Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
You think: Aha! We go: ha, ha.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, best, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                   

Umbrella Roof

 Mary Poppins Comes Home To Roost
  (+2)
(+2) 		  [vote for,
against]

I hated asphalt roofing from the time before I ever knew there were any alternatives. I've used asphalt, cedar, and metal roofing and one thing I've learned about roofs is that nothing lasts forever. Given that, I started wondering, what was so magical about 20 or 25 years, the duration of a reasonable roof? We paint our houses ever few years, why should we ask our roofs (rooves?) to be maintenance free for four or five times as long? And why must they be so damned *ugly*?

Walking in the rain in Beijing recently, I was struck by the amazing array of choice in umbrellas here-- Rainbowed, striped, polka dotted, solid colors out the whazoo, and it struck me that built a bit more robustly, and stuck into sockets similar to those used for flags, one could simply cover one's roof with umbrellas, and have a beautiful, and very personal effect if so desired.

For the imagination free, hundreds of black umbrellas. For my 12-year-old's choice, a roof that spelled out ALIENS LAND HERE, for the nationalist of any nation, a variation on the country's flag-- Sure, you'd want to cover the sheathing with something reasonably waterproof-- asphaltic paper, ice and water shield, roll roofing (a heavier version of the first choice)-- so that dribbles would roll downhill and off. But you wouldn't have to *look* at it.

Would you have to fool around with it more than an ordinary roof? Almost certainly, but so what, that's what ladders and staging are for. Either you could go up every year or two or three (depending upon climate and the robustness of the cloth mostly) and replace damaged umbrellas, or change the pattern and color scheme, or else have someone do it for you. Change your roomate? Change your roof from TAMMY AND PETE FOREVER to SINGLE AGAIN. Election year? VOTE SMEDLEY! in patriotic colors... It wouldn't cost all that much more and it would make houses both more attractive and fun. Cloth, I think should be something like the fabric used for awnings, tents or boat cushions. The handles perhaps fiberglas or other composite. The ribs, beefed up a bit, but weight's not really a cause for concern. The main problem, as with so many great ideas, is getting your Other Half to agree to it in the first place....

—hulot, Dec 01 2003


Please log in.
If you're not logged in, you can see what this page looks like, but you will not be able to add anything.



Annotation:







       I dunno. Awnings and boat covers don't last as long as even cheap roofs. I'm thinking of a few problems here: UV fading/deterioration, wind and the big killer: snow.
—Cedar Park, Dec 02 2003
   

       Waterproof shadesail cloth works quite well.
—UnaBubba, Dec 02 2003
   

       Yeah, Cedar Park, most cloth doesn't last as long as a cheap roof, but so what? "Permanent" roofs aren't permanent, and umbrella roofs would be even less so, but they'd be easy to fix, and they'd be nicer to look at. Sure, UV, wind, rain, and snow are all issues, but people still use awnings, tents, rag top cars and other cloth. Shoot, a lot of traditional wooden boats use canvas for decking-- and that gets rougher use than a roof.
—hulot, Dec 03 2003
   

       What goes up a chimney down but not down a chimney up?
—dobtabulous, Dec 03 2003
   

       Hurricane-tested, or would I float away with Poppins?
—RayfordSteele, Dec 03 2003
   

       a chimney sweep's brush - heh
—po, Dec 03 2003
   

       //but so what?// People get a bit nervous when it comes to water falling down on all of their possessions.   

       That being said, I think this could be a good idea as a roof cover - something that might make your roof last longer that you replace every few years. Make mine look like snow.
—Worldgineer, Dec 03 2003
   

       People need to relax about the whole water on their possessions thing... But really, roll roofing all by itself is a very servicable roof. But it's hell to look at. The umbrellas would keep most of the water off, and the dribbles and drops that dripped through would be as nothing to the real roof. In fact, they would make the roofing last longer than it ordinarily would, taking the brunt of weather and sun.
—hulot, Dec 03 2003
   

       There are some fabric roof buildings already built, but it is one large piece of fabric. I think they use fibreglass for fire resistance and wind strenght.
—eengineer, Mar 29 2004
   


 

back: main index
business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle