How do I Hang Vinyl Over a Long Carport?
Vinyl roofing is a common choice for carports, patio covers and similar structures. It is light, durable, long-lasting and inexpensive. It is generally corrugated, with alternating peaks and valleys to prevent standing water. It drains well when installed with even a slight slope and it withstands snow and ice well. It comes in translucent sheets or in various colors. Some colors will fade over time with prolonged exposure to strong sunlight. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Ladder
- Power saw with fine-toothed blade
- Screws with plastic washer heads
- Screw gun
- Vinyl flashing (optional)
- Clear caulking or vinyl adhesive (optional)
Instructions
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Measure the carport with the tape measure, both width and length. Vinyl roofing panels are 27 1/2 inches wide and come in lengths of 8 or 12 feet. Some longer panels may be available via special order. Divide the width by 24 to determine how many panels are needed to cover that space; panels are designed to overlap and fasten at 24-inch intervals. Add about 8 inches to allow for an overlap on the sides. Figure the length of panel using 8 or 12 foot dimensions; a 30-foot roof, for instance, would need two full 12-foot panels and one of 7 feet to allow for 6-inch overlaps at seams.
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Check the purlins, boards nailed across the rafters to support roofing panels. You can attach vinyl directly to rafters but that is not recommended. Install purlins every 4 feet. Determine a slope on the carport roof; the recommended pitch is a 1-inch fall for every 6 feet of roof. For a 30-foot roof, that requires one end to be 5 inches higher. If that pitch is not built into the roof, add 2-by-4-inch boards to the top beam. A vinyl roof will drain with less slope, but one end should be at least one 2-by-4 higher.
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Start at the bottom installing vinyl panels, using a ladder to reach the top of the carport. Use screws with plastic washers at the heads. Pre-drill holes in the vinyl and drive screws into the purlins with a screw gun. Align ends and sides of panels with the fascia or facing board on the end and barge or trim board on the side and provide any desired overlap at the bottom. Install the bottom row first, using a saw with a fine-toothed blade to trim as necessary. Overlap seams across the roof by one peak and valley.
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Add a second row of panels, overlapping the bottom row by 6 inches. Avoid aligning length seams. If one side has been trimmed, start the next row above that panel so the vertical seams do not match. Put a final row at the top; if the carport abuts a house wall, install vinyl flashing on the wall and under the roof panel. Screw this flashing in place before adding the roof panels.
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Tips & Warnings
Run a bead of clear caulking or vinyl adhesive on the edge boards, if desired, for extra strength and waterproofing.
