[AT] tin roof repair

[Alan Nadeau]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <jtchall at nc.rr.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, July 05, 2013 7:57 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] tin roof repair


>
> I had to swing by a building supply store yesterday 
> anyway,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,  Certainly replacing nails with 
> screws will help future leaks from developing, I've got to find a supplier 
> for the
> screws in bulk,at $.10 each this gets to be real pricey.>
>

Around here any building supply place has the screws either in bulk or a box 
holding several pounds.  Correct installation has the screws installed in 
the flat areas, NOT on top of the ribs.  Screws should be next to the ribs. 
Starting with the rib that overlaps the previous sheet put a screw about 1" 
out on the flat and put one in roughly the same position next to each rib. 
At the last rib on a given sheet, the one that will be under the next sheet, 
put a screw next to that rib as well.   Hard to explain, easy to 
demonstrate.

Run the screws in until the rubber washer just starts to squish out a 
little.  If you go too far the rubber will get forced out from under the 
sealing washer and will be a leaker.

When replacing nails with screws you pretty much have to go where the nails 
already were.  If you are forced to screw into the ribs be very careful not 
to over drive the screws.  If run down too far they will suck the top of the 
rib down and split the tin.  That makes for a nice little funnel to collect 
water and the split allows it to run inside.   If the nail holes are 
wallowed out from the tin moving around the nails there are oversize screws 
available to take up the slack.  If you ask the right place for "oversized 
stitch screws" they will know what you want.  If they look at you like you 
had two heads you didn't ask the right place.

I haven't dealt with them in years but The Woodward Co., in Albany, NY used 
to be my goto supplier for anything I couldn't buy local.  Nice folks to 
deal with, even on small orders.  If ordering over the phone be sure they 
know you are using them for wood framing.  Screws used in metal buildings 
have a drill point and fine threads and don't hold well in wood.