Vinyl roofing, also called PVC roofing, provides a durable, water-resistant roof covering for carports. Standard 2-by-10-foot sheets are available in a range of colors, styles and thickness, or gauge. Cutting vinyl roof panels for a carport is similar to cutting them for other applications because it's necessary to avoid chipping the material. Lighter gauge sheets may be cut to length or trimmed with sheet metal scissors. Thicker gauge sheets are cut to size using a procedure that eliminates the possibility of chipping the material.
Position two sawhorses parallel and 5 feet apart on a flat surface, such as a garage floor or patio. Place a 2-by-8-foot strip of plywood atop the sawhorses and center it each way. Place a piece of vinyl roofing flat on the plywood.
Measure from one end of the piece, and mark the location of the desired cut at one edge with a felt-tip marker. Mark another location of the cut at the opposite edge. Align one edge of a straight piece of 1-by-4-inch pine board with the marks. Use the edge of the wood as a guide, and mark a continuous line across the face of the vinyl roofing.
Set up a circular saw with a fine-tooth blade, such as 60-tooth or 80-tooth blade. Measure the distance from the side of the blade to the corresponding edge of the saw's table. Typically, this measurement is 1 inch with a home-use saw.
Make additional marks at each edge of the roofing material, 1 inch from the continuous line. Reposition the 1-by-4-inch board so one edge aligns with these new marks. Secure the roofing material to the plywood with a spring clamp at each end of the 1-by-4.
Adjust the exposed portion of the saw blade that protrudes below the saw's table to the height of the corrugated ribs on the roofing material. Do this by loosening the adjustment lever at the rear of the saw and adjusting the table by hand. Tighten the adjustment lever. Check the measurements of the exposed portion of the blade and ribs to make sure they are the same. Readjust the table, if necessary.
Put on safety glasses. Rest the front edge of the saw's table on the edge of the roofing material so the side of the saw's table is against the edge of the 1-by-4. Start the saw. Observe the edge of the saw's table and make sure it remains against the corresponding edge of the 1-by-4 as you cut the piece of roofing material at the continuous line.
Remove the spring clamps and the 1-by-4. Smooth the cut end of the roofing piece with a sanding block before installing the piece on the roof.
Things You Will Need
- 2-by-8-foot plywood
- Measuring tape
- Felt-tip marker
- 1-by-4-inch pine or fir
- Spring clamps
- Safety glasses
- Circular saw with fine-tooth blade
- Sanding block
- Use the same procedure and a longer 1-by-4 to trim a long edge of vinyl roofing.
- Always use full-length panels at the lower portion of the roof. Cut the upper panels, as necessary, and overlap them a minimum of 4 inches onto the next lowest panel.
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