Tips for Sealing a Treehouse Roof

When building a treehouse, one of the most important components is the roof. A well-built, well-protected roof will help the treehouse last for years, so investing in quality materials and performing all the proper steps—like sealing your treehouse roof in Springfield, MA—will give you a treehouse you and your guests or customers can enjoy long into the future.

The big issue to consider is water. When water gets inside treehouse wood, there isn’t going to be the same level of ventilation there would be in homes or commercial buildings. If there’s a breeze or enough sunshine to dry out the wood, then it’s not as large of an issue, but if the wood stays damp for any reason at all, rot can set in, weakening the structural components of the treehouse and potentially making it dangerous for use.

This is why it’s important to keep water away as much as possible, and to seal and waterproof the roof. Here’s an overview of what you should know.

Protecting the roof

As the roof’s purpose is to protect the rest of the structure, it only makes sense that you take the necessary steps to protect the roof itself. Ideally, you should have a roof that is impervious to water and also capable of rapidly repelling it to prevent pools from forming, or ice dams from becoming an issue during the winter.

Part of this is simply a matter of being smart with the construction of the roof. You should never use a flat roof for a treehouse—always have a slope of at least three to five degrees, but preferably more. The best designs will give you at least a 30-degree slope, and preferably closer to 45. Steep pitches are beneficial in areas with harsh winters, where snow buildup can get heavy and collapse a treehouse roof. Having a steep pitch will help to prevent that buildup from occurring.

The types of waterproofing steps you take may depend a bit on the kind of roofing materials you have. Shingles are designed to get wet, swelling while wet and shrinking again as they dry off. It’s important to install them with the proper amount of gap space to address this swelling and shrinking. You can find waterproofing products specifically designed for shingles, and when applying, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s specifications.

Metal roofing is also popular for treehouses, as it does not have the same propensity for leaks as other types of materials. There is a wide range of metal coatings available that are designed for exterior use and should help repel water away from the structure. Metal is one of the best options available on the market if you are hoping to make a waterproof structure. It is also highly durable, and its lightweight nature makes it relatively easy to install.

You can use plywood for a roof, but make sure to cover it with waterproof sheet material, starting with strips at the bottom and overlapping in layers going up to the top. Use as few nails in the plywood as possible to avoid creating punctures where water can get through.

For more information about sealing a treehouse roof in Springfield, MA and to get other treehouse roof tips, contact the experts at R & H Roofing, LLP today.

Categorised in: Commercial Roofing

This post was written by Writer