Solid Roof

[jerseyvillager]

Does anyone have any experience with bird cages and/or Pergolas that are constructed with some sort of solid roof? I would like to sit out and listen to the rain.

[Ooper]

I have noticed some birdcages in our neighborhood getting retrofitted with canvas tops. Can't offer any pros or cons on them, though.

[DangeloInspections]

I'm not sure if this is what you are interested in, but here is a screen room I just added on last month. It has a 5" solid foam composite roof with shingles glued on top. It is maintenance free. It is 24' wide by 14' deep.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/DSCN5917_zps6cd0bed9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/faithfulFrank/media/DSCN5917_zps6cd0bed9.jpg.html)

[gomoho]

What an interesting concept - I assume this is permissible as far as the building code, but curious how it would react in a hurricane. And seems more economical so why isn't this type of roofing more widely used???

[patfla06]

I'm not sure if this is what you are interested in, but here is a screen room I just added on last month. It has a 5" solid foam composite roof with shingles glued on top. It is maintenance free. It is 24' wide by 14' deep.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/DSCN5917_zps6cd0bed9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/faithfulFrank/media/DSCN5917_zps6cd0bed9.jpg.html)

Very nice!

[njbchbum]

What an interesting concept - I assume this is permissible as far as the building code, but curious how it would react in a hurricane. And seems more economical so why isn't this type of roofing more widely used???

we have it in n.j. on our solarium [southern exposure] and it withstood superstorm sandy...same storm took down ground level stockade fence and blew out 2nd story bedroom window.

[DangeloInspections]

I do not have the specs in front of me, but it more then satisfied all of the building codes and specs. Each panel was 4'wide by 14' long and needed to only be supported by the end walls and one center beam. I remember they could have been up to around 20' long before you would need a middle support beam. I designed it with a 5/12 pitch to match the rest of the house.

Walking on it was no problem as it did not have any bounce in it at all. I have felt more bounce on the roofs I inspect everyday.

Frank

[casita37]

When we had our birdcage installed, one of the options offered was an aluminun roof with some architectural details to make it appealing. We didn't....we we had! It was just a small amount more for the roof vs the screen top. Now we are considering a canvas (or coolaroo) cover, which will cost much more, as an after-thought, then if we had just gone with the roof.

[DangeloInspections]

For those interested, here is a picture of the inside of the roof. I preferred this over a birdcage, as I did not want the rain to come in from above. I did not want to worry about repainting, cracks, etc down the road. I just finished installing the vinyl beadboard on the top inside gable portion, (the triangle on top) last night. That also was screened, but I wanted to cover it so now I can install Coolaroo shades on the rest of the screening. Down the road if I want the framing is designed to accept glass sliding windows. For now my wife preferred screens which lowered the cost. The solid roof comes in different thicknesses and lengths. It is aluminum all around with foam inside. It locks together and is watertight. The shingles were only added for looks, not need.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/535d52a8-3c3b-4283-8300-3f8854a13e0b_zps7ece52b9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/faithfulFrank/media/535d52a8-3c3b-4283-8300-3f8854a13e0b_zps7ece52b9.jpg.html)

[vj1213]

We had one of the tent like roofs installed on our birdcage. We love it. My husband sits out often when it is raining and stays nice and dry.

[asianthree]

For those interested, here is a picture of the inside of the roof. I preferred this over a birdcage, as I did not want the rain to come in from above. I did not want to worry about repainting, cracks, etc down the road. I just finished installing the vinyl beadboard on the top inside gable portion, (the triangle on top) last night. That also was screened, but I wanted to cover it so now I can install Coolaroo shades on the rest of the screening. Down the road if I want the framing is designed to accept glass sliding windows. For now my wife preferred screens which lowered the cost. The solid roof comes in different thicknesses and lengths. It is aluminum all around with foam inside. It locks together and is watertight. The shingles were only added for looks, not need.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/faithfulFrank/535d52a8-3c3b-4283-8300-3f8854a13e0b_zps7ece52b9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/faithfulFrank/media/535d52a8-3c3b-4283-8300-3f8854a13e0b_zps7ece52b9.jpg.html)

nice look inside

[DEWRDW]

Does anyone know who installs vinyl on a birdcage roof instead of the canvas - thank you.

[graciegirl]

Does anyone know who installs vinyl on a birdcage roof instead of the canvas - thank you.

The photograph above is a home not in The Villages.

You can do anything with ARC approval.

I am dubious because I haven't seen any birdcages here on campus with roofs. They probably would allow that integration if the roof line of the extension was designed to be part of the home, making it a screened in porch.

But building a birdcage with a roof or an extension jutting out with a roof isn't something I have seen here.

Like I said. If you get permission from ARC, you can do it, if you do it without their permission they can force you to remove it if it isn't up to standards.

But you can paint your house any color, go figure.

[DEWRDW]

Has anyone placed a vinyl cover over bird cage roof instead of canvas - if so, who does this? thanks

[DangeloInspections]

Gracie, I have seen composite roofs over lanai/screenrooms in The Villages. A beautiful one has recently been done in the Mission Hills area off of a newer courtyard villa. I inspected it and was very impressed.....it gave me the inspiration to do mine. Gracie, you know I'm too nice of a guy to ever post something that someone could not do...:p

The company that did it was Bryan Terry Vinyl. They did a great job, complete with electrical, flat screen outdoor TV, etc. They did the roof just like mine, a composite roof with glued on asphalt shingles.

As to DEWRDW's question, I do not know of any vinyl roof made. If you are referring to a composite roof, they are made of aluminum on the outside with foam in the middle. They come in thicknesses from 3' to over 5". Many aluminum birdcage contractors do them. I'm told Bryan Terry Vinyl is one of the best. T&D, Lake Square Aluminum, etc are a few others.

Enjoy! Frank

[graciegirl]

Gracie, I have seen composite roofs over lanai/screenrooms in The Villages. A beautiful one has recently been done in the Mission Hills area off of a newer courtyard villa. I inspected it and was very impressed.....it gave me the inspiration to do mine. Gracie, you know I'm too nice of a guy to ever post something that someone could not do...:p

The company that did it was Bryan Terry Vinyl. They did a great job, complete with electrical, flat screen outdoor TV, etc. They did the roof just like mine, a composite roof with glued on asphalt shingles.

As to DEWRDW's question, I do not know of any vinyl roof made. If you are referring to a composite roof, they are made of aluminum on the outside with foam in the middle. They come in thicknesses from 3' to over 5". Many aluminum birdcage contractors do them. I'm told Bryan Terry Vinyl is one of the best. T&D, Lake Square Aluminum, etc are a few others.

Enjoy! Frank

I had not seen a roofed birdcage. I had seen screen porches integrated into homes. I am sorry for my error Frank.

[vj1213]

Sunshine Awnings does the covers for bird cages. Cody Sellars 352-787-4436
Home Page (http://www.sunshineawnings.com)

[Villages Kahuna]

Does anyone have any experience with bird cages and/or Pergolas that are constructed with some sort of solid roof? I would like to sit out and listen to the rain.The best way to answer your question is to go down to the Sumter County Building Department, right across from the County Annex building on CR 466.

Here's what I think you'll find:

Screened birdcages are highly engineered structures requiring specific sized members, cable tie-downs, etc.

A licensed and bonded professional engineer is required to sign off on any birdcage design in order to get a building permit issued by the county.

Any subsequent modifications to a birdcage should be permitted to assure that the strength and integrity of the original design has not been impaired.

A building permit to either place a roof (even canvas) or enclosure around an existing birdcage absolutely requires a building permit. If a contractor suggests otherwise he is putting the validity of his own bond (if he has one) and your homeowner's insurance policy at risk.

Having said this, I checked into the cloth roof option myself. What I found was that without substantial re-engineering of the birdcage structure itself, the existing structure was not even close to being capable of withstanding the additional forces created by the "sail effect" of a cloth roof on top of a standard screened birdcage.

Do you see such projects around The Villages? Sure. Have they all been built with an amended building permit? Highly doubtful. Has the homeowner exposed himself to fairly substantial structural and financial risk by permitting such a structure to be built without re-engineering and a proper building permit? Probably.

I'd suggest a visit to the building department. They definitely have your interest at heart. The contractor trying to get you to sign a contract doesn't.

[DangeloInspections]

The best way to answer your question is to go down to the Sumter County Building Department, right across from the County Annex building on CR 466.

Here's what I think you'll find:

Screened birdcages are highly engineered structures requiring specific sized members, cable tie-downs, etc.

A licensed and bonded professional engineer is required to sign off on any birdcage design in order to get a building permit issued by the county.

Any subsequent modifications to a birdcage should be permitted to assure that the strength and integrity of the original design has not been impaired.

A building permit to either place a roof (even canvas) or enclosure around an existing birdcage absolutely requires a building permit. If a contractor suggests otherwise he is putting the validity of his own bond (if he has one) and your homeowner's insurance policy at risk.

Having said this, I checked into the cloth roof option myself. What I found was that without substantial re-engineering of the birdcage structure itself, the existing structure was not even close to being capable of withstanding the additional forces created by the "sail effect" of a cloth roof on top of a standard screened birdcage.

Do you see such projects around The Villages? Sure. Have they all been built with an amended building permit? Highly doubtful. Has the homeowner exposed himself to fairly substantial structural and financial risk by permitting such a structure to be built without re-engineering and a proper building permit? Probably.

I'd suggest a visit to the building department. They definitely have your interest at heart. The contractor trying to get you to sign a contract doesn't.

Good post. I assumed that would always be done without question. My addition was, and had to be designed and approved by an architect with the plans stamped and approved and permitted by Lake county. I would think that any GOOD contractor would have it no other way, as they would be fined and possibly lose their license. Of course, I would also think that the ARC would also require building department permits and approval.

It is always wise to get ARC and building department approval and permits for anything you do. Any contractor who does not do these things should never be hired, as you are asking for trouble if you do. Sub-standard work is dangerous and most always ends up costing more in money, stress, safety and sometimes worse.

[judynlee]

We're thinking of the same thing, who did yours?
Lee

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Those roof panels are called SIP's. They are very strong and have been around for a long time. Really the best way to go if you want a solid roof.

[dbevins]

Who did the install?

[Vernster]

Could you give a rough estimate on the cost of this roof done by a professional on about the same size birdcage as yours ?
Thank you.

[dbevins]

Those roof panels are called SIP's. They are very strong and have been around for a long time. Really the best way to go if you want a solid roof.

Do you know who installs them in The Villages?

[herbaru]

Who did the install?

Yes, I would like to know too.
OP please share a contact?

[TraceyMooreRN]

I was so confused when my mother told me she bought a house with a Lanai--when I arrived to buy my own home in TV, I said "Mom- essentially you have a screen porch on a concrete slab"

I haven't seen any birdcages with roofs--only Lanai (screen porch on slab :icon_wink: ).

I am having a ton of trouble with dirt water in my screen porch. Guessing I have to enclose the bottom section? Not sure--looking for some ideas and photos on that idea.