screw frame to building AFTER you crawl up inside access IF there is one. the frame will require less screws than the aluminum face and it will not distort face when applying
Why let a roofer do this? Would a roofer call you to install shingles? no.
screw it and silicone it. but yes check with owner first. this is not difficult just make sure your screws are tight and sealed
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