jimgerken
Veteran Member
I use the string method at the drip edge. I place it 7/16" lower on the slope than I want the steel edge to be. After the first sheet, each successive sheet is placed on the first, with clamps to hold the overlapping ridge area tight, both top and bottom. The lengths of the sheets are aligned perfectly before the clamps are closed onto the overlapping ridge area. The clamps are needle nose vice grips with small sections of plastic/rubber tubing slid on to protect the roofing sheets. Every sheet, take a little chunk of 7/16" plywood shim out of your work belt and check the distance to the string. If you are confident, eye-balling this gap is fine. If hired help, teach them to use the shim. After applying the clamps both bottom and top edge, if the panel seems to be running away from the string, step down on one of the ridges of the upper end of the panel to stretch it wider, or if the panel seems to run toward the string, step down on a ridge close to the bottom to stretch the panel the other way so it steers away from the string. Don't put more than four screws in any panel until you have about five or six on the roof and you have confidence that you are started correctly. The roof will not be square and the lines will not be straight. But you can make it look good with these ideas. I reroofed an open sided shed last year that was so fricked up looking when I started you would not believe it could be roofed without cutting the panels. NO cutting was needed, and it turned out nearly perfect. If I had taken just a bit more time on the first three sheets, I could say it came out perfect, but I got in a hurry and had put in most all the screws so I resisted going back when I saw a correction was needed. So I stretched the panels to make up the angle, and its slightly visible as a reduction in the steel overhang in one area, if you look closely.
Sorry, but you have to pull the sheets. There is no way you can cut them straight enough with them on the roof. And as mentioned, every one of the three steel manufacturers I have used product from have strictly forbid the use of a circular saw to cut the material.
Sorry, but you have to pull the sheets. There is no way you can cut them straight enough with them on the roof. And as mentioned, every one of the three steel manufacturers I have used product from have strictly forbid the use of a circular saw to cut the material.