GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

Seeking advice on low slope shed roof new construction

| Posted in General Questions on
I am planning a post and beam house with a 1/10 shed roof for climate zone 5 in eastern PA.  The beams are on 5′-4″ centers across the 42.7′ width shown below, and the house is about 25′ in the other dimension.  The stock plan has 12″ rafters on 24″ centers, likely for standard insulation.  A span calculator shows that 2×8 rafters on 24″ centers will handle a snow load up to 90psf – where 50psf is the requirement in my area.
 
*After* researching low pitched roofs here on GBA and coming up with this EPDM solution, I discovered that metal roofs can handle a 1/10 pitch.
 
There is a R-49 requirement for roofs here, and I discovered that polyiso’s R-value decreases to about 2.8 per inch in cold weather.  However, polyiso can withstand EPDM adhesives, whereas EPS and XPS can not.  A mimimum ratio of exterior R to total R of 41% is required.  I am proposing therefore 2″ polyiso on top of 4″ EPS outside, and either 4″ of spray foam (R-28) or possibly R-23 batts somehow attached to the underside of the sheathing (it is recommended here that the interior insulation is in contact with the sheathing).  The batts would technically satisfy the overall R-49 requirement, but at R-2.8 per inch estimated for the polyiso worst case would result in a total just below the requirement.
 
Am I anywhere near close to something viable?  I tried to distill what I saw in different threads here for my circumstances.
 
One question I have no clue the answer to is what happens along the four sides of this giant sandwich above the structural sheathing – how are they structurally finished?  I see that this kind of roof relies heavily on proper sealing along the edges, between the membrane and the drip edge, and drip edge to deck.  But what will the fascia attach to?  Is a 1 by placed around the perimeter?

Now that I see some metal roofing will work for 1/10, I suppose another question is pro’s vs cons of metal vs. membrane.  Are these primarily cost and expected life?

 
Thank you in advance for any assistance.  Obviously I will have to consult a professional, but I am trying to gain an understanding before taking that step.
 
Don

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |