Apparatus for retrofitting a metal roof

The combination of:

• a roof support structure;
• a plurality of original roof panels supported on the roof support structure and extending adjacent one another to define a predetermined roof area;
• each of the original roof panels being substantially identical to one another;
• each of the original roof panels comprising a plurality of major ribs and a plurality of flat panels extending between the major ribs;
• the major ribs of the original roof panels being spaced apart an identical predetermined distance from the next adjacent major rib;
• each of the major ribs of the original roof panels comprising an upper flat surface and angled surfaces extending angularly downwardly from the upper flat surface to the flat panels of the original roof panel;
• a first plurality of fasteners each extending through one of the flat panels of one of the original roof panels and into the roof support structure for securing the original roof panels to the roof support structure;
• a blanket comprising flexible material overlying the original roof panels and covering substantially the entire roof area;
• a plurality of retro roof panels positioned over the blanket and extending adjacent one another to cover substantially the entire roof area;
• each of the retro roof panels being substantially identical to one another;
• each of the retro roof panels comprising a plurality of dual tier major ribs and a plurality of flat panels extending between the dual tier major ribs;
• the dual tier major ribs of the retro roof panels each being spaced apart from adjacent dual tier major ribs thereof by a distance equal to the spacing between the major ribs of the original roof panels;
• each dual tier major rib of the retro roof panels comprising a head portion including an upper flat surface and angled surfaces extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper flat surface and two shoulder portions located on opposite sides of the head portion and each comprising a flat surface intersected by the angled surfaces extending downwardly from the upper surface of the head portion and an angled surface extending downwardly from the flat surface of the shoulder portion and intersecting the flat panels of the retro roof panels;
• the head portions of the dual tier major ribs of the retro roof panels each being positioned in alignment with a major rib of one of the original roof panels;
• and
• a second plurality of fasteners each extending through the head portion of one of the dual tier rib portions of one of the retro roof panels, through the blanket, and through the underlying major rib of one of the original roof panels to secure the retro roof panels in engagement with the original roof panels.