Roofing a shed alone

[joe_pinehill1]

how tall is the shed?

what if you sisters some 2x12 to the rafters all the way to the ground, then just slide the wood up the rafter. I would rather have full panels from a strength standpoint.

10ft x 20 ft, with 7.5ft walls. The front is at grade, the back wall is about 1 foot above grade with the slope.

 

[Firstram]

How old/infirm are you guys? I'm old and retired, and would just wait till a non-windy day, tack a 2x6 on the rafter tails as a stop, and walk up a step ladder and throw the panel onto the roof. 7/16" OSB weighs less than 50 pounds, easy to handle if no wind.

This is a shed, looks to be less than 10 feet off the ground to the tails. An 8 foot step ladder, walk up half way, and set the panel on the roof. Or lean a conventional ladder onto the 2x6 stop, push the sheet up ahead of you, and it'll flop onto the roof when it goes over the top of the ladder (like Mushcreek showed). Not a difficult, nor dangerous job. I recently roofed my house like that; and it's 8:12 and about 12 feet to the lower roof. I used a safety harness and rope once I was actually working on the roof; both OSB and synthetic underlayment can get slick, particularly if they get a bit of sawdust on them from trimming the sheathing in place.

As others said, the shingles will be as hard or harder to place up, you have to climb further up the ladder.

If you're infirm or weak, then get someone else to help, or to just do it for you. 8 or 10 sheets total it looks like, roughly a 15 minute job to get them onto the roof and can be distributed from the initial location after that.

Give it more time there Booger, you'll understand soon enough! I have handled 1000's of sheets over the years, at 60 with worn out joints, it takes a lot longer than it used to!!

 

[Firstram]

this would be pretty cheap to build and nice, simple and effective:

That's brilliant for working by yourself!

 

[Renegade1LI]

Honestly I'm a little disappointed, 41 replies and no one suggested a telehandler.

Telehandlers - Toyota Lift Northwest

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[Zeke]

this would be pretty cheap to build and nice, simple and effective:

Brilliant indeed and once she gets one up and secured it will even be easier.

 

[ddurrett896]

Prefer solo. Push up a ladder in front of you and throw it up there. Add 2x4 toe boards as you go.

 

[ddurrett896]

Honestly I'm a little disappointed, 41 replies and no one suggested a telehandler.

Telehandlers - Toyota Lift Northwest

Rough, Tough, Reliable

toyotaliftnorthwest.com

It’s a 200sqft shed…

 

[mike93lx]

It’s a 200sqft shed…

You're right.

This one can be operated remotely

 

[Two Pump Chump]

If you have a pickup, back it up to the shed, lean the sheets up against the trusses and you're half way there.

You can always tell the cowboy ! Best reply to this thread. Simple cowboy logic. OP you can flip/toss a 4x8 ply from the PU bed onto the rafters easily. It's no big deal you can do it !!

 

[JeepYJ]

Honestly I'm a little disappointed, 41 replies and no one suggested a telehandler.

Telehandlers - Toyota Lift Northwest

Rough, Tough, Reliable

toyotaliftnorthwest.com

It’s a 200sqft shed…

You're right.

This one can be operated remotely

You guys are way overthinking it for a shed. Every GJer has a skid steer, typically towing it cross country on a Cannonball Run type of drive. This is what he needs.

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[JohnX14]

I would make wall brackets for a 2x12 staging plank about 5' off the ground. nail horizontal 2x4 at both corners and 2 openings so there are 4 support sand nail another 2x4 on a 45 down to the corner boards and window jack studs. (0r door). Lean the osb up against the planks. (fasten plank so they don't slide) Then from that 2x12 plank you are at perfect height to lift the sheet and drop it in place and fasten it. Then you can nail a cleat on the first row of plywood to hold sheathing as you load it up, and yourself as you put it in place. If there are no window or door openings on the back side just cut "keyholes" for the 2 interior temporary wall brackets. Use ledgerlocks if you don't trust the nails and for easier removal. You'll sacrifice (2) 2x12 planks that I'm sure you can repurpose. Obviously span 3 wall brackets so the 2x12 doesn't overhang in the middle. Or something similar. Would take maybe a half hour to set this all up. Then you can load up the shingles on the plank without a ladder and then pass those from plank to roof.

 

[73fxe]

Put a set of saw horses under the eve, set a sheet of plywood on it. It should be easy enough to pull it up.

 

[Renegade1LI]

You guys are way overthinking it for a shed. Every GJer has a skid steer, typically towing it cross country on a Cannonball Run type of drive. This is what he needs.

Skid Steer Telescopic Boom Attachment | Skid Pro

Skid Pro’s Skid Steer Telescopic Boom is built for durability and ease of use. Get the most out of your skid steer with our telescoping boom attachment.

skidpro.com

Or at least a tractor, load up the forks and lift up.

 

[NDJ]

Handling 4x8 sheets of plywood alone when you are older really sux. Expect rotator cuff injuries.

 

[Boogerman]

Handling 4x8 sheets of plywood alone when you are older really sux. Expect rotator cuff injuries.

The flip side of that is you need to keep doing things that take both strength and range of motion to stay healthy and active. I have several injuries acquired over a lifetime. Two ruptured discs. Scapular bursitis. Torn miniscus. Repaired tendons in one hand. Re-attached finger. Some RSI in my hands. Joint pain in my right elbow. I let none of those stop activities; but actually deliberately take on things to keep myself active.

I'm mid sixties. I loaded and unloaded a bunch of sheetrock myself last week for a project I'm doing. Double bundles of 4x8. I moved the 4x12 type X 5/8 singly, and the double bundles had another person help when I stocked them. I'm hanging them by myself, the 4x12 weigh only 90 lbs. I used to be able to handle double bundles of them, but not anymore. Singles are okay. I'm doing a 14 foot ceiling; that's a bit slow by yourself, but with a lift and tall ladders it's doable. Setting screws and then troweling over your head makes for tired arms. I loaded and unloaded a decent sized drill press today by myself. Carried it about 40 feet into the shop instead of lowering it to the ground, hand carting it, and then lifting again. I loaded and unloaded a cast iron table saw last week alone. I moved a mill and drill press, but used a cherry picker to pick up the weight. I do a lot of hand digging with a shovel; that's the therapy a sports therapist and I arrived at to help the scapular bursitis by keeping the joint stretched open. When my back hurts, it's hard to make myself do things. So, I deliberately do, and over a few days it helps relieve the pain as the motion stretches the muscles out. I did a bunch of concrete work last year. Hand troweling to finish. Was able to outwork most of the guys 35 years younger than me on my crew. Rather not do that every day, though, it's wearing on a person. I hand sand and polish both wood and metal. A LOT. That really helps with arm and shoulder and upper body strength and range of motion. I climb stairs every chance I have. Deliberately use the upstairs toilet to make me use the stairs several times a day more.

Don't quit doing hard work and moving actively until actual infirmity makes you. It'll greatly increase your quality of life.

 

[Firstram]

@Boogerman I'm not sure what you did for a living and its good you're as fit as you are.

I used to carry doubles too and it's not worth it. 40+ years of construction doesn't build you up and keep you limber, instead, it wears your joints out.

 

[ArcReactorKC]

@Boogerman I'm not sure what you did for a living and its good you're as fit as you are.

I used to carry doubles too and it's not worth it. 40+ years of construction doesn't build you up and keep you limber, instead, it wears your joints out.

Very true. I am 36. I have one shoulder that has had reconstructive surgery, the other needs rotator cuff work. Both knees are blown out and the right will be replaced when I turn 40, also when I turn 40 I get to have another back surgery.

Work smarter, not harder, always think about the effect what you're doing has on your body.

 

[Prospecter]

Full sheets ripped to 2x8 would work well. You also might think about pine sheathing boards.

 

[CraigStu]

If you do the extension ladder at an angle that matches the roof like I suggested for the plywood it works for the shingles too. get the angle perfect and it can lay right on the lower shingles as you work your way up. Your weight is spread out so much it causes no damage at all.

 

[steve308]

Made in China so should be at Haarbor Freight soon.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Here's my Plan A; using a winch. Effective, but very slow. I finally just dispensed with the winch, and pushed them up the same set-up. Note the temporary stops to prevent the sheet from pushing the ladder away.

I do it like this except turn it long ways across the ladder and push it up as I climb up the ladder.

 

[MongoTA]

The flip side of that is you need to keep doing things that take both strength and range of motion to stay healthy and active.

Don't quit doing hard work and moving actively until actual infirmity makes you. It'll greatly increase your quality of life.

You sound like my twin brother from another mother.

 

[joe_pinehill1]

Follow up: I used a local contractor (insured) to sheet the gable, install the rake PVC trim, sheet the roof, and shingle the roof. He and his crew were done in 4 hours Saturday morning. $800 for labor and nails, I supplied the rest of the material. At my age, money well spent. Now I just need to install and trim the windows and doors and other trim

 

[Walkers]

This is an excellent opportunity to buy a piece of equipment, skidsteer, forklift, etc Barring that, just go to ho de and rent a load genie, lift a small stack up close and off load, set in place. It makes life easy to screw a stop board on the eave to keep them from sliding out.

 

[rharman]

Follow up: I used a local contractor (insured) to sheet the gable, install the rake PVC trim, sheet the roof, and shingle the roof. He and his crew were done in 4 hours Saturday morning. $800 for labor and nails, I supplied the rest of the material. At my age, money well spent. Now I just need to install and trim the windows and doors and other trim

I've said it many times.... Sometimes the best tool for the job is a credit card (or, a check or cash).

 

[joe_pinehill1]

I've said it many times.... Sometimes the best tool for the job is a credit card (or, a check or cash).

Yes. The more I looked at that 10/12 roof, at my age, I thought this is crazy. The guys had all the fall protection gear, were insured, and I'm sure did a better job than I would have.

 

[Joemctag]

It can help to build a temporary platform about 3’ below the rafter ends. 2 x 4 uprights and horizontals nailed to cleats on the sidewall. Boards to walk on . Better than ladder for doing all your drip edge, underpayment, shingles, fascia. Could make it easier getting shingle bundles up, too.

 

[mike93lx]

Follow up: I used a local contractor (insured) to sheet the gable, install the rake PVC trim, sheet the roof, and shingle the roof. He and his crew were done in 4 hours Saturday morning. $800 for labor and nails, I supplied the rest of the material. At my age, money well spent. Now I just need to install and trim the windows and doors and other trim

Smart move. 800 feels very fair to me for that

 

[jonesg]

Prefer solo. Push up a ladder in front of you and throw it up there. Add 2x4 toe boards as you go.

thats how i did my garage roof, solo , I'm 71.
Slide it up the ladder in front of you, easy peasy.

 

[joe_pinehill1]

Follow up: I finished the shed yesterday. I just need to build a ramp, and a little caulk and touch up paint. I'm keeping an eye on Facebook Market for used PVC or Fypon trim, like fake gable vent to dress it up.

Home made doors weigh a ton. My neighbor helped me install the doors, I could not have done it myself. When I started I priced a roll up door, or fiberglass door and the cost was more than my budget.

Cost for an "amish" shed in Northern VA is crazy, I got prices from $7500 to $10500. My material costs were about $5000, and the building specs are better. All the trim is PVC, roof is higher pitch and shingles and color match the house. In hindsight I should have priced concrete for the foundation, it might not have been that much more than buying floor joists, floor sheeting, and 4x6's for rails and gravel retaining.

 

[CraigStu]

Well done. A friend built a 3 car garage. He, I and 4 buddies got the trusses up. We finished the day by getting the first row of plywood on the front side of the roof. A couple days later he told me he tried to get the next row of plywood up and stopped after 2 sheets. It was very hard for him and he also realized that at the back side the ground w 4 ft lower than the front. He found a crew like you did but his crew took all day since it was a 36wx30deep garage. Good move.

 

[billconner]

nice work!