| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| Clay tile roof | 11/19/2009 |
Q: What is the expected life span of a clay tile roof? The location is Denver, Colorado, a semi-arid ...
A: Karla, You might get into trouble trying to estimate a roof life on an existing building without ...
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| Clay tile roof | 11/19/2009 |
Q: What is the expected life span of a clay tile roof? The location is Denver, Colorado, a semi-arid ...
A: Klara, The life of your clay tile roof is going to depend on many factors. To start, the average ...
|
| attic furnace & insulation | 11/12/2009 |
Q: I read the question/answer from a Michigan resident with a situation similar to mine, except I do ...
A: Annie, Simply put, in your climate, you really want to make sure that the insulation is on the cold ...
|
| laying flagstone on a rubber membrane outdoor mezzanine | 11/11/2009 |
Q: Can you please tell me the best way to go about laying a flagstone patio on an outdoor rubber ...
A: Marci, Do not attach anything through your roof membrane. Before you bury the membrane, be sure ...
|
| Dark Streaks on Roof | 11/11/2009 |
Q: My roof has dark or even black streaks over most of it running vertically. What can I use to remove ...
A: Don, The black streaking is usually caused by an algae that thrives on the limestone fillers within ...
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| flashing | 11/9/2009 |
Q: i have a problem withrun off water from the roof running in behind the sideing. it's a two level ...
A: Mark, It sounds like you need a diverter flashing, or 'kick out' flashing as the last step flashing ...
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| Metal Roofing Fasteners | 10/31/2009 |
Q: Are there screws made that have better quality washers than EPDM? We are installing roofs in ...
A: Larry, In the recent past EPDM has replaced the old neoprene washers. My experience is that the ...
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| Tongue and Groove Decking | 10/28/2009 |
Q: We are installing a new roof on our house which has tongue and groove ceilings. We scraped all the ...
A: Mel, I need to assume that your roof sheathing and not the ceiling is t%26g sheathing and that you ...
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| i am purchasing commerical building with bur roof | 10/22/2009 |
Q: i am purchasing commercial building with a built up rubber membrane roof which inspector said is in ...
A: Bob, I am probably unable to answer your question in the manner you desire as I do not know what ...
|
| Covering Tar | 10/21/2009 |
Q: I have an old metal roof that has been patched many time. I want to put elastomeric coat over the ...
A: Michele, I would suggest using a metal roof coating such as Karnak 50 that is compatible with ...
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| gable vents and foam insulation of roof line | 10/20/2009 |
Q: i have a 100 yr old house in New England with gable vents. about 4 or 5 feet below the vents is a ...
A: Replace your can lights with "air tight IC can lights" Your local home improvement store will have ...
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| Wet roof insulation board | 10/16/2009 |
Q: I have a leak coming from my new flat roof. There are a few layers of insulation board under the ...
A: Go to www.rci-online.org and look up roof consultants in your area. If they don't perform them, ...
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| different pitches | 10/16/2009 |
Q: What problems are created when roofs of different pitches intersect?
A: Dawson, That depends on what parts of the roofs intersect and how they stop and start, and at what ...
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| ice dams, instalation and ventilation | 10/15/2009 |
Q: I've had water leaks due to ice dams every several years, It is a shallow roof line and very ...
A: Ted, Passive ventilation works best when the principle of hot air rising is employed, which is why ...
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| Floating Deck on EPDM Roof | 10/14/2009 |
Q: What type of preparations would you recommend to a flat EPDM roof for the placement of a floating ...
A: I understand the door clearance issue. Old EPDM should suffice for protection. The seams should be ...
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| Wet roof insulation board | 10/14/2009 |
Q: I have a leak coming from my new flat roof. There are a few layers of insulation board under the ...
A: Jimmy, You ask a difficult question. The amount of water retention is going to depend on the ...
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| flat roof winter leaks | 10/13/2009 |
Q: We live in a 4 story condo building with a flat roof in Chicago. The top unit has had the ...
A: Pat, The best way to alleviate this problem is to insulate your roof on top of the roof deck and ...
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| Floating Deck on EPDM Roof | 10/13/2009 |
Q: What type of preparations would you recommend to a flat EPDM roof for the placement of a floating ...
A: Jim, This is going to depend on the age of the current EPDM roof. If the roof is relatively new, ...
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| metal valleys on asphalt roof | 10/13/2009 |
Q: Ryan, I live in Cleveland, OH and am replacing a tile roof that was destroyed by a tree with a new ...
A: Subba, Metal valleys are better than shingles for several reasons. Debris does not collect in the ...
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| ice dams, instalation and ventilation | 10/11/2009 |
Q: I've had water leaks due to ice dams every several years, It is a shallow roof line and very ...
A: Ted, Do not block off your venting to your attic as it should not be the cause of your ice dams, in ...
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| replacing eave metal | 10/4/2009 |
Q: what is involved in replacing eave metal on a 10 year existing roof?The shingles are in good shape
A: Buddy, The complexity of the project depends on how the eave flashing is installed. The worst case ...
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| flat roof ventilation | 10/2/2009 |
Q: We have a building in eastern Washington with an existing flat (low slope) roof. Built in 1889, we ...
A: Try this link http://www.famcomfg.com/PDFOutput/Globspec.pdf Turbine vents work best when there ...
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| flat roof ventilation | 10/1/2009 |
Q: We have a building in eastern Washington with an existing flat (low slope) roof. Built in 1889, we ...
A: Bill, You ask a critical design question and any answer I provide is most likely not going to apply ...
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| metal roofing | 9/30/2009 |
Q: When installing metal roof for a porch to against the house does the housewrap go under the ...
A: John, You want to have the house wrap from the wall above overlap the vertical leg of any flashings ...
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| Outdoor carpet over rolled rubber roof | 9/8/2009 |
Q: We have a balcony off of our second floor bedroom that is also the ceiling over a downstairs closet. ...
A: Susan, Try your local commercial roofing supplier. They should be able to provide you with some ...
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| Whole house fan venting | 9/3/2009 |
Q: This is a follow up from the "roof venting" question on 9/1. Yes, I am planning on having the ...
A: Scott, I am not a mechanical engineer...so check my math. You have previously stated that you have ...
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| Spray on treatment for roof vs reshingling | 9/2/2009 |
Q: we just had a high pressure salesperson come about a new spray on sealant product with a guarantee ...
A: Kim, To my knowledge, there are no coatings that can successfully extend the life of asphalt ...
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| Roof venting | 9/1/2009 |
Q: I have installed a whole house fan and need about 12 sq. ft. of additional venting space. With the ...
A: Scott, You may consider installing a ridge vent or a series of flanged style roof vents located near ...
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| Roof venting | 9/1/2009 |
Q: I have installed a whole house fan and need about 12 sq. ft. of additional venting space. With the ...
A: Scott, I need a little more information. Do you have roof and soffit vents currently? Fans ...
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| Comp Roof Options & Prices | 8/31/2009 |
Q: I am replacing the roof on my 1950sf two story house. We are going with an asphalt/comp roof and ...
A: Stephanie, I cannot evaluate the price without at least knowing the square footage of the roof, and ...
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| Shingle discoloration - stone coming off | 8/29/2009 |
Q: I have made on offer on a home, and it has been accepted. However, when the home inspection was ...
A: Edward, 1. I am unable to discern whether or not the granules are coming off. If they are, the ...
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| Roof Support and Air Flow | 8/28/2009 |
Q: I have a 100+ year old frame home in Ontario Canada with a steep pitched roof. I am hoping to ...
A: Barry, I like your first option because it sounds like what you really want and would afford you ...
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| roof ventilation | 8/27/2009 |
Q: How many RVO38 vents do I need on top of a (4 or) 5/12 hip roof which measures 29ft. by 45ft. that ...
A: Gail, RVO 38 vents provide 38 square inches "true" net free area. Your roof covers approximately ...
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| Residential Roof Ventilation - Furnace in Attic | 8/27/2009 |
Q: Bruce, I recently purchased a Michigan 1950's colonial with no eaves in need of tear-off roof ...
A: John, If the ice damning is your primary concern, then providing more than the code required ...
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| tear off | 8/24/2009 |
Q: Is there a difference between a dimensional tear off and tear off?
A: Jon, Tear off (roof removal) should be specific to the roof(s) being removed, so based on the ...
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| Roofing- Need to tear off old shingles?? | 8/24/2009 |
Q: We need to re-shingle because of hail & a leak. It only leaks when the wind drives the rain a ...
A: Jo, Remove all of those old roof layers. Typically residential building code only allows for two ...
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| A follow up question | 8/21/2009 |
Q: I noticed another problem while up on the roof. The seam around the edges of the roof appear to be ...
A: Wow, If that is complete...you need to get another roofer, preferably a union contractor or one ...
|
| Rubber roofing question | 8/21/2009 |
Q: Mr. Ryan, We recently had a rubber roof installed on a low slope part of a new addition added to our ...
A: That is very strange. The membrane on the roof deck appears to be loose laid however the wall, or ...
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| Rubber roofing question | 8/20/2009 |
Q: Mr. Ryan, We recently had a rubber roof installed on a low slope part of a new addition added to our ...
A: Patrick, You have stumbled upon a little known fact about rubber roofing (EPDM). I am going to ...
|
| type of shingles and underlayment | 8/20/2009 |
Q: I live in chicago and need my roof replaced. What type of shingles are best for residential use? ...
A: R, Shingles are fine, unless you are really trying to 'do' something. If you are, you should hire a ...
|
| low pitch roofing repair | 8/18/2009 |
Q: I have a low pitch roof which is three levels (4 level split house circa 1970's). It is currently ...
A: Michelle, Yes, the old built up tar and gravel roof system is still alive and well, unless you are ...
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| New roof estimates | 8/17/2009 |
Q: I am a first time home owner in Toronto, Canada. I live in an early 1900's, one and a half storey ...
A: Jay, Take the best parts of all of the quotes and draft a scope of work outlining your ...
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| roof over laying around vents | 8/13/2009 |
Q: I'm over laying my roof, the vents are where I'm stuck, I know at the bottom of the vent the shingle ...
A: Nathan, Hopefully you are installing a new layer of 15 or 30 pound asphalt saturated felt ...
|
| Fumes and charcoal filters | 8/12/2009 |
Q: We are about to undertake a re-roofing project on our building and I have concerns about the fumes ...
A: Leigh, Consult with your mechanical contractor, they should be able to obtain them. You might also ...
|
| low pitch roofing repair | 8/10/2009 |
Q: I have a low pitch roof which is three levels (4 level split house circa 1970's). It is currently ...
A: Michelle, Do not replace your roof until it leaks and stay off of it so you do not break the ...
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| Drip Edge installation - AE - Bruce Ryan | 8/9/2009 |
Q: A friend of mine in Phoenix Arizona tells me that virtually "all" rolled-roofing flat roof ...
A: Lawrence, I can not imagine why in Phoenix that the drip edge flashing would be applied different ...
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| roof shingles | 8/8/2009 |
Q: on a high pitched roof how do you start from the bottom work your way up and not mess up the ...
A: Danny, You really do not want to be on the shingles on a hot day. The asphalt softens and your ...
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| roofing | 8/7/2009 |
Q: We have gotten several estimates to replace (or put a new layer on ) our 35 year old roof. I have ...
A: Generally, for a residence that is already constructed, drilling 2 or 3 2" 'bird' holes in the ...
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| roofing | 8/7/2009 |
Q: We have gotten several estimates to replace (or put a new layer on ) our 35 year old roof. I have ...
A: Berthe, It is better to remove the old roof completely. It gives you the opportunity to inspect ...
|
| Skylight Installation | 8/6/2009 |
Q: I have a couple of questions regarding skylights and condensation. We have had two skylights ...
A: Paul, Many skylights are designed to be installed flat and the internal gutter should be ...
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| follow up roof ventalation problem | 8/4/2009 |
Q: Bruce, you were helping me with my roof problem and I thought it was a ventilation problem above my ...
A: The rafters look like they are on hangers on a beam on top of the glulam. you can see that there is ...
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| roof vents for vaulted ceilings | 8/3/2009 |
Q: I live in Colorado and have a ranch style home built in the mid seventies. I am in the process of ...
A: Bob, Building code requires that the ventilation be there, it is quite clear. I have seen many ...
|
| vaulted ceiling insulation problem | 8/3/2009 |
Q: We have a newer home with a vaulted ceiling. The rafters are 2 x12 on 2 foot centers with R-30 bats ...
A: Your insulation looks like it was installed carefully. If there is no insulation over or above the ...
|
| Wood Storage Roof | 8/3/2009 |
Q: I have an outdoor wood burner and I am building a wood storage building next to the burner (15'x22') ...
A: Robert, There are many criteria that should be used to determine the ideal roof for your particular ...
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| vaulted ceiling insulation problem | 7/31/2009 |
Q: We have a newer home with a vaulted ceiling. The rafters are 2 x12 on 2 foot centers with R-30 bats ...
A: It sure looks like there is some missing or settled insulation in a few areas. Is there a heating ...
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| vaulted ceiling insulation problem | 7/29/2009 |
Q: We have a newer home with a vaulted ceiling. The rafters are 2 x12 on 2 foot centers with R-30 bats ...
A: David, Generally you will get a thermal short at the rafters, so with the frost there are typically ...
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| roof leaks | 7/25/2009 |
Q: My question relates to a flat roof on a 2400 sq ft commercial bldg. Bldg is 30 years old and has ...
A: The consultant should be able to motivate the Manufacturer to uphold the warranty if there is a ...
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| New Roof Needed or Just Repair | 7/23/2009 |
Q: I purchased my home in Miami, FL in June of 2003 and was told that the concrete flat tile roof was ...
A: RC, I am unable to address your specific conditions without looking at it myself; however, I can ...
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| Flat roof that was added on to the main house | 7/22/2009 |
Q: We have a sunroom that was added on and is a flat roof. We constantly have problems with leaks at ...
A: The High definition shingles are fine. They are a laminated shingle that I know of no performance ...
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| Flat roof that was added on to the main house | 7/22/2009 |
Q: We have a sunroom that was added on and is a flat roof. We constantly have problems with leaks at ...
A: Becky, You can't go wrong with the standard hot asphalt roof (nailed base, 2 plies type VI ...
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| Stapling of roofing shingles | 7/20/2009 |
Q: A client of mine is having a roofing problem. Evidently the roofing shingles, installed in 1991, ...
A: Joel, In 1991, most manufacturers did not openly accept the use of staples, however they rarely ...
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| roof leaks | 7/16/2009 |
Q: My question relates to a flat roof on a 2400 sq ft commercial bldg. Bldg is 30 years old and has ...
A: Anil, Find a qualified Roof Consultant that is a professional member of the Roof Consultants ...
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| warranty | 7/15/2009 |
Q: What are the warranty guide lines on standing or ponding water along seams or in the field of ...
A: Darrell, Manufacturer's and the Industry Groups such as the NRCA typically do not consider ponding ...
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| roof paper | 7/13/2009 |
Q: When my house was being built, I signed a work order to have roofing paper installed under the ...
A: Matthew, Yes, absolutely you do. Please be sure that the area that you saw was not on an obscure ...
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| roof jacks | 7/12/2009 |
Q: Can you give me brief instructions on how to use roof jacks. I am re-roofing my house with a ...
A: Al, Roof jacks are nailed into the roof through the plywood sheathing and into the rafter. It is ...
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| Repair for chimney flashing leak | 7/11/2009 |
Q: We had our 52 year old ranch house in Rochester, NY re-roofed six years ago (summer 2003) by a ...
A: Ted, It sounds like you have it pretty well narrowed down to the flashings. It is typical for ...
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| ridge vents | 7/10/2009 |
Q: When putting in a ridge vent is it smart to block off the gable end vents? I hear that keeping them ...
A: Sheila, The ridge vent is intended to work in concert with additional venting provided at lower ...
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| Low pitch snow country roof - material, cost? | 7/6/2009 |
Q: I have a low pitch 1750 sq ft commercial building roof in the mountains of Colorado (lots of ...
A: John, I if you are accessing the roof frequently, and you have the need to shovel snow, then I ...
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| rubber roof patch and coating | 7/6/2009 |
Q: I have a 20 year old rubber roof-flat. It needs patching and coating. It has been patched before ...
A: Richard, You do not ever want to use asphalt products on EPDM (rubber). If all of the old coating ...
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| Low pitch snow country roof - material, cost? | 7/3/2009 |
Q: I have a low pitch 1750 sq ft commercial building roof in the mountains of Colorado (lots of ...
A: John, I would think carefully about going the spray foam route. This system has been around for at ...
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| Roof Coating | 7/2/2009 |
Q: I have a flat rubber roof about 500 s.f. I had a company put on a Silver Coating. What concerns me ...
A: I have no experience with EPDM (rubber) roof membranes being coated with aluminum (silver coating). ...
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| Double-Pitched Valley | 7/1/2009 |
Q: I am reroofing my barn, which has a valley with 2 different roof pitches. It is about a 4:12 near ...
A: Eric, The intersection of the valleys has to be cut. install the membrane on the lower valley ...
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| Sealing plywood under deck. | 6/30/2009 |
Q: I have a deck that goes over a storage area at the back end of my garage that is part of my two ...
A: Keith, If you want the plywood to last and not leak, install it with at least 1/4"per foot to slope ...
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| Modified Bitumen (MP) vs Dura-Last | 6/29/2009 |
Q: Can anyone tell me the long term performance differences, pros/cons of Modified Bitumen (MP) vs ...
A: The Mod Bit system will be more durable now and over the long term. My point was that if you did ...
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| Roof vents | 6/28/2009 |
Q: I own a home in Milwaukee, WI with a hip roof. Would you recommend slant back vents over a ridge ...
A: Mike, My answer depends on how much horizontal ridge you have at the peak of the roof and what the ...
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| Modified Bitumen (MP) vs Dura-Last | 6/27/2009 |
Q: Can anyone tell me the long term performance differences, pros/cons of Modified Bitumen (MP) vs ...
A: Dan, The old roof should be removed regardless of the system you choose. I do not see a whole lot ...
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| Squirels eat asphalt roof? | 6/26/2009 |
Q: Bruce, I live in Minnesota. I recently noticed a large amount of damage to my asphalt roof in the ...
A: Tim, I have never encountered or heard of a condition where squirrels or other animals would chew ...
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| condensation on roof | 6/23/2009 |
Q: I have a house in upstate New York which was built in 1950. with an expansion attic. i.e., the house ...
A: For proper performance the baffles should extend continuously to the ridge and should be full width ...
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| condensation on roof | 6/22/2009 |
Q: I have a house in upstate New York which was built in 1950. with an expansion attic. i.e., the house ...
A: Maxine, It is terrific to hear that you have had the house reviewed and that the basement can be ...
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| condensation on roof | 6/19/2009 |
Q: I have a house in upstate New York which was built in 1950. with an expansion attic. i.e., the house ...
A: Maxine, Condensation is a very complicated condition. There are numerous factors that can modified ...
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| felt | 6/18/2009 |
Q: do you have to use felt under a new roof?
A: Yes if the roof is considered a steep slope roof down to 4:12. Below that to 3:12 you need a double ...
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| wood roof shakes | 6/18/2009 |
Q: can I have wood roofing shakes placed on top of existing asphalt shakes?
A: Jean, The quick answer is yes however; you should know that the new roof installed over an existing ...
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| Wet insulation and rubber roof | 6/17/2009 |
Q: I am replacing the roof on the fellowship hall it is serveral years old and the insulation has ...
A: John, I am assuming that the insulation is fiberglass batt insulation that is located under the ...
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| it's all up there! | 6/16/2009 |
Q: I did spend a bit of time going thru about 3/4 of the questions already asked and I didn't see this ...
A: Lloyd, I always suggest letting your buyer get a quote for the roof replacement so you are not ...
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| Attic Vents | 6/11/2009 |
Q: We had a new roof with a new ridge vent installed about a year and a half ago. Yesterday while ...
A: You ask a difficult question for me to answer from here Joe, You are on the right track to look for ...
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| Min roof pitch / material | 6/8/2009 |
Q: We have a back deck 1 story off the ground that needs the boarding and railing replaced. We are ...
A: Brett, There are no drawbacks to to a low slope roof, other than perhaps aesthetics. They should ...
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| strip or not? | 6/3/2009 |
Q: We have some serious leaks on an 8,000sf flat rubber roof. We had an infra-red scan done & the roof ...
A: Robert, If the expected Building Life exceeds 10-15 years, you will do yourself or the Owner you ...
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| epdm | 6/1/2009 |
Q: What does epdm stand for when the contractor is saying "fully adhered epdm single ply membrane 60 ...
A: Marcia, A fully adhered EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Dimonomer) refers to a carbon black (grey really) ...
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| WET FELT PAPER | 5/29/2009 |
Q: Im doing a major overhaul on my roof. But my 30 lb felt got rained on and before I had a chance to ...
A: Keith, It depends on your time frame and aesthetic concerns. The 30 pound felt wrinkles because ...
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| Rubber Roof | 5/27/2009 |
Q: I have a black rubber membrane roof that I need to repair and it is also baking the house in the ...
A: Morgan, The first thing that you want to do is repair the seams. Typically, EPDM (rubber) seams ...
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| Roof question | 5/22/2009 |
Q: Where can I find roofing codes for the state of Wisconsin? I live in a condo and discovered a ...
A: Jon, If your local/city building department/permits does not have a copy of the state approved ...
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| "torch down roofing" | 5/21/2009 |
Q: I have a large torch down roof that needs repair. This is the heavy single layer material which was ...
A: Paul, Torch applied material is risky particularly if you have not installed it before. It ...
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| Venting | 5/17/2009 |
Q: I have under construction a 6" pitch roof with joists that run across the pitch, rather than up it. ...
A: David, My assumption is that you are in the United States: The code (IBC) requires net free ...
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| new flat roof on 7 unit apartment bldg | 5/12/2009 |
Q: I have gotten several bids from roofers that use different methods and an array of price ranges. I ...
A: Michael, The best way to solve your problem is to hire a qualified roof consultant to design and ...
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| Repair to Cal Shake Roof | 5/9/2009 |
Q: How do I make repairs on a roof with Cal Shakes that are cracked,split,and some disintegrated. Can't ...
A: Justin, The problem is going to be not causing more damage to the roof while trying to effect a ...
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| URGENT!! Stop an unnecessary roof tearoff!! | 5/3/2009 |
Q: i am a professional builder currently building dovetail homes.I have been instructed to tape all ...
A: Max, I am thinking that the felt paper is intended to be used as an air barrier for the walls also? ...
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| Gutter Overflow | 4/30/2009 |
Q: I have a gutter which overflows / drips. One side of the house concerns me the most, as there isn't ...
A: Cynthia, If the screen is completely inside the gutter and there are no obstructions within the ...
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| wood sheathing | 4/29/2009 |
Q: I discovered a leak in sheathing approx 1x2 inches, only that small spot,rest of roof totally solid ...
A: Tom, If your sheathing is just water stained and not deteriorated then it would be fine to leave it ...
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| roofing | 4/27/2009 |
Q: We recently had a metal roof with insulation underneath put on our roof. It makes a big bang noise ...
A: Dan, I may need more information from you to properly answer your question. If the big bang noise ...
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| New roof - comp over wood | 4/26/2009 |
Q: Have never had a roof like this, has lathes under wood with comp over wood. Ins. will replace. Do ...
A: Walter, Only cedar shingles should be installed with staples. All old roofing and lath should be ...
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| flat roof load capacity | 4/23/2009 |
Q: I have a customer who wants me to install an EPDM roof over an existing 4 ply and gravel roof. It's ...
A: It would be best to use 10-12 pounds per foot of ballast on the EPDM. Mechanically attached is ...
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| membrane roofing | 4/22/2009 |
Q: I have an application where a portion of my roof is flat. It is currently rolled roofing. I ordered ...
A: Walt, Using the EPDM membrane is an improvement over roll roofing and I expect that you will have ...
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| flat roof load capacity | 4/19/2009 |
Q: I have a customer who wants me to install an EPDM roof over an existing 4 ply and gravel roof. It's ...
A: Steve, The quick answer is NO. If the existing roof is a mechanically attached or adhered ...
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| Aluminum metal caps placed over existing brickwork on perimeter of existing flat roof. | 4/18/2009 |
Q: I have a one foot brickwall around the edge of my flat roof. After new flat roof is installed - how ...
A: Mike, Secure a 2x to the top of the brick wall with anchors set in mortar if possible, otherwise ...
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