Barn and outbuilding roofing around Atlanta and the east side

Barns and equipment sheds usually get exposed-fastener metal panels, which go on quickly over open purlins and handle storms well when fastened properly. We check the purlins for rot and spacing and replace what is weak. New panels go on with sealing-washer screws in the flat or on the rib, as the panel maker specifies. Where hay, feed or equipment needs to stay dry and condensation drips from the underside, we add a vapor barrier or a vented ridge. Foam closures at the eaves keep birds and wasps from nesting under the panel ends.

Detached garages and workshops near the house often deserve a better-looking roof. We install exposed-fastener panels in a color that matches the house, or standing seam where the building is visible from the street. On garages with a deck, the panels go over underlayment like a house roof; on open-framed shops, over purlins with condensation control. We add gutters where water runs off in front of a door. Trim and ridge colors match the panels so the building looks finished, not patched.

Carports and lean-tos are where wind does the most damage, because air gets underneath an open structure and lifts the panels from below. We fasten panels more heavily at the eaves and edges and close the ends with trim. We also check that the posts and beams are tied down well enough to hold the roof. On older carports with sound panels but rusted or loose screws, a full re-screw with new sealing washers is often all it takes to stop the leaks.