Another shed question: This time, the roof - Ridge cap?

Well, I started building the shed last weekend. Took my entire weekend up and I'm still not 100% done. But here's another question for the group:

First off, for reference, the shed we got is just like this one except the link goes to an 8 x 10 (80 square foot) and ours is an 8 x 8. Otherwise identical though.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Heartland-V...-ft/1000075279

Anyway, I got the structure together and the shed comes with 4 OSB boards for the roofing underlayment (or whatever that's called - the roof base.) Shingles will then get put on this.

But when I put the boards up, there is still a small gap at the very top where the left and right sides meet. Now I realize this will be covered by shingles but it still bothers me. Is there some kind of "ridge cap" that I can or should put up there, just to make sure it doesn't leak? I'm thinking if I can get some really thin sheet metal - maybe tin? I don't know - and nail it in to the roof boards so it covers this gap, and then just nail the shingles right over the top of this. Would that make sense? Is there any good reason NOT to do this?

It's just that building this shed was a total PITA for me (never done a shed before, hopefully will never do one again) and I don't want to ever have to re-do it, nor do I want to have to worry about our stuff inside getting damaged by weather.

Thanks in advance!

I'll see if I can attach pictures from my phone

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...85d8ef0524.jpg

The gap in question is at the top of the ridge where the OSB boards meet. I tried to get it as close as I could but there's still a variable gap in there. Probably varies from 1/2" - 1" at the widest point.

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Don't worry about a gap of 2" or less.

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Originally Posted by Wulf202

Don't worry about a gap of 2" or less.

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So just shingles will protect that adequately?

You could add 2x4 blocking underneath to fill it up, but I wouldn't be concerned. Tar paper and shingle up. When you get to the ridge, each side will probably lap over, then the cap will be a third layer of shingle, which ends up pretty stout. It isn't like you will be stepping on the ridge.

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Originally Posted by Martinjmpr

So just shingles will protect that adequately?

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What clod hopper said.

The tar paper should overlap then your shingle runs will overlap. Then your cap of shingles on top of that. But it looks like a kit and they might not have sent tar paper?

You can usually find partial rolls on Craigslist for cheap. Or if you want to come up this way I'd give you enough.

If your kit didn't include tar paper, I have a roll of roof underlayment you can have. It's leftover from my roof replacement. I don't know much about it, but it seems much more substantial than typical tar or felt roofing paper. It's not enough to do your entire roof, but certainly enough for the ridge. I think it's similar to this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Cor...AA10/205664211

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Originally Posted by Fentonite

If your kit didn't include tar paper, I have a roll of roof underlayment you can have. It's leftover from my roof replacement. I don't know much about it, but it seems much more substantial than typical tar or felt roofing paper. It's not enough to do your entire roof, but certainly enough for the ridge. I think it's similar to this:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Owens-Cor...AA10/205664211

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Kit did not include tar paper. Can I just staple on the tar paper or does it get glued or something? Just want to make sure staples don't make the paper useless by putting holes in it.

I'll take you up on your offer - where can we meet? I'm in the Columbine area but can meet tomorrow sometime if you're available.

Sent you a pm.

Staples. Shingle nails are going to go through it anyway. Per its name, impregnated with tar, will seal up around staples/nails with the sunshine heat.

While tar paper is pretty standard for roofing, I don't think I would worry too much skipping it on a shed. It isn't like you are keeping high value items in there.

The stuff fentonite is offering is peel and stick ice sheild it's for the edges. If there's enough for the entire roof it's overkill which is perfect.

Start at the bottom and make sure you overlap by 2-4 inches. Layering so water will flow down hill onto the next section like shingles.

Staples are fine. Caps are code but half the guys cheat and use staples anyways.

I took some photos of how a ridge cap is installed for you today. I'll post them when I get home.


Edit: It is basically exactly what Clodhopper described.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/99...=w1634-h919-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E...=w1634-h919-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Md...=w1634-h919-no

Thanks to all who replied and a BIG thanks to Fentonite for the material. That was some heavy duty stuff - it looked and felt like thick vinyl/fake leather stuff. And there was more than enough to do the whole roof (in fact, if anyone needs any there are still at least 3 8' long strips left, PM me.)

Finished the shed yesterday, wife painted it and it is now filled with our extra junk!

Hmmm...tried to upload files to show a pic but couldn't. May have to do that from my phone.

Pics:

Started on Saturday March 4 at about 10:30. Leveling the base was a PITA because our yard slopes in two directions:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e8e7bd6148.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...65c3dcbacc.jpg

Once the foundation was up I started building the walls

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1d60b64bfc.jpg

Took me all day Sunday the 5th but by the end of the day the "skeleton" was up!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bdccfba071.jpg

Finished and painted by about 4:30 yesterday:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4fd4ecc2c9.jpg


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One thing I did that I think will make it pretty strong: Instead of putting it together with nails, I used wood screws. I just hate nails. I guess I'm just not a very good carpenter but whenever I try to put things together with nails I always have a difficult time, bent nails, pieces not aligned, etc. Instead, I got a whole bunch of torx-head wood deck screws and where the instructions called for me to nail two pieces of wood together I screwed them together instead (if it was two pieces of grained lumber, like the 2 x 3 framing, I drilled holes in one piece of lumber so they wouldn't split when I screwed them together.)

Screws vs. nails probably added a lot of time to the build but it was easier for met to do and I think it will result in a stronger frame. At least I hope so as I really don't want to have to do this again!

Oh and here's the heavy vinyl ice guard I got from member Fentonite: don't know if you can tell by the picture but this is thick, heavy stuff!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8fec473933.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...dbea9eed0d.jpg


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Irving

I took some photos of how a ridge cap is installed for you today. I'll post them when I get home.


Edit: It is basically exactly what Clodhopper described.

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The instructions that came with the shed actually gave a pretty good description of how to put on the shingles and how to make the ridge cap.

The only thing they didn't say was that it's easier to cut the shingles for the ridge cap if you cut them from the back rather than the front. Took me about 3 shingles to figure that one out. [facepalm]

Awesome! [Awesom]

A bit late now, but I would be concerned about the base sinking in over time once it is loaded down.
I would have dug down a couple of feet at least and poured four concrete posts to rest the support beams on. Also would have used 2x6s a bit closer together for floor joists.
Best of luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Martinjmpr

Kit did not include tar paper. Can I just staple on the tar paper or does it get glued or something? Just want to make sure staples don't make the paper useless by putting holes in it.

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Stapled on. Doesn't matter if there are holes in it if you install your shingles properly.

I feel the same way about nails, but they are much stronger than screws. It's too late now, but it shouldn't cause any issue for you.