How do I safely shingle a play house roof?

[Alex Franke]

Hi again -- so as you all probably already know, I'm bulding a play structure for my kids. The top of the play structure is actually going to be a tiny enclosed house with a steep roof (forming an equilateral triangle, roughly 20:12). I'm framing the roof with 2x4's and I'm planning on putting some 1/4" plywood over that, then some roofing paper, then some shingles.

The problem is that I don't want all the nails to come through where they might scrape up the kids inside.

Any ideas?

[movnup]

The galvinized roofing nails I have always used were 1 1/4 inch going through two sheets of 3/4 outdoor ply laid horizontally / vertically / paper /shingles. Even 1/2 inch on one layer seems light to me to support the load (snow, shingles, ect.) If you want to take that chance with kids inside you could always cut off the nail with an angle grinder with a thin cutting blade (I have the $40 4 inch Ryobi from HD with a $1.50 thin blade and they cut nails really fast and flush).

There's a lot of info on roofing techiniques on the web as I'm building a garden tool add-on to my house late this summer (hopefully) and have been looking at some unique roof designs and how to build them which it sounds like you have.

[jcrenick]

Why not use a metal or other style panel roofing system that you could screw into the purlins? I recently framed and roofed my shop with a metal roof and was very pleased with how easy and fast it went.

Just a thought.

[Pappy]

Put a ceiling in it from bead board or 1/4 ply.

[gerti]

I'd rethink the 1/4" ply, that will not give much holding power for the nails (consider wind). Maybe go for 1/2", or cheap 3/4" OSB.

Roofing nails go down to at least 7/8".

Either way, you could add the ply, then add some 1x firing material on the inside and another layer of ply. That gives you a 1+ inch thickness, enough to swallow them nails.

[LCHIEN]

Just a few wild thoughts, trying to think outside the box.
This is a play house, I assume a tree-house kind of thing, not a miniature house with furnishings and carpet and wallboard etc.
I assume we want to make it somewhat rain resistant so the kids can play in a shower but won't worry about keeping out driving rain and even keeping the roof on during a hurricane.

So that said, I think a 1/4" or 3/8" ply underlayment roof might work - the span and wind requirements being less call for a less strong underlayment.
Next, the nails poking out the bottom will be a real danger to kids.
Consider these alternatives:
(1) Asphalt shingles and construction adhesive.
(2) Short screws that minimally penetrate the ply but will offer holding power in the ply. More work but its a small roof.
(3) Apply the shingles to the ply before mounting the ply on the roof (except for the ridge row) As a single piece of ply will be used for each half, it will be manageable and no seams. Bend over the nails or use staples and bend over the staples. Attach the roof from inside using Pocket screws. If the ply is too small for pocket screws add rails (for the pocket screws to grab) to the bottom of the plywood before applying the shingles.

[Cheeky]

translucent corrugated plastic roofing might be neat.

shingle panels come in pretty big sizes now. maybe tack it down with roofing cement

[LarryG]

Quarter-inch plywood for the sheathing is WAY too light. Not only is it too thin to provide adequate holding power for the nails, but you'll probably bust it all to pieces when installing the shingles.

For the inside, I'd recommend a variation of Pappy's suggestion: apply a ceiling (in the boat building sense of "ceiling") consisting of some lattice-like strips, say 1/2" x 2" or so, spaced about 1/4" apart. This will allow some air movement through the rafter spaces for ventilation.

[Russianwolf]

Staple the paper to the ply. Mark (with a chalk line) where the framing will be below the ply. Nail on shingles so that the nails go straight into the framing.

If the framing is spaced further apart than you feel is comfortable, use alittle construction adhesive in addition.

Viola, no nails protruding from the ceiling.

[mikel]

I made several of these with 3/4 ply and cut all the nails with a dremel and cut off wheel.

...mikel

[siliconbauhaus]

On my kids playhouse I used 1/4 white perf'd hardboard on the walls and ceiling. Lets the framing breathe and give plenty of places to hang stuff on.

Mind you it seems to get used more as a hold all for crap than the kids playing in it.

[Tom Miller]

Option #27:

Cut pieces of 1" thick foam board to fit between rafters, and push them up into the nails. Size them so that they are friction-fit between the rafters.

I also think the 1/4" ply is a little light for the reasons stated, and also because it'll be flexing all over the place when you try to nail your shingles.

Regards,
Tom

[Ed62]

If you're using 2 X 4s, 16" on center, 7/16" OSB will also work just fine for roof sheathing. OSB is cheaper than plywood (typically), and 7/16" is pretty strong. That's what I used on my garage, and on my addition. I wouldn't use
1/4" ply.

Ed

[Deadhead]

On my kids playhouse I used 1/4 white perf'd hardboard on the walls and ceiling. Lets the framing breathe and give plenty of places to hang stuff on.

Of all the replies, I like this idea the best. It accomplishes several things mentioned in other posts, it quick and easy, plus the white hardboard will help reflect light inside and keep it from being so dark.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

As others have stated, 1/4" sheathing is impossibly thin. You need to use 3/4". You can save money buy using OSB instead of Plywood, but 1/4" ply is going to have practically no snow/ice load andwill collapse within a few years. Additionally, it will sag between the rafters. The nails/staples for the shingles will have a hard time holding.

The hardboard peg board is a good idea for safety/looks. Plus we know the true purpose is tool storage when the kids out grow it. Put the pegboard in now and you don't have to have that discussion with SheBeast 5 years from now.

Oh, ya my kids have spent all of about 1 hour in their playhouse. They WILL use it more this Summer if I have to lock them in there.