Raise the Roof
Posted by ReadyMade
Written by Riane Menardi
Hit Shingles! Unplayable vinyl records get a new lease on life.
After receiving more than 100 vinyl records from a 70-year-old couple, Matt Glassmeyer put them to good use as a roof for his porch in Nashville. To test their durability, he left the records outside. “After two years in the rain, heat, and snow, I cleaned a few off,” Glassmeyer says. “They were the same—no brittleness or warping. They were still shiny, even.” Here’s how to make a roof in one weekend for under $200.
Skill Level
Moderate
Active Time
One day
Cost
$$
- Records (Glassmeyer used 338 records, each one just under 12 inches in diameter, for his 144-square-foot roof)
- Silicone caulk
Materials
- Roofing nails (one for each record) Vinyl washers (one for each record)
- Tools
- Tape measure, caulk gun, hammer
Tools
Starting at the lowest part of the roof, lay records flat in a row, working from left to right, butting each one up against the next. Let the first row overhang by a few inches.
Fill each record hole with a dab of silicone caulk and tack down with a roofing nail and vinyl washer combo.
Offset the second row so that the centers of the records line up with the edges of the records in the first row, like half-round shake shingles. The second row should overlap the first about halfway, covering the open spaces at the top of the first row.
Align the third row with the first row. Create an overhang of 5½ inches on each side of the roof.
Continue to the top of the roof where it meets the house. Make a double layer nearest the house for added waterproofing.
Variations: If your climate calls for more protection from water, overlap the records by more than half. If the roof is in a hot, sunny area, add a second layer of records.
