Sliding roof

[Jacko264]

Hi all
not a garage but a summer house to get the most out of summer weather I would like to fit a sliding roof OR a electric powered roller shutter as a roof but Will a shutter be water tight in a horizontal plane any ideas how to do this please
thankyou
Graham

 

[Nicks garage]

Hi all
not a garage but a summer house to get the most out of summer weather I would like to fit a sliding roof OR a electric powered roller shutter as a roof but Will a shutter be water tight in a horizontal plane any ideas how to do this please
thankyou
Graham

I am currently building a carport/ additional garage space and wanted the roof to be removable.. i Have had A custom pvc cover /tarpaulin made in grey and clear supported with scaffolding poles that will be painted at a later date, it’s on tracks at each end so can be retracted.. far from finished but you will get the idea

 

[Jacko264]

Yes I see what you mean the thing is I would like a solid roof for security as there will be semi valuable in the room
Graham

 

[billconner]

At least twice I've seen a sort of rolling roof - Scout camp observatories. Purely custom but should not be too hard building a curb like for a skylight, and building a solid cover that sits over the curb and rides on wheels. I'd look for steel V casters and use a small angle iron atop curb for rails. I don't know how often opening and closing but a manual windlass would be pretty simple, or an electric linear acutator would automate it.

Sounds like fun. Sorry you're so far away.

 

[Jacko264]

I have just bean thinking about how a truck roller back door works ( I use to fit them ) and wondered if I could use one of them as a roof
Graham

 

[firebirdparts]

First thing you need to decide is whether you have room for a rigid structure to move to another spot, or whether you want to open just half the roof so that the other half can be where it goes. If you don't, you'll have to do something that folds/stacks/whatever. If it has to be water tight, then the ways to do that are pretty limited.

 

[Nicks garage]

I have just bean thinking about how a truck roller back door works ( I use to fit them ) and wondered if I could use one of them as a roof
Graham

If you go for a roller you would really need something that is one piece and rolls other than a roller shutter type thing, a roller shutter that lays flat could get water through the joints due to capillary action

 

[billconner]

I was thinking one piece, 2 rails, 4 wheels. And it could be water tight but harder to make air type.

Many times smaller but not much different than some stadium roofs, which are multi part, each overlapping when closed.

Easier to make water tight if it could be at ridge, or up against a taller wall, and kind of "counter flashed".

 

[Nicks garage]

I was thinking one piece, 2 rails, 4 wheels. And it could be water tight but harder to make air type.

Many times smaller but not much different than some stadium roofs, which are multi part, each overlapping when closed.

Easier to make water tight if it could be at ridge, or up against a taller wall, and kind of "counter flashed".

This is similar to my initial idea when I built mine but decided to take another direction because mine also lifts to give more height.. I was going to use gate track and rollers

 

[DrinkMan]

A quick search uncovered some companies that make them for restaurants and commercial buildings. They are known as 'retractable roofs'. I have zero experience with them but when I read your post, I was intrigued and wondered how to do one as well.

https://www.shadefxcanopies.com/retractable-roofs/

 

[nadogail]

Rain Tight is possible; Water Tight is extremely doubtful. Physical Security against forced entry will be a difficult proposition.

 

[Monza Harry]

This will also a require a pretty frequent maintenance program, weather stripping annually I would think. With an intragal counter flashing with more weather stripping +/-. Harry

 

[Jacko264]

Hi all
thankyou for all the great ideas I will have to have a good think about It and see what I can come up with
Graham

 

[CraigStu]

Would a hinged roof work? I am thinking like an old fashioned shoe box lid. Hinged on one side and some type of hydraulic rams to lift the other side. If the outside edges dropped down 6-8 inches over the wall, it could be pretty water tight.

 

[mcbane]

Regarding your security concern, perhaps install a heavy metal screen below the part that retracts. If laws in your area are as crazy as California that would also protect you from liability if a burglar falls and is injured while trying to steal your property.

 

[Skiff Builder]

In the 80's I made a 12x16 gable roof shed for a family. The whole asphalt shingle roof and gable wall assembly, above the top plate, rolled entirely clear of the building in the 16' direction. I used galvanized sliding barn door hardware, inverted, joined and supported beyond the building with 6x6 posts and beams. It was rolled manually, as it was only opened once a year for a holiday period. Rolled very well and with it's generous roof overhangs sealed against wet weather. It was a huge hit with the customer and led to many others being built in the community. People wanted to go up in size but I think we limited to 12 x20 max.
In one of the neighborhoods, I saw a couple high end homes with full sliding roofs over the kitchen area.

 

[86turbodsl]

Look at rolling roof observatories. Those guys have these types of roofs all figured out.

 

[billconner]

Look at rolling roof observatories. Those guys have these types of roofs all figured out.

Yup! and stadia.