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Roof without plywood or vapor barrier

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Guest User
8/11/2009
We just built a 16'x16' shed, that will be converted into a guest house in a year or two. Our contractor installed a metal roof, but he put it directly on 2x4's attached to the rafters. The 2x4's are 3 1/2 feet apart in some places. There is no vapor barrier or underlayment. When inside the building, we see metal and wood (and sunlight) when we look up. Is this the proper way to install the roof, especially when we know we will convert it to living space? Do we need the vapor barrier and decking? I don't know the pitch of the roof, but it is steep. Like a barn roof. Just to make this story interesting, just days after he finished the building, we had a very strong storm. The wind caught one of the panels and blew/rolled it over to the other side, almost like a sardine can. Needless to say, it is ruined. So now we wonder if we need to remove the whole thing and start over.
Todd Miller
Isaiah Industries, Inc.
8/13/2009
Most metal roofing manufacturers, for this application, will suggest decking and underlayment. You may get by with just venting the attic well and putting a vapor barrier behind your ceiling. You could also spray the entire attic cavity with polyicynene insulation.
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