Building Question-

canadiangirl · #1 01/02/08, 05:47 AM

I want to put a peaked roof onto an older mobile home that has a somewhat flat metal roof. How would I attach the trusses to the existing metal roof? I asked my BIL who did one years ago and he didn't attach it, said the weight would keep it OK. Not good enough for me, we get some good hurricane strength windstorms at times. Thanks.

mdharris68 · #2 01/02/08, 05:52 AM

I've seen em with posts or poles to the ground to make a pole barn structure and you can make it as big as you wish, like adding a carport on one side.

just_sawing · #3 01/02/08, 07:10 AM

Just my opinion don,t. Put post in and suspend the roof over the trialer. THis give enough height to attach a porch roof that is difficult with existing low roof of a trailer. This also allows runoff not on the trailer. For astedics you can come down with an apron around the post that is at or below roof height. The trailer roof is at it's weight bearing limit.

Beeman · #4 01/02/08, 07:41 AM

Many older mobiles cannot handle the weight of putting a roof over directly on it.

The Paw · #5 01/02/08, 08:07 AM

I have an older mobile home with an added truss roof. If the walls are 2x4 construction, they should be able to handle the weight. If you are concerned about the weight, you could go with a metal roof on the trusses, which would weigh less than sheathing and asphalt shingles.

I agree that you don't want to just have it sit up there. I would try to lag bolt brackets into the top plate of the sidewalls and fasten the trusses to the brackets. You may have to peel back the existing roof in a test spot to find out exactly where the top plate is, and where to fasten on.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with the pole structure option others have described. You would want it to be fairly beefy construction though, as the wind will be able to get under such a roof, and create quite a bit of lifting force.

Ramblin Wreck · #6 01/02/08, 08:20 AM

What mdharris said. Good luck.

fantasymaker · #7 01/02/08, 08:36 AM

Around here People often build the roof on poles,..................... Then enclose the poles , ........................then add to the shed, ................. then pull the trailer out. .....................all the while telling the tax man House? what house its just a trailer.

If you do this be sure to anchor the bottom of the poles well. After all even with tie straps between truss and pole the poles dont add much weight to the structure.

quietstar · #8 01/02/08, 11:15 AM

If it was me, I would not connect the cover structure to a mobil home. I would build it sturdy and with enough clearance to extract the MH in the future. In Nova Scotia, I
would construct a metal roof pitched to shed snow...Glen

canadiangirl · #9 01/02/08, 12:26 PM

Hmm I never thought about the extra load. There isn't 2x4 construction in most of the home(it's older). Thanks for the thoughts on this. I don't think I can put poles in for a more permanent solution because it is in a rental park. I'm going to have to check out what others have done. I do need to do some roof work in the spring. Someone else suggested to put a lathe type covering and redo the metal. I might end up doing something like this I guess.

ricky · #10 01/02/08, 12:28 PM

I would think the snow load would prohibit you from this project. if you were else where and could id use a 2x6 band bolted to the top sides of the trailer all the way around makeing sure you hit the studs top plate and what ever else strong . then lay the roof out from there and dont sheet it i would use 1x6 across the roof and then metal it. i dont know what year your home was made but if you have two x four studs or two x six it may still be do able