Installing Roof Panels and Related Trim on your VersaTube Garage

The roof panels are designed to overhang the edge of the eave trim you installed previously by two inches. Install a screw partially in the eave end of the rear most roof truss on one side so that the head is two inches past the eave trim. Do the same on the front of the building on the same side and then attach a string tightly between the two screws – this string will be used to align the bottoms of the roof panels.

Measure the length of a roof panel and then pull the same measurement up from your string to the peak of the roof on the rear most roof truss. Install a screw in the outside face of the roof truss and tie another string to the screw. Repeat at the front of the building and pull the string tight on this screw. This will line up the tops of the roof panels on that side of the roof.

Repeat the above steps on the other side of the roof.

Installing the roof panels works best if someone is on an extension ladder near the peak of the roof, another helper is on a stepladder near the center of the roof and a third person is on the ground to hand up panels. Once the panel is on the roof, the third person should situate a stepladder at the eave so they can line up the bottom of the panel with the lower string. Start at the rear of the garage and work toward the front when installing panels.

The first panel should line up with the outer edge of the last roof truss and both the top and bottom strings. Once the panel is situated properly, it can be secured with color coordinated screws with rubber washers. There should be a screw on each side of the primary ribs wherever they cross the roof purlins. Don’t screw the last rib until the next roof panel is put in place and overlapped.

Don’t be alarmed if the roof panels don’t reach all the way to the peak of the building – that’s the way they’re designed and a trim piece will be used to cover the gap.

Continue installing panels until you reach the front of the building taking care that each sheet is lined up carefully with the top and bottom strings. It’s a good idea to measure the leading edge of at least every other panel to the next framing member to ensure your installation is straight.

When one side is complete, start at the rear of the building and install the panels on the other side. Check to ensure all screws are in place as it’s very easy to miss a rib.

Your VersaTube kit will have a roll of butyl caulk which looks like a thick tape. As you unroll the caulk you’ll see it has a strip on both sides to protect the adhesive quality of the caulk. Peel the strip from one side of the caulk and install the caulk on the first primary roof panel rib in from the front of the building on both sides of the roof. Pressing down on the caulk should hold it in place – do not peel the top strip off at this time.

The gable trim is shipped in 14 foot lengths and how it is arranged on the building depends on your building’s width – consult your VersaTube instructions for recommendations for your particular garage.

The center piece of gable trim at the peak of the roof will need to be notched and bent to mimic the roof’s pitch – follow the illustrations in your instructions for this step. Once the trim is configured, remove the top strip from the butyl caulk and press the trim into place. The face of the trim should be up against the ribs of the siding panels on the front of the building and the top of the trim should be tight against the butyl caulk on the roof panel rib.

Measure and cut the other gable trim sections so that they extend from the end of the first trim section installed down to the eave trim at the bottom of the roof. The end of the gable trim sections should be flush with the outside edge of the eave trim.

The bottom sections of gable trim should be cut long enough that they overlap the ends of the initial peak section about 3 inches. Slide these sections under the ends of the initial section so that the first piece overlaps the lower sections.

Once all the gable trim is in place and aligned properly, secure it with color coordinated screws with rubber washers by drilling into the ribs of the roof and siding panels. Placing a screw every other rib on the siding and at about the same spacing on the roof should suffice.

Measure the width of your ridge cap and then mark your roof at the front gable where the outside edges of the ridge cap will sit. Make sure your tape measure is lined up so the center of the measurement is at the very peak of the roof – if your cap is 14 inches wide, the 7 inch point will be at the roof’s peak.

Repeat your measurement and marks at the back gable and then run a chalk line from the front to the back of the roof at each mark and snap a line. When finished, there should be two chalk lines that run the length of the roof.

Install the butyl caulk filler strips along each line keeping them about 1/8 inch above the line. The strips are notched so they fit over each roof panel rib snugly and the ends interlock where splices must be made. The adhesive on the strips should keep them in place when the protective tape is removed.

When the strips have been installed along both lines, begin installing the ridge cap by working from the back of the building to the front. The cap should extend out past the gable trim about an inch and overlaps should be about three inches. Where overlaps are located a flat piece of butyl caulk should be installed on the top of the bottom piece of trim before the top piece is put in place.

Secure the ridge cap with color coordinated screws with rubber washers drilled into the roof panel ribs on both sides of the trim near the bottom edge – a fastener every other rib should suffice.