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View Full Version : Material For Gable Roof Vents??



harold_weber
07-28-2008, 08:00 PM
Got a customer that wants gable roof vents with about 60-70% open area - I figure I can cut some scroll patterns, but I'd like to hear some thoughts on the best material to use. They will be painted a solid color and have screening on the inside to keep birds/animals/bugs out. The only thing that comes to my mind is Extira, and it sounds like that needs to be sealed with a thinned epoxy and is nasty stuff to work with.

dray
07-28-2008, 08:36 PM
MDO

Gary Campbell
07-28-2008, 09:01 PM
Harold...
We have cut some out of PVC Foam Board in layers. (4) They were a Palm tree type of design. Due to the size (3ft. dia.) we added stiffners and a drain tray to the back.
Gary

harold_weber
07-28-2008, 09:31 PM
Danny, when I searched MDO on this forum folks were saying not to expose the inner plys of MDO signage to the weather because there are going to be lots of voids in the inner plys that will need to be filled and sealed. Is there some easy way to get around that like painting the edges of the cut-thrus with thinned epoxy?

Gary, if you put stiffeners on the back, would you break up the screening or just put the stiffeners on top of it? Also, not familiar with drain trays - how do you keep insects out of the drain line/hole exits? I could imagine mud wasps plugging them up with their nests.

Gary Campbell
07-28-2008, 09:59 PM
Harold..
We were supplied a 3d file to fabricate & cut.

The tray was about 2" deep in the center and was mounted in back and unseen. There was a small hole drilled up at an angle to allow the rain that collected in it to drain out.

We made some 3/4" by 2 stiffners for them to screw on after painting and screening. The foamboard was a good media for the design, but not the toughest in a 100 mph windload area.

BTW... I did not see this painted or installed.
Gary

dray
07-28-2008, 10:18 PM
MDO is the next best thing to marine ply.. There are a few small voids here or there, but the laminate glue they use is waterproof. They make FWY signs out of MDO. you can use some epoxyy/cabosil or just an exterior filler or maybe nothing if you don't run into any voids.

We just finished remodeling the Benihana here in Newport Beach Ca, I used MDO on all the exterrior light screens (lighted screen with graphic overlay)

I dont remember seeing any voids off the top of my head.

I think marine ply is maybe 10-15% more costly but solid throughout and alot of places sell 1/2 sheets.

zeykr
07-28-2008, 11:15 PM
Harold, You might look at some of the PVC trim boards such as Kleer, AZEK, or Tanza. I've just started buying Kleer in sheet form - It comes with or without woodgrain on one side and cuts pretty good. It's a lot like the expanded PVC from a sign supply but has a density more like that of pine.

I've seen photos of soffet (sp?) vents made from it.

bcammack
07-29-2008, 09:23 AM
"We just finished remodeling the Benihana here in Newport Beach Ca"

Darn it, Danny, you're making me all nostalgic this morning.
Is the El Torito still over by the airport? Ever been to the Harbor House Cafe in Sunset Beach? (the place just south of the bridge where there's a phone booth with a small billboard on top showing Superman flying out of it?) Heck, I don't even know if it's still there anymore...

dray
07-29-2008, 11:50 AM
Yes.. El Torito still there and yes we have breakfast at harbor house on Sundays.

I Grew up in Sunset Beach.. In my drinking days we used to stay at a beer bar "mothers" all night then goto Harbor house to re-kindle our livers lol..

harold_weber
07-29-2008, 09:29 PM
Thanks for the suggestions. A sheet of 3/4 inch AZEK is $157 locally. The nearest place that sells PVC foamboard is a 120 mile round trip. Found a sheet of MDO with a couple of small indentations from steel strapping on one side for $5 in the "Bargain Bin" at Menards. Customer wants to go with the MDO, and he will be responsible for finishing and installation.

bill.young
07-29-2008, 09:42 PM
Hey guys,

As with most things, MDO can range in quality from really nice to pretty mediocre. Here's a link to a pdf with info on some of the available flavors.

http://www.olypanel.com/common/pdf/How%20to%20Choose%20Sign%20Board%20-%208-07.pdf

Bill

jseiler
07-30-2008, 12:16 AM
Harold,

Who sells azek sheet locally to us? I'm in bloomington.

You can always run the 20 minute boil test on a scrap piece of MDO to see if the laminating glue is actually waterproof.

John

harold_weber
07-30-2008, 09:06 AM
Thanks Bill. I don't see any inner-ply voids along the side of the sheet I bought, but it is not the better grade, which according to your sheet, has a hardwood ply under the resin paper.

John, Brands is back in business with a new building after their fire and they carry AZEK.