How to match aluminum corrugated roofing

[db4570]

We're trying to fix up this cabin, which needs a little of the original (35 year old) aluminum corrugated roofing replaced. It's plain aluminum cheap looking stuff that you nail through.

Is this standard issue stuff I can find at any big builder supply place? Or does each manufacturer have its own style and profile? I'm hoping the fact it's so old won't make things more difficult. My primary concern is getting it to connect and overlap correctly.

Thanks for any help!

David

[Redoverfarm]

David a lot of the old companies who are still in buisness haven't changed their profiles in years.  It was only in the last several years with the popularity of residential that they started making the step type.  I would imagine you can still find some. Might start checking with agricultural roofing first.  They often used it for barns then decided to do houses. Just remember that the new needs inserted under the lip of the old or replace entire sheets from the ridge to the eves.

[db4570]

Thanks for the idea. You're right. It looks like the more rural I look, the more people know what I'm talking about. Apparently some places roll it out of flat aluminum to any number of profiles. So I'll have to check it out.

Interestingly, Lowes carries what looks like a matching profile (haven't brought in my sample yet to confirm), but it's in galvanized, not aluminum. I am told it's OK to mix and match, if I'm not concerned about the color match.

Also, it appears "box rib" or "5 rib" is what my stuff is called, not "corrugated", which is the stuff with continuous waves.

I just need to replace some fairly short sections down by the chimney, so I'm hoping I can graft in a section rather than go all the way up to the peak. Mostly for ease of transporting shorter panels up to the property.

Any other input welcome. Thanks!

David

[db4570]

Well, I drove an hour away to this big supplier that handles just metal roof materials down in farm country. I found the same thing there that I found at Lowes when I went back to compare my sample to what they had. The ribs on my roof are about 1/2" closer than on this newer galvanized stuff. The big roof outfit didn't seem able or interested in ordering anything special to match mine, claiming they wouldn't know how to get the matching stuff. The only thing they suggested was to harvest some of the existing panels from the end of the building, put them where I need to replace them in the middle, and put the new stuff back on the ends because the exact fit won't be critical then.

This is slowly evolving into a nightmare. Any other ideas appreciated.

David

[Redoverfarm]

Maybe check on Craigslist for used tin roofing.  Someone in the area might have salvaged some in a demo close by.  When you initially posted it brought me to mind of a house that I used to go by traveling that had different types of roofing tin on one roof. Seemed to be 4' sections.   Odd looking but I guess it turned water.

[MikeT]

Here in Oregon, deconstructing and reselling is quite popular, so I bought my WWII era corrugated tin from an architectural salvage place.  I liked the patina of the rust--my wife, not so much.  I am also constantly noticing in the rural areas, building that are falling down, etc that have this material.  If you really wanted, you could keep searching.  I know it is around.   But time searching has a cost too. 

m

[Redoverfarm]

Here in Oregon, deconstructing and reselling is quite popular, so I bought my WWII era corrugated tin from an architectural salvage place.  I liked the patina of the rust--my wife, not so much.  I am also constantly noticing in the rural areas, building that are falling down, etc that have this material.  If you really wanted, you could keep searching.  I know it is around.   But time searching has a cost too. 

m

Mike there are actually companies that manufacture rusted roofing.  Sort of like the brown guardrail you often see in parks.  It is galvanized with a thin layer of tin over it.  The tin will rust down to a predetermined depth and stop leaving you with the "patina" you call rust.  Quite costly though.