Collapsing Roof-Snow Damage....Help Fellow Roofers......

[BMOTOXSTAR]

OK,
  Last weekend here in NE,Ohio we got hammered with snow.
I have a 3 Season room built by (Patio Enclosers) in the early 1980's.
The roof caved in and the seams split and the heavy snow pushed down on the roof and caused some leakage.
The roof is made of flat panels that are aluminum and the core is compressed paper (honey combed design).
   The replacement panels are going to cost me over $6000 from the company , (Patio Enclosures). In no way can I afford to replace these.
Questions is, could I just ake the panels off and replace them with plywood & roofing shingles?
There are no support beams in the room, the roof sections just kind of fit into the top of the frame.
3 sides of the room are sliding doors and is attached to the back of the house.
   I was going to try this myself. In my mind the suplies to do the roof with wood and shingles would cost me around $1000
The room is 20x12.
I suppose I could take a few 2x4'S to help brace the plywood before I put it on?
Any ideas?
Thanks, I am in a big jam and on a very tight budget.
I was able to save the sub-floor in the room.

[BMOTOXSTAR]

Here are some more pic's.

[Old Moparz]

Wow, that really sucks. 

It's a little more complicated to just replace the damaged panels with plywood, but I'm sure it could be done with some modifications to the way it's constructed. But before I, or anyone else suggests anything, there's a few things to consider. (I'm not mentioning these questions because of an ability to sue someone, only that you could open a can of worms for yourself trying to rebuild it.)

1)  Did the company that installed the sun room do it legally with a permit?

2)  Was the room designed & built to any local or state building codes?

3)  Did the building department inspect & give a final approval for a C.O. on it? (Certificate of Occupancy)

If you can go ahead & repair it without any problem to the questions, you need to make sure that the new roof structure can be attached to the walls. That may mean modifying what's there, & it could be harder than simply replacing it. I'd almost think that some kind of beam needs to be in place to support the new roof. If you make it from lumber & shingle it, it will a lot heavier & it could collapse under it's own weight without any snow load. The walls there now were only holding up "paper" roof panels, not wood framing.

My opinion would be to replace the entire structure, because I wouldn't feel comfortable in that room with what you told us you had there. Or, leave the walls & somehow get vertical columns at each corner, one in the center, & a main beam up above them to carry the load. Then use nothing less than 2"x 8" timber for your rafters. Any major work like this will attract the attention of nosy neighbors, or someone from the building department that may want to see your building permit.

[BMOTOXSTAR]

As far as I know everything was done legit. I have owned the home for 3 years and it was inspected, etc. I assume that evertying is up to code.
  So what you mean is, build a new roof structure with footers in all 4 corners and raise the roof a little, so that the new roof would be allmost like a "Lean To coming of a gargle. Looks like the roof really does not support the structure that much.
Then I could take 2x4's in place of the old panels and then put dry-wall, lattic, or whatever for the ceiling and the roof would be it's own structure?
   I called a local roofer come over today and it sounded like that was his idea. He is getting back to me next week on an estimate $.
Man, I guess if I took my time it could be done over a period or weekends?
I really appreciate the help and maybe those panels could even be found on-line wholesale or something?

[NHCharger]

I agree with Bob. The weight of the new framed roof with asphalt roofing might be 3 or 4 times heavier than those roof panels you have now. Also that roof pitch is to low for shingles unless you use a Ice & Water shield product on the entire roof.
Will your insurance cover any of this?

[BMOTOXSTAR]

I will try to get some good pic's up tomorrow. I am going to take my time and get an estimate or 2.
I think I can maybe really do this. Or maybe I am delusional form watching the Home Channel with my Wife.

[Old Moparz]

As far as I know everything was done legit. I have owned the home for 3 years and it was inspected, etc. I assume that evertying is up to code.
  So what you mean is, build a new roof structure with footers in all 4 corners and raise the roof a little, so that the new roof would be allmost like a "Lean To coming of a gargle. Looks like the roof really does not support the structure that much.

It may or may not be up to code & an inspection would probably have been just a visual one that wouldn't reveal how it was framed. (I won't get into competency of some inspectors) You might not need new footings if there is something there already. If there is, all you need to do is set & tie the new vertical columns to it. No need to frame an entire new wall if you want to reuse the glass panels. (Just guessing on that)

Then I could take 2x4's in place of the old panels and then put dry-wall, lattic, or whatever for the ceiling and the roof would be it's own structure?

If that span is 12' from the house to the furthest wall, 2x4's would probably never meet code to support a snow load. (If you're referring to the roof framing & not the walls) Add drywall, plywood on top, roofing materials, & some snow & the weight will be tremendous.

   
I called a local roofer come over today and it sounded like that was his idea. He is getting back to me next week on an estimate $.
Man, I guess if I took my time it could be done over a period or weekends?
I really appreciate the help and maybe those panels could even be found on-line wholesale or something?

A roofer can probably do the repair, but if all he does is roofing, you may want a contractor that does different phases of home improvements to do the framing & footings if you need them. It isn't a difficult job to do yourself, but knowing what can be salvaged to be reused, or whether the footings, foundation, walls, etc., are adequate may be difficult to determine without that kind of experience.


Typical Wall & Roof Framing With Shed Style Roof - Larger Image
http://www.rd.com/images/tfhimport/2000/Jun00_Attached_Shed/20000601_Attached_Shed_page003img001_size2.jpg

The first pic is common wood frame construction, but I only show it so you can see the roof framing. The second one is very similar in shape, but columns support a horizontal beam that supports the rafters & the roofing above. This one will allow you to possibly reuse your glass panels.   

[BMOTOXSTAR]

Thank you very much for the diagram.
The footers for the structure are good. (cement and post) 4 corners.

I think this roofer guy was going to do 4 new footers with a roof over the room.
I do not know.I want to keep the sliders.

This may sound sort of ignorant but these panels are pretty heavy. If I take one off and weigh it and compare a piece of plywood and 2 pieces of supporting beams, and the weight is close, , then I could get away with that and some type of rubber or tar sealer instead of shingles?
But I know what you are sayng.
Thanks for all the advice and help. Really, I appreciate it.

We are wantin to re-locate to Arizona in the next year or 2 years and we do not want to sink tha much ito the house.

[PocketThunder]

Now, i tend to over build things, but, i would tear the whole thing apart and put a new roof structure up like Bob and the Red Sox said above, then put your glass panels back in between the post, so you have a foundation and column system like in Bobs illustration above supporting the roof, and your glass wall panels have no load on them at all.  This way you can keep your glass wall panels like you mentioned.

Paul
in St. Paul