A Good Roof Over Your Head

Tin roofing is a simple solution to a very commonbeginners can do- bearing in mind that there are two
issue: what kind of roofing do you want? This istypes of tin roofing available:
actually made of rolled steel and is coated with tin,• Standing Seam
and because tin is a metal that doesn't corrode easily,• Flat lock
it's very weather resistant. Tin is usually chemicallyBoth will attach to the wood sheathing using blind
bonded with steel and plated in a process that hasnailed clips, yes, but flat locked tin roofing requires
the steel being heated to extreme temperatures andskill because you have to form the pieces and be
then saturated with the molten tin. The steel and tinable to solder them all together between the pieces
then bonds together via vibrating molecules and theof metal. These are usually very masterfully done
heat interlock and bond permanently to each other.and they look it. An impressive roofing job like this
This is also, incidentally, the same process forwill look and last beautifully for years to come.
galvanizing nails.Many people get sticker shock when it comes to the
Tin roof repair is generally not all that difficult if theprice of tin roofing. They are not inexpensive,
tin coating is still there. Solder will bond to the tin bybecause it is a very labor intensive sort of job.
way of heating both the solder and roofing. This isHowever, if the look is what you want it is always
actually a common way of the roof being installedworth the money you spend to get it.
and making weather proof seams. The seams areCare and maintenance requires regular painting of the
soldered on site and this is usually really weatherroof. If you do this, your roof will last a very long
resistant and not impacted by water. Proper tools willtime. Painting your tin roof with great coats of a
be essential for soldering tin roofs, and these toolsgood paint will ensure that any weather is not able to
are usually found at roofing supply stores that selldamage the roofing itself. One of the great things
the rolls of tin to make the roofing in the first place.about this is, you can paint the roof pretty much any
Corrugated tin is also not difficult to work with.color you want. If you are able to get your paint
Ripples or corrugations help to stiffen the tin and ifstore to tint the exterior metal paint a color, your
you have ever tried working flat tin from a roll, youroof can be it. The traditional color is black and red,
know, it's very difficult to keep straight. It keepsbut the sky is the limit when choosing- you can
moving and wiggling and this can be problematic- butliterally have any color you want. Before you paint,
those who are just starting out find that corrugatedyou will want to be sure to scrub the roof very well
tin works very easily and can be fairly simple towith soap and water, so that any debris are
attach to a wood frame roof. You also don't have toremoved. Allow this to completely dry before
solder the seams at times, and a weather tightfollowing the instructions on your paint, and making
roofing can be made by simply overlapping some ofsure that it is intended for metallic roofing. Make sure
the metal corrugated pieces.that you paint during the cooler times of day, often
However, in order to install a tin roof, you want toovercast days are better for this than a sunny or
have some experience. This is not something thatotherwise windy day.