Roofing/Questions Answered by Expert Brad Zacharia

SubjectDate Asked
Moisture in the attic12/22/2011
  Q: I have a moisture problem in my attic. The plywood sheathing is wet to the touch as is the batt ...
  A: The humidity (moisture) has nothing to do with the felt paper or how the roof was installed. It has ...
roof vents in coastal area12/9/2011
  Q: I am replacing the roof on our second home in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. One estimate ...
  A: Sorry, I forgot I had this question waiting. Wind can blow rain up a ridge vent. Many ridge vent ...
Roofing11/30/2011
  Q: I have an existing, sloped concrete tile roof in South Florida and I am planning on mounting a ...
  A: That's a new one to me. I can tell you that in general people that try to do stuff on their roof ...
Wet Roof11/26/2011
  Q: I live in an older house and about a year ago replaced the roof. Now in the colder months I'm ...
  A: I never heard of having a moisture problem on the outside. Since the shingles are waterproof it ...
Wet Roof11/23/2011
  Q: I live in an older house and about a year ago replaced the roof. Now in the colder months I'm ...
  A: I'm assuming you mean on the "inside" of the roof as in the attic on the plywood. Wood that gets wet ...
flat roof11/22/2011
  Q: I had a flat roof installed by a licensed contractor and it looks wavy and water puddles he claims ...
  A: its hard to understand what you wrote as you used no punctuation or sentence structure but here goes ...
new roof11/1/2011
  Q: My old roof is 25+yrs. old and needs to be replaced. It is standard three tab shingles on felt, ...
  A: Ice & Water Shield is used in certain places on roofs. The lower the slope the more it should be ...
Rain/water diversion10/24/2011
  Q: I have a question in regards to a problem I'm having. Between two dormers, there is an approximate ...
  A: You have 2 options. 1. Run a gutter on that part and then a spout down the wall tot he ground. 2. ...
Wet roof question10/20/2011
  Q: We are having our roof done. The contractor peeled the old shingles off, and started installing ice ...
  A: The shingles wouldn't matter since he didn't do any of them yet anyway. The roof part will dry in a ...
Roof shingles are stuck and can't separate.10/16/2011
  Q: I am replacing a few 3 tab shingles on my roof that are damaged right above the gutter because of ...
  A: They will come apart when they are cold. If you heat them it they will not come apart. I don't know ...
Weight---comp vs shingle10/11/2011
  Q: Our cabin was built over 80 years ago. On 1 half of the slope is original shake shingles. The ...
  A: I don't know what the weight would be but I don't see how that could be an issue unless the building ...
New gutters drip10/2/2011
  Q: I just had new gutters installed. They are Aluminum gutters with no seams except corners and where ...
  A: The lip of the gutter couldn't possibly collect enough water to be noticeable by you and therefore ...
Roof repair: pitched ledge outside windows: re-pitch AWAY from home vs. adding more drainage10/2/2011
  Q: We live in a 5-unit brownstone. The fifth (top unit) was added back in the 1970's. The old roof's ...
  A: Roofs should not hold water after a rain. If it does then it needs to be re-sloped. That re-sloping ...
Roof material choice for new house10/1/2011
  Q: My husband and I are building a new house next year. It will be a large post and beam house with ...
  A: It doesn't matter what type of roof. It only matters what you like. I could see a metal roof making ...
New gutters drip9/29/2011
  Q: I just had new gutters installed. They are Aluminum gutters with no seams except corners and where ...
  A: It depends whether the water runs off the front or the rear of the gutter. A common error is having ...
low-sloping patio roof repair (rotten header)9/26/2011
  Q: I have an 8 x 20-foot roof over my patio. The roof is attached to the house (built in 1962) and is ...
  A: I don't know if any of that would work. I do roofing and not carpentry or structural work. My ...
roof soffit connects to another roof leaks9/21/2011
  Q: How should a roof soffit connect to another roof or should there be a gap or special flashing? IL ...
  A: Sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. Yours was one of those complicated ones where I'm ...
Torch. Down roof9/8/2011
  Q: I have a large 3000 sq ft flat roof with torch down roof in one area i get about an 3/4 inch of ...
  A: I don't know of any except Iso Board which are boards that reslope the entire roof. What would be ...
Over Roofing9/8/2011
  Q: Is there some kind of "how to" guide providing step by step instructions for over-roofing? I have ...
  A: There are plenty of books out there. Just walk into any Home Depot or Lowes and look at their books. ...
Attic Ventilation and Insualtion9/7/2011
  Q: Bruce. My house was built in Dec 2007 and we moved in as the second owners Aug 2009. It is a 2 ...
  A: There is no perfect answer to these. The more vents the better. There are no exact numbers. You ...
Drip edge9/5/2011
  Q: I have recently received estimates from several roofing companies for a new roof install. Several ...
  A: You don't have to have drip edge but it does help keep the wood under the gutter from always being ...
Roofing8/28/2011
  Q: Part of my roof has rolled asphalt on it. There is not a step pitch on the roof. It was installed ...
  A: By bumps I guess you mean air bubbles. This happens when the roof is not stuck. It can be from doing ...
Grace Triflex Underlay8/23/2011
  Q: Any info. on the contractor likes or dislikes of using this product instead of #30 lb felt ...
  A: 30# or 15# paper is not for shingle underlayment. It is used that way by a lot of roofers because it ...
Gutters and Downspouts8/21/2011
  Q: Good Brad and thank you for your help. I am desperately in need of new downspouts and gutters. ...
  A: Who told you that? Galvanized went out of style 40 years ago. Galvanized rusts, you have to paint it ...
pricing tear off8/17/2011
  Q: I am a 25+ years experienced craftsman/carpenter/landscaper. Jack of All Trades, as most would say. ...
  A: I do not price jobs by their size. I can show you a 3200 sq-ft at $5,000 and another at $15,000. ...
shingle differences8/10/2011
  Q: I requested Timberline Ultra HD shingle. Roofer used Timberline Shadowline. When I questioned him ...
  A: On GAF's website I do not see a "Shadowline" shingle. I see that they have a "Natural Shadow" ...
roof contractor8/4/2011
  Q: I just got a contractor to replace my roof. I did not pay him yet. But I am just wondering if I ...
  A: It depends on how much you trust the roofer. And it depends on how much you trust your roof ...
IKO CAmbridge quality7/30/2011
  Q: I see a lot of negative comments saying IKO is failing early. Is this still an issue? The roofer ...
  A: I have never used Iko so I don't know anything about them. I know that several of the big players ...
Water Running Behind Roof Gutter7/24/2011
  Q: I have an issue with water running behind our rain gutters. We had a new roof installed ...
  A: The shingles are supposed to stick out past the roof about an inch and hang over the gutter. That ...
Roof lacking flashing7/22/2011
  Q: My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a house and the home inspector came across a few ...
  A: It will be difficult to do now. The edge shingles have to come off and thrown away. A piece of step ...
nail pops in roof7/19/2011
  Q: How can one fix nail pops in roof?
  A: When the shingle is cool break the shingle loose. Pull the nail out. You'll be missing that one nail ...
Roof Leak ?7/10/2011
  Q: Last year I noticed a water stain on my dining room ceiling, so I cut away the drywall, and found ...
  A: I don't know what a normal slope is. If a slope is too low shingles will leak. Without pictures I ...
Proper way to drain a flat pitched roof with sides7/9/2011
  Q: First please understand I am a total novice. I have a flat (pitched) roof with sides. It has one ...
  A: Clogging is usually from trees. If one drain clogs in 4 weeks 2 drains will clog in ...4 weeks. It ...
galvanized steel7/8/2011
  Q: .i am looking into the subject of maybe getting a galvanized steel roof for the house, in an effort ...
  A: I never heard of a galvanized steel roof. When I was a kid they used galvanized for gutters and ...
Mobile Roof Repair7/6/2011
  Q: Hoping you will be able to answer my question, in regards to a trailer roof. our trailer is roughly ...
  A: Building a peak roof with a slope on one side is a different design than a slope on 2 sides. How it ...
Is there REALLY a hurricane ASPHALT shingle?7/6/2011
  Q: I love the look and price of asphalt -- but would you put the new ARMA class H shingle on your St. ...
  A: ARMA is an organization that rates shingles. Class H shingles are very high wind resistant shingles. ...
build a slanted roof7/5/2011
  Q: I need instructions on how to build a slanted roof to cover a patio. The roof will be attached to ...
  A: I don't know what you're looking for. How cold I tell you all that in a paragraph or two? People go ...
roof pitch6/30/2011
  Q: I also have a manufactured home I would like to change the current 4/12 to a 7/12 pitch. Could I ...
  A: I have no idea what that prior question is without you making the reference. I answer many of ...
Roof pitch6/25/2011
  Q: I am building a little playset for the kids, and would like to cover 7'x6' portion with a shingled ...
  A: There is no appropriate roof slope. You make the slope as you wish. Just do the appropriate roof for ...
10 year old roof6/16/2011
  Q: I have a 10 year old roof that has wind damage. The shingles are Owen Corning CLASSIC 3 tab. They ...
  A: No. I've been doing shingles for 50 years and I always grew up with shingles that were 4 nails. ...
Roof6/8/2011
  Q: Can i remove the sheet metal from a pitched 1975 concord mobile home and sheet and shingle it? ...
  A: I have no idea as to how much weight your mobile home can support but I'd assume it could support a ...
Multicolored Architectural Roofing6/6/2011
  Q: Brad: On 6/6/2009 I wrote: I am building a replica 1920 storybook house in Spokane, WA. Roof ...
  A: I looked at a couple of the shingles you suggested. I do not view them as "whimsical" patterns. They ...
roof repair on two story home requires scaffolding?5/31/2011
  Q: I have a contractor who's giving me information on a roof leak, and I'm questioning what she's ...
  A: I have seen some nuts walk on roofs that I wouldn't go up without safety equipment. Everyone is ...
Attic Crawl Space Ventilation5/30/2011
  Q: We live in Winnipeg, Canada in a 2 ½ story 1922 home that has a crawl space around 3 sides of the ...
  A: It took me time to answer this as it was long and I had to read it several times to try to put it ...
Roof5/27/2011
  Q: We have just discovered water coming in from the flashing that separates the garage from the second ...
  A: Everything can be a DIY. But the more knowledge one has the better the job. Siding can be an issue ...
Odor in the House After New Shingles Were Installed5/13/2011
  Q: We just had our roof re-shingled. The next day I noticed an odor like tar or something just as I ...
  A: I don't know. I never heard of anyone say this before. My guess is that you have an open ceiling in ...
Rolled roofing5/8/2011
  Q: is snow & ice shield ok under the rolled roofing material? ANSWER: It depends what type of rolled ...
  A: We don't use nails to nail down roofing. All you'd be doing is making thousands of new holes in your ...
Rolled roofing5/7/2011
  Q: is snow & ice shield ok under the rolled roofing material?
  A: It depends what type of rolled roofing. If you're doing torch-down then you can't torch to it or it ...
ice dams5/4/2011
  Q: I had water damage due to an ice dam on the inside of an exterior wall that had a two foot overhang ...
  A: What do you call a low slope? If it's a really low slope you can't do shingles or they will leak no ...
Shingles4/29/2011
  Q: Hey there, we are getting quotes for new shingles on our roof. We live in Southern Ontario Canada so ...
  A: Tar/Asphalt paper is the cheap way out. Most roofers use it. Once wet it is no good. So if a roofer ...
Shingles4/28/2011
  Q: Hey there, we are getting quotes for new shingles on our roof. We live in Southern Ontario Canada so ...
  A: If you have a 6-8/12 sloped roof then you don't have to worry about water getting backed up. You can ...
Permanently Closing Hole under Roof Edge4/24/2011
  Q: Brad. A couple of years ago, we had a problem with squirrels getting into our attic, via openings ...
  A: You can use regular wood but you need to keep it from getting so wet. When you install the gutters ...
no drip edge on "finished" roof job?4/21/2011
  Q: I recently had my roof re-shingled and the quote included drip edge and fascia replacement along the ...
  A: I'd need to see pictures to get a better feel for what you're talking about but one note. The "drip ...
2or 3/12 roof leaks4/20/2011
  Q: We had a huge snow accumulation on my roof this winter .I have 6 townhouse that where seriously ...
  A: If the slope is between 2/12 and 4/12 then you have to be careful and do everything perfectly as it ...
roof4/4/2011
  Q: My home is 15 years old and shingles are starting to come off occasionally after storms. I'm not ...
  A: As with anything, it's easy to do the basics of any task but what if it involves the non-basics. IN ...
no medal flashing4/3/2011
  Q: our roofs were installed with a 1 X 1 wood drip edge without medal flashing. Is that ok? or dose it ...
  A: It depends on your definition of "flashing". Usually saying it has a drip edge means that it has the ...
Roof leaking or condesation3/28/2011
  Q: our house is leaking, and we consulted some roof repairers. Basically there are two answers: one is ...
  A: I'm sorry it took so long to answer. I put the question off to the side to do later and I forgot ...
Removing joists on shed-style porch roof3/22/2011
  Q: I noticed you felt ceiling joists weren't necessary for a smaller shed-style roof over a closed-in ...
  A: Sorry, I forgot to answer this when it came in and put it off to the side and forgot to do it. The ...
gutters3/17/2011
  Q: Some contractors have told me that installing gutters under the roof shingles is the best way in ...
  A: I don't understand what part of the shingle you would lift up. The shingles should just be sticking ...
leaking metal ridge vent3/17/2011
  Q: We recently noticed a spot on the ceiling, so, between inspecting in the attic, and on the roof (we ...
  A: Put screws in and then just caulk them over. If you ever want to replace them a Phillips bit will ...
gutters3/16/2011
  Q: Some contractors have told me that installing gutters under the roof shingles is the best way in ...
  A: When you say "under" or "not under" what do you mean? You can't install a gutter on top of the ...
raising cieling joists in 1920 house3/14/2011
  Q: ron ANSWER: Please resubmit your question in English for consideration. Brad ---------- FOLLOW-UP ...
  A: The question was so poorly written with spelling errors and run-on sentences and other problems that ...
final follow up3/6/2011
  Q: Brad..... Just to close on this and so that I can accurately discuss the issue about shovelling ...
  A: Maybe you get more snow than where I'm at but houses should be designed for that area. If you live ...
Dormer Roof - Insulating being done.3/4/2011
  Q: I live in Maine in a large 3 story building. My main roof is quite slanted but some of the dormer ...
  A: I don't think anyone would have built any structure 100 years ago to hold up just enough under ...
leaking3/2/2011
  Q: I have just had my entire roof done done to the sheathing with ice and water shield. I am in Maine ...
  A: Ice and Water Shield is NOT waterproof. It is water Resistant. It tries to keep the water from ...
New Roof2/28/2011
  Q: I am in Florida. I have received to quotes so far. 1. underlay say ASTM 226 UL which I have no idea ...
  A: I would think that 6 nails would be better than 4. Standard is 4. If you're doing a roof on a steep ...
New Roof2/25/2011
  Q: I am in Florida. I have received to quotes so far. 1. underlay say ASTM 226 UL which I have no idea ...
  A: The English is not great here so I'll try and figure out what you're saying. ASTM 226 is a ...
hot mop gravel roof age and condition2/22/2011
  Q: I recently purchased a home built in 1970 with I believe a hot mop gravel flat roof. I don't know ...
  A: There is no really good way to check the age of a roof. The gravel situation won't tell you much. If ...
Flat roof.2/21/2011
  Q: A new roof for my home. My home is in need of a new roof. The Recent rains have made this need ...
  A: That’s one roofer you can get rid of. He is either lying or not very experienced in roofing. ...
DURA ROOF TILES2/18/2011
  Q: I have a house in Las Vegas that has defective roofing tiles. Apparently there were quite a few ...
  A: The same thing I would do - Google it. I Googled it and can't find much. They may be completely out ...
roofing shingles2/13/2011
  Q: Is there a bad /good time of year to buy asphalt roofing shingles based on fuel prices.
  A: No, fuel prices do not go up or down based on the time of year. For about the last 5 to 7 years the ...
ice damning causing roof leak1/31/2011
  Q: I live on Long Island, New York, and had a new roof installed in Aug. of 2005. My "L" style ranch ...
  A: The Ice and Water Shield (what you're calling leak barrier works pretty good but not perfectly as ...
uneven roof1/28/2011
  Q: I just had my roof replaced and now my roof is no longer even. The company that did the roof ...
  A: If the deck is off it could be because the house was built crooked and it is not moving or getting ...
uneven roof1/27/2011
  Q: I just had my roof replaced and now my roof is no longer even. The company that did the roof ...
  A: Shingles will not lay flat when first installed and will settle with heat but that's something you ...
SBS Torchdown Underlayment1/26/2011
  Q: My roofing contractor got a deal on SBS torch down dibitin smooth 120# underlayment and wants to use ...
  A: I'm not sure why you would want to use 2 underlayment. First, why is the underlayment even being ...
Roofing material left in gutter without termination bar1/24/2011
  Q: Idiot roofer installed rubber roofing and did not use termination bar He simply laid three inches ...
  A: There are the standard ways of doing roofing and then there are the right ways. Most methods are ...
Flat roof popping1/9/2011
  Q: I have a flat roof (6000 Sq Ft) that we removed the BUR and replaced with membrane 2 winters ago. I ...
  A: I never heard of noise being produced as water turns to ice. But all roof have water turning to ice ...
Flat roof popping1/8/2011
  Q: I have a flat roof (6000 Sq Ft) that we removed the BUR and replaced with membrane 2 winters ago. I ...
  A: You said "the noise was worse than before" but you never introduced me to the noise in the first ...
Shingle Selection1/4/2011
  Q: and appear to be mid-grade shingles. Is it worth the extra $$ to bump up to Duration or Prestigue ...
  A: GAF Timberline has been a very popular shingle for many years. Owens Corning is new in the shingle ...
replacing my roof1/2/2011
  Q: I just bought a 20 year old house here in Sarasota florida. The needs to be replaced so I called ...
  A: GAF is a popular shingle. You'll be fine with that. I can't tell you a price. You said the roof was ...
Flat Roof Materials12/30/2010
  Q: I have an older home with a large flat area at the top that is leaking. One contractor proposes to ...
  A: No good reason. I don't think PVC will expand and contract like modified but it's just a gut feeling ...
Flat Roof Materials12/30/2010
  Q: I have an older home with a large flat area at the top that is leaking. One contractor proposes to ...
  A: I'm not crazy about the PVC systems but they are gaining ground. I like the modified. The AWA-170 is ...
Gutters12/17/2010
  Q: I had leaf guard gutter installed 2 1/2 years ago. I noticed my my soffets we're warping and had ...
  A: I don't now why they'd be installing drip edge anyway but one problem they have is the fact that ...
Roof and Vents12/15/2010
  Q: We had a roof installed after a storm in 2006. In 2008 we noticed moisture coming into the ...
  A: You have a moisture problem due to high humidity. Moisture happens when you cool down humid air. For ...
damp inside where ridge meets chimney12/13/2010
  Q: I have a traditional colonial with cedar siding and asphalt roofing. I have always had a damp ...
  A: If you had all that done then it can't be leaking. Only problem is...it's still leaking. That means ...
damp inside where ridge meets chimney12/13/2010
  Q: I have a traditional colonial with cedar siding and asphalt roofing. I have always had a damp ...
  A: You have 2 possibilities. 1. You have a leak around the chimney which would most likely be the ...
Ice Melting12/11/2010
  Q: Brad: We recently moved into a home in Chicago that has a flat roof. The house was "gut-rehabed" ...
  A: If a roof freezes it just acts like a swimming pool and then water can't get off until it melts. But ...
Sealing roof shingles12/3/2010
  Q: Brad: Our roof is asphalt shingles,(architectural type)and is 8 years old. I was recommended to seal ...
  A: Never heard of any such procedure and it's definitely a scam. One thing I noticed in their pictures. ...
Walking on asphalt roof in winter12/1/2010
  Q: I will have some repair to my chimney soon, and it is now December. I had a new asphalt roof ...
  A: Shingles can be fragile when it is very cold out but if they are careful it should be OK. You get ...
Rolled Roofing11/30/2010
  Q: I live in Cleveland, Ohio, is rolled roofing allowed? I have a large house, large main roof is ...
  A: No one can "ban" rolled roffing. It's probably allowed in all corners of the Earth. Rolled roofing ...
vent pipe leaking11/28/2010
  Q: Over five years ago I had a open place through my kitchen and living room. The contractor had to ...
  A: You didn't send any new photos so it's the same one of the piece of wood. Pipes do not get sealed ...
hexagonal metal roofing11/23/2010
  Q: In your opinion, what is the best type of metal roofing to use when doing a new round house roof? ...
  A: I have never done metal roofs. As far as how to do a round roof, I can say one thing. That would be ...
ROOFING LAYERS11/20/2010
  Q: HOW MANY LAYERS, OF ASPHALT SHINGLES, ARE PERMISSABLE ON A RESIDENTIAL ROOF IN SCHERERVILLE INDIANA?
  A: I have no idea where Schererville, Indiana even is. I do know where Indiana is. Standard practice ...
Roofing ventalation and insulation11/18/2010
  Q: I have a 1987 ranch with a basement in Kentucky. Had to have the roof replaced due to hail damage. ...
  A: For that to work you'd need to do it to ALL the rafters so you can work on ALL the heat that is in ...
Supporting a roof prior to pouring a slab11/17/2010
  Q: I have a building that has a loafing type roof attached to it which has a dirt floor. I am wanting ...
  A: I don't know what a "loafing type of roof" is. I don't understand how you can have a dirt floor ...
Roofing ventalation and insulation11/17/2010
  Q: I have a 1987 ranch with a basement in Kentucky. Had to have the roof replaced due to hail damage. ...
  A: I'm not sure what you're trying to do. You said, " I was wanting to design a vent duct with double ...
roofing11/16/2010
  Q: Have put in Cobra III ridge vent on new roof. Having no leak problems, however, am getting ...
  A: If you're getting moisture and it's not from rain then it is condensation as you suggested. ...
Ridge vent installation11/14/2010
  Q: We live in a condo that was built with a common fire rated wall (2x4 studs with a 1" air gap on both ...
  A: I don't see how a common wall can get hot. If people on one side are keeping their unit at 78 ...
Horizontal ripples - asphalt shingled roof11/8/2010
  Q: I have had two roof replacements in 18 months due to two hail storms. The first was done in May and ...
  A: Roofs do not lay flat when first done if it's not warm. They do lay down after a warm day. But those ...
What's best product for mobile home roof11/5/2010
  Q: We just purchased a older mobile home. The home is leaking now and we intend to replace the roof ...
  A: The length of years on the shingles is up to you. Do you want to be bothered with a new roof in 20 ...
Hail damage experts dispute11/5/2010
  Q: I ran into an apartment building which has a one-story 3-tab ashphalt shingle with heavy hail ...
  A: If the inside of the building has damage from the hail then it has to be covered by the insurance ...
Whole Roof Bad after 11 Years??? Help!10/22/2010
  Q: I live in a two story house and I discovered a brown stain (leak) in the spare bedroom of the top ...
  A: Shingle wear has nothing to do with installation. You could just drop a shingle on the roof and ...
shingles on a 2/12 pitch10/22/2010
  Q: We have been getting various opinions regarding whether 40 year shingles can be installed on a 2/12 ...
  A: Shingles can be installed in the usual manner down to a slope of 4/12. Between 4/12 down to 2/12 you ...
style of shingle for a low pitch roof.10/19/2010
  Q: I am planning on putting a new roof on my house. One company is offering 30 or 40 year ...
  A: Shingles are for aesthetics. The lower the slope the less you can see of the shingles. Eventually ...
Hicks Vents & Gutters; Should they be combined?10/18/2010
  Q: Brad - We're about to spend a considerable sum (over 10K) on a new roof as a result of some very ...
  A: You never actually asked a question. I don't know what Hick vents are. Maybe that's a local term in ...
low-pitch roof10/15/2010
  Q: My house has a low-pitch roof consisting of three fields sloped towards each other. The smallest ...
  A: You can't do shingles on slopes below 2/12 so you're right at the border. Even from 2/12 up to 4/12 ...
Reroofing a Flat Roof on a Condo10/14/2010
  Q: We have received a quote to completely re-roof the entire flat roof of our Homeowner Association ...
  A: A number if things. Most roofs today are "Modified Asphalt" or just "Modified" which most people ...
Roofing Materials10/10/2010
  Q: I have a Topsider home (Clemmons, NC Company) which has two octagon sections and a middle section. ...
  A: The breathable felt is probably an overkill. 15# felt is not for shingles but is used a lot since it ...
Reroofing on Trusses10/9/2010
  Q: I would like to add a second layer of asphalt/fiberglass shingles on a rather low pitched 1960's ...
  A: Shingles weigh about 2-3 lbs per sq ft. If it couldn't support that then you can't go on the roof ...
Venting without soffits10/6/2010
  Q: I have started the process of getting a new roof. However, I am not sure what to do with the ...
  A: It's a perforated metal drip edge. You have to cut a slot in the wood at the bottom just like you ...
Venting without soffits10/5/2010
  Q: I have started the process of getting a new roof. However, I am not sure what to do with the ...
  A: Ventilation works by bringing in cool air in the bottom, then as it heats up it rises to the peak ...
flat roof10/5/2010
  Q: I have a flat roof with a slight slope. It's 26ft. x 26ft. I'm thinking of putting rolled roofing ...
  A: If you're not putting up metal then you're really not doing any flashing. Just make sure everything ...
Asbestos Cement Shingles10/3/2010
  Q: I am working with my insurance company on a claim for my roof where it was damaged due to a hail ...
  A: Shingles do not last 75-100 years. Ask him where he saw that. They do make longer lasting shingles, ...
Playhouse roof10/2/2010
  Q: I am redoing the wood shingle roof on a playhouse that has a "porch" across the front. How do I ...
  A: You can't put shingles on the porch area. Shingles must be put on a sloped roof or they will leak. ...
demensional shingles10/1/2010
  Q: I just had my roof redone due to hail damage. I upgraded to a demensional shingle and went with ...
  A: If you're talking about the 3rd row below the chimney, I can barely see it. That's insignificant. ...
demensional shingles10/1/2010
  Q: I just had my roof redone due to hail damage. I upgraded to a demensional shingle and went with ...
  A: The glue line should not be showing. That glue binds the 2 shingles together so wind can't rip the ...
roof buckling9/30/2010
  Q: I recently had hail damage on our roof. The roof was only 12 years old and we never had any problem ...
  A: You obviously have a plywood problem and not a shingle problem. The pattern is in the shape of the ...
Sofit vents9/30/2010
  Q: My 10 year old 2300 sq ft house has 15 sofit vents( grilles are 8X16 in.) that have the wood behind ...
  A: The way it works is that cool air comes in the bottom, rises as it heats up and then goes out the ...
New roof9/26/2010
  Q: My new shingled roof was just completed last week. How do I find out if it qualifies for a tax ...
  A: There is no tax rebate on shingles. There is a tax "credit" on some items you put into your home. ...
Dip in roof9/15/2010
  Q: My roof has a visible dip and the contractor proposed to sure up and raises 4 rafters with a knee ...
  A: The dip is a sag in the rafters. The rafters don't sag in a straight line. They say in a curve ...
Damaged Shingles9/15/2010
  Q: I have a situation where shingles that were installed 5 years ago are starting to curl. They were ...
  A: The problem could be bad shingles. The problem could be the attic is too hot. 3/12 is a low slope ...
Reroof and insulation on a double wide9/8/2010
  Q: Can I fill the attic space with blow in fiberglass insulation I will have to blow it from the roof ...
  A: If you have roof vents and put insulation board on the roof then the board will do nothing since the ...
roof insulation8/31/2010
  Q: how do I make my house cooler the roof they say was put on 2 years ago black asphalt it doesn't look ...
  A: Please re-submit in English. You have absolutely no punctuation, no capitals, run-on sentences. ...
Placement of gutters below extended roofline8/30/2010
  Q: On a 6/12 roof gutter's outer edge of the gutter would have to be about 1/2" below extended roof ...
  A: That's a new one. How can a gutter avoid sliding ice and snow? You're assuming that the ice and snow ...
roof leak8/27/2010
  Q: I have a roof with a 2/3 x 12 pitch covered with shingles. There was a leak in the roof and I had a ...
  A: 2x12 is the absolute minimum for shingles and even then you need to use special procedures to keep ...
roof leak8/27/2010
  Q: I have a roof with a 2/3 x 12 pitch covered with shingles. There was a leak in the roof and I had a ...
  A: What does 2/3x12 pitch mean? If you're really saying it's 2/3 of an inch then that's why your roof ...
nailing shingles under an eave overhang8/26/2010
  Q: We're making a new porch on our 1905 house, like the one that was originally there. The porch roof, ...
  A: The water will barley shed. You're not taking into account that a shingle roof is not a flat plane. ...
standing seam roof8/19/2010
  Q: I have ALOT OF VALLEYS and can't get up there because it is too slippery to get the pine needles ...
  A: All roofs require maintenance. The problem with your type of roof is that it is a metal that can ...
ridge roof, or vent fans, or both8/18/2010
  Q: We are having a new roof put on soon. We have a two story (3,400 sq. foot) house with a hip roof ...
  A: It's not the sq-ft of the attic but the volume of the attic. A 1,000 sq-ft attic on a low slope can ...
attic venting8/16/2010
  Q: The house has about 8 eve vents 2 of them are blocked with insulation and are under my cathederal ...
  A: The more vents you add the better. Do not block any. If you already have them leave them. Cool air ...
ridge roof, or vent fans, or both8/16/2010
  Q: We are having a new roof put on soon. We have a two story (3,400 sq. foot) house with a hip roof ...
  A: It's a complicated formula. You can have a lot of venting at the top but if the soffit vent does not ...
Rolled Roofing8/15/2010
  Q: My rolled roofing is buckling and leaking. I noticed all around the edges on the roof when it rains ...
  A: It doesn't really matter. Since paper is a sealed type of roof the seams must be sealed. Just make ...
Cantilever Roof Rafter Support8/14/2010
  Q: I recently purchase this house. It has a hip roof that cantilevers. The red beam in the picture is ...
  A: That beam is probably there to support the rafters from the sloped roof and also the flat roof ...
Flat roof gutter detail8/13/2010
  Q: I am installing epdm 60 mil rubber on a roof with around 1/12 or 2/12 pitch, and i dont know how to ...
  A: I don't do EPDM as it is not a residential material. But you don't want to have any seams at the ...
soffit vents8/8/2010
  Q: I have a single story home in the DFW area. My attic is hugh. I have a work shop up there.I have ...
  A: You said you have a steep roof at 15 degrees but 15 degrees is a very low slope. 3/8" plywood is ...
receiving different advice from contractors8/1/2010
  Q: I am in need of a new roof for my single family ranch w/a 10/12 pitch hip roof, currently w/ 3-tab ...
  A: If you put in a lot of vents you might have redundant systems or extraneous systems but they won't ...
leaking asphalt shingle low slope roof7/29/2010
  Q: Brad, We are in a new 'round' house in the coastal area of SC. The house was built from 28 roof and ...
  A: I would need to see pictures but gutters don't stop leaks. They catch the water once the water has ...
NEW ROOF 3 YRS AGO WITH VENT CAP JUST DISCOVERED NO VENTALATION7/25/2010
  Q: We have a Cap Cod style home three years ago we had the cedar shakes replaced with high end ...
  A: You should still be able to match the shingles. The lower the slope the less any differences would ...
Asphalt roofing re-roof7/23/2010
  Q: I went to look at a roof that has leaked considerable for an absentee owner. The asphalt shingles ...
  A: If there is too much space between the slats then the shingles can't support themselves. Also a lot ...
roof ventilation7/21/2010
  Q: The upper floor of my two story attached home is excessively hot in the summer(on 82 degree+ days) . ...
  A: I never really got into the solar ones but I would guess they don't move very fast. You can't do ...
New roof shingles causing blinding glare7/20/2010
  Q: Brad: I live in a terraced neighborhood and the owner of a house on the street below me is putting ...
  A: The more light that is reflected the cooler the roof and the house so by changing the reflection or ...
Replacing roof.7/18/2010
  Q: I hope that I can be clear as I'm unfamiliar with many of the terms used in roofing. My house is 2 ...
  A: Don't replace any wood unless it's rotted. Wood does not deteriorate over time - unless you're ...
Correct installation of wind-turbine.7/18/2010
  Q: I have a R-panel metal roofing material on my home and needed to know of the correct installation of ...
  A: The vent does not have to mold to the contours of the metal roof. It can just sit riding from ridge ...
flat roof leaking - repair or replace?7/14/2010
  Q: I'd greatly appreciate advice on options to repair or replace my leaking roof. Here's my situation: ...
  A: You cannot use asphalt products on EPDM and it appears you've been doing nothing but that so I would ...
Most appropriate roofing product7/12/2010
  Q: We have just moved into a 1959 Post and Beam style split-level home in West Vancouver (rain forest ...
  A: You're up north so I assume you have cold summers at 30-35 degrees but I wouldn't think that cold. ...
roofing felt pad vs new underlaying7/10/2010
  Q: Now I see that there are Underlayments in three basic categories: felts, synthetics, and ...
  A: Synthetics and Self-stick are not two different things. One is what the material is made of and the ...
Roof Advice7/6/2010
  Q: I have a 1600 sq ft home in south florida. It has partial flat roof with asphalt material and mild ...
  A: Yes, you can add a slope to the flat roofs. Yes, there are materials that are better than the GAF ...
low-pitch roofing problem7/4/2010
  Q: My little house was built in 1941, and two rooms and a bathroom were added on to the back of the ...
  A: No. Anyone can join anything and say they're experts. An expert is someone who knows their stuff and ...
low-pitch roofing problem7/4/2010
  Q: My little house was built in 1941, and two rooms and a bathroom were added on to the back of the ...
  A: Your home inspector was absolutely right and your roofers are absolutely bad at what they do. You ...
Missing shingle tabs7/4/2010
  Q: While walking the roofline to try and repair a leak in a fan vent, I spotted two side by side tabs ...
  A: It depends on the damage but if you want to replace the entire tabs you need to get the nails out on ...
Teclar Felt6/30/2010
  Q: What are the advantages to using Teclar Felt for the underlayer for dimension shingles? Or is this ...
  A: I can't find much info on the product. The website for it does not give too much technical info. ...
substrate6/30/2010
  Q: OK over rubber roof? ANSWER: Is what OK over rubber roof? That's not even one full sentence. I ...
  A: I never heard of Hydro stop. There are tons of these companies making coatings. I looked at their ...
shingling on 3/12 roof6/26/2010
  Q: I am removing my old shingles and reshingling with heritage 30 tamko shingles. This is on a 3/12 ...
  A: You have a low slope and you will need to take extra precautions to prevent leaks. In fact, if you ...
Low slope roof on new shed dormer6/25/2010
  Q: We recently framed a new shed dormer on our cape home which resulted in a 2.5 pitch roof. We did ...
  A: Remember, the majority is not always right. Everyone on this planet once believed the Earth was flat ...
Low slope roof on new shed dormer6/25/2010
  Q: We recently framed a new shed dormer on our cape home which resulted in a 2.5 pitch roof. We did ...
  A: Between 2/12 and 4/12 shingles can be used but special procedures must be used. One of those ...
cracking sound in attic6/23/2010
  Q: Brad: I purchased a 1950's house last Nov, and found similar problem as the couple had in their 2007 ...
  A: I don't remember the question from 3 years ago. I don't think they ever got back to me and told me ...
Low sloped moisture problem6/23/2010
  Q: I have an uninsulated shed with a low sloped open porch roof on one side. It is unvented except for ...
  A: Low slope roof basically face the sky and can't be seen anyway unless your looking down from a hill ...
Missing roof section6/19/2010
  Q: Daughters gable roof about 3-4 years old; I noticed yesterday that a section of roof about 3 ft wide ...
  A: Somebody didn't do something right and if they didn't do it right there did the do the rest of the ...
Moisture under torch-on roof6/14/2010
  Q: I have a torch on roof on a low slope house in pretty good condition. The problem is that there are ...
  A: You can increase ventilation but that only covers up the problem. It's not the roof that's supposed ...
asphalt roof shingling6/12/2010
  Q: Brad, Unfortunately, we now are convinced that the contractor we hired is inexperienced, sloppy, ...
  A: The California Valley is a method that is not widely accepted and according to many experts is not ...
Architectural Shingles6/10/2010
  Q: I purchased a new modular home in November 2009. Right away as soon as the home was set up I ...
  A: You can't the problem with the staples without redoing the roof. Shingles wrinkling in the corners ...
replacing roof plywood6/10/2010
  Q: Our roofer removed the shingles to discover water-damaged plywood. He has purchased 1/2 inch plywood ...
  A: The weight of the extra plywood is insignificant in the overall scheme of things. The weight is ...
new roof architectural shingles6/9/2010
  Q: I just got my roof redone and put Timberline Barkwood Prestige 30yr shingles. I notice that there ...
  A: That is probably due to a mix of colors from different batches. When shingles are made they might ...
Architectural Shingles6/9/2010
  Q: I purchased a new modular home in November 2009. Right away as soon as the home was set up I ...
  A: I'd have to see pictures to make a better determination but most of the things you say are improper ...
cooler roof construction6/7/2010
  Q: Next year (I hope) we plan to do a complete remodel. our roof is currently "open-beam" style, and ...
  A: Different parts of the country can have different types of roofs. Being way out in Hawaii I don't ...
Hot Roof/Cold Roof conversion6/5/2010
  Q: I live in Anchorage Alaska and was having significant ice build up on my roof. Last summer I had ...
  A: You have ice buildup because it snows where you are. It's a reality of roofs. So what. You can ...
Low slope asphalt6/3/2010
  Q: I put on new roof about a year and half ago. Quality 40 year "designer" type shingles that are ...
  A: I didn't comment on your point about the two shingles meeting side by side because I'm not really ...
Low slope asphalt6/1/2010
  Q: I put on new roof about a year and half ago. Quality 40 year "designer" type shingles that are ...
  A: What you say makes somewhat sense in theory but I don't think the water can run that much sideways. ...
Mom's flat roof6/1/2010
  Q: Thinking of getting Mom's flat roof coated. It has stucco parapet walls with z-bar flashing. Two ...
  A: It won't hurt to coat Z-bars. You can coat almost anything. If you have cracks in the stucco water ...
Low slope asphalt5/29/2010
  Q: I put on new roof about a year and half ago. Quality 40 year "designer" type shingles that are ...
  A: You made a bunch of statements about roofing that are all wrong so we need to start from the ...
Ridge Vents5/27/2010
  Q: We are having a new roof installed on our 2-story colonial home in Chicago. It was suggested that we ...
  A: Venting will keep the heat out in the summer which is worse than the heat loss you will get in the ...
Metal Roof Screws5/26/2010
  Q: The screws in my metal roof are rusting. The metal roof is not, only the screws. Any idea of ...
  A: IF it is just a coating of rust then then strength of the steel is still there. You might have a ...
vents for roof5/24/2010
  Q: We need a new roof, and one roofer suggested that we put wind turbines in addition to a ridge vent, ...
  A: You can add all the vents you want. Venting is a system with incoming vents at the bottom and ...
flat roof reroofing5/17/2010
  Q: I am in the process of vetting roofing contractors to redo my my since story home roof. I have seen ...
  A: A four ply roof has lines about 9" apart. All rolls come in 36" or metric 39". If you over lap them ...
Roof leak5/17/2010
  Q: Are roof has as small leak in it. We have had many est on it and I was wandering if we r getting ...
  A: First, if you're going to communicate with another person you have to write better than that. It's ...
flat roof reroofing5/15/2010
  Q: I am in the process of vetting roofing contractors to redo my my since story home roof. I have seen ...
  A: Due to all the spelling errors it's difficult to figure out your question but here goes. I don't ...
roof sheathing snapped5/14/2010
  Q: We have a wood frame house with a gable roof. I was up in the attic above the garage and I noticed ...
  A: I'm not sure what I'm looking at in the picture. The camera was focused on the foreground. I have ...
leak showing at slab level5/6/2010
  Q: I have a leak that shows at the slab level and travels in to the house below the floor molding. ...
  A: Yes, a leak can travel that far without any evidence along the way but it is not likely. You can try ...
Ice and water shield in-between bottom roof edge and roof felt5/1/2010
  Q: I had my roof inspected. Two problems were pointed out to me. I wanted to confirm the accuracy of ...
  A: The collar costs about $15 but no one comes to your house for under $100 no matter how small. ...
Ice and water shield in-between bottom roof edge and roof felt4/30/2010
  Q: I had my roof inspected. Two problems were pointed out to me. I wanted to confirm the accuracy of ...
  A: The rubber is starting to deteriorate but it might still be gripping the pipe and working. How long ...
Solar vent fan and ridge vent conflict4/27/2010
  Q: I recently had a new roof installed. The prior roof was approx. 11 years old. I am the original ...
  A: There are 2 parts to the guarantee. One is what the roofer says he will do for you. Most roofers go ...
Solar vent fan and ridge vent conflict4/27/2010
  Q: I recently had a new roof installed. The prior roof was approx. 11 years old. I am the original ...
  A: The more vents the better. Some roofers actually believe that you can't have two systems at the same ...
Flat roof repair4/26/2010
  Q: I have a small (800 sq ft) house with a 35 yr old tar and gravel flat roof that just recently began ...
  A: Usually the old roofs are left as long as the surface is good enough to work with. Sometimes roofs ...
new flat roofs for a row home4/25/2010
  Q: I had storm damage to my end-of-group row home that has a flat hot ashphalt tar roof that needs ...
  A: When I say "modified", yes, I mean "modified bitumen". Modified can be installed torch-down, ...
new flat roofs for a row home4/23/2010
  Q: I had storm damage to my end-of-group row home that has a flat hot ashphalt tar roof that needs ...
  A: The only kind I'd recommend is modified roofs. All roofs need upkeep. Nothing goes long-term in the ...
Roofing repair, tar leak4/22/2010
  Q: I appreciate the help. I have a detached garage with a roll-on, sloped roof. It is pretty new, ...
  A: 10 years old is not new. A good rolled roof last about 10-15 years. Some people get lucky and can ...
Flat Roof4/17/2010
  Q: We live in the SW and have a flat roof. We are adding a room to our house. We had some leaks on the ...
  A: What a crock that is! If you have leaks then you have holes. If you have holes then the roofer is ...
Leaky Roof4/7/2010
  Q: I just had my roof redone for 10K from a good company, 6 ft ice/water shield,etc. We had severe ...
  A: Ice Shield doesn't cause leaks. It prevents them when there is ICE on the roof. If it is just rain ...
Shingle types and nailing4/6/2010
  Q: I am replacing a 19 year old roof (2 layers) with complete tear off. I've had 3 quotes already for ...
  A: They're all good. Hand nailing is better but is rarely done. It can be done as well with a nail gun ...
Double-deck roofing3/31/2010
  Q: Brad, Many years ago I saw a magazine article on a method of constructing a roof with built in ...
  A: There are panel you can buy to do that. It comes in handy on cathedral ceilings where you want to ...
Roof support beam3/29/2010
  Q: During the inspection of a home we want to buy a bowed beam was noted as a deficiency in the attic. ...
  A: Is it a rafter or a ridge beam? A ridge beam is more important than a rafter. If it is only one ...
Roof Ventilation System3/26/2010
  Q: Home is 18 years old, has a hip roof and large circular attic fan. Roof needs to be replaced and ...
  A: There is nothing wrong with ridge vent. The problem is the type of roof you have. A hip roof has ...
roof type for my reroofing3/24/2010
  Q: My house is in Fla. wind is an issue. Current roof is 25ys plus. Sloop is slight so it's got rolled ...
  A: 90# is what a handyman uses because he doesn't have the proper equipment or knowledge to do a roof ...
2 Year+ Roof Leak nightmare3/23/2010
  Q: We've had a leak in our Philly row home since we moved in over 2 years ago. Its a 3-floor house with ...
  A: It's hard to get a 3 dimensional picture of what you have but one thing is the drip edge on the ...
underlay for roofing3/22/2010
  Q: I am in the process of finding the "right" roofer to replace my roof. There seems to be a difference ...
  A: I've heard some logic that you don't need underlayment on steep slopes but the paper is so cheap ...
water damage under eaves3/21/2010
  Q: I know I asked a question on this last week but not too detailed. Im interested in purchasing a ...
  A: If the roofer said 5 + years left on the roof then the roof is old. The cheapest shingle you can buy ...
mobile home roof pitch3/20/2010
  Q: I am replacing the shingles on our roof and must calculate the pitch of the roof to determine the ...
  A: When you measure the slope you are measuring the long side of a triangle. To solve any triangle you ...
roof installed without h clips3/20/2010
  Q: Is there any remedy for a 35 year old house that was constructed without h clips? I am concerned ...
  A: H-clips are used by beginners that don't know how to build houses. A professional wouldn't use them. ...
Polarium felt3/19/2010
  Q: I was trying to find out if polarium felt has been energy star rated yet? I had my roof done and ...
  A: I can't find a website for the material so I don't now. My guess is no. But even if it was the ...
Better Shingles Elk or Certainteed3/19/2010
  Q: I live in Pennsylvania and I am having a new roof installed with a 30 year shingle. One contractor ...
  A: 25 year warranty vs a 6 year warranty. I'd go with the 25. A guarantee is only someone's promise ...
sagging roof3/18/2010
  Q: I recently purchased a stick built, 2 story, 1930"s house. I have been renovating it through out. ...
  A: You had a ot to read but I'd need pictures to see what you did. I can't picture it all. Cross ...
roofing shingles3/17/2010
  Q: I have to re-roof a portion of my roof. Right now it is about 600 sq. ft. (probably more)-water and ...
  A: Some of the big names are GAF, Tamko, Certainteed. They all should last for the years they're ...
FLAT ROOF3/12/2010
  Q: WHEN PUTTING PEEL AND STICK BASE LAYER IS IT NECESSARY TO REMOVE ALL THE TAR AND GRAVEL; RIGHT TO ...
  A: If he knows it won't leak after 3 years then he should feel very comfortable giving you a long ...
shingle and ventilation3/12/2010
  Q: I am planning for replacing our roof. I have three questions: 1. Our roof has a low pitch (4/12). ...
  A: I do roofing and you're asking about insulation but I would think it would be difficult to add the ...
FLAT ROOF3/11/2010
  Q: WHEN PUTTING PEEL AND STICK BASE LAYER IS IT NECESSARY TO REMOVE ALL THE TAR AND GRAVEL; RIGHT TO ...
  A: Depending on the brand they should last 10-20 years. I guarantee my torch-down roofs 10 years - ...
Torch On Roofing3/10/2010
  Q: Just a request for advice please. I have a torch on roof that I will build a deck on. Sitting ...
  A: People that build decks on their roof usually destroy the roof so be careful. Why not raise the ...
Hydro-Stop3/10/2010
  Q: I am wondering if Hydro-Stop Premium Roof system is any good. I have a low slope roof which had ...
  A: I never heard of them but looking them up Hydro-Stop is just the name of the company and they make ...
drip edge3/8/2010
  Q: What size drip edge is best for shingle roof? Also, can the eaves and trim under the decking get ...
  A: It doesn't matter. You generally use a size that covers up bare wood on the fascia. Yes, you can ...
kneewall in atkcfyxtic3/7/2010
  Q: On one side of my 2 story house (circa 1840)the roof sags in places over a length about 40 feet .A ...
  A: Absolutly not! Your whole idea is to support the roof. The roof itself can't take the load. So ...
FLAT ROOF3/7/2010
  Q: WHEN PUTTING PEEL AND STICK BASE LAYER IS IT NECESSARY TO REMOVE ALL THE TAR AND GRAVEL; RIGHT TO ...
  A: We'll you certainly have to remove the gravel no matter what you do. Gravel is stones and you can't ...
Leaky roof near chimney3/6/2010
  Q: I have a 20 year old house in Ct. I've lived in for 6 years and the last big rain storm we had ...
  A: That's the counter flashing. The step flashing goes underneath that. You'd have to look down between ...
az roofs3/6/2010
  Q: How does tile roof compare to shingle in Arizona? Cost of replacement and also life of roof? ...
  A: Tile roofs roofs last many years - much longer than shingles. If the underlayment only lasted a few ...
Leaky roof near chimney3/5/2010
  Q: I have a 20 year old house in Ct. I've lived in for 6 years and the last big rain storm we had ...
  A: Can you get me a close up picture of that corner? Something looks open. It doesn't have to be sealed ...
organic roof2/27/2010
  Q: Can an insurance company only cover to replace a portion of an organic roof that was hail damaged? I ...
  A: It is true that they are not made or hard to find but what does that have to do with MN? If they are ...
organic roof2/27/2010
  Q: Can an insurance company only cover to replace a portion of an organic roof that was hail damaged? I ...
  A: What do you mean by mn? Do you mean MN? If so, why would that state be a special state? It depends ...
Need advice on roof2/26/2010
  Q: Our roof is split, part of it is flat and the other part has a slight pitch. We need to reroof the ...
  A: Stay away from foam. Hot mop is the old fashioned kind and is not as good as modified (torch-down), ...
Florida Cold Process Low-Slope Re-roof2/24/2010
  Q: I need to re-roof my house and I prefer not to pay a contractor. Ease of installation is more ...
  A: 1. You do not use nails in low slope roofs. You're trying to keep the water out. If you use nails ...
Roofing and snow2/24/2010
  Q: My wife and I are building our own house in Southern Ontario (Canada), and we are shingling the roof ...
  A: Whether the snow melts naturally or by a heater you will still be left with the same amount of water ...
Roofing and snow2/24/2010
  Q: My wife and I are building our own house in Southern Ontario (Canada), and we are shingling the roof ...
  A: You have a dilemma. Only you can decide what is safe. You will probably get water under the ...
Flat roof and parapet wall2/17/2010
  Q: My 2 story townhouse has a flat foam roof shared with 3 other units. Because it has a low slope ...
  A: I have never worked on a foam roof and have never seen one. It is a rare item for sure. I have seen ...
Ice Damning2/16/2010
  Q: Brad, I live in Cleveland, OHio and we get some brutal winters. I am having a problem with an ICE ...
  A: Yes that is wrong. If you want to prevent the ice from melting what are you going to do on sunny, ...
Ice Damning2/15/2010
  Q: Brad, I live in Cleveland, OHio and we get some brutal winters. I am having a problem with an ICE ...
  A: Ice and water shield is a MUST. It's a standard on any quality job. The lower the slope the more ...
Atlas Stormmaster slate2/15/2010
  Q: Do you know anything about Atlas Stormmaster slate. My roofer recommended it as being low cost yet ...
  A: I never heard of Atlas Stormmaster Slate but I don't get into slates. Slate is an old art form and ...
Polaralum2/14/2010
  Q: The number's could be different because I have a lot of offsets on the roof. in any case that was ...
  A: The numbers can't be that far apart. If the roof is 35 sq then the material must be the same (except ...
vaulted ceilings and condensation2/14/2010
  Q: we added a sunroom and kitchen 4 years ago. the glass runs up the ceiling 12 feet where it attaches ...
  A: The how do you know the flooring isn't being damaged by something other than the roof. The roof ...
Air Staplers2/14/2010
  Q: Are pneumatic staplers/nailers an acceptable tool for installing asphalt shingles or are they just ...
  A: Who doesn't use a nail gun today? Staples were a fad years ago that went away because they don't ...
vaulted ceilings and condensation2/14/2010
  Q: we added a sunroom and kitchen 4 years ago. the glass runs up the ceiling 12 feet where it attaches ...
  A: If it is a leak it will happen only during rains. It if is condensation it will happens on sunny ...
Polaralum2/13/2010
  Q: My roofing contractor just recommended installing polaralum under my shinges instead of felt. They ...
  A: Polarium is a radiant heat barrier which is the newest fad. There are 3 ways heat can get into the ...
Wind damage to my roof.2/13/2010
  Q: I really need some help/information regarding wind damage. I live outside Denver Colorado in a very ...
  A: Some roofers install shingles diagonally and they might have had some bad bundles and that's why the ...
Roof condensation2/13/2010
  Q: I own bought my home 5 years ago, it is a National brand kit home from the 50's-60's. I am having a ...
  A: You mentioned condensation and leaking. They are different but I'll go with condensation. ...
Roof condensation2/13/2010
  Q: I own bought my home 5 years ago, it is a National brand kit home from the 50's-60's. I am having a ...
  A: You mentioned a leak and a condensation problem. They are two different things. I'll go with the ...
Increase PSF loading2/11/2010
  Q: I live in snow county and have been considering upgrading my truss roof to a higher PSF rating ...
  A: I don't know what a PSF rating is. Are you saying pounds per square foot? There are several options ...
globe 25 yr. warr. asphalt shingles2/10/2010
  Q: 12 years ago, we had our house re-roofed and an addition built on by a very qualified and licensed ...
  A: If you buy anything such as a TV, a car or shingles and the company goes out of business then there ...
Asbestos2/6/2010
  Q: What steps do i take in installing asbestos roofing
  A: I didn't even know they made that anymore. Who installs asbestos today? First, I'd make sure you ...
Roof repair2/5/2010
  Q: Due to the recent rain, a roofer said that the valley area on my roof was causing some leaks into my ...
  A: He might have something hidden under the tiles that routes the water as he said. What you have there ...
rock roof recover2/5/2010
  Q: I have a low slope rock roof. What are my options for a recover after sweeping off the existing ...
  A: If it is an open beam ceiling then you will see nails or screws. They must penetrate all the way ...
Stucco/Roofing issue2/4/2010
  Q: I bought a house that has stucco on the dormer. I had a roofer inform me that the areas where the ...
  A: The flashing really needs to be behind the stucco. You will also have to re-do the shingles there ...
rock roof recover2/4/2010
  Q: I have a low slope rock roof. What are my options for a recover after sweeping off the existing ...
  A: Are you sweeping off just the loose rock or all the rock? Usually the rock gets stuck and you have ...
inspection corrections1/30/2010
  Q: A city public works inspector showed up 3 months after completion of hail damage re-roof and made a ...
  A: No. Remember, shingles just lay on top of one another so water can easily get in. When snow lays on ...
inspection corrections1/30/2010
  Q: A city public works inspector showed up 3 months after completion of hail damage re-roof and made a ...
  A: The battle you are set up for depends on the laws of your township. One thing I can tell you. You ...
Roofing Leak1/28/2010
  Q: During the rain storm last week, my roof start leaking in several areas (downstairs living room, ...
  A: It sounds plausible but without seeing pictures I can't tell for sure. First, you don't use ...
Cedar roof no drip edge?1/28/2010
  Q: I have a cedar shake roof. I am experiencing water intrusion on the gable end attic walls. the wall ...
  A: It seems strange that the leaks are only lined up with the studs. That would mean the studs have ...
valley1/28/2010
  Q: I am at the planning stage to replace our current asphalt shingle roof. The roof has a low slope ...
  A: There are 3 ways to do a valley. 1. Open valley with metal 2. Closed valley with the shingles laced ...
Cedar roof no drip edge?1/28/2010
  Q: I have a cedar shake roof. I am experiencing water intrusion on the gable end attic walls. the wall ...
  A: Does it leak only when it rains? Do you look at it when it's not raining to see if it is wet? If it ...
Leak1/25/2010
  Q: We had our roof replaced about 3 1/2 years ago and were not aware of any problems untill the ...
  A: An engineer designs things and may not know how to solve problems. What you need is someone with a ...
Leak1/24/2010
  Q: We had our roof replaced about 3 1/2 years ago and were not aware of any problems untill the ...
  A: Try a hose test. Wet different area down and see when it leaks with what areas that you wet. Try to ...
Replacement of Old Felt Paper When Reroofing1/23/2010
  Q: Brad, Our roof was damaged by hail. Our roofer's contract price included tearing off the 11 yr old ...
  A: First, never volunteer any information to someone that makes decisions on your future. Now the ...
flat roof1/23/2010
  Q: i live in a 85-year old row home in baltimore. the house has a sloped slate roof on the front, a ...
  A: In the winter you just have to move a little faster. The asphalt is heated to 500 degrees so if it ...
flat roof1/22/2010
  Q: i live in a 85-year old row home in baltimore. the house has a sloped slate roof on the front, a ...
  A: Rubber is far better and many roofers have switched to it. Most EVERY SINGLE leak is due to poor ...
Tongue & Groove/Stick built roof1/21/2010
  Q: Brad, I forgot to add to my last question. I think my problem is condensation as the only time the ...
  A: If your problem was condensation then it would also leak on sunny days when there is no snow on the ...
Tongue & Groove/Stick built roof1/21/2010
  Q: Our roof is 8 years old, it is a high pitched stick built roof,with tongue & groove on the interior. ...
  A: If it leaks you have holes. Since it is a steep roof then ice damming should not be a problem. ...
leaking near skylight1/21/2010
  Q: I had a new roof installed 4 years ago. Recently I noticed a water ring near the skylight in one of ...
  A: There is no proper way to seal a skylight. Anything you do is not like the original. The only way to ...
Replacement of felt?1/20/2010
  Q: I'm having a shingle roof replaced on a house that was built about 20 years ago. One of the roofers ...
  A: I'm assuming that old shingles are being ripped off. If so, it is hard to do that without damaging ...
Roof Replacement1/19/2010
  Q: I don't mean to take much of your time, but my wife and I are debating on weather to make an offer ...
  A: How much cost I would consider depends on how badly I want the house. I might pay a lot if it has a ...
Facia boards1/16/2010
  Q: Are facia boards considered part of your roof??? considering that the roof is on top of them. im ...
  A: No, I would not consider fascia boards part of the roof. If they were just because the roof was on ...
venting 1927 hip roof1/13/2010
  Q: I would like to finish the attic areas of our new home built in 1927. It will add a huge amount of ...
  A: The gaps you see also double as venting. You need to get cool air in the bottom of the roof and hot ...
Attic Leaking during snow/hard freeze1/10/2010
  Q: Brad, I live in a home that is three years old. Over the last twenty days we in Kansas city have ...
  A: It is certainly not normal to have water dripping in your house. You have a humidity problem. Check ...
Installing insulation fiber1/8/2010
  Q: Zacharia, I live in the tropics in South America and my builder didn´t warned me that I was going to ...
  A: Any time you want to keep cold or heat from getting in you need insulation. Was there any before? ...
pipe vents1/7/2010
  Q: my pipe vents are leaking. it is a 90lb roll roof hot cemented to a 2:12 pitched roof. for some ...
  A: Normally pipe collars don't go on flat roofs. Then again flat roofs aren't done with 90 lb material ...
using staples in asphalt shingles instead of nails1/4/2010
  Q: I purchased a home in Claremore Ok. and have lived here for one year now. I recently experienced ...
  A: I don't know that the leaking is being caused by staples. I will say that stapling shingles was a ...
Improper venting causing major condensation and ceiling leak1/4/2010
  Q: Sorry about the length of this - to describe this is complicated. I live in northern Canada in an ...
  A: You do not need hot air to dry something out. You need dry air to dry something out. Air in the ...
rain diverter1/2/2010
  Q: I have rain pouring off two places on my house and puddling badly. The rain pours off because an ...
  A: Yes, you will have two halves. They still add up to the same amount. You originally asked about ...
new roof12/31/2009
  Q: I had a new roof installed a month ago. It looks older than the one that was on it. Neighbors asked ...
  A: You took the picture of the roof edgewise so I can't see details of the roof. I don't see anything ...
flat roof using 2ply tourch down bitumen12/30/2009
  Q: Every contractor I have called use different materials and say that they are the Best. So pls let ...
  A: Everyone uses the best materials and every contractor is the best in the business and I'm going to ...
engineered wood sheathing on roof12/26/2009
  Q: We had engineered wood sheathing on the roof of an an addition for 3 solid weeks of rain before the ...
  A: I don't know what "engineered wood sheathing" is. Maybe you're talking about OSB board which is like ...
Condensation?12/22/2009
  Q: I just replaced a 30-year old low-slope built-up roof (vapor barrier/rolled roofing/tar and slag) in ...
  A: It sounds like you have absolutely no insulation at all. You must have an enormous heat loss. Seeing ...
RIDGE & TURTLE VENTS - SHOULD THEY BE INSTALLED TOGETHER?12/18/2009
  Q: I am the vice-president of our condo association for a 2 bldg, 32 unit complex in Harrison Twp, MI ...
  A: They are both wrong. You can put all the vents in you want and where you want. You want to get as ...
previous post12/15/2009
  Q: I was reading your response to the question about condensation in an attic and was curious if the ...
  A: When it rains it rains because the humidity in the air reaches 100% and the air can no longer hold ...
Roofing and engineering12/14/2009
  Q: I noticed your credentials and was wondering if you could help me out. I've been doing roofing and ...
  A: You can build the house but can you design it? That's where the engineering comes in at. If you can ...
Leak in garage in winter?12/13/2009
  Q: Brad, State: MN House Built: 1971 Roof Age: 2 yrs I have a garage roof that seems to be leaking in ...
  A: I'm missing a whole bunch of info. Is there snow on the roof when it "leaks"? Does it leak only when ...
Leak in garage in winter?12/13/2009
  Q: Brad, State: MN House Built: 1971 Roof Age: 2 yrs I have a garage roof that seems to be leaking in ...
  A: You never said it was raining. You can't have a leaky roof if it is not raining. If it is not due to ...
ice/water shield installation12/12/2009
  Q: I am currently engaged in a purchase agreement with a builder. Due to the roof being installed ...
  A: Ice & Water Shield does degrade in sunlight. You are correct. It should be installed according to ...
I need a roof insection by a P.E. in Powder Springs12/10/2009
  Q: My name is Mr. Lorenza James and I live at 300 Sterling Drive, Powder Springs, GA 30127. My roof was ...
  A: People go to college to be all sorts of engineers. When they are done they take a test for PE. Once ...
mold and moisture in the attic12/9/2009
  Q: We recently put a 2 story addition on our house. In the last year, we noticed there was mold in the ...
  A: They might have used the wrong nails but that would have nothing to do with dampness in the attic. ...
mansard roof ventilation12/9/2009
  Q: i have a situation with a mansard roof that was built - and then the attic was then finished. The ...
  A: You probably have the humidity too high in the attic and then it is hitting a cold ceiling causing ...
Reroof necessary for ice dam?12/8/2009
  Q: I live in the Boston area, and have had ice dams the last few years. House is a Colonial with hip ...
  A: The gutter should be below the roof so as water drips into the gutter, if the gutter is frozen or ...
Roof Tile underlayment12/8/2009
  Q: My question is 30 pounder paper. Is 30 pound paper ok in a house that is 30 years old? The roof ...
  A: 30 lb paper is fine but felt paper is not meant for your situation in the first place. They do make ...
Reroof necessary for ice dam?12/7/2009
  Q: I live in the Boston area, and have had ice dams the last few years. House is a Colonial with hip ...
  A: If you have a warm attic then ice would have a hard time forming on the roof since the roof would ...
roof plumbing pipe vents12/7/2009
  Q: Brad: I have a three tab traditional fiberglass roof 13 yrs old. The rubber flashing around a few of ...
  A: The sun seems to deteriorate them over time. You'd think that if you had a 25 year roof that you ...
Reroof necessary for ice dam?12/7/2009
  Q: I live in the Boston area, and have had ice dams the last few years. House is a Colonial with hip ...
  A: You can not stop ice dams. The goal is to prevent water from coming in when there are ice dams. The ...
GAF WEATHERWATCH&GAF COBRA ROOF RIDGE EXHAUST VENT12/6/2009
  Q: I CURRENTLY HAVE A BOX OF EACH. GAF WEATHERWATCH AND GAF COBRA ROOF RIDGE EXHAUST VENT {20FT 10.5 ...
  A: Why not just call your local roofing warehouse. They are common items. No one will list prices on ...
low slope roof11/27/2009
  Q: is it wrong to put ice&water shield over the entire roof.will it cause the shingles to prematurely ...
  A: The roof does not "breathe". Even if you had paper with holes in it then how would any air get ...
leaks11/25/2009
  Q: I had my house rerofed this year with natural slate and put a membrane inside the slate. I also ...
  A: Do you have pictures of the outside? If the water only comes in during a rain then it is a leak. If ...
starter srtip11/24/2009
  Q: I am currently having my roof replaced by a local contractor. It was brought to my attention by my ...
  A: Shingles have cutouts or spaces where water gets through but is picked up by the shingle on the row ...
torch roofing11/24/2009
  Q: I live in Southern California, They are going to put on a new roof. Flat roof. first nail 28# ...
  A: Modified is a finished roof. If you do it twice then you're doing two roofs. It would be like ...
roofing in cold weather11/22/2009
  Q: I have a beach house one block from the bay. (NJ) I need a new roof. Is it too cold in November to ...
  A: You can do it in the winter but shingles are fragile when cold so the roofer has to be careful. Will ...
Roof, brick, window leak, HELP PLEASE11/19/2009
  Q: I have a bay window in my kitchen. The bay window is on the first floor. There are two windows ...
  A: You're shocked at workers today? Why, I'm shocked! The picture is too far away for me to see any ...
underlayment and ventilation11/18/2009
  Q: I am getting so confused with all these estimates. It's hard to compare apples to apples. One says ...
  A: If you don't get snow then you don't need Ice and Water Shield which is what the self-stick stuff ...
Metal Ridge cap on Slate Roof11/17/2009
  Q: The roofer I hire told me that a metal ridge cap cannot be attached to the slate roof because it ...
  A: Slate roofs generally do not have a ridge cap. Your home inspector is basically a handyman and can't ...
Rubber roof - saturated insulation11/12/2009
  Q: New rubber roof summer 2008, installed over non-leaking tar & gravel roof in MA, as a preventative ...
  A: I would need to see pictures. You can't put EPDM on a roof that has asphalt products on it. Also, ...
Sheating a roof11/11/2009
  Q: How do you lift 4X8 osb sheating over the rafter tails onto the roof? Right now it is only my ...
  A: Use a ladder or a plank that does not extend much above the roof. Use a rope with a hook or a noose ...
Roof felt11/10/2009
  Q: I am an architect in Seattle working on a standard 10:12 roof pitch. We usually say use 30# felt ...
  A: I've never heard of using 60 lb paper for shingles. Most roofers use #15. It's just used for a ...
My roof has developed a leak its a very old roof so i would like to ask what to do11/10/2009
  Q: my roof started leaking rather badly and we can not afford to hire anyone to fix it at the moment i ...
  A: When a shingle roof goes due to age it is usually hundreds of holes by then. If that's the case the ...
Ridge Vent vs. Turbines11/9/2009
  Q: I had been told that a ridge vent will vent more air than turbines. I had a roofing company give me ...
  A: Ridge vents can be put on in any length and up to infinite feet while a turbine has only a specific ...
water dripping from roof11/7/2009
  Q: I have a new asphalt shingle roof. It's been a week since we had heavy rain but I notice water is ...
  A: The gutters have a purpose and if it is not working then I'd say you should be concerned about it. ...
Low slope roof leak solution11/5/2009
  Q: I have a 19 year old house that has a small offset on the rear, covered with a gable sort of like a ...
  A: You said you have a low slope roof. Then you mentioned shingles. The two do not go together. You ...
Oven Range Vent11/3/2009
  Q: I'm the same person who was asking you about possible vent leak and the shingles being positioned ...
  A: The caulking probably won't cause a problem. So now you've determined that the leak is above the ...
Adding roof top insulation on Low Slope11/3/2009
  Q: That section has pot vents but no soffit vents. I want to remove the vents, fill the space between ...
  A: I was talking about water vapor because you brought it up first. You specifically made the ...
Square Hip Roof Ventilation Improvements11/3/2009
  Q: New Northeast homeowner with a small square hip roof that needs to be re-done (asphalt shingles, NO ...
  A: The more venting the better. There is no exact formula. If you want to cool your house off there is ...
Leaves in Roof Vent11/3/2009
  Q: After a hard rainstorm last week, I noticed some dampness in the wood near the attic of my ...
  A: Can you give me a picture of the front of the vent? Also, look at the vertical seams on the vent. ...
Leaves in Roof Vent11/3/2009
  Q: After a hard rainstorm last week, I noticed some dampness in the wood near the attic of my ...
  A: It's not a typical hood. Most are round. Two possibilities. 1. The corners of the vent metal are ...
Roofing11/1/2009
  Q: My neighbour and myself is planning to redo our roofs together.we live in a semi detached ...
  A: I don't know of any problems with Iko shingles. I never heard of a "pig" valley so I don't know ...
outdoor carpet laid over ice and water guard membrane11/1/2009
  Q: 1-How do you affix outdoor carpet on top of ice and waterguard membrane, the latter has been applied ...
  A: Ice and Water Shield is not a finished roof. In fact, it deteriorates in the sun if left exposed. ...
installing shingles according to manufacturer's specifications10/31/2009
  Q: My house was just re-roofed (tear-off)with Timberline high definition prestique 30 shingles, ...
  A: Oh, those numbers. I have never seen any roof installed according to those numbers yet they do have ...
Adding roof top insulation on Low Slope10/29/2009
  Q: That section has pot vents but no soffit vents. I want to remove the vents, fill the space between ...
  A: Why would water vapor come up through the house? Why is your house so full of water vapor? How would ...
Insulation / water vapors10/29/2009
  Q: First let me thank you for all your input provided here as a volunteer. I'm a little confused by a ...
  A: I guess I was talking about 2 different things. The air that is inside the insulation is not ...
Big leak slight pitch10/28/2009
  Q: First of all I apoligize for my l;ack of roofing terminolgy. Electric/Electronics I can handle ...
  A: One thing you know for sure - that the source of the leak is uphill from where it is coming in on ...
30 yr cambridge10/27/2009
  Q: My shingles shave blown off and they tell me it is because they were "high nailed". they say that ...
  A: If you nail high the shingles that blow off will be in sheets. Individual shingles blow off for ...
Low sloped clay tile roof w/ built up membrane10/23/2009
  Q: I have a roof with either a 2 1/2 in 12 or a 3 in 12 pitched roof which was specified to have a ...
  A: Do you get snow? 3/12 slope is low for tiles but you can use special procedures to try to protect ...
Roofing choice10/23/2009
  Q: I have a tar and gravel roof. It is 17 years old and leaks here and there every year. I decided to ...
  A: I do not know much about TPO. It is a new product and rarely used in my part of the country. It is ...
Mobile Home roof10/22/2009
  Q: On a mobile home can I install a new layer of shingles over the existing roof? Or will the weight be ...
  A: No one makes a roof that if you add just a little more weight it will collapse. If you want to have ...
Nail heads showing10/21/2009
  Q: We recently had our roof replace and there are sections on the front where I can see where the nails ...
  A: It's a very big concern. It's called a "future leak". It probably won't leak short term as the ...
hybrid insulation approach to inverted roof assembly for flat roof in PNW10/18/2009
  Q: i would like to do exactly what was proposed in an email sent to you back in 2004 by another ...
  A: You can't "keep the dew point outside". Any air you have has a dew point. It's the point at which if ...
Low pitch roof10/17/2009
  Q: I went through some of your columns and i need your help. I hired a contractor to build a patio ...
  A: There is no reason why you can't do a roof on a 1:12 pitch. I do all low slope roofs and they are ...
Just had a new roof installed10/16/2009
  Q: We just had a new asphalt architectual roof installed. The shingles are not laying flat and it ...
  A: It depend what you mean by not laying flat. Shingles will not be perfectly flat when installed but ...
cupping10/15/2009
  Q: i just had my roof done today. they striped it,and the new shingles are cupped in alot of places. i ...
  A: The cupping can be from various things. Usually the shingles will not lay perfectly flat since they ...
when to roof10/14/2009
  Q: I have an old shake roof and am planning to reroof now in Oct to have peace of mind this rainy ...
  A: The warranty has nothing to do with you removing a chimney. The warranty says the shingles will not ...
Lifting 8x4' 18mm ply sheets10/13/2009
  Q: As the subject really. I have prepared the flat roof with firings for a slight slope, but cannot ...
  A: Two people. One on the ground wraps a rope around the plywood and lays it on the ladder. The guy at ...
attaching metal valley without nails10/9/2009
  Q: I SAW IN A BOOK A HOOK OR CLIP YOU ATTACH TO THE EDGE OF THE METAL VALLEY IT'S ABOUT I'LL SAY 6"OR8" ...
  A: That's an old procedure and they don't make houses like they used to. That was done many years ago. ...
popped nails10/8/2009
  Q: s During a recent storm with strong winds and hail two trees fell on my property. Onw fell on my ...
  A: If a tree falls on the house we know it can't loosen shingles on another part of the house. A "nail ...
roof on breeze block shed10/7/2009
  Q: my build is 16ft by 10 ft by 10ft high can i put a slanted roof on this single wall made up of tiles ...
  A: You might not have asked for an English lesson but if you can't communicate well with another person ...
roof on breeze block shed10/7/2009
  Q: my build is 16ft by 10 ft by 10ft high can i put a slanted roof on this single wall made up of tiles ...
  A: No, you said "i put a slanted roof on this single wall". I am an expert but you wrote the question ...
rubber roof or asphalt shingles?10/5/2009
  Q: I live in the northeast where we get a lot of snow. We need a new roof for our house. We have a ...
  A: Slopes between 2 & 4 can be shingles but they are tricky and need special procedures. Above 4" you ...
IKO roofing10/5/2009
  Q: Here in the Philippines,does IKO roofing products have their "Algae Resistant Asphalt Shingles" ...
  A: I wouldn't know better than you what you have over there. How would I know what a company might be ...
Roof Vents10/1/2009
  Q: Mr. Zacharia: We are trying to choose a roofing contractor for tear-off and replacement. The house ...
  A: You said you have insulation in the "ceiling rafters". When you are in the attic the ceilings of the ...
Shingle Quality10/1/2009
  Q: How does the IKO Cambridge 30 compare to other shingles. I had IKO tabbed arc installed about 12 ...
  A: I have never used Iko but they have been around. They are not as big as GAF in the roofing field. ...
torch down10/1/2009
  Q: we applyed torch down to a commericial building and we even put fiber uv coating on it looks great. ...
  A: But once a piece of rubber is torched down it takes a tornado to separate it. If it is lifting then ...
toarch down10/1/2009
  Q: we applyed torch down to a commericial building and we even put fiber uv coating on it looks great. ...
  A: When wind blows the wind does not have to get under the roofing material to lift it up. When wind ...
Composite Asphalt over Wood Shake Roof9/30/2009
  Q: I'm trying to find the answer through the City of Sacramento's web site but can't. Then I tried ...
  A: Whether it's legal depends on your township or city. Every town has their own rules. Some towns ...
hail damage to roof9/30/2009
  Q: We have a roof that is apprx. 16 yrs old. It is leaking in two areas and while getting estimates ...
  A: I'm assuming you're talking about a shingle roof. As roofs age the material wears and washes away. ...
Slate Roof Repair9/30/2009
  Q: I’d like to get your opinion on a roof repair of my residential home. I recently hired a licensed ...
  A: Do you have more pictures? I'm not sure of some of your descriptions. For example: "Pieces of the ...
electrical mast9/30/2009
  Q: I am going to re-roof my house. How do you deal with roofing around the masthead. What is the risk ...
  A: The risk of shock is the same as re-wring a lamp or plugging it in. It's the same voltage of 120 ...
new roof style9/29/2009
  Q: I'd like to have a "salt-box" or "lean-to" style metal roof built over my 14 x 60 mobile home. With ...
  A: I never heard of a salt-box or lean-to roof so I don't know what you're trying to design. The pitch ...
metal valleys or woven?9/29/2009
  Q: The advice passed down from my great uncle years ago: ask for metal valleys and lead boots. Please, ...
  A: All three methods of valleys are good. It depends on what look you're looking for. If you do a ...
metal valleys or woven?9/28/2009
  Q: The advice passed down from my great uncle years ago: ask for metal valleys and lead boots. Please, ...
  A: Metal valleys take more work so they are trying to avoid that. But even if you do metal valleys you ...
roofing new wood9/27/2009
  Q: My house is about 50 years old with an addition about 35 years old. Part of my roof is a flat roof. ...
  A: Walking on it will tell you how sturdy it is. If you think it's really weak then be careful. Ripping ...
roofing new wood9/27/2009
  Q: My house is about 50 years old with an addition about 35 years old. Part of my roof is a flat roof. ...
  A: The thickness of the plywood depends on the spacing of the rafters. But 3/8" is kind of paltry. You ...
Sagging gutters9/27/2009
  Q: Rain gutters sag backward against fascia boards that were angled backward towards the house for 50's ...
  A: Don't the gutters tilt forward and not backward based on your follow-up description of the setup? ...
advice9/26/2009
  Q: .just asking some advice with a couple of questions. first, is it ok to put a new roof over and old ...
  A: You can put a new roof over old ones in most circumstances. There are several types of flashings ...
Carpet on flat roof9/25/2009
  Q: I have flat roof over the garage that we use as a porch. We have owned our 1949 cabin for 2 years ...
  A: It appears that "bituthene" is a brand name used by Grace. They only talk about it as far as ...
condensation?9/25/2009
  Q: About 2 years ago I replaced the roof. The roofer insisted on soffit vents saying that the ridge ...
  A: You didn't say originally that you had a cathedral ceiling. That makes it all more difficult to ...
Questions about zinc strips for Algae9/25/2009
  Q: Last week, I had my old roof tore off (because there were 2 layers on the old roof) and replaced ...
  A: I have never used zinc strips but the solution is simple. Most shingles today are "AR" rated (Algae ...
Wood shingles > Window flashing9/24/2009
  Q: I read you answer to Roofing - Bay window flashing 9/21/2009 and realized after reading it that I ...
  A: Can you get me a picture. Even a far away picture from the ground so I can see the set-up you have. ...
Carpet on flat roof9/24/2009
  Q: I have flat roof over the garage that we use as a porch. We have owned our 1949 cabin for 2 years ...
  A: I do not know about adhesives in general. There is no roofing called Bitchatane so I don't know ...
condensation?9/24/2009
  Q: About 2 years ago I replaced the roof. The roofer insisted on soffit vents saying that the ridge ...
  A: If the roofer said that he should not be in the roofing business AT ALL. If he was that bad with the ...
roofing9/23/2009
  Q: when installing the drip edge, is it supposed to be installed under or over the waterproof membrane?
  A: That's the $64,000 question. Most roofers do the membrane to the edge and then nail down a drip edge ...
Deck installation9/23/2009
  Q: The decking also got wet prior to putting the roll paper on it, How bad can it warp and is it due to ...
  A: Remember that the entire house gets wet while the house is under construction. Everything gets wet ...
IKO shingles9/22/2009
  Q: I understand there is a class action lawsuit against IKO. Is this the Canadian company? I'm getting ...
  A: I don't know about any class action lawsuit of Iko. I think all the shingles companies have had ...
Bay window flashing9/21/2009
  Q: I just had a new decorative asphalt shingle installed on my house(Certainteen Country Cottage). For ...
  A: Picture how water runs. As it runs down you always want the water to run on top of the next item. As ...
ridge vents/steep hip roofs9/20/2009
  Q: Brad, I've read, elsewhere, that ridge vents may not be appropriate for steep hip roofs. 1. What ...
  A: It depends on the size of the vents. A 12'x12" vent has 4 times the area as a 6"x6" vent. There is ...
Crickets9/20/2009
  Q: Almost every roof in the neighborhood has a "cricket" behind their chimney on the upslope of the ...
  A: Crickets are used to keep water from getting stuck behind objects. Smaller objects are not a concern ...
Whirlybirds vs. Other Venting9/19/2009
  Q: We are about to have our roof re-shingled with asphalt roofing. The house currently has a ...
  A: What problems are in the "Future" with whirlybirds that we don't know about today? And what problems ...
ridge vents/steep hip roofs9/19/2009
  Q: Brad, I've read, elsewhere, that ridge vents may not be appropriate for steep hip roofs. 1. What ...
  A: I never heard that vent are not appropriate for steep roofs. For a cathedral ceiling you have to ...
new roof9/19/2009
  Q: I need a new roof and am overwhelmed with information. I live in Michigan and the home was built in ...
  A: Being a Master Elite with GAF does not mean much. It just means he applied and they feel he is OK. ...
new roof9/17/2009
  Q: I need a new roof and am overwhelmed with information. I live in Michigan and the home was built in ...
  A: Most all roofers use ridge vents so you'd have to go against the standard and say they are all ...
Repair of bad roofing job9/17/2009
  Q: My reroofing job was not done correctly. Specifically, and most importantly nails that held down the ...
  A: It is not normal procedure because it is not normal to leave a roof this way. I can't say I've come ...
new roof9/17/2009
  Q: I need a new roof and am overwhelmed with information. I live in Michigan and the home was built in ...
  A: You can't vent the bathroom into the attic. Twenty vents on your roof? What does that look like? I ...
Repair of bad roofing job9/16/2009
  Q: My reroofing job was not done correctly. Specifically, and most importantly nails that held down the ...
  A: Nails sticking up will eventually pop through the shingles and cause leaks. They need to be removed. ...
Roof Vents9/14/2009
  Q: I think it's great to be able to ask an expert a question and I look forward to your answer. We'll ...
  A: There are all kinds of vents but since a shingle roof is a visual roof you try to use vents that ...
unvented cathedral ceiling9/13/2009
  Q: We are located on the western slope of Colorado. The climate here is quite dry. This past spring we ...
  A: Lines of water are leaks so you'd have to find them in the roof. Spots of water can be leaks or ...
Chimney Flashing9/13/2009
  Q: I'm, putting a new shingle roof on my house. It's a tear-off. It's a simple, fairly low-slope roof ...
  A: When flashing is done properly no sealant is used. You want a 25 year roof yet sealants don't last ...
Ice and Water Shield over 1st Roof9/10/2009
  Q: Brad, I plan to roof over an existing roof with one layer of asphalt shingles. Is it appropriate ...
  A: The ice and water protection is placed on the wood. The water gets stopped under the original roof. ...
Elk Shingles w/rust spots9/9/2009
  Q: I have a 5 year old roof with the Elk Prestique High Definition shingles. In inspecting for hail ...
  A: I don't know about Pyrites but staining of shingles (from algae) has been a major problem for years. ...
installing a curb for a skylight9/8/2009
  Q: i have a low pitched roof with the two bubble skylights. the lights are flush mounted and are ...
  A: The curb can be build out of any 2x lumber - usually 2x6. The waterproofing material is the roof ...
cellophane over sealing strip?9/6/2009
  Q: Should the cellophane be removed from the sealing strip before installation? I watched GAF video on ...
  A: No, you do not have to remove it. It is just for shipping so the shingles don't get stuck together ...
architectural shingles on a low slope dormer roof?9/5/2009
  Q: Ready to roof. Out of several roofers I've spoken with, only 1 has said architectural shingles are ...
  A: You can go to any manufacturer's website too look at guarantees. They guarantee their product will ...
architectural shingles on a low slope dormer roof?9/4/2009
  Q: Ready to roof. Out of several roofers I've spoken with, only 1 has said architectural shingles are ...
  A: Whether they are achitectural shingles or 3-tab shingles, either one will leak when installed on low ...
dip in roof9/4/2009
  Q: My husband and I have a contract on a home and noticed a slight bow/dip in the roof that the ...
  A: It is possible to have a piece of wood that is not straight but is strong. You can be looking at a ...
Modified roofing9/4/2009
  Q: I have a 3000 sq. ft. modified smooth roof that is cracked and starting to buckle. Pitch is less ...
  A: An aluminum coated will help. Hopefully you're talking about the small cracks that we call ...
Asphalt over shake9/3/2009
  Q: I am looking at buying a house and I had a home inspector come out and look at the house. He told ...
  A: You don't know if the home inspector knows his stuff. Usually they are basically a "handyman". You ...
cobra ridge vent9/2/2009
  Q: I'm getting a new roof put on and my roofer says that cobra ridge vents are great, but I hear there ...
  A: I believe the Cobra vent is the foam type and you shingle over it. The problem is it does not have ...
Dimensional Shingles9/1/2009
  Q: Two years ago I had a new roof installed with dimensional shingles on my rental property. It did ...
  A: They are uniform ROWS going from eaves to peak but the cuts on the individual shingles are random. ...
DOME ROOF9/1/2009
  Q: I BUILT A GEODESIC DOME HOME AND HAVE HAD 2 SHINGLE ROOFS INSTALLED AND HAVE NOT HAD BEEN ABLE TO ...
  A: I've never worked with TPO but I'm sure your leaks have nothing to do with the material used. If you ...
Purchasing house with flat tile roof9/1/2009
  Q: and one of my biggest fears is the roof being in a bad condition. I am a auto technician and i know ...
  A: Tiles last a very long time. Most all roof problems are due to poor installation by someone that ...
repairing a low sloped rolled asphalt roof8/31/2009
  Q: Brad, I have been researching how to repair a low sloped rolled asphalt roof. Below is a general ...
  A: Most roofers do not call it mastic. They call it cement. Also, what goes side-by-side with cement is ...
replacing flat roof8/30/2009
  Q: Could you please tell if i need to replace the existing felt on my leaking flat roof and how many ...
  A: Felt paper is an old type of roofing. Torch-down is not felt. It is "modified" and it only is put ...
reroofing questions8/30/2009
  Q: 1. I want to use pancake-head screws (Swan Secure F10T200PTQ) instead of nails for better fastening. ...
  A: Screws in anything always hold better than nails. The shingles get done half way up the pipe and ...
Gable vs Soffit Vents8/29/2009
  Q: I actually have two questions, if you dont' mind. Both are regarding my 1945 single-story located in ...
  A: Nothing will work on the top of the roof unless you have something at the bottom of the roof - ...
replacing flat roof8/29/2009
  Q: Could you please tell if i need to replace the existing felt on my leaking flat roof and how many ...
  A: What do you mean by "felt"? You replace the roof when the old one is all cracked up and can't be ...
Replace or Re-roof my Flat Roof?8/27/2009
  Q: I have a flat roof of built up tar and asphalt. I'm not sure how old the roof is, but it is at least ...
  A: Roofing weighs about 1 lb per sq-ft so 4 layers is 4 lbs per sq ft. Where a worker stands is then ...
leak where roof potch meets vertical exterior wall8/26/2009
  Q: Half of our home is a vaulted one story, and where this roof line of this area meets up with the ...
  A: Yes, the warranty would cover it but.....not when you drill holes right through your roof. WHY IS ...
Insulating flat roof8/26/2009
  Q: I want to replace the existing flat, tar & gravel roof with a new one containing a 2" IKO rigid ...
  A: Insulation is a barrier between you and the outside world. If you vent under it then the insulation ...
Insulating flat roof8/25/2009
  Q: I want to replace the existing flat, tar & gravel roof with a new one containing a 2" IKO rigid ...
  A: You seem to have answered your own question. You want to know if the vents need to go through the ...
Orlando City Building Code8/24/2009
  Q: Do you know what the minimum slope is for a residence in Orlando, FL? ANSWER: The minimum slope is ...
  A: I don't know what the minimum slope is for a specific city in Florida. I'm in PA but I'd be ...
energy efficient roofing8/23/2009
  Q: We are replacing our roof and are considering the GAF-Elk energy efficient shingles. Their website ...
  A: It is a stretch to get shingles to be energy efficient to fit into the government's program. There ...
hail damage: re-roof vs. over old room8/23/2009
  Q: According to our insurance adjustor, our house, shed, and new addition need a new roof due to hail ...
  A: They don't make a 15 year shingle. Is the insurance adjust a public adjuster and trying to sell a ...
Asphalt v cedar8/23/2009
  Q: I have a 200 year old colonial with a cedar roof in need of replacing. I would ideally like to ...
  A: The dark color will produce more heat. Then the material can transfer heat indoors. All material can ...
Roof Valley8/22/2009
  Q: I have a roof leak - a roofing contractor says that the entire 85 foot of current "valley must be ...
  A: The "California Valley" is a valley that gets done sometimes but it is not really an acceptable ...
Roofing8/21/2009
  Q: What is the truss size for a 12 foot span covered by a rolled roof? Background: My friend wants to ...
  A: 2x6s, 2x10s or 2x8s are not trusses. You make trusses out of them and they can be infinitely ...
Fascia Board8/19/2009
  Q: I recently appraised a bungalow built in 1950s with a shingle roof. The underwriter is requesting ...
  A: Fascia boards usually have to do with the design of the house. Sometimes the more expensive houses ...
Fiberglass roof deck8/17/2009
  Q: Brad, I have a fiberglass roof deck over the entire house. It has not had any noticeable leaks or ...
  A: It depends on what you mean by fiberglass. The pipe is moving independently of the roof and causing ...
Flat Roof8/17/2009
  Q: I have a flat roof that was replaced 3yrs ago. This roof has been leaking ever since. My main ...
  A: It doesn't matter what the rubber was put on. The water can't get through the rubber unless there ...
Shingles flying off8/16/2009
  Q: We have a roof w/ EMCO Mosaic fiberglass shingles installed 6 years ago. Every year, we have some ...
  A: I never heard of EMCO so it must be a small company. Several possibilities: 1. Shingles installed ...
replacing my valleys have some ?'s please8/14/2009
  Q: I just got laid off from work so i'm gonna attempt to fix my roof problems in the valley. I have a ...
  A: A 12/12 valley is steep so it is hard for it to leak from ice and snow when done properly. You can ...
Roofing materials and felt weight8/13/2009
  Q: My son is buying his first home and seller is putting a new roof on before closing - we have offered ...
  A: 15# paper is fine. By having the seller get the work done you run the risk of them finding the ...
vaulted ceiling insulation and roof8/11/2009
  Q: I have a vaulted ceiling in a bedroom that has 2 inch insulation within the rafters with about 4 ...
  A: The radiant barrier is not mandatory. It's just one of the ways top stop heat. Adding it helps. Heat ...
Wicking through ridge vent8/11/2009
  Q: Is it possible to get wicking of water into your house through the ridge vent? In 2008 my house was ...
  A: You keep using the word "wicking". Why do you think it "wicked"? If you had water come in wouldn't ...
Flashing/Gutter system8/10/2009
  Q: I have been trying to complete a home remodel that has suffered significant setbacks over the years ...
  A: Basically, if wood is covered then you don't have to paint it. But in this case water can splash ...
vaulted ceiling insulation and roof8/9/2009
  Q: I have a vaulted ceiling in a bedroom that has 2 inch insulation within the rafters with about 4 ...
  A: A ridge vent will do nothing if you don't also have soffit vents. Cool air comes in the bottom, ...
Building8/7/2009
  Q: I recently began building an enclosed porch/sunroom off of the side of my house. There was ...
  A: There is no image at that link. Are you sure the roof is that heavy? That's the weight of several ...
Roof venting (more info)8/6/2009
  Q: My house was built in '96. A room over the garage has a vaulted ceiling and when built (96) had a ...
  A: Where did you read that ridge vents don't work with vaulted ceilings? Yes the two should be ...
Roof venting8/5/2009
  Q: My house was built in '96. A room over the garage has a vaulted ceiling and when built (96) had a ...
  A: Ridge vent does not work if there is no soffit vent or if the soffit vent is clogged. If the system ...
epdm8/5/2009
  Q: I recently saw and handled a piece of black, rubber-like material described as EPDM. It was as ...
  A: If he said that EPDM will seal around nails don't you hire him. He obviously don't know much. Dump ...
low-pitched roof ( Less than 2:12)8/5/2009
  Q: My house needs a new roof as I have leaks in four different rooms (room in back, two towards middle ...
  A: The reason alternatives don't work is because they are not meant for low slope roofs and will leak ...
Building "Shed" Roof on New Sunroom8/5/2009
  Q: I recently began building an enclosed porch/sunroom off of the side of my house. There was ...
  A: Yes, you can put the sheetrock on the rafters and have a sloped ceiling. You need horizontal beams ...
Tar & gravel roof8/4/2009
  Q: My parents have a tar & gravel roof. It has some slope to it although I don't know what it is in ...
  A: It depends what kind of detail you're looking for. You strip the roof, put on ice and water shield ...
Low slope/pitch roofing8/2/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitch roof on a 2 car garage. It is 14 1/2 feet from peak to edge of the ...
  A: You're not shingling the ground so any reference to the ground is irrelevant. If I had a building on ...
Using Drip Edge at Rake Edge8/1/2009
  Q: Just purchased materials for replacement roof 40Sq due to 3' soffits. I was told to use (by Lowe's ...
  A: Rake edge pieces are the same as drip edge pieces. There is no difference. It depends on what you're ...
adhesive glue on torchdown8/1/2009
  Q: I had roofers put tourchdown on my flat roof deck and I want to cover the roof with carpet turf. ...
  A: As if there is any. You're not supposed to live on the roof as they are fragile. I'll tell you one ...
Low slope/pitch roofing8/1/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitch roof on a 2 car garage. It is 14 1/2 feet from peak to edge of the ...
  A: Maybe shingles could be used but you used the term "very low slope". You gave me too many ...
Low slope/pitch roofing8/1/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitch roof on a 2 car garage. It is 14 1/2 feet from peak to edge of the ...
  A: With all these measurements you gave me it seems like the roof is just 14.5 feet x 18.5 feet x 2 ...
Roof insulation7/31/2009
  Q: I am buying a house in Pomona, CA for which I need to replace the original composition low slop ...
  A: Shingles are for one kind of roof and hot mopping is for another you don't have a roof that can take ...
Torch Down or New Re-Frame with Shingles7/29/2009
  Q: I currently have a leak on my roof which is made up of tar and gravel. I have been told that if I ...
  A: The shingles will last longer but the cost of redesigning your roof and then doing shingles will ...
valleys7/29/2009
  Q: I have an open valley installation on a MN home with a lot of debris from large oak trees. they laid ...
  A: You describe it and then call it the California Valley so I guess you know it has a name and I'll go ...
my mother's tile roof in Florida7/27/2009
  Q: My 84 yr old mother in Fort Myers had a leak in her garage. The roofing guy talked her into filing ...
  A: You generally have 3 days to cancel a contract like that. Other than that she went and made a deal. ...
reroof,insulate,overhang replcement7/23/2009
  Q: I am planning to replace my roof on a 50year old cabin.In Minn.With a catherdal tpye ceiling.There ...
  A: I'm not familiar with the underlying structure as I do roofing but shingles need a slope of at least ...
3 tab not sticking down7/22/2009
  Q: I replaced the 3 tab asphalt shingles recently and now have a bit of a problem. (on a 12x14 shed) I ...
  A: They will seal in the heat. That heat can be like 60 degrees in the sun or 80 degrees without sun ...
How to seal conduit thru roof7/22/2009
  Q: I am installing solar panels on a steep roof (60 degrees). I need to bring a 1 inch conduit ...
  A: You would use a pipe collar. I think they go down to 1.5 inches so you might have to use a bigger ...
Architectural roofing shingles7/19/2009
  Q: I have one roof on my home now that is 15 years old, 3 in 1 shingles. I want to put new ...
  A: Everyone that sells shingles will have a biased opinion because that's what they sell. They sit ...
fireplace condensation7/17/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitched roof with rubber membrane roof. The house is made out of SIP panels so ...
  A: No,I do not know what SIPs are but I assume it is some decking. It sounds like the pipe was ...
fireplace condensation7/16/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitched roof with rubber membrane roof. The house is made out of SIP panels so ...
  A: How can a roof at 0 degrees come in contact with the inside at 78? Isn't there insulation between? ...
Multiple Roofing Questions7/16/2009
  Q: I'm getting a new roof because of hail damage. I live in a 1998 built ranch home - don't know the ...
  A: No, it is not true about the 15 vs 30. The special underlayments are better than regular felt. In ...
fireplace condensation7/16/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitched roof with rubber membrane roof. The house is made out of SIP panels so ...
  A: The temperature of the pipe depends on what kind of pipe it is. Usually you can't have any ...
roof shingles7/16/2009
  Q: I would like to know the thickness of 25yr., 30yr. & 40. yr. shingles? I am getting my roof ...
  A: It doesn't go by thickness. It goes by years. One manufacturer might be able to pull off 30 years ...
moblehome roof venting7/15/2009
  Q: I have a 1985 doublewide. Three years ago the original air conditioner went out and we replaced it. ...
  A: It sounds like you have an A/C unit too small your your situation. Venting out the attic can make a ...
Re-roofing from cedar shakes to asphalt7/14/2009
  Q: I'm purchasing a home and the seller has agreed to replaced the original cedar shake roof. The ...
  A: I don't know what "Skip" sheathing is but I know that sheathing IS plywood so why is he taking off ...
Re-roof "cricket"??7/14/2009
  Q: I had a re-roof done. Removed cedar shake and replaced with asphalt shingles. Dissatisfied with ...
  A: Sometimes that needs to be done when the center area is not sloped enough for shingles. I'd need to ...
Potential pitfalls of having roofing done separately from gutters, etc7/13/2009
  Q: I live in a ranch house in NE Ohio. In the winter ice and snow are a concern and the summers can be ...
  A: Is there a reason you're not using the roofer to do the gutters? Gutters is roofing. Drip edge ...
venting in roof7/10/2009
  Q: we recently had a new 50year roof installed. The roofer suggested venting on the ridge and on the ...
  A: I have never seen anything like that before. It looks like he put some kind of foam in there between ...
snow and ice guard; flashing7/8/2009
  Q: How much added protection does snow guard give? Do you you like this product? It is for an angle ...
  A: Ice and Water Shield is for roofs that get snow. If you don't get snow it's not needed. The lower ...
GAF Timbertex ridge cap on horizontal (flat) ridge.7/7/2009
  Q: This GAF cap has 3 layers, the top one being 4" wide... It seems to me, if they are installed on a ...
  A: Water will run downhill. If you have 50 layers and they all point downhill the water will just drip ...
evaluating ridge vent installation7/5/2009
  Q: How can I, a homeowner, recognize from looking at the underside of an attic ridge vent installation ...
  A: I don't now. I just thought of it. If you could find some smoke gadget you could watch the way the ...
gable vent fan or roof vent fan???7/3/2009
  Q: i have a small cape on long island and it's crazy hot upstairs. i would like to lower my air ...
  A: Both can work well but neither will work well if you don't have input vents (soffit vents). You ...
Flashing a roof next to vinyl-sided sidewall6/30/2009
  Q: If I get rubber, running it up the sidewall sheathing 18” (as roofer recommends) would keep the ...
  A: Run the rubber up the wall about 12". Then start your siding about 4" or more into the rubber. Yes, ...
Roof Structure6/30/2009
  Q: I was recently in my attic and noticed that some of the boards that are between the rafters have ...
  A: First you said they don't fit between between the rafters which means they are too short. Now you ...
Replacing residential roof6/30/2009
  Q: I have gotten 23+ years out of 20 year 3 tab asphalt Johns Manville shingles on our home in north ...
  A: 1. There are not many 20 year shingles around. Most roofers use 25 year. They are about $15-20 a ...
nail set question re 30 year shingle6/29/2009
  Q: My son is in the process of installing (for his first time) a 30 year, architectural grade shingle ...
  A: 2/12 is the absolute minimum for shingles and even then it takes special procedures to keep it from ...
Seeking advice on repairing a flat black tar roof6/27/2009
  Q: I recently bought a 1930 rowhome in Baltimore that has one section of flat black tar roof (probably ...
  A: Aluminum coatings come fibered and non-fibered. The fibered ones are better. Aluminum coatings are ...
Low Pitch Roof (12/2)6/27/2009
  Q: I'm planning to dormer the back of my cape and want to raise the roof as much as possible. It looks ...
  A: You probably mean a 2/12 roof and not a 12/2 roof. If it is 2/12 you can't use shingles or they will ...
Calculating space of attic floor and net free area ratio6/26/2009
  Q: I am presently taking bids on a new roof for a ranch house. I asked one contractor what is the ...
  A: All attic space is important. It all produces heat and you want to get rid of as much heat as you ...
Calculating space of attic floor and net free area ratio6/26/2009
  Q: I am presently taking bids on a new roof for a ranch house. I asked one contractor what is the ...
  A: If you asked for the square footage of the attic floor then you are asking him for the area that is ...
insulation on top of roof deck6/24/2009
  Q: I have a cottage with a 8/12 pitch with ashphalt shingles.It is a cathedral ceiling with 2x6 t&g ...
  A: You can leave the shingles but to me it's like leaving your trash in the roof. R20-25 is usually low ...
Bowing roof6/24/2009
  Q: I had an inspection done on our roof and it was found that there were "MISSING H-CLIPS TO SECURE THE ...
  A: The H-clips are used to keep a small space between the sheets of plywood. Everything in the world ...
T-lock shingles mixed with 3-Tab6/23/2009
  Q: My house is only 5 years old but it has the dreaded T-lock shingles on it. They are still in very ...
  A: The only way you'd be able to weave the two roofs together is if they both advance at the same rate. ...
felt underlay6/22/2009
  Q: Why is asphalt underlayment put between the plywood and the composition shingles? ANSWER: Shingles ...
  A: It might stop water. If water got through the shingles it might stop it but the underlayment is full ...
"felt" underlayment6/22/2009
  Q: Why is asphalt underlayment put between the plywood and the composition shingles?
  A: Shingles are not sealed and humid air or moisture can get up the shingles to the wood. The ...
Wet interior wall6/21/2009
  Q: We have a roof that is four year old and a part of our inside wall is damp. We just noticed it this ...
  A: It shouldn't be odd that it just started. Everything that breaks or fails in the world worked the ...
Bitumen roof6/20/2009
  Q: I recently had a bitumen roof installed to replace one that had blown loose. The roofer put the ...
  A: He should have used a piece of "capping" on the side which has a lip to catch the water. On the ...
Barn style Shed Roof6/20/2009
  Q: I recently had the house reroofed professionally with Architectural shingles. I plan to reroof my ...
  A: When there's a change in angle the shingles need to stop and then a transition piece of metal goes ...
Low pitch roof6/19/2009
  Q: Brad, I have den/family room on the back of my house. The pitch is extremely low; ie 2:12/3:12. ...
  A: 2/12 is the absolute minimum for shingles so you better make sure you have the right slope. If you ...
buckled/warped shingles6/19/2009
  Q: First let me share that I know next to nothing about roofing, so forgive me if my question is either ...
  A: 8' just happens to be the length of a piece of plywood so you might have wood popping up. Or it ...
70's flat tar roof6/17/2009
  Q: We have a 70s home we are going to put on the market, but the roof leaks. (It is the original roof ...
  A: You can try tearing it off yourself but the roofing part would have to be a roofer. Anyone else ...
new roof6/15/2009
  Q: We just had our roof redone with asphalt shingles. Some of the shingles seem to have spacing between ...
  A: It depends where the spaces are. If they are at the bottom of the shingle, that should settle. If he ...
leaking tongue and groove ceiling6/15/2009
  Q: We recently build a new home, our builder took off on us before the project was complete, sooo no ...
  A: It depends on what the source of the humidity is. If the source is from the inside of the house and ...
leaking tongue and groove ceiling6/10/2009
  Q: We recently build a new home, our builder took off on us before the project was complete, sooo no ...
  A: Condensation happens when humid air hits a cold surface. Two things you can do is cut down on the ...
Flat Roof Repair or Replace ... with what system?6/10/2009
  Q: New Mexico that was built in the early 1990's. I purchased the home 6 years ago. The roof is the ...
  A: The torch-down modified roof is better than a BUR roof (tar and gravel) but Brai is not a good brand ...
Ridge vent vs. Power vent6/9/2009
  Q: I am presently getting bids from roofers to replace my roof. So far three contractors have bid on ...
  A: Power consumption could be one factor. If you have one big vent it will tend to pull all the air ...
Ridge vent vs. Power vent6/8/2009
  Q: I am presently getting bids from roofers to replace my roof. So far three contractors have bid on ...
  A: The ideal thing is venting that is widespread so it covers all areas. Soffit vents should take care ...
Multicolored Architectural Roofing6/6/2009
  Q: Brad: I am building a replica 1920 storybook house in Spokane, WA. Roof pitch is 18/12. I want to ...
  A: No one would manufacture such a thing because they'd only sell 2 a year. Also, if you sell 10 ...
metal vs asphalt shingles on a hot roof system6/3/2009
  Q: Zacharia: We have a hot roof system on an old log home which was moved and re-erected on a new ...
  A: Condensation happens when you get humid air and cool it down. If no air can get under the roof there ...
Procedure on roofing where the porch meets the house5/31/2009
  Q: I had my roof redone about 10-12 years ago. And it's holding up great. But I recently applied for ...
  A: No, there is no written procedure for such a thing. The metal alone tells me you have something ...
Procedure on roofing where the porch meets the house5/31/2009
  Q: I had my roof redone about 10-12 years ago. And it's holding up great. But I recently applied for ...
  A: There is no procedure in writing since every house is different. But even if I gave you a procedure ...
improperly installed drip edge flashing5/27/2009
  Q: My friend Carol has a home in League City Texas. According to her roofer, the drip markings on the ...
  A: The shingles "done wrong" is the reason that water goes behind the gutter. The drip edge in front of ...
improperly installed drip edge flashing5/27/2009
  Q: My friend Carol has a home in League City Texas. According to her roofer, the drip markings on the ...
  A: You asked, "Wouldn't the proper installation of the drip edge in front of the gutter allow the water ...
improperly installed drip edge flashing5/27/2009
  Q: My friend Carol has a home in League City Texas. According to her roofer, the drip markings on the ...
  A: Assuming you have a shingle roof, the water is going behind the gutter because the water is dripping ...
removing old #15 Felt5/25/2009
  Q: Which is actually better when replacing a 20 year old roof; to remove the felt or apply new #15 felt ...
  A: If you put new felt paper over old then you will actually have twice as much felt paper which is not ...
New Roof job5/25/2009
  Q: I'm in the process of getting some bids on a new roof. I've done some roofs before myself, but I'd ...
  A: No, you do not use metal in closed valleys. If the valleys work you don't need anything under it but ...
cricket ventelation5/24/2009
  Q: I had an addition to the back of my house 6'x18'wide ,witch creates a dead vally.so they built a ...
  A: Your story is so poorly written that you're not able to communicate effectively with another person. ...
peel and stick roofing5/23/2009
  Q: I have a patio to roof and have purchase peel and stick do u have to use any kind of starter strip? ...
  A: Starter strips go with shingle roofs and not with what you have. If you nail your roofing you just ...
1 1/2 storey attic venting5/22/2009
  Q: I have an older 1 1/2 story home with clear ventilation from soffit to peak. I had 2 whirly vents ...
  A: How do you know the whirlies will have a negative pressure, and what if it did? They will all work ...
Shingle weight selection5/21/2009
  Q: We live in a suburb just south of Houston, TX. Our home incurred minor roof damage back in Sept when ...
  A: It's not just the weight that makes them last longer. They are made differently and also have to be ...
Roofing and venting5/21/2009
  Q: Do you have any experience with GAF/Timberline and CertainTeed products? Are they pretty ...
  A: They are both big companies in the roofing business and both will be comparable. I have never heard ...
Roof Ventilation and other questions5/20/2009
  Q: We are in the process of gathering estimates for a roof replacement on a 2400 sq ft colonial home. ...
  A: The steeper the slope the less important it is for Ice and Water Shield. Regular felt will do fine ...
Sagging carport roof5/20/2009
  Q: I have a rancher with an attached carport and the 3 posts that support it on the open side are ...
  A: I don't know. It depends on how loose everything is. Try moving it and if you don't hear anything ...
foam spray or new roof5/19/2009
  Q: We have a garage that has a metal roof that has considerable about of ice build up in the winter. ...
  A: The reason the roof leaks is because of holes in your roof. You saying it is because of ice is like ...
Roof Ventilation and other questions5/19/2009
  Q: We are in the process of gathering estimates for a roof replacement on a 2400 sq ft colonial home. ...
  A: The more vents the cooler it will be under the roof. Whatever you do the top vents should match the ...
foam spray or new roof5/19/2009
  Q: We have a garage that has a metal roof that has considerable about of ice build up in the winter. ...
  A: And I will say again, you're barking up the wrong tree. All houses have heat loss. If there was no ...
foam spray or new roof5/18/2009
  Q: We have a garage that has a metal roof that has considerable about of ice build up in the winter. ...
  A: You say that you understand the problem is heat loss. How is heat loss a problem? Don't all houses ...
Flat roof issues5/18/2009
  Q: I live in a two story brick single family house build in 2003 in Chicago. The house has a flat roof ...
  A: First you said there is a crawl space and then you said there is duct work up there. If there is no ...
roofing valleys5/17/2009
  Q: How do I lay shingles in a valley that has one roof slope at 3:12 and the other at 6:12? do you use ...
  A: There is no difference. You never use sealant on a shingle roof. What happens when the sealant dries ...
Wood roof5/16/2009
  Q: My mother lives in Van Nuys and has a very old wood shake roof and wood siding. She was told by ...
  A: Every town has their own code and law so start with your township and see what they want and why. ...
new home exposed cantilever5/16/2009
  Q: we moved into our new home in mid march 2009. We are in Canada and there was still snow on the roof ...
  A: If there is no covering on the wood it should be leaking badly. I don't understand how you don't ...
roofing5/16/2009
  Q: why are most metal roofs on homes put on over plywood instead of nailers ? It seems like nailers ...
  A: Forget about the metal roof parts. Plywood gives the roof strength vertically and also from sideward ...
Shingles overlap at drip edge5/15/2009
  Q: Brad I read your answer about the amount of overlap shingles should be at the gutters. When you say ...
  A: The drip edge has little thickness so and inch in front of the edge is the same if you're talking ...
leaking valley5/13/2009
  Q: I am going to use the method in the paragraph below to try to stop my patio from leaking... Another ...
  A: Problems: 1. I don't see how you're going to get that apart and get the nails out. 2. There ...
Heat barrier under shingles?5/13/2009
  Q: My name is Michael and I am getting ready to get quotes from some roofers to have my roof replaced ...
  A: I'm not that familiar with heat barriers but here is a link for info from The US Dept of Energy ...
Low Slope Roof5/12/2009
  Q: A contactor recently re-roofed a very low slope roof for me. The section of roof, approx 10' x 20', ...
  A: Absolutely not! What an idiot! These shingles should leak like a sieve already. You can't do ...
reroofing a cricket5/10/2009
  Q: I am putting all new shingles over the old. When I reroof the cricket next to the chimney, should I ...
  A: Usually the front and back of the chimney flashing can stay but the sides are step flashing and they ...
Shingles overlapping gutter5/3/2009
  Q: I just had a new roof installed. When it rains hard the water overshoots the gutter at every ...
  A: The shingles should overlap the gutters about 1". I guess 1.5" is not that much more but does make ...
replacing shingles w/aluminum siding on mansard roof4/30/2009
  Q: Brad, When changing mansard shingles to aluminum siding on the vertical part of the design, should ...
  A: You could leave the shingles but to me it's like leaving your trash in the roof. You also have to ...
How dry does the deck need to be?4/30/2009
  Q: Our home lost nearly half its asphalt shingles during Hurricane Ike. Wet insulation created the ...
  A: You could use a string line from one end to the other to see if anything is higher or lower but as ...
How dry does the deck need to be?4/29/2009
  Q: Our home lost nearly half its asphalt shingles during Hurricane Ike. Wet insulation created the ...
  A: The wood should dry quickly after the air hits it. It might be warped already but it will dry ...
New roof-which brand???4/29/2009
  Q: I've seen so much information on-line about shingle companies, roofing companies, etc., that I'm ...
  A: Keep in mind that all these long guarantees are promises from the manufacturer IF AND ONLY IF the ...
Re-roofing sheathing damge.4/28/2009
  Q: My house is about twenty years old and is being re-rofed for the second time. A lot of particle ...
  A: If it's crushed around the nails it sounds like the nail gun pressure was too high. What else could ...
Garage door roof4/28/2009
  Q: I would like to build a roof like overhang over the garage doors. I would like to have it extend out ...
  A: As you said, cantilever is the name of such a design but you said you can't do that because of the ...
Ridge vent vs. box vents4/28/2009
  Q: Brad, I am replacing the roof on our home. I have contacted many contractors for estimates and ...
  A: Ridge vents work better because they are evenly distributed across the roof and they are at the ...
Cricket above stone chimney4/27/2009
  Q: I am in the process of purchasing an old house (1942) with a large stone chimney at the front of the ...
  A: A cricket is a structure to push water in a certain direction that might otherwise sit stranded with ...
Builder left a small gap between Fascia and Plywood roof deck4/25/2009
  Q: We are in the northern suburbs of Atlanta and getting roofing quotes for a new roof (original has ...
  A: Whenever you build anything you must leave space for expansion and contraction so all sheets of wood ...
Gaf/Elk Timberline 30yr vs 50 yr & Gaf Warranties4/24/2009
  Q: I recently received a quote to replace a 30+ year old asphalt 3tab shingles with the Gaf/Elk ...
  A: I don't know why he won't do the 50 year shingle with the System Plus warranty. It looks like the ...
roof repair4/24/2009
  Q: what the company said they wrote they would do they did not do. We were notified from a previous ...
  A: How can you ask GAF to fix something they did not do? Why would they do that? GAF guarantees their ...
Gaf/Elk Timberline 30yr vs 50 yr & Gaf Warranties4/23/2009
  Q: I recently received a quote to replace a 30+ year old asphalt 3tab shingles with the Gaf/Elk ...
  A: Go to the GAF website (GAF.com) and read all the Warranties. There's a lot to read. Go to roofing ...
Verticle ripples along roof4/23/2009
  Q: I have verticle ripples along my roof. The house is two years old. I have been told that this is a ...
  A: I've seen roofers store the shingles over the peak which will put a bend in the shingles. If it's ...
Replacing Roof4/23/2009
  Q: I am about to purchase my first home and the seller (my brother) is replacing the roof before we ...
  A: Architectural shingles are the 3 dimensional shingle that have been around about 30 years. They give ...
remove or reroof4/23/2009
  Q: I'm a carpenter who has done few roofs due to back problems. However my Mom's house now needs a ...
  A: You can go up to 2 roofs and then they have to be torn off. You usually have to remove the skylights ...
got roof quote4/22/2009
  Q: We got estimate today for our single story asphalt shingle roof from a bigger roof company that I ...
  A: First, felt paper is not really for shingles. They do make shingle underlayment material. Once felt ...
Mobile home with low pitch - Rolled Roof4/21/2009
  Q: I am at my wits end with local roofers. We have a 30 year old double wide mobile with comp. roof. I ...
  A: If they all know shingles should not be on your roof why are they quoting prices? Don't they know it ...
Mobile home with low pitch - Rolled Roof4/21/2009
  Q: I am at my wits end with local roofers. We have a 30 year old double wide mobile with comp. roof. I ...
  A: I don't now what you mean by composition as the word just means things put together and that applies ...
roofing question4/21/2009
  Q: Recently, I had the existing roof on my house removed and installed new felt and a 30 year GAF ...
  A: It's OK to see light behind the gutter. You don't seal the gutters to the wall. You can open a ...
3-12 pitch4/21/2009
  Q: My 3-12 pitch roof leaks on the edges not into my house but thru the 3ft overhange. Can i just ...
  A: A 3/12 roof is a low slope for shingles and should have ice and water shield on the entire roof. ...
Ridge Vent4/21/2009
  Q: My house is a 2-story colonial with a peak that runs North to South about 40 feet, and a peak that ...
  A: When you cool your house you open a window. You know that the more windows you open the better it ...
IKO Cambridge Shingles4/20/2009
  Q: My shingles have been flying off my roof since it was built in 2003. I've had the loose ones hand ...
  A: You can sue anyone. The problem is the shingles are usually guaranteed for the cost of the shingles ...
roofing question4/20/2009
  Q: Recently, I had the existing roof on my house removed and installed new felt and a 30 year GAF ...
  A: All you have to do is go up in one spot when it's raining and see why. Most likely he didn't extend ...
Long roof cricket4/18/2009
  Q: I am constructing and addition to my house where the addition shares two walls with the existing ...
  A: A cricket is a triangle to keep water flowing in a certain direction. Always think in terms of a ...
roof condensation4/18/2009
  Q: I'm building a house in rural china and one of the back not yet insulated north walls of the first ...
  A: You didn't say what the climate is there. Condensation will only occur if the humidity reaches 100. ...
Roofing Underlays available4/17/2009
  Q: I am replacing my Cedar shake roof with Asphalt/Fiberglass shingles later this year and was ...
  A: Felt underlayment was not made for shingles. Roofers just use it because it is so cheap. They do ...
weather for reroofing4/16/2009
  Q: Is there an ideal time of year to have roof replaced? It seems in summer heat that it would be easy ...
  A: The best time is spring and fall. In the winter they are fragile and can crack. In the summer they ...
Low pitch roof4/15/2009
  Q: We have a low pitched roof that currently has tab shingles we are going to replace it with rolled ...
  A: I guess technically your could but I would never do that. 1. Weight - are you sure it can take the ...
Life span of laminate shingles4/15/2009
  Q: I was wondering how reliable the rating systems are for laminate, architectural shingles are. We are ...
  A: I think they are generally reliable. I wouldn't say that a 40 year shingle will last AT LEAST 40 ...
Flashing in valleys when re-roofing4/14/2009
  Q: We live in Tx, near Gulf Coast, and are just getting around to having our roof fixed from "Ike". ...
  A: There are 3 ways to do a valley. 1. Exposed metal with the shingles cut on both sides. 2. Closed ...
3 tabs thicker than laminates4/14/2009
  Q: I measured the thinest portion of some BP harmony 35yr laminate shingles at .100". Since this is all ...
  A: If I give you copper it is even thinner yet it lasts a lot longer than your shingles. In other ...
new roof4/14/2009
  Q: When replacing asphalt shingles on a roof, do the contractors remove air conditioning units and ...
  A: There's no set answer on anything. If you take your car to the mechanic some mechanics can rebuild ...
reasonable alternatives when replacing a cedar shake roof4/13/2009
  Q: Our home has a 15+ year old cedar shake roof that is deteriorating quickly because the pitch of the ...
  A: I don't now much about the designer shingles but there are a lot out there to choose from. Look at ...
low slope roof and curled shingles4/11/2009
  Q: The shingles on the south side of my house are curling. This side of the home has a vaulted ...
  A: What do you call "low slope"? If the slope is too low you can't use shingles. Other than curled ...
Roof leak around fireplace pipe4/10/2009
  Q: Last night during a rainstorm noticed a leak around the fireplace pipe where it goes through the ...
  A: You didn't say what kind of roof you have. You can't seal it from the inside as that would still ...
Partially Exposed Nails4/8/2009
  Q: I recently had a new roof installed, and there are a three or four places where I can see part of a ...
  A: You took the picture upward so am I looking at a nail under the shingle or will this nail get wet? ...
gable vent4/8/2009
  Q: recently a squirrel has chewed up the outside of my gable vent and is seeking shelter in my attic. I ...
  A: I've seen them do a lot to get in - or is it to get out. I don't know why. Do they have babies ...
roof color/organic shingles4/7/2009
  Q: I live in New Brunswick Canada which borders Maine. Need to get our roof redone. I was hoping to go ...
  A: If the roofer says that color makes no difference I'd find another roofer as that one didn't go far ...
asphalt shingles flap in high winds4/6/2009
  Q: Have a roof made of (composite) asphalt shingles on a single family home (northern Virginia area). ...
  A: Your shingles are not sealed. There is a glue strip that heats up on the first warm day and seals ...
soffits4/6/2009
  Q: I am looking to buy a cape cod style house, the home inspector is concerned because the home has no ...
  A: Nothing is ever a deal breaker. Instead it is a negotiating point. I would gladly take a house with ...
Ice Storm Repairs4/5/2009
  Q: Brad: Now that the snow has (somewhat) melted here in the woods of NH, we need to make the permanent ...
  A: I'm not sure what you're doing. It sounds like you want to use plastic to finish off your roof. You ...
roof/gutter overflow issue4/3/2009
  Q: I have a problem area around my house. I have attached 2 pix. At the front corner of my house I ...
  A: Water should not be hitting the top of the gutter where that diverter is. The only reason water ...
mis match pattern on archatectural shingles4/3/2009
  Q: I recently had my roof done with owens corning oakridge pro 30 ar in onxy black. The pattern of the ...
  A: When shingles are manufactured a whole batch is made from one mix of color. They all get a color ...
roof/gutter overflow issue4/3/2009
  Q: I have a problem area around my house. I have attached 2 pix. At the front corner of my house I ...
  A: Only one picture came through. I think you can only attach one with this service. When you say "it ...
New roof installation4/3/2009
  Q: I just had a new roof installed, and I'm not real happy with the way it looks. The shingles are ...
  A: Many warehouses store the shingles outside anyway. IF they shoveled the snow off and then shingled ...
Reinforcing Roof4/2/2009
  Q: I need to reinforce a half-gable roof with 3/12 pitch to carry a localized load of 750 pounds, that ...
  A: 2x4s, 24 centers spanning 14 feet sounds awfully weak to me. You'd have to brace it up. But it's a ...
tin roofing4/1/2009
  Q: here at are little school we have a tar and pebble roof over are lunch room its not excatly flat but ...
  A: When you say "at your school" do you mean school as in a place of learning. What you wrote is ...
Resealing Asphalt Shingles3/31/2009
  Q: Is resealing aspahlt shingles that are windlifted an accepted and appropriate repair? My roof ...
  A: Two things can happen from the wind. One is that the tabs lift up due to the glue not holding or not ...
code3/30/2009
  Q: What are the applicable building codes that apply to roof vents and pipe boots.
  A: What is a "code"? There are many organizations that write up ways that they think things should be ...
roofing paper3/30/2009
  Q: is roofing paper waterproof? i have put down a layer of roofing paper and don't have time to put ...
  A: It depends on what you call "roofing paper". Felt paper is somewhat waterproof and is used a lot to ...
Roof Ventilation3/30/2009
  Q: I am shopping for a replacement roof, and one of my bidders tells me you should never have both ...
  A: Use all the vents that you want. The hot air at the bottom will rise as it heats up especially if ...
building higher pitched roof over existing3/29/2009
  Q: Our house has around 2/12 pitch shingled poorly insulated roof (leaking around chimneys and ...
  A: Making the pitch higher would allow for more insulation but that has nothing to do with ice damming ...
building higher pitched roof over existing3/29/2009
  Q: Our house has around 2/12 pitch shingled poorly insulated roof (leaking around chimneys and ...
  A: It makes no sense to me. Shingles cannot be put on low slopes or they will leak. They are not a ...
roofing3/29/2009
  Q: I have a 40 year old home in Washington state. The roof has been probably re-shingled twice since ...
  A: You need wood to nail the shingles to. If the 1x6s have lots of space between them then a lot of the ...
Diverter question3/27/2009
  Q: I recently had rain diverters installed on the edges of my roof to direct water away from an area ...
  A: I guess you could say that snow will back up there when it might not on other parts of the roof. It ...
replacing shingle3/26/2009
  Q: Can I replace a asphalt shingle without removing nails? Some have already ripped off and some are ...
  A: The nails would be sticking up where the shingle pulled out around it. So if you just shoved a ...
Tax rebate on roofing3/24/2009
  Q: Is the $1500 tax rebate only on the roofing material and must it be energy star approved? I was told ...
  A: It is only good on the roofing material itself and it is "up to" $1500. You can't spend $100 on ...
Torch down roof3/24/2009
  Q: On a torch down flat roof, does the membrane get torched down to the drip edge. or should it be ...
  A: Most all roofers put the rubber down first, then they nail a drip edge down and then seal it with ...
Flat Roof Respiration requiremt?3/23/2009
  Q: I had a new modified rubber roof installed in 2008 on a flat roof building that was build in 1928. ...
  A: I don't know what "respiration vents" are but it sounds redundant. Vents are not "required" but ...
Attic Ventilation3/21/2009
  Q: I'm wondering if anyone might have any advice for an attic ventilation challenge I have. I'm in ...
  A: You can add all the vents you want. The booster vent you mentioned says it is not to be used as a ...
Cobra rigid vent 23/21/2009
  Q: I had a cobra rigid vent 2 installed 3 yrs ago the contractor never installed shingles over it ...
  A: I dont know about cobra vent being in the sun because no one would ever leave it in the sun if you ...
Mold on Roof3/20/2009
  Q: The roof at our house has some green mold and a little black mold. What can we use to remove it? ...
  A: There is a Clorox solution to clean these but I don't know the formula. Check with roofing ...
Flat Roof Ventilation3/20/2009
  Q: My home "office" is a fixed up garden shack (about 10' x 15'), with a flat (slightly)sloping roof. ...
  A: Houses are usually built with two structures at the top. One is the roof and the other is the ...
3 tab warranties3/19/2009
  Q: I have always understood that wind warranty of 60 mph on the packaging means that the material is ...
  A: 1. If installed properly the shingles should have held and therefore the manufacturer would be to ...
flashing around chimney3/16/2009
  Q: Brad, i'm having a new roof put on now and my contractor never said anything about doing the ...
  A: Was he blind when he looked at the job? Flashing is usually ALWAYS replaced when a roof is done so ...
Replacing roof3/15/2009
  Q: My roof is 25 years old and I am having it taken off down to the plywood. In one area, I have ...
  A: The wood already looks pretty bad. You need to get something behind the wood to bring the water back ...
Ice & Water shield3/15/2009
  Q: My contractor ran out of the adhesive type on the garage and returned with a roll without the ...
  A: They certainly aren't the same. Ice and water shield is more expensive for a reason. I have no idea ...
Venting shingle roof3/14/2009
  Q: I have a new certenteed 30 yr roof with new ridge vent. I am now adding insulation in attic. The ...
  A: The ridge vents do the same thing but without electricity and the ridge vents will do it more ...
Attic insulation and venting3/14/2009
  Q: I have two questions. I have a house with a hip roof. I have a ridge vent and triangle gable vents ...
  A: It doesn't matter if you insulate the area with no soffit vents. The idea is to build an envelope ...
new shingle blow off3/13/2009
  Q: We recently had a new home built. The roof was shingled in August. We had shingles blow off in ...
  A: The roofer is ultimately responsible. Even if something is wrong with the shingles, the roofer ...
Roof blew off 2 months after installation3/12/2009
  Q: My roof was severely damaged last September of 08. I contracted a reputable company to replace it. ...
  A: All shingles are stored in the cold weather. They don't heat the warehouse and many distributors ...
roofing3/10/2009
  Q: Yesterday a spot in your kitchen celing started dripping. So I went up in the attic and look for a ...
  A: The humidity can be high in the attic from steamy showers, steamy cooking, leaky ductwork in the ...
raising roof on rancher3/10/2009
  Q: I am doing a complete remodel on a 1979 one-story rancher. It is 120 feet wide with an 8 foot ...
  A: The only way to find that out would be to bring in a builder (or carpenter) and come up with a price ...
rebate3/9/2009
  Q: I've noticed Obama signed legislation for a $1500 tax credit for using among others,GAF's Timberline ...
  A: Obama just fine tuned what was in effect before. You do not get $1500 for using the cool shingles. ...
cost differnce with ice and water shield and how far should it go3/9/2009
  Q: Is there a significant cost differnce betwen 30 lb. felt and an ice & water shield? Can an ice and ...
  A: Ice and Water shield is much more expensive than 30 lb paper but it also performs a different task. ...
attaching 4/12 pitch patio roof to 10/12 pitch house3/8/2009
  Q: I am planning on building a patio cover on the back of my house. The house is "L" shaped with a ...
  A: I don't know what you mean by "allowable". Anything is allowable. The objective is to take what you ...
Leaking tongue & groove ceiling3/8/2009
  Q: Our addition is 16 yrs old. About 3yrs after completion of new addition our tongue and groove ...
  A: You have to narrow down the pattern. Does it leak during snow? Does it leak during melting snow? ...
modified bitumen roof with silver coat3/5/2009
  Q: We live in an old graystone in Chicago. We have a low slope roof with a "modified bitumen with ...
  A: If you have a leak then you have a hole. You have to find where the hole is. It is possible that you ...
modified bitumen roof with silver coat3/4/2009
  Q: We live in an old graystone in Chicago. We have a low slope roof with a "modified bitumen with ...
  A: You replace it when the roof has a lot of cracking in it. The depth of the cracking is something ...
moisture between roof and ceiling drywall3/3/2009
  Q: I am having some repairs done to a ceiling in our family room. They just scraped off the texture and ...
  A: There was a visible wet spot (that's what you saw). You could have a minor leak where only a little ...
moisture between roof and ceiling drywall3/3/2009
  Q: I am having some repairs done to a ceiling in our family room. They just scraped off the texture and ...
  A: The only two sources of water would be from rain or from condensation. You'd have to decide if the ...
flat cooncrete roof, leak3/2/2009
  Q: House on the beach in Puerto Rico, flat concrete roof, built maybe 40 years ago maybe using ...
  A: When you say flat roof if you mean low slope then you shouldn't have tiles on there in the first ...
roof vents3/1/2009
  Q: My one story house has a 20yr old roof, with high wind damage. I also have two asphalt layers. I ...
  A: They all serve different purposes. The turbine vents are basically ugly and not used on shingle ...
Buckling felt paper2/28/2009
  Q: I have experienced on rare occasions felt paper buckling at the seams of the plywood. This problem ...
  A: There is no specific name or brand. All manufacturers make it and they are all better than just ...
Buckling felt paper2/28/2009
  Q: I have experienced on rare occasions felt paper buckling at the seams of the plywood. This problem ...
  A: They have different purposes. Regular felt is used as an underlayment for shingles to stop moisture ...
Buckling felt paper2/28/2009
  Q: I have experienced on rare occasions felt paper buckling at the seams of the plywood. This problem ...
  A: I never heard of that. Felt paper will buckle once wet but that only happens when the paper is left ...
hot mopping in residencial Newport Beach, CA2/27/2009
  Q: I am a co-owner of a residence in Newport Beach, California. Yesterday I was told that my co-owners ...
  A: Is this legal? I don't know what you're trying to say. Someone is working on the house. Why would ...
Roofing2/27/2009
  Q: Well-built 50s house in Ottawa Canada.Roof is low pitch, about 4ft/15 feet. Soffiting is ventialted ...
  A: You don't seem to have a problem. Ice damming is a fact of life on roofs. If the roof is done ...
roofing2/26/2009
  Q: Yesterday a spot in your kitchen celing started dripping. So I went up in the attic and look for a ...
  A: How is it "MY" attic. I don't get the tense of the question. If it leaks during rain then I have a ...
discontinued shingles2/26/2009
  Q: We are putting an addition on and are having trouble matching the existing shingles, as they have ...
  A: Even if you could find the old shingles they still wouldn't match since your shingles are now ...
ROOFING2/26/2009
  Q: I had a roofer come and tear off old shingles and apply new ones after a hail storm. our sun room is ...
  A: You can't put shingles on low slopes or they will leak. Shingles are not a sealed kind of roof. Yes, ...
roof replacement2/24/2009
  Q: I need my roof replaced. Do you have an opinion on which type of architectural shingle is ...
  A: Most people get a hammer and think they are experts. Most homes built today (most people would ...
Re-roofing2/24/2009
  Q: We live outside Phila, PA. We've received a price to lay a second layer of 30 yr timberland shingles ...
  A: It is standard practice to install up to 2 layers. After that they must be ripped off. You only have ...
New Roof2/23/2009
  Q: I just had a new roof installed and they did not caulk/seal the area where the roof is lapped over ...
  A: You have to think in terms of a drop of water. Can a drop of water get in there? You can open a ...
New Roof2/23/2009
  Q: I just had a new roof installed and they did not caulk/seal the area where the roof is lapped over ...
  A: Shingles last 20-50 years depending on the shingle. That means that if you installed a 25 year roof ...
ventilation in bungalow attic space2/21/2009
  Q: are you able to answer questions about improving ventilation in attic crawl space (outside of knee ...
  A: I warm air intrusion into the attic is the cause then the first step is to stop that leak of house ...
roof replacement2/21/2009
  Q: I need my roof replaced. Do you have an opinion on which type of architectural shingle is ...
  A: All brands you listed are good and are major players in the roofing market. Ice and water shield is ...
ventilation2/20/2009
  Q: I have a gable roof, house built in 1977. In 1997 I had the roof replaced. The roofer installed 6 ...
  A: Get all the venting you can. There is no such thing as too much venting or one vent working against ...
ventilation2/19/2009
  Q: I have a gable roof, house built in 1977. In 1997 I had the roof replaced. The roofer installed 6 ...
  A: Condensation is caused by highly humid air being cooled down. Humid air could be in the attic ...
Ice dams and leaks2/18/2009
  Q: Question Our 1974 home has cathedral ceilings, finished with pine ceiling in the main living area ...
  A: I don't know what the right direction is as you have not supplied enough information. I asked for ...
lightning rod2/13/2009
  Q: I am removing a tree next to my house and, as a result, there will be no nearby trees. Do I need to ...
  A: You're asking an electrical question. It is extremely rare for a house to have a lightning rod. The ...
roof new/repair2/13/2009
  Q: My roof was leaking, back bedroom. I've received two estimates so far. I'm planning on getting two ...
  A: There is no limit on the number of roofs for a flat roof. Modified Bitumen is a what many people ...
Asbestos slate roofing2/13/2009
  Q: We have had severe damage to our asbestos slate roof and have been denied a roof by our insurance ...
  A: What you need is a roofer to tell you what needs to be done. I don't know what more an engineer can ...
Best weather for a new roof2/13/2009
  Q: We are putting a new roof on our house. The weather this coming week is Saturday afternoon and all ...
  A: You mentioned 5 days and only one of them is no rain so that would be an easy decision. Then you say ...
ice dams2/13/2009
  Q: I had a new shingle roof put on my house in 2006.The company used ice and water shield which is ...
  A: So much for the guarantee. Maybe the roof slope is too low for the type of roof that you have. Maybe ...
cold asphalt shingle applications2/12/2009
  Q: I helped my son roof his new garage. It has a 4'-12' pitch. Last night the wind was horrible and it ...
  A: Shingles will not seal against wind until a warm day in the spring. That's the risk you take ...
Attic Frost2/11/2009
  Q: Good Day, We live in northwest Wisconsin where we had temperatures below 32F from the end of Dec. to ...
  A: If you're getting moisture on the windows then it sounds like you have bad windows. I don't know ...
gambrel roof2/8/2009
  Q: I'm planning on building a 12x20 cabin and I'm wanting to put a gambrel roof on this. Do I have to ...
  A: Roofs are made out of rafters and not joists so I don't know what you're trying to do. What do you ...
repair to low slope roof2/8/2009
  Q: I have two questions. One is technical and the other refers to general practices. I would ...
  A: The rubber goes up the steep slope about a foot. THEN you can start shingling. The shingles cannot ...
repair to low slope roof2/8/2009
  Q: I have two questions. One is technical and the other refers to general practices. I would ...
  A: Low slope roofs cannot have shingles on them or they will leak so you need to find out the actual ...
Tear-Off Old Roof?2/6/2009
  Q: I have a 2:12 BUR that sustained hurricane damage from Gustav. My BUR has a silver coating painted ...
  A: Most BUR roofs are done over the old ones. You only rip up if it is too lumpy or water logged to ...
Attic Frost2/5/2009
  Q: Good Day, We live in northwest Wisconsin where we had temperatures below 32F from the end of Dec. to ...
  A: Frost is usually humid air that is getting into the attic. It can be from the house or from the ...
Roofing2/4/2009
  Q: I just recently purchased a house and I want to finish the attic. There is an attic fan that I want ...
  A: You need both. Air can not go out on vent unless it comes in somewhere else. The idea is to bring in ...
Desperate - Losing Sleep2/3/2009
  Q: This is a long story and I hope you bear with me. In Dec 07 I had a "reputable" company install a ...
  A: You can't get ice damming on a mansard roof so I don't know what you have. Exposed nails are leaks ...
installation conditions - weather2/3/2009
  Q: I have a contractor that is proposing to re-do our roof with Timberline 30 year shingles. What ...
  A: The best time is spring and fall. In the winter the shingles are brittle and if bent will crack. In ...
ice damning2/1/2009
  Q: I have a three year old end townhouse unit. We moved in during the winter (in Toronto, Canada). ...
  A: You cannot stop ice damming. Ice and Water Shield material does well in stopping leaks caused by ice ...
Re-Roofing our low slope roof2/1/2009
  Q: We purchased a home with a low slope over 1 year ago. The roof at the time was old but our ...
  A: The picture you showed me looks completely flat - flatter than 2:12 or 3:12. 2:12 is the absolute ...
creating a woodshop above my garage1/31/2009
  Q: I would like to know if it is possible to create a wood workshop above our 2 car garage. It is 20' ...
  A: The trusses are a way to make structures with small pieces of wood. If you cut any of the pieces it ...
Reroofing materials for Flat Roof1/30/2009
  Q: We live in the Northeast and have a flat roofed home. There are two questions I have. How can we ...
  A: It will be hard to describe. An expert would just look at it. Over time the roof will crack. It can ...
Refoofing a flat roof1/29/2009
  Q: I have a split level home built in the 40's. It has 4 roofs. The front roof is flat, the middle roof ...
  A: Old roofing material does not usually have to be removed first but sometimes it's like leaving your ...
Roof leak or not?1/29/2009
  Q: On the ends of my house (not the front or back, but the two sides of the house), I'm having small ...
  A: You have a humidity problem. Get a humidity gauge and see what the humidity is in the house and in ...
reroofing/flashing1/28/2009
  Q: I'm looking to replace the 15 year old shingled roof on our (15 year old) cottage in the next year ...
  A: If you do not use new step flashing you will definitely have a leak. There is no doubt about it. It ...
estimates and conflicting information1/28/2009
  Q: My house is 20 years old. We are not experiencing any leaks or problems that I know of at this ...
  A: 15lb Felt vs fiberglass felt. Neither is made for shingles. Most use 15 lb felt. Fiberglass felt is ...
torment1/26/2009
  Q: My roof is 10 years old. It is leaking in attic. My friend can't figure out why. Looks like no ...
  A: But before you said your leak was at the bottom??? If you have water it can be a leak or humidity. ...
torment1/25/2009
  Q: My roof is 10 years old. It is leaking in attic. My friend can't figure out why. Looks like no ...
  A: The transition line between the shingles and the flat roof is a common source of leaks because it is ...
flat roof replacement1/24/2009
  Q: "We bought our house 5 years ago, it has a flat roof. At that time the real estate agent said we ...
  A: A flat roof (if installed correctly) last 10-15 years. Some people can push 20 years. As far as if ...
Snow sliding off off gently sloped (flat) rubber roof1/23/2009
  Q: What is the best way to prevent snow from sliding off of flat rubber roofs? I have a shed dormer ...
  A: If you "install" anything on the roof you'll be making holes and then you will have leaks. You don't ...
renovation the roof1/22/2009
  Q: The roof:50 yeras old, flat, 1,500 sq.ft. It includes (from bottom to above): celling (drywall), ...
  A: What is playwood? With all the half sentences and misspellings it's hard to tell what you're ...
Ridge Cap Repair1/22/2009
  Q: The house and roof are 1-1/2 yrs old and the roof is concrete tiles in Florida. The concrete they ...
  A: Concrete tiles are not common. I've never worked with them. I do know that if they are cracking ...
polar ply sheating1/22/2009
  Q: My husband wants to use a product called Polar Ply for the sheathing underneath our new comp roof. ...
  A: Polar Ply is a brand of radiant barrier. Polar Ply has it in sheets and paper. Radiant barriers are ...
Metal Roofing on a Low Slope Roof1/21/2009
  Q: I have a 1:12 mixed with a 2:12 pitched roof. I would like to put on a metal roof but am getting ...
  A: Don't Do It! You might get lucky and it not leak. If you rely on the stormguard to stop leaks it ...
re-roofing and adding insulation1/21/2009
  Q: Brad, I'm planning on re-roofing my house. It is mostly cathedral ceiling with partial attic space ...
  A: You do not need another air space. You did not need the first air space. The idea with the air ...
mold in the attic after new roof1/21/2009
  Q: i manage an apartment community. It is 25 years old. I had 9 buildings re roofed 3 at a time. The ...
  A: One thing we know for sure - condensation does not happen until the humidity reaches 100%. It will ...
mold in the attic after new roof1/20/2009
  Q: i manage an apartment community. It is 25 years old. I had 9 buildings re roofed 3 at a time. The ...
  A: The winter tends to have days of lower humidity. I think I'm missing a lot of information here to ...
mold in the attic after new roof1/20/2009
  Q: i manage an apartment community. It is 25 years old. I had 9 buildings re roofed 3 at a time. The ...
  A: Condensation happens when you take humid air and cool it down to its dew point. This is what happens ...
mold on ceiling1/19/2009
  Q: I had a new roof installed in 2006 (BP Harmony asphalt shingles)and just recently noticed small ...
  A: It depends on the pattern of your moisture. If the pattern is widespread (especially on the nails) ...
mold on ceiling1/18/2009
  Q: I had a new roof installed in 2006 (BP Harmony asphalt shingles)and just recently noticed small ...
  A: If it is sunny out and the plywood is wet then you can't blame the shingles or the installation of ...
mold on ceiling1/18/2009
  Q: I had a new roof installed in 2006 (BP Harmony asphalt shingles)and just recently noticed small ...
  A: If there was something wrong with the shingles then you'd have specific leaks. If you have wide area ...
ridge cap1/17/2009
  Q: I built a house in northern b.c. 3 years ago with no ridge cap. This year installed vented ridge cap ...
  A: I assume you mean ridge vent. If you have ridge vent you will have heat escape through there. The ...
Reroof1/15/2009
  Q: Brad, I am doing a reroofing job (asphalt shingles) and I have been given two options. Option one ...
  A: If the deck is now cedar and is workable there is no reason to rip it up. Sometimes in old buildings ...
Increasing existing roof pitch1/15/2009
  Q: I would like to know if there would be any problem's with adding trusses over an existing shingled ...
  A: The roof might have a load of 30 PSF but that a distributed load. The trusses would have all their ...
Hot Mop Roof Repair1/14/2009
  Q: We had a new shingle & hot mop roof put on our home when we bought it 12 years ago. The hot mop has ...
  A: An asphalt roof last 10-15 years if you take care of it. Some roofs can get 20 years. The entire ...
Reroof1/13/2009
  Q: Brad, I am doing a reroofing job (asphalt shingles) and I have been given two options. Option one ...
  A: I can't see how you can do a shingle roof over a cedar roof since the cedar has thick edges. Yet I ...
roofing/how many eyebrow vents1/10/2009
  Q: My house is 35 yrs old 1800 square feet. Ranch style single story. Will be replacing the roof with ...
  A: Each vent should have a rating as far as the quantity of air it can move. It would depend on the ...
roofing/how many eyebrow vents1/10/2009
  Q: My house is 35 yrs old 1800 square feet. Ranch style single story. Will be replacing the roof with ...
  A: What is 5 inch plywood? It sounds like you will have a ventilation system that will not be ...
Torchdown Roofing1/9/2009
  Q: Is there a video available (free or the purchase) on how to install torchdown roofing?
  A: I guess someone might have made one but I never heard of any. Roofing is kind of an "expertise" that ...
Flat roof drain1/6/2009
  Q: We had a replacement flat roof Torchon membrane done in fall 2007 because of age of the previous ...
  A: If water comes in then you have holes. If there are no holes then the ice and water is just trapped ...
burndown roofing1/5/2009
  Q: IS THERE ANY TEMPERATURE AT WHICH BURNDOWN ROOFING SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED AND SHOULD THERE BE A ...
  A: I don't know what a low temperature would be for torch-down roofing. I know I have done them as low ...
low pitch roof1/1/2009
  Q: Brad--I am a remodeling contractor in st cloud mn. I am looking at repairing a garage roof for my ...
  A: The type of roof you're doing sounds like what I'd call a "handyman" roof. A roofer would not do ...
Plywood sheating bulging12/31/2008
  Q: We have a similar situation to the homeowner in ...
  A: Codes are individual rules accepted by each township or county. They each pick what they want. What ...
torch down re-roofing question12/31/2008
  Q: I just had the last estimate for a roof repair/replacement on a fairly new (3 years old) low-pitch ...
  A: Standard gutters are 5" and anything else will be difficult to find or special order unless you go ...
torch down re-roofing question12/31/2008
  Q: I just had the last estimate for a roof repair/replacement on a fairly new (3 years old) low-pitch ...
  A: Ice and water shield is for under shingles because shingle are not sealed and will get water in ...
constructing a lean-to port12/30/2008
  Q: I am researching how to construct a lean-to port to erect to the side of my house to provide some ...
  A: 1. Flashing generally goes with shingles. If you're doing modified it can be flashing or not. It is ...
stovepipe penetration through rubber roof12/29/2008
  Q: We would like to install a woodstove in an enclosed porch, that has a rubber roof that is slightly ...
  A: Cut a hole for the pipe. The hole must be significantly larger than the pipe as no flammable ...
Flat Tar Roof Repairs12/29/2008
  Q: I am interested in applying a rubber roof to my home but wanted to know what is the best application ...
  A: I never worked with glue. I like the torch-down as it makes the rubber nice and soft to work with ...
roof leak?12/29/2008
  Q: Water has wetted my bedroom wall for the past four years. I've had numerous roofers come over and ...
  A: Why does it have to be the roof? You're saying it comes in around the window so why can't it be the ...
Plywood sheating bulging12/29/2008
  Q: We have a similar situation to the homeowner in ...
  A: I'm not sure what you have but it sounds like you need to attach a 2x4 to the side of the truss and ...
parapet walls - new construction12/28/2008
  Q: We are building a new house. The house has parapet walls on both ends that feature two chimneys ...
  A: You didn't tell me what the website is. I'd need to see pictures of that area. It sounds like you ...
Missing Shingle & Snow12/25/2008
  Q: I live near Chicago. Two weeks ago, I lost a shingle in a storm (see attached image). Given the ...
  A: If only the exposed part of the shingle broke off then the only thing it leaves is an exposed nail ...
Shingling a Townhouse with Continuous Run12/25/2008
  Q: I have a Townhouse where the neighbors roof is the same height as mine and the shingles are a ...
  A: There would be a high risk of leak the way you want to do it. Rain can easily travel 4" sideways as ...
tar and gravel roof replacement12/25/2008
  Q: we just purchased this house and it has a very low pitch roof 2/12 along with approx. 4 ft eaves. ...
  A: First of all, ice damming is not a problem in the first place so you do not need to do anything. Ice ...
Shingling a Townhouse with Continuous Run12/25/2008
  Q: I have a Townhouse where the neighbors roof is the same height as mine and the shingles are a ...
  A: The proper way is to interweave the new shingles with your neighbor's shingles. Any other method ...
Snow in bonus room12/22/2008
  Q: We had a new house built in Minnesota. There is an unfinished bonus room above the garage. I've ...
  A: That's a good one. Can you imagine everyone that lives in a house has to climb up on their roof each ...
Frost inside roof, with continuous ridge vent and continuous soffit vents12/22/2008
  Q: For the last couple of years, I've been getting frost in my attic. The house is 20 years old, and ...
  A: I don't know. If the humidity is 38 inside the house and that air is cooled down inside the attic ...
Frost inside roof, with continuous ridge vent and continuous soffit vents12/21/2008
  Q: For the last couple of years, I've been getting frost in my attic. The house is 20 years old, and ...
  A: You have too much humidity in the house AND you have a major air leak from the house into the attic. ...
Need a referee on my porch roof12/20/2008
  Q: My house is getting completely re-roofed (30 year shingles)and I'm getting different proposed ...
  A: The price per sq ft goes up as the size goes down. If I charge $2 per sq ft on a house and I go to a ...
Roof Nail Size12/18/2008
  Q: I recently had a new 1/2" sheathing roof put over the original 3/8" sheathing. I had lifetime ...
  A: Now I get it. If the short nails were used to nail the shingles to the old plywood and the nails ...
Bathroom fan dripping water and bubbles in paint12/17/2008
  Q: The bathroom fan in our upstairs bathroom is dripping water and bubbles are forming in the paint ...
  A: If it is condensation in the bathroom then that's what the fan is for in the first place. You need ...
Roof Nail Size12/17/2008
  Q: I recently had a new 1/2" sheathing roof put over the original 3/8" sheathing. I had lifetime ...
  A: The part of the nail that protrude though the plywood does nothing. But if they don't come through ...
gutter drip edge installation12/16/2008
  Q: We recently added a porch cover. My roofer installed the drip edge, of course under the shingle ...
  A: I was assuming that the entire board behind the gutter was covered with metal so even if some water ...
gutter drip edge installation12/16/2008
  Q: We recently added a porch cover. My roofer installed the drip edge, of course under the shingle ...
  A: It depends on the purpose of the drip edge. If the drip edge is to protect the wood then you want ...
had a new roof installed12/14/2008
  Q: I recently had a new roof installed due to hurricane Ike. When the roofer removed the existing roof ...
  A: The flashing should have been replaced but even if they reuse the old they finish it off with a few ...
Roof layers allowed by Law12/13/2008
  Q: Brad, I am a roofer in N.J. I can not get a straight answer from anyone with reguards to layers or ...
  A: There are no standards on the number of flat roofs you can have. Each town or county has their own ...
damp plywood12/12/2008
  Q: Looking for the cause of a leak in the frame of a window, I checked my attic and saw that the ...
  A: How could having wet wood be normal? Your moisture could be because of a leak in the roof or ...
insulation12/10/2008
  Q: Brad, I have a cape cod in NJ. The 2nd floor is finished with 2 bedrooms. The are no soffits. The ...
  A: When you say "insulate the crawl space" do you mean the roof, floor or walls of the crawl space? ...
roof insulation12/9/2008
  Q: we have an old cabin built in 1913 with no roof insulation. The upstairs attic was finished years ...
  A: The problem with rigid insulation is that it will never fit exactly and any space will just let the ...
Ice/Water Shield12/8/2008
  Q: I had a contractor install what I believe is an ice/water shield type material to seal my box ...
  A: Yes, you cannot leave it exposed to the sun. It's in the directions with each package. As far as ...
pros and cons about owens corning shingles12/7/2008
  Q: i understand there has been some problem with the Owens corning shingles getting some kind of dark ...
  A: What you describe happens to many shingles and not just Ownes. It is caused by algae running down ...
New Roof Replacment12/7/2008
  Q: I need some help with my roofer. He installed Cobra ExhaustVent on the ridge and I think he over ...
  A: Before you said "over nailing it" Now you say don't "over drive" the nails. Overdriving a nail means ...
Roofing in IL.12/7/2008
  Q: iS it ok to have a roof replaced this time of year (DEC.) IF NOT WHAT IS A GOOD TEMP?
  A: You do what you have to do. What's wrong with December...in Florida or anywhere along the southern ...
Owens Corning 40 yr Oakridge12/2/2008
  Q: We replaced our roof 2.75 yrs ago with OC 40y Oakridge, however during Hurricane Ike we lost a few ...
  A: I don't know of any recalls but it boils down to the roofer that installed the shingles with the ...
Flat roof12/1/2008
  Q: I currently have a sloped roof on my town home. My wife and I were considering putting a room in ...
  A: You will basically be taking off the roof and starting new. You would have to call in a carpenter to ...
Warped Roof11/28/2008
  Q: What would a warped iron roof mean?? Does it mean the roof would need replacing??
  A: What is an iron roof? Anything that is warped just takes on a different shape but doesn't mean it ...
roof leak11/27/2008
  Q: I have a manufactured home, 7 yrs. old. Last winter I had water coming in the kitchen under the ...
  A: I'd have to see pictures. If you have a leak then you have a hole and you have to find the hole. ...
New roofing materials?11/25/2008
  Q: I have seen a new open house on the market with virtually no slope to the roof, in an area of long, ...
  A: There are many, many gimmicky materials that come and go over the years. I have no idea what this ...
replace flat roof with sloped roof11/25/2008
  Q: I am looking at purchasing an 'old' church for use as a primary residence. (built 1956). It's small ...
  A: Yes, you can put a sloped roof on but of course you're redesigning the building. It is best to ...
Three Re-Roof questions11/24/2008
  Q: will be re-roofing my home after Thanksgiving plan to use GAF/Elk 30 yr Prestique HD Architectural ...
  A: Shingles are nailed through the original flashing so they now have holes in it. There is no way that ...
New construction roof material11/24/2008
  Q: We are getting ready to have a house built. The house will have natural stone and stucco or natural ...
  A: Everything in roofing has gone up in price significantly but still the price of the shingles was a ...
Three Re-Roof questions11/23/2008
  Q: will be re-roofing my home after Thanksgiving plan to use GAF/Elk 30 yr Prestique HD Architectural ...
  A: You cannot reuse any flashing including step flashing as it will be full of nail holes. The ...
Rolled Roofing11/22/2008
  Q: How do you get lumps out of newly installed rolled roofing?
  A: You can't. If something is lumpy it means there is too much material between 2 points or possibly ...
Three Re-Roof questions11/22/2008
  Q: will be re-roofing my home after Thanksgiving plan to use GAF/Elk 30 yr Prestique HD Architectural ...
  A: I like the plastic vents figuring they will be more rigid and hold their shape better. The foam ones ...
rolled roofing11/22/2008
  Q: We had rolled roofing installed yesterday on our backyard structure. This was recommended by the ...
  A: There are different kinds of roll roofing. I can't give you an all encompassing class on roofing in ...
rolled roofing11/22/2008
  Q: We had rolled roofing installed yesterday on our backyard structure. This was recommended by the ...
  A: There is no such thing as "rolled shingle roofing". A professional rolled roof would be like ...
Ice dams / powered gable venting11/21/2008
  Q: Our 2 year old home was built with complete soffit venting and required number of roof vents placed ...
  A: You cannot stop ice damming. The objective is to not have damage from ice damming and that's what ...
ROLL ROOF11/21/2008
  Q: What is meant by ROLL ROOF? ANSWER: Anything that comes in rolls is called rolled roofing. All flat ...
  A: No, standing seam is a 3 dimensional product and cannot be rolled up. You technically could have a ...
Low Slope Roof Replacement11/20/2008
  Q: I just bought my house 2 years ago,and am finding out that I need a new roof. I currently have ...
  A: 2/12 is the absolute minimum for shingles so you'd be taking a chance trying to do it with shingles. ...
ice & water, intake venting, iso vs. structa11/17/2008
  Q: I'm trying to choose between two roofers. One says I need Ice & Water on the gable ends; the other ...
  A: Manufacturers suggest Ice and Water Shield in many more places than necessary - I feel to sell the ...
connecting a trellis to a new roof11/14/2008
  Q: My brother recently installed a new roof with asphalt shingles. We are now building a trellis that ...
  A: I don't know what glue you could use that would not damage the shingles. As far as strength I'd have ...
tie in metal roof to asphalt11/12/2008
  Q: Help!!! I have a screened in porch with a very low pitch that was an add-on to the main roof (not ...
  A: If you have a very low slope then you shouldn't have had shingles on there in the first place. Low ...
Chimney leak where a flat roof meets a sloped roof11/10/2008
  Q: I have a dormer with a flat roof (rubber) and where it meets the shingle pitched roof a chimney ...
  A: I would need more pictures but a few things. I see the bottom of the shingles are cemented. You ...
Dried in wrinkles11/10/2008
  Q: Brad, while putting on a bedroom addition, the contractor had the old (existing roof) torn off, some ...
  A: Tar paper will wrinkle once wet. He could have used a shingle underlayment that would not have done ...
Composition Roof Warranties11/9/2008
  Q: I have received multiple roof bids. Some say...in order for my roof to qualify for Certainteed's ...
  A: I'm not sure what all those ratings are about. As far as I'm concerned it's all a bunch of gimmicks. ...
Applying new felt over the top of existing felt11/9/2008
  Q: Brad: I have a two-story house in central Kentucky that is being re-roofed (7 1/2 - 9 1/2 slope). ...
  A: Leaving the old felt paper will not hurt. It can only help. It would be like having one layer of 30 ...
Felt used for underlayment on roofs11/7/2008
  Q: I am about to install a new roof on a new shed I built. I saw a rationale on the use of felt that ...
  A: Felt is a moisture barrier between the wood and the outside. Shingles are not sealed and moist air ...
Tying new shingles into old shingles over cedar shake.11/7/2008
  Q: I appreciate any advice you can give me with this issue. I live in a townhouse in the West Village ...
  A: I don't know what HOA is. I've never seen 4 layers of shingles on a house. You are required to rip ...
rubber roofing one sheet?11/7/2008
  Q: I have a flat roof on a seasonal room that I have converted into an extra family room. I have ...
  A: EPDM is a commercial product that comes in large rolls but it can not be mixed with asphalt ...
Soffit vents....none11/6/2008
  Q: I live in Novato, CA. in an area that gets quite warm in the summer months. (I just moved here from ...
  A: The way it's supposed to work is that cool air comes in vents at the bottom. The air rises as it ...
Ceiling Cracks after/during New Roof11/5/2008
  Q: Brad, My wife and I recently had a new roof installed on our home(about 15 years old). During the ...
  A: That's a tough one. If he dropped bundles on the roof he certainly put more stress on the structure ...
ice and water shield11/5/2008
  Q: mr.zacharia,what i mainly wanted to know was, how many years does ice and water shield last? i have ...
  A: I don't know if Ice & Water Shield has a certain number of years that it last. It's not supposed to ...
roofing11/4/2008
  Q: sir, i have 2 questions.my first is this, afamily member is looking to have his roof reshingled. we ...
  A: I don't understand how snow can melt faster on black shingles. If the roof is covered with snow then ...
Bizarre Drip Edge11/2/2008
  Q: Brad - I am set to re-roofing my ranch 1200 sq ft ranch this coming week with 30yr asphalt ...
  A: I have never seen that but sometimes the bottom of the roof loses its slope when multiple roofs are ...
gutter installation problem10/31/2008
  Q: the contractor who is redoing our water-damaged stucco pulled off our recently installed new ...
  A: You can't solder aluminum. You can solder Galvanized or copper. Copper is very expensive. Galvanized ...
Reroofing low-slope BUR-gravel roof10/31/2008
  Q: I live in a single-story house in a broad California valley: never snow, ice or hail; plenty of ...
  A: I can't picture exactly what you have but on the insulation board you can hot mop in the finished ...
rigid roof insulation10/31/2008
  Q: If you put rigid insulation on top of a low slope roof deck and had blown in insulation on the ...
  A: Water vapors or condensation happen when moist trapped air is cooled down. If there is no trapped ...
Vallleys and Underlayment Materials10/30/2008
  Q: I live in Augusta GA. Getting ready to have my home reroofed with CertainTeed 25 year three-tab ...
  A: Of course the valleys leak. You can't make valleys out of paper. The paper will deteriorate. Valleys ...
Shrinkage of Membrane on Flat Roof10/30/2008
  Q: Out HOA had to replace roofs in 2004-05 due to hurricane damages. We were given Specs of Tamko ...
  A: I never heard of material shrinking and causing problems. The stuff is not "plan". It's "Awaplan". ...
ice and water shield10/30/2008
  Q: I am having a new roof installed this week - what does an ice and water shield do? My slope is ...
  A: It is for low slopes since they will have a tendency to leak in snows. If the roof is too low a ...
water leak in house10/28/2008
  Q: We own a cape cod with front dormer. House is about 60 years old. As you enter the front door there ...
  A: How do you know it has anything to do with the roof at all? There is a lot more than the roof that ...
replacing roof10/28/2008
  Q: Brad. I am a widow with an extremely limited budget. My house was built in 1913 and has its old ...
  A: The manufacturers will not guarantee those roofs. They did not install them and will not stand ...
Dimensional shingle cupping or winging10/26/2008
  Q: I am a property claims field adjuster working Hurricane Ike claims in Texas. The insurance company I ...
  A: A hump in the middle of the leading edge of the shingle is usually a "nail pop". That is a nail that ...
Temperature to adhere sealing strip on Tamko shingles10/24/2008
  Q: What temperature, a round about, does it need to be to activate the self adhering strip on the 3 tab ...
  A: It's not just the temperature but the sun too. A roof that is on a cloudy day at 70 degrees will be ...
step flashing10/21/2008
  Q: I have a newly constructed garage with a room on top. The roof is a gambrel style with a shed ...
  A: When water runs along a wall you use step flashing. When water runs away from a wall you use ...
flat roof10/20/2008
  Q: I have a flat tar and gravel flat roof on an addition to my house (about 600 sq ft). the rest of the ...
  A: Shingles must be installed only on slopes or they will leak. If the shingles come down onto the flat ...
Shingles10/20/2008
  Q: We just had new shingles(Timberline) installed. I took a couple of pictures which when developed the ...
  A: You said in that in the pictures they look light but what do they look like in person. It will be ...
caulking worn shingles10/19/2008
  Q: I've been told that my asphalt single roof in Chicago should be good for 5 years or more. It has ...
  A: To replace shingles you have to interweave them with the old shingles. If your roof only has 5 years ...
General Roof Specs10/16/2008
  Q: Brad, I am trying to determine some average specs for residential roofs for an average house. I ...
  A: Material is wood - usually pine. Roof is asphalt and fiberglass if we're talking shingles. I do not ...
reworking roof10/16/2008
  Q: I have a 25 year old home in southern Tennessee needing new roofing. I had it built with trusses ...
  A: You can put another layer on top and it will be stronger than if you just had one layer. You will ...
Plywood on roof is bulging up10/15/2008
  Q: I was researching why my roof is bumpy and I read this article which didn't answer ...
  A: That's all in the shape of the plywood which means the plywood is loose. Either a lot of the nails ...
Cedar Shake Roof Repair10/14/2008
  Q: I'm re-sending this, first one had my email wrong. I live in the Colorado mountains where we often ...
  A: Ice and Water Shield is not a cure-all for leaks. It is pretty good at sealing up around nails where ...
Cedar Shake Roof Repair10/14/2008
  Q: Brad I live in the Colorado mountains where we often have long stretches of dry weather then a few ...
  A: Ice and Water Shield is not a cure-all for leaks. It is pretty good at sealing up around nails where ...
Small Cantilever or overhang roof10/13/2008
  Q: We are getting a metal roof installed which will cause the snow to slide off directly onto the heat ...
  A: If you "cantilever" something then there are no supports. That's what a "cantilever" is. Any ...
My "wavy" roof10/12/2008
  Q: My house is not even 2 years old. I live in Louisiana and our area was affected by Hurricane Gustav ...
  A: If the waves are between the rafters then the plywood is sagging. If the wave is across the roof ...
Shingles10/8/2008
  Q: Brad, A few questions about shingles: 1. We have a 15 yr old roof with composit shingles that has ...
  A: Any product you buy is guaranteed to be made well. If you buy a refrigerator the guarantee promised ...
roof problems10/7/2008
  Q: We had a new roof installed last fall (10-19-07). Since that time the shingles have never flattened ...
  A: It's difficult to cover with a tarp when it involves the chimney as you can't cover the chimney. ...
roof repair products10/7/2008
  Q: I have received estimates to repair a flat roof. One contractor has offered to seal the entire roof ...
  A: Henry's fiber coating can be asphalt or aluminum coating but Henry's is the stuff Home Depot sells ...
cedar roof close valley10/5/2008
  Q: how do I install ( make ) a close valley on a cedar roof? If you have the answer can you also send ...
  A: You can't do a closed valley on a cedar roof because you can't bend the cedar to go up the other ...
Roof defect and Hurricane Ike10/5/2008
  Q: We live in a small development (137 homes) in Pearland, TX where half were built by one builder (X) ...
  A: One builder might have used a different shingle from the other builder. Different shingles have ...
roof / wall leak10/3/2008
  Q: my brother has a house in which the porch area was covered up and converted to a parlor. it has ...
  A: The only way you could do it from the inside is to take out the wall, build a complete wall out in ...
steep roof shingle recommendation10/1/2008
  Q: I appreciate any help that you can give me. I live in Louisiana and we are experiencing about one ...
  A: They have different wind ratings for different shingles. You might have bought a low wind rating. Or ...
flat rubber roofs9/30/2008
  Q: I have an old roll asphalt flat roof on a row house. My roof is connected on both sides to a ...
  A: There are 2 types of roof: Hot asphalt Built Up Roof (BUR) Modified Asphalt commonly called rubber. ...
low slope roofing9/27/2008
  Q: how long does a shingle roof last on a 3/12 pitch and a 4/12 pitch with regular 3 tab 25 year ...
  A: A 25 year shingle is supposed to last 25 years and it does pretty good at that. Sometimes it can ...
To tarp or not to tarp9/27/2008
  Q: We recently had a garage built. The building supply store sent the wrong shingles. Unfortunately, ...
  A: Tar paper is a VERY short term solution. It easily tears. It buckles once wet and must be replaced. ...
Nail Guns & Roofs9/27/2008
  Q: We just went through hurricane Ike. Our subdivision in Pearland TX was particularly hard hit with ...
  A: Obviously the labor is different. If you place the nails too high it is more prone to blow-off. The ...
Roof repair versus new roof9/26/2008
  Q: I live in South Florida and have a two story house with a pitched shingle roof (~ 1300 square feet, ...
  A: The shingles can't be 20-30 years. They are either 20 or they are 30. One is 50% more than the ...
Trying to Repair Leaking Roof on SW Style Building9/26/2008
  Q: I have a 20x20 storage building which is a SW style (flat roof) which leaks in the winter when there ...
  A: I don't know what an SW style roof is. South West? First you ask about repairing the roof and then ...
ventilation9/24/2008
  Q: I am replacing a cedar roof and with ashphalt shingles and am getting various opinions on ...
  A: There are 2 reason for ventilation. 1. Cut down on humidity that can damage wood. 2. Cut down on ...
shingles on damp plywood?9/22/2008
  Q: We are having the roof over our farmer's porch stripped and redone with new shingles. After the ...
  A: Air does not flow there so there will be trapped air. It will take a long time to dry but it ...
GACO deck kit a a roof9/22/2008
  Q: Would you ever recommend using GACO deck kit for a deck that doubles as a roof above a living space.
  A: I don't think it doubles as a roof. It appears to be a waterproofing material and would be like ...
material usage9/22/2008
  Q: i have a client that would like to use the timberline deck armor instead of felt paper. Was ...
  A: Felt paper is a cheap paper and was never really designed for shingles but most all roofers use it. ...
Neighborhood wide shingle failure from IKE9/22/2008
  Q: My entire neighborhood (In Pearland Texas), including my own home had severe Shingle loss during ...
  A: Up to a few years ago you could not identify shingles. Now some manufacturers put their name on the ...
ridge vent9/21/2008
  Q: I want to have a ridge vent installed in my house in Ft Walton Fla 1 mile off the coast but am ...
  A: Most shingles are the same but I'd prefer GAF. Some ridge vents are tested up to over 100 MPH but I ...
preventing roof drips in winter9/20/2008
  Q: Due to ice dams in winter, i have installed heating cables zig zagged along the roof edge. ...
  A: You cannot stop ice damming - usually. The idea is to prevent the ice dam from casuing damage by ...
low pitch roof (porch)9/20/2008
  Q: If my porch roof doesn't have much of a slope, two inches down in front from where it is attached to ...
  A: There is no point in using felt paper as your finished roof is just that only thicker. Most all flat ...
Elk Shingles Loosing Grit From Venting9/20/2008
  Q: I live in Wisconsin, my house is 19 years old and my roof is about 6 years old. It was installed by ...
  A: Every town has their own rules as to how to build a house. Years ago when I was a kid no one was ...
Elk Shingles Loosing Grit From Venting9/19/2008
  Q: I live in Wisconsin, my house is 19 years old and my roof is about 6 years old. It was installed by ...
  A: The guy is either lying or he doesn’t know much about roofing. You’ll have to figure that one out. ...
valley on roof9/19/2008
  Q: how do i start putting the flashing and do i put the shingles over the flashing what kind of ...
  A: What flashing? There is no flashing in the valleys. What sealant? Sealant is not used on a shingle ...
Neighborhood wide shingle failure from IKE9/18/2008
  Q: My entire neighborhood (In Pearland Texas), including my own home had severe Shingle loss during ...
  A: All shingles come with a plastic strip that keeps the shingles from sticking together during ...
white paint on black roof9/18/2008
  Q: My home is less than a year old and has white paint that drifted when the painter painted the eaves. ...
  A: The painter would be responsible for the damage they did to your roof - whether that's cosmetic or ...
low slope new roof advice9/18/2008
  Q: im located in san diego. just built a 10x12' outside study. its got a very low pitch roof. the ...
  A: You should get a sealed roof like Hot Asphalt or Modified Asphalt. But both need professional skills ...
Hurricane Ike damage-Repairs to shingles9/17/2008
  Q: I have a shallow slope at the center of my roof and it drops to a steep pitch as it goes out in each ...
  A: If you bend the shingle over the edge it will crack there. The two options are the way he did it - ...
attic humidity9/17/2008
  Q: We have a mold problem in our attic. The ridge vent was apparently not enough, so we installed ...
  A: No, you need to go lower. Try 50. But if the fans never stop trying to get it to go down to 85 then ...
deck armor and ice and water shield9/16/2008
  Q: I have competing opinions about what to put under shingles. One roofer says to use DECK ARMOR for ...
  A: First, I don't buy what GAF says Deck Armor can do. How can it "breathe" if the shingles are ...
New roof, warped decking9/16/2008
  Q: Brad, I just had a new roof put on Timberline 30 year dimentional shingles, after installation I ...
  A: I don't know if you want to blame the roofer for not noticing it. These things can usually only be ...
lifting shingles and rubber vent collar9/16/2008
  Q: I have some shingles that are lifting and am afraid they will weather and break off. Most of these ...
  A: You can't put a new collar on top of an old one. Nothing on a shingle roof gets "sealed" if it's ...
Ridge Vents9/16/2008
  Q: I own a custom home that was built four years ago. It is on a lake, so we wanted ridge vents for ...
  A: All vents allow weather into the beginning part of the vent but the opening should be so deep that ...
Ridge Vents9/15/2008
  Q: I own a custom home that was built four years ago. It is on a lake, so we wanted ridge vents for ...
  A: The opening can be a problem. Snow will blow up them and then come back down the outside. If the ...
Roof Shingles9/15/2008
  Q: We just had roof damage from Hurricane Ike. I collected some of our shingles that fell or flew off ...
  A: The plastic strip is used to keep shingles from sticking together during shipment. When the shingles ...
New roof, warped decking9/15/2008
  Q: Brad, I just had a new roof put on Timberline 30 year dimentional shingles, after installation I ...
  A: Most people don't stare at their roof until they pay big money to get a new roof. So the sag might ...
Plywood on roof is soaked9/15/2008
  Q: My house is currently being built. They have put all of the plywood on the roof. Today is Sunday, ...
  A: It's not the temperature that does the drying. It is the lack of humidity in the air. If the air is ...
roofing/tar paper9/13/2008
  Q: I had my roof reshingled, and upon inspecting the attic space, I noticed that the tar paper stops ...
  A: If lack of paper helps with ventilation then why not leave the paper off the entire roof. Buy that ...
water diverter for a valley9/12/2008
  Q: I have a roof with a valley directly over a doorway. This ices up very badly in the winter. I am ...
  A: If you're worried about ice then we can't be talking about water. If you want to catch the water ...
Storage Loads on roof trusses in garage9/12/2008
  Q: I have installed plywood sheets on top of the bottom chords of the trusses of garage. I believe the ...
  A: That's a question for someone that designs trusses but I'd assume you can add some weight since the ...
Switching from wood to impact resistant shingles9/12/2008
  Q: 1) Are UL Class IV shingles fairly comparable between brands ( Malarkey, GAF, Certainteed etc.)? If ...
  A: Class IV is a hail rating and if two different shingles have the same rating they should stand up ...
Flat Roof Edge9/11/2008
  Q: Zacharia; I'm an architect and I'm working on the detail at the edge of a "flat", torch-applied ...
  A: When I do an edge I bend the rubber over the edge so there is no seam to seal or to open. But most ...
low slope shingle roof9/10/2008
  Q: i live in western massachusetts and am considering architectual asphalt shingles on a shed dormer ...
  A: You went in the wrong direction. You can't do shingles on slopes that low or it will leak. These ...
ridge vents + dust, small attic +big roof9/10/2008
  Q: I have two for you, but first a brief description of the house & roof: it is a two story with a ...
  A: Turbine vents are never used on shingle roofs because they are UGLY. You use them where it can't be ...
power vent - no soffits9/10/2008
  Q: We are replacing a hail-damaged roof on a brick house with no soffits. Under the circumstances, will ...
  A: If you were going to do a new roof then get some venting in at the bottom of the roof. I can't tell ...
How should new flat roof look?9/10/2008
  Q: Just before Christmas of 2007, we had a new flat roof installed. It measures roughly 30 feet by 12 ...
  A: Yes, you can add another sheet to put on top. The do sell the granules to fix spots but it's not for ...
Defective roofing due to plastic strips falling off9/10/2008
  Q: My home is four years old with an asphalt fiberglass shingle seal tab roof. Winds from feeder bands ...
  A: As I said before, the manufacturer isn't going to tell anyone to remove the plastic strip because ...
Contractor scarred new roof9/8/2008
  Q: We just had a new roof installed and the contractor walked on the hot roof ruining a good number of ...
  A: Summer is not a good time to do a shingle roof as it gets so hot and soft that you will leave foot ...
Defective roofing due to plastic strips falling off9/8/2008
  Q: My home is four years old with an asphalt fiberglass shingle seal tab roof. Winds from feeder bands ...
  A: Yes, the plastic strips MAY be exposed from tearing off the shingle tabs but what are they doing ...
How should new flat roof look?9/7/2008
  Q: Just before Christmas of 2007, we had a new flat roof installed. It measures roughly 30 feet by 12 ...
  A: "I called the roofer and he said only the top layer had lifted and this sometimes happens with ...
Defective roofing due to plastic strips falling off9/6/2008
  Q: My home is four years old with an asphalt fiberglass shingle seal tab roof. Winds from feeder bands ...
  A: The plastic strip is used to keep the shingles from sticking together in the package. Once installed ...
water diverter for a valley9/6/2008
  Q: I have a roof with a valley directly over a doorway. This ices up very badly in the winter. I am ...
  A: You can't mess with the valley. It's a very vulnerable place and carries more water than any other ...
Winter gaurd membrane9/5/2008
  Q: I am doing a reroof on a 4/12 with hip all the way around. The overhang is 6' at the eaves. Would ...
  A: Yes, the winter guard MUST be installed from the eaves all the up slope past the exterior wall and ...
Roof venting, 1950's California ranch house9/5/2008
  Q: I have a just bought a fixer-upper. It's a 1950's California ranch style house (single story, ~1500 ...
  A: I'm not sure what you mean by eyebrow vents but any venting is better than no venting. The higher up ...
gutter overhang9/5/2008
  Q: We had our roof re-shingled. Water has been seeping behind the gutters. The contractor (Sears) ...
  A: Sear got out of the home remodeling business due to too many headaches and complaints so I don't ...
Bay Window Shingle9/5/2008
  Q: This is a bit of a hybrid question involving flashing, roofing and aluminum siding I have a bay ...
  A: Your "eave protection material" is probably Ice and Water Shield. It is not "leak proof". It is ...
Elastomeric on rolled roof9/3/2008
  Q: I have a flat torch bond roof in fairly good shape no leaks or visibly bad seems. The roof does have ...
  A: Yes you can. But if you have ponding that last more than a few days it is not good for the roof and ...
built up roofs9/3/2008
  Q: I am in the process of buying a house with a built up roof which my husband does not like. He says ...
  A: The home inspector will be basically a handyman and will know some things about the house but can't ...
venting in low slope roof attic9/3/2008
  Q: I have a bungalow with a 2.5:12 roof line. I am re-roofing the house with asphalt 3 tab shingles ...
  A: I would need to see pictures to know what you have. The description is too complicated to figure it ...
Ridge vent opening and ventilation options9/2/2008
  Q: I just had a my roof re-tile(over the one original layer)and requested a ridge vent. I had ice ...
  A: Add as much venting as you want. Extra will not hurt but they all need to be complimented with ...
shingle company question9/2/2008
  Q: I just asked you a question last night but thought of another. In the quotes for a new roof I have ...
  A: They are all big companies in the shingle business. All are good shingles and all have had their ...
built up roofs9/2/2008
  Q: I am in the process of buying a house with a built up roof which my husband does not like. He says ...
  A: There are two types of roofs for flat residential roofs 1. Built-up Roof (BUR) 2. Modified asphalt. ...
replacing shingles questions9/2/2008
  Q: I have been getting quotes to replace my shingled roof. I am looking at 30 yr dimensional shingles. ...
  A: Most roofers use felt paper because it is the cheapest. If it is left out in the rain it will buckle ...
roofing--caulking9/1/2008
  Q: We have a newly installed shingle roof on our porch. We live in the northeast ... the porch roof ...
  A: Do you want a caulk roof or a shingle roof? Caulking should not be used on any part of the roof. It ...
Surface Water on Flat Roof9/1/2008
  Q: I have recently had a garage roof refelted by a local and reputable contractor, who seemed to be ...
  A: If it dries up in a couple of days then it's OK. Water that is left for a long period of time can ...
Using Roll Roofing9/1/2008
  Q: I own a home in Northwest Ohio that has a very simple rectangular sloped roof, currently shingled. ...
  A: A homeowner cannot do roll roofing without nails. If it was a roofer doing it they could torch down ...
very uneasy about new roof job9/1/2008
  Q: I just had my roof shingles torn off (2 layers) and have 3/4 inch boards (no sheathing). They did ...
  A: The nails should come through the wood. You must grab the wood as much as possible to make sure the ...
replacing a flat roof8/31/2008
  Q: We are replacing our flat roof with a pitched one. It has big puddles on the top, but no obvious ...
  A: You should take off the old roof for several reasons: 1. Weight 2. I never liked the idea of keeping ...
Roof Quote GAF8/31/2008
  Q: I in need of a new roof. 22 square House & Garage. Was given quote of 500.00 per square. Single tear ...
  A: You would have to give me a hundred more pieces of information. Steep slope as opposed to low slope ...
Roof and gutters8/31/2008
  Q: My wife and I recently hired a local contractor to do some work on our home.We have a ranch style ...
  A: Picture 2 & 3 show a normal gutter installation. I don't know why picture 1 looked like some kind of ...
Roof and gutters8/31/2008
  Q: My wife and I recently hired a local contractor to do some work on our home.We have a ranch style ...
  A: From your picture something is weird as to how the gutter meets the house and the shingles end ...
flat rubber roof8/30/2008
  Q: There is an small outdoor balcony above my interior living area. I had a flat, torch-down rubber ...
  A: Certainly it should have a pitch to flow water off. If the water sits there it will rot the roofing. ...
Roof bubble8/30/2008
  Q: I had a new roof installed 18 months ago and recently noticed some bubbles have appeared. New ...
  A: If you had new plywood installed and it is popping up then it's not nailed down. Simple as that. The ...
Timberline shingles8/29/2008
  Q: We have found cracking in our Timberline shingles that are 10 yrs into the 30 yr. warranty. I have ...
  A: I have heard of different lawsuits on shingles but I'm not familiar with specific ones. If there was ...
gutters8/29/2008
  Q: How do you attach gutters to a roof with a sloped fascia? The fascia is sloped because is it ...
  A: Those types of roofs generally use half-round gutters which use brackets that hang from under the ...
Flat Roof Issues8/29/2008
  Q: I am looking at a home with a flat roof. The ad says a new modified bitumen roof in 2007. I am ...
  A: Roofs don't leak when done correctly. The problem with flat roofs is that "IF" there is a leak the ...
starter shingles8/29/2008
  Q: We just had 30 yr Gaf/Elk architectural shingles installed. I noticed the starter row is overlapped. ...
  A: They did it incorrectly and I'll bet they did other things wrong with the starter strip too such as ...
Tar Paper8/28/2008
  Q: We recently had our home inspected for a new buyer. We found out that our builder did not use tar ...
  A: You do not have to do anything. It depends on how badly you want to keep the buyers. The roofer ...
tar and gravel roof8/27/2008
  Q: My mom has a low slope flat roof (2/12) that's giving her nightmares. farmer's won't pay stating ...
  A: The insurance company doesn't pay and shouldn't pay if it's old. If your car gets too old and wears ...
installing a tile roof8/27/2008
  Q: We are in the MIDDLE of installing a new tile roof: 1)the roofers placed one layer of 30# felt on ...
  A: There are better materials to use under the tiles. Ice And Water Shield is one. I am not familiar ...
New roof on urban row home8/27/2008
  Q: I have a row house in urban Philadelphia built in circa 1907. The original roof was tin on wood ...
  A: Take off everything down to the wood then install plywood on top of the old wood and then a modified ...
installing a tile roof8/26/2008
  Q: We are in the MIDDLE of installing a new tile roof: 1)the roofers placed one layer of 30# felt on ...
  A: Many roofer just use 15# so 30# is a step up. How can he place 30# and tiles on flat parts. You ...
to raise the ceiling higth of a rafter roof8/26/2008
  Q: I have just bought a house with a garage that has a 7' ceiling. I want to convert the garage into a ...
  A: If you raise the roof you will have to build the walls higher. This would make a new and weak joint ...
connect two buildings with a hallway8/26/2008
  Q: I want an inexpensive way to connect a 16x24 apartment to my existing house. I thought of a 4x6 ...
  A: There are probably a number of different ways to do that but not seeing it makes it difficult to ...
Flat roof gutter dam8/25/2008
  Q: Brad, I have an old low slope roof with a gutter inset into it. The wood that formed the downslope ...
  A: I would need picture to know what you really have. It sounds like you have a "pole gutter". The ...
Roof and shingle repair8/24/2008
  Q: I'm removing an old chimney. My shingles are only 2 years old. What's the best way to patch and ...
  A: Fit wood into it and then shingle. All the cut shingles have to be removed and then full shingles ...
Ventilation,etc.8/23/2008
  Q: We're having a new roof installed at the same time as several of our neighbors. The roofer started ...
  A: Your roofer has it all wrong which would make we wonder if he knows anything else about roofing. ...
new deck on top of the new roof8/22/2008
  Q: i want to put a new layer of roof on top of the old flat roof. And then i want to put a wooden deck ...
  A: Most people damage their roofs when putting as deck on. Most leaks are from punctures so it doesn't ...
Flat tar roof8/22/2008
  Q: I am having to repair/replace part of my flat roof. The roof is 50+ years old and consists of ...
  A: I have never heard of wood that thick but that would be a question for a carpenter or a lumber yard. ...
Mansard Roof- Aluminum Siding or Shingles?8/22/2008
  Q: I am planning to hire a roofing contractor to re-shingle our roof in the next couple of months. We ...
  A: Mansard roofs are steep roofs and many times do not go well with shingles. Gravity just wants to rip ...
Drip edge with seamless gutters8/20/2008
  Q: I just had a new roof installed. The drip edge was installed along all edges prior to installing the ...
  A: You usually need to do the gutter last or you destroy it while trying to do the new roof. If you do ...
Failed weather protection on unfinished roof8/20/2008
  Q: After reading some of your other articles I figured what could it hurt to ask... I'm 3/4 through ...
  A: The underlayment is a moisture barrier between the moist outside air and the wood. It protects the ...
Failed weather protection on unfinished roof8/19/2008
  Q: After reading some of your other articles I figured what could it hurt to ask... I'm 3/4 through ...
  A: There is nothing you can do. Water would have run under the new roof. It will basically drain over ...
roof ventilation8/18/2008
  Q: I have a friend in Anchorage Alaska with a 4/12 shingle roof. They are having severe problems with ...
  A: I guess you could build something to raise the ridge vent. You could try to inject heat into the ...
ondura roofing8/17/2008
  Q: I am looking at ondura roofing as a replacemnt roof, but I find lots of people saying not to use it ...
  A: Ondura is a corrugated roof material - probably plastic, although I'm not familiar with Ondura. ...
roof ventilation8/17/2008
  Q: I have a friend in Anchorage Alaska with a 4/12 shingle roof. They are having severe problems with ...
  A: For such slopes they should have installed Ice and Water Shield under the shingles. Do you know if ...
using iso on a flat roof that is also used as a porch deck8/16/2008
  Q: i have a flat roof that was leaking and needed to be replaced it also doubles as a porch deck. the ...
  A: You'd have to look into the specs on Iso board and see how much pressure they can take per square ...
using iso on a flat roof that is also used as a porch deck8/15/2008
  Q: i have a flat roof that was leaking and needed to be replaced it also doubles as a porch deck. the ...
  A: Iso board is used to insulate and reslope roofs. It is not solid like wood. Even with wood you have ...
roof warranties8/12/2008
  Q: Our house was built less than 5 years ago. Most of the roof is covered with clay tile, and we have ...
  A: Yes, a roof should be guaranteed at least 10 years. But, it depends on what guarantee he gave.. What ...
Old 1.5 storey home w/hip roof - needs ventilation?8/12/2008
  Q: Last year I purchased a 1.5-storey home, probably built in the 20s, 30s or 40s. I live in Atlantic ...
  A: You always want to bring cool air in the bottom of the roof (soffit vents) and let the hot air go ...
TORCH DOWN8/11/2008
  Q: I NEED TO REPLACE A SCUPPER.OLD SCUPPER RUSTED OUT UP TO THE FLANGE.FLANGE IS STILL UNDER THE TORCH ...
  A: You would have to use cement and fabric but it will never be as good as torching the rubber right ...
Elderly parent out of state with siginifcant roofing issues8/10/2008
  Q: My parent recently had a "handy man" reroof the house. It is a one story house (approximately 1800 ...
  A: A home inspector is basically a handyman unless you can find one with engineering credentials. Other ...
New roof is buckled in spots8/10/2008
  Q: We just had a 30yr timberline prestique asphalt shingle by Gaff/Elk installed. 65 degrees on date of ...
  A: If the paper did not get wet I don't see how the paper could be installed "poorly". All they had to ...
New roof is buckled in spots8/9/2008
  Q: We just had a 30yr timberline prestique asphalt shingle by Gaff/Elk installed. 65 degrees on date of ...
  A: If the shingles were put on a flat surface then it is the shingles only that are up. That will go ...
30 lb tar paper vs 15 lb tar paper8/9/2008
  Q: We're in the process of putting a new roof on our 1950's cape in Vermont and being quoted on the ...
  A: Most roofers use 15 # paper. Any tar paper will buckle if it gets wet so make sure it is not left in ...
low slope roof replacement8/4/2008
  Q: I'm looking to buy a split-level with a low slope roof (below 3/12). The owner installed shingles 6 ...
  A: You can do shingles down to slopes of 2/12 but between 2/12 and up to 4/12 is still a bit low and ...
Roofing/ Gutters8/3/2008
  Q: Brad I own a four bedroom garrison in New Hampshire and had a new roof installed two years ago. The ...
  A: Gutters will freeze and will be the last thing to melt as they are out in the cold and the roof has ...
torch down roof coating8/3/2008
  Q: You helped me with advice when I had a leak on my porch that has a torch down roof. I know you ...
  A: If he coated it with something black then he must have used a cold black asphalt coating. Roofers ...
low slope roof attatched to Cedar Siding8/3/2008
  Q: I have a cedar siding home and I may have leaks where the previous owner connected a sunroom to the ...
  A: First of all, you can't put shingles on low slopes or they will leak. That might be a problem you ...
torch down roof coating8/2/2008
  Q: You helped me with advice when I had a leak on my porch that has a torch down roof. I know you ...
  A: I never said I don't like torch-down. In fact, my entire business is based on torch-down. That's the ...
Flashing a low slope roof8/1/2008
  Q: I would appreciate an opinion as to what would be the best method of flashing to use. I'm replacing ...
  A: Just take your final roofing material and go up the brick wall at least 4" and then seal that with ...
Sagging roof7/31/2008
  Q: I am currently going through the project replacing my old tile roof with shingles. After the old ...
  A: There is nothing you can do about it now without starting over. There are several reasons why you ...
streaks of mold on roof7/31/2008
  Q: We had Owens Corning #225 fiberglass self-sealing shingles installed on our roof in 1987. Things ...
  A: Mold streaks on roofs are very common. I never heard of it being from wood. Mold happens when ...
How do you know there is damage?7/29/2008
  Q: Brad, we had a bad hail (golf ball size) storm in the K.C. area this month. We were out of town and ...
  A: Keep in mind that many people do things to benefit themselves. You should get opinions from people ...
re-roofing a flat roof7/29/2008
  Q: I am having some wood gutter replaced with aluminum and as a consequence, I have had to tear off the ...
  A: You can't put shingles on slopes under 2/12 or they will leak. Even above 2/12 they need special ...
roof mositure problem7/28/2008
  Q: We have a relatively new shingle roof. It does not leak when it rains. However, in the winter ...
  A: If the condensation is only on the inside then you have the humidity too high from steamy cooking, ...
Applying roll roof over insulation7/26/2008
  Q: We have a low slope roof that has an inch of insulation (kinda looks like particle board or a ...
  A: I don't now what kind of roll roofing you're talking about. All roofing for flat roofs is roll ...
what to do with old flat roof with 5-10 layers?7/26/2008
  Q: currently have an old mineral paper roof that's prob original to this 90 yr old house, at least 5 ...
  A: It depends on what your definition of "layer" is. A single 4 ply roof is 4 layers of paper and 5 ...
Comparing Warranties7/26/2008
  Q: Brad, I'm getting bids to put a new roof on my house. Owens Corning offers several different ...
  A: The roofs will last what they say they will - a few years. If a roofer is not willing to talk about ...
Comparing Warranties7/26/2008
  Q: Brad, I'm getting bids to put a new roof on my house. Owens Corning offers several different ...
  A: Two 30 year roofs will cost more than a 50 year roof but you get 10 more years out of it. How long ...
Radiant Barrier7/25/2008
  Q: I requested LP Tech Shield on my house anticipating the builders would put in the attic only (in ...
  A: Most contractors don't know how to do anything well so if you ask me what most builders would do is ...
Adhesive strip showing7/24/2008
  Q: I am buying a home; the roof is about 7 years old. The home inspector noticed that there are two ...
  A: There are two problems when the glue strip is exposed. 1. The shingles are not sealed in that area ...
low slope conundrum7/24/2008
  Q: I am in the interior of BC where it get very hot in the summer. Our roof is a simple cottage style ...
  A: The absolute minimum slope for shingles is 2/12. And even from 2/12 up to 4/12 you still have to be ...
solid sheathing7/24/2008
  Q: The 2003 and 2006 IRC refers to solid sheathing for roof decking on asphalt shingles, but solid ...
  A: Your deck is OK. A deck that is not solid is when you have slates or tiles. They sometimes run slats ...
cost to replace shingles7/22/2008
  Q: I have about 25-30 shingles that have blown off from a recent storm here in Texas. My insurance ...
  A: Your insurance adjuster is not a roofer so he'd have to guess what the market price is. The market ...
Roofing material7/21/2008
  Q: We are about to replace our 20 year old shingles. I have heard from someone that the new "3D" ...
  A: The second layer of shingle that falls off is due to the fact that there is no nail it. The reason ...
Avoiding roof sheething rot7/21/2008
  Q: We had our flat roof deck over our downstairs removed to the plywood sheething as there had been a ...
  A: There is also the matter of the new roof sticking to the plywood. If it was wet it certainly won't ...
Shingle thickness7/19/2008
  Q: Is 3/8" better than 1/2" thickness better. Also, have you heard about a 20 year non-prorated ...
  A: There's no such thing as 3/8" shingles or 1/2" shingles. They are rated by years and if one company ...
Preventing Ice Dams7/17/2008
  Q: I purchased a house in October of this past year. I live in Maine and we had quite a bit of snow ...
  A: I have never heard of or seen the metal snow panels on the sides of a roof. The dormer might not be ...
Southern exposure--tricky issue7/17/2008
  Q: I'm in southeastern Michigan and have a two-story house with an attached garage in front. Our house ...
  A: I have never heard of the second layer wearing faster than a first layer. It is irrelevant how long ...
Southern exposure--tricky issue7/16/2008
  Q: I'm in southeastern Michigan and have a two-story house with an attached garage in front. Our house ...
  A: The roof will wear more on the side of the prevailing winds. Sun will also contribute to ...
Attic Venting7/16/2008
  Q: I have a two story colonial and I am having it re-roofed. Currently, there are soffet vents, box ...
  A: Put all the vents in you want. Extra venting will not hurt. The power vent will suck any air from ...
Preventing Ice Dams7/15/2008
  Q: I purchased a house in October of this past year. I live in Maine and we had quite a bit of snow ...
  A: What are "snow slides"? Dormer roofs tend to be flat. If you have a sealed roof water can't get in. ...
Attic Fans and Roof7/15/2008
  Q: We have a 2 story, 1600 square foot house in Cleveland, Ohio. We have full A/C and an unfinished ...
  A: Yes, it is possible to install window fans. I wouldn't know what kind as that has nothing to do with ...
Attic Fans and Roof7/14/2008
  Q: We have a 2 story, 1600 square foot house in Cleveland, Ohio. We have full A/C and an unfinished ...
  A: You don't seem to have much in the way of ventilation. You never mentioned soffit vents for cool air ...
Flintlastic vs. shingles7/14/2008
  Q: I have 2 estimates, they both are putting down Ice & water shield on my almost flat parts of my ...
  A: You can't put shingles on a flat roof or it will leak. I don't know the exact slope but when you say ...
modified bitumen overhang7/13/2008
  Q: Should there be an overhang over the drip cap as in shingle installation? If so, how much? ANSWER: ...
  A: The way most roofers do the edge is to put the rubber down. Then they nail a drip edge metal on the ...
Falling Shingles7/12/2008
  Q: Brad - I bought this house in Southaven, MS 3 years ago. It was built in 2000 and has some steep ...
  A: It sounds like the adhesive strip is not working or the shingles were not put down correctly. The ...
12 inch drop almost flat roof7/12/2008
  Q: We have a large attached garage that attaches below the roof line up to the house. It has about a ...
  A: You could go over top of everything put if that springs a leak it will leave a long trail for the ...
ridge caps and vent concern7/11/2008
  Q: I just finished roofing my home with GAF Timberline 30 shingles. It was a little different, since I ...
  A: Did the glue strip have time to seal? It will take a couple of days in hot weather. You're also ...
shingles rolling up7/11/2008
  Q: Let me start with we bought this house in Michigan last summer unseen from a family member. We ...
  A: You can't put shingles on low slopes or they will leak. You said you have a very low slope so how ...
Modified Bitumen Roof mainenance7/10/2008
  Q: What kind of regular maintenance is considered reasonable for a modified bitumen roof? ANSWER: You ...
  A: I thought that would be obvious. Debris can clog drains. Debris can have all sorts of chemicals in ...
attic ventilation7/10/2008
  Q: In the process of getting estimates for a gable asphalt shingle tearoff/reroof. As I work thru my ...
  A: The way ventilation works is that cool air comes in the bottom of the roof, it heats up and rises, ...
attic ventilation7/10/2008
  Q: In the process of getting estimates for a gable asphalt shingle tearoff/reroof. As I work thru my ...
  A: No ventilation system will work well without soffit vents. There are many different kinds of vents. ...
modified bitumen overhang7/8/2008
  Q: Should there be an overhang over the drip cap as in shingle installation? If so, how much?
  A: I don't know what you mean by "drip cap". You ask about a roof and say "as in shingle installation" ...
20+ year old roof7/7/2008
  Q: im in the process of buying a home and prior to inspection the seller did tell me that he really ...
  A: The phrase "certify" means nothing. It means that someone is stating an opinion. There is no ...
replacing woodshake shingles with asphalt shingles on an a-frame home7/7/2008
  Q: we are currently trying to replace our old roof with asphalt shingles, and have run into a bit of ...
  A: You can't nail to the 1x4s. You'd have to screw to them. If you remove the 1x4s the rafters are too ...
Hail Damage7/7/2008
  Q: I live in NC and we have recently had severe storms here with hail and high winds. I started seeing ...
  A: If you asked for him to look at the roof and he said there was "roof damage from hail" then it all ...
Hail Damage7/6/2008
  Q: I live in NC and we have recently had severe storms here with hail and high winds. I started seeing ...
  A: It depends what you asked of him. If you asked him for an estimate for a new roof and that's what he ...
replacing woodshake shingles with asphalt shingles on an a-frame home7/6/2008
  Q: we are currently trying to replace our old roof with asphalt shingles, and have run into a bit of ...
  A: If you have a warped deck and you put a roof on it then you will have a warped roof. That would be a ...
IKO shigles7/4/2008
  Q: What experience have you had with IKO Manufacturing Co. Shingles? I had a roof put on 9 years ago ...
  A: I have never used Iko shingles so maybe I never ran across the problems. You can do a Google search ...
Adhesive Stripping7/4/2008
  Q: We just had a new house built and have been losing shingles with high winds. We noticed that the ...
  A: The paper on the adhesive strip is not supposed to be there. It will prevent the shingles from ...
new roof/moldy house6/30/2008
  Q: We had a new roof installed after a hurricane. The new roof had to be up to the new code, so the ...
  A: Maybe the roof was working better before to get rid of the high humidity but I'd still ask why you ...
new roof/moldy house6/29/2008
  Q: We had a new roof installed after a hurricane. The new roof had to be up to the new code, so the ...
  A: Your house is too humid. It has nothing to do with your roof. The inside of your house has too much ...
Wierd metal piece sticking through roof ridge6/27/2008
  Q: We're preparing our home for sale, and the buyer's inspector found something odd on our roof that I ...
  A: My guess is that it's some kind of bracket where something was mounted at some point. Any leak would ...
soffits vents needed or not with attic fan & attic vents6/25/2008
  Q: Brad, How are you? I read some of your answers and found very informative. I'm buying a house. Home ...
  A: Good ventilation will help move out the moist humid air and bring in dryer air. Also, what is the ...
wet roofing6/25/2008
  Q: He put down 15# felt, then the shingles were delivered and put in a few piles on top of the roof. He ...
  A: It's a tricky one. Again, you have to get into his head which will be difficult. Why didn't he know ...
Presidential shingles and low slope roof6/24/2008
  Q: I am being advised by a local roofer that the Presidential shingle roof I had installed seven years ...
  A: I don't know what 300s and 400s mean. They are not slopes. Shingles cannot be put on low slopes or ...
Barn Roof6/24/2008
  Q: We recently had a new shed built with a "Barn" or Gambrel style roof. My question is the where the ...
  A: They're yanking your chain! There are many codes and each town decides what they want to go with or ...
tapping into existng roof6/24/2008
  Q: To paint a picture the existing roof slopes down along where the patio cover will attach. The patio ...
  A: I'd have to see much more details on what you're doing. If you rest the patio roof on a part of the ...
Hail Damage - Spot Replace?6/23/2008
  Q: Last year we replaced our shingles with GAF architectural. We recently had a hail storm with ...
  A: The granules give the shingles their color so losing granules will not cause a leak. It's only ...
Class A roofs6/23/2008
  Q: We're going to be building in a hillside area in Los Angeles. The building department requires us to ...
  A: If you go to any of the manufacturer's website you can get information on low slope roofing ...
Class A roofs6/23/2008
  Q: We're going to be building in a hillside area in Los Angeles. The building department requires us to ...
  A: You have a low slope roof which generally gets a Built Up Roof (BUR) or a Modified roof (usually ...
tear off6/21/2008
  Q: I'm in northern Ohio and am 15yrs into a 20yr roof. West side shingles are worn looking. it's a 1 ...
  A: You can put on up to 2 roofs so you can re-roof over the old shingles. The more venting the better ...
which roof to choose6/19/2008
  Q: I have an old flat top roof that has soft spots and needs replacing. The home is very hot in the ...
  A: I don't know anything about foam roofs as they are very rare and I've only seen 2 in my lifetime. ...
rubber over tin6/16/2008
  Q: I have an old house with a standing seam tin roof and a large extension with rolled roofing. The ...
  A: Cement and fabric should last for awhile unless you mean it is splitting which means there is a ...
Certainteed Landmark Dimensional6/16/2008
  Q: Not familiar with this brand and noticed some problems with out Certainteed products...Any ...
  A: Your sentences are little garbled so I'm not sure what you're asking. Most shingles are the same. ...
rubber over tin6/13/2008
  Q: I have an old house with a standing seam tin roof and a large extension with rolled roofing. The ...
  A: Rubber is put down with glue, hot asphalt or torch-down. You can't do the hot asphalt so that leaves ...
Steel Roofs6/12/2008
  Q: I have an older home with some settling so like the idea of lighter weight steel. However, I have ...
  A: Steel on residential roofs is rare so I am not familiar with the steel roofing industry. Steel will ...
Need new singles and scared to make decision!6/12/2008
  Q: We have recently had wind damage to our old singles of our mobile home. I have contaced local ...
  A: Shingles are not 3-ply. They are 3-tab meaning there are 3 blocks to one shingles. Architectural ...
Warranty6/12/2008
  Q: I live in central Maine and need to replace my 15-year old three tab asphalt shingle roof. I have ...
  A: It is standard practice that you can go up to 2 roofs before you must strip it. If you have one roof ...
Roofer issues6/11/2008
  Q: I have had a roofer doing a complete tear off on my roof for three weeks now. I have a few of ...
  A: Regular felt paper will buckle once it gets wet and should be replaced before the shingles go on or ...
low slope roof6/10/2008
  Q: I am in the process of recovering a 16'X 42' patio. It has a 1-12 pitch, and I have chosen to use ...
  A: That's crazy. If the plywood moves then it is too thin to hold itself in place but you're using 3/4" ...
dura ridge6/9/2008
  Q: I was on the internet looking for any information on the Dura Ridge company and I ran across your ...
  A: Is Dura Ridge a shingle company or a ridge vent company? I don't know what Dura Ridge is. It sounds ...
truss subport6/8/2008
  Q: I have a storage building that i would like to put a loft in the building is 10x16 i would like to ...
  A: the support youre trying to put in would be the same ones your taking out a truss is designed for ...
flat roof eave extansions6/8/2008
  Q: Brad, we recently purchased a 1904 craftsman bungalow in the California Central Valley that has an ...
  A: There is no "proper" length. You don't need an overhang to protect the wall. That's what a gutter ...
roof panels/ventilation6/6/2008
  Q: I am building a new home and using asphalt shingles. Part of the home will be timber framed and that ...
  A: I don't know what "EPS" is. Most warranties will insist you vent a roof out but might not hold you ...
Architecural Roofing Shinlges for residential homes6/5/2008
  Q: We have to reshingle our roof, but know nothing about shingles. We've been told to buy 30 year ...
  A: Most shingles are the same. Just buy what you like. BY FAR, THE MOST IMPORTANT thing on a shingle ...
roofing shingle question6/5/2008
  Q: This is a bit similar to another shingle match question you'd been asked. We had shingle damage to ...
  A: Without pictures I don't know what either of your definitions are as to "a close match". Obviously ...
Roofing Ventilation6/5/2008
  Q: I am in the process of hiring a roofer to install architectural 30yr. There are vent hood on the ...
  A: Venting is an entire system. Ridge vent won't work if you don't have soffit vents too for incoming ...
sheathing6/5/2008
  Q: I have a quick question. I recently went up in the attic to inspect the sheathing for leaks. I ...
  A: On 24" centers I would have used 5/8 plywood but many builders today skimp and use 7/16. Two things: ...
Roof rot from condensation6/4/2008
  Q: The ridge of my roof has condensation rot down to a point about 8' on each side of the ridge. The ...
  A: It doesn’t matter what kind of insulation you have. I don't see why you couldn’t replace just some ...
ice and water failure6/4/2008
  Q: I have a new house with ice and water shield on the entire roof including the valleys and this past ...
  A: That's a good slope. On slopes like that you don't even need Ice & Water Shield so if water still ...
HUMISTAT ROOF VENT6/4/2008
  Q: I LIVE IN MICHIGAN, I NOTICED IN SOME THE ANSWERS ON THIS WEB SITE SAID YOU CAN USE A POWER VENT ...
  A: I guess it could be possible but here's my take on that. The rain is much more dense than the air so ...
Roofing Felt6/3/2008
  Q: Roofers just left. Half the house has new shingles installed. The other half is covered only with ...
  A: It might work but he should have used a tarp instead. 1. The roofing felt is attached with staples ...
EPDM Rubber Roof Leak6/2/2008
  Q: We had a new roof put on our house in July, 2006 by a reputable company that does a lot of roofing ...
  A: It's probably that the nails were sticking up in old wood. They should have been removed and fresh ...
Roof deck, Step Flashing and Closed Cut valley6/2/2008
  Q: My questions: 1. The roof deck is made of wood in rows, 3/4 thick and 7" wide each with spacing in ...
  A: But did you have to move the nails so much that they are now nailed in the wrong place? It probably ...
Heat problem6/2/2008
  Q: I have a little cabin in wisconsin and in the front of the house I have a framed in porch with storm ...
  A: It took me a while to answer this one. I put it off on the side to re-read it. The writing was bad ...
EPDM Rubber Roof Leak6/2/2008
  Q: We had a new roof put on our house in July, 2006 by a reputable company that does a lot of roofing ...
  A: Why are there nails under the EPDM? If the holes are from nails or screws then it would be the ...
vent in valley5/31/2008
  Q: I have asked you a question regarding this problem before, and you were very helpful, but now I have ...
  A: The pipe has to be moved. If you leave it you can try roofing cement around it but that is a ...
roof5/31/2008
  Q: My late husband had it scraped & retarred & gravelled a few years ago.In the last 2 years dark ...
  A: I know they are there all the time but if you make them go away with paint under what conditions ...
Ice dams on low slope roof5/31/2008
  Q: Our roof does not have an attic. It's made of 2x12's on a 3 or 4-12 pitch (haven't checked) on edge ...
  A: Ice damming is a normal thing on a roof so trying to get rid of it can be futile. Ice damming occurs ...
roof powered fan w/ non powered vents5/30/2008
  Q: In responce to a previous question you answered.... I plan on adding 1-2 powered fans near the top ...
  A: I know about the other theories but the majority is not always right. Most roofers do a starter ...
Torch down roofing5/29/2008
  Q: How much heat from the torch is needed to insure a successful melt of the roof material at seams. I ...
  A: When both sides turn to liquid you can put the two together. Some should ooze out the seam. You are ...
installing flashing on a flat rubber roof5/27/2008
  Q: My contractor neglected to install flashing around the perimeter (and also around the vents and ...
  A: Aluminum pipe collars are for shingle roofs and not flat roofs. On rubber roofs you don't install ...
Torch-down rubber firestone5/27/2008
  Q: I have a firestone torchdown rubber roof (no glue) as I was on the roof occassionally when the ...
  A: If he stapled the base sheet you have two problems. First, you don't staple roofing (unless it's ...
Replace felt paper5/27/2008
  Q: My roof is about 2.5 years old. I recently had hail damage and the insurance company determined I ...
  A: You could leave the felt paper but it would take more work than it's worth to try to rip off the old ...
flat roof leaks quite oddly5/25/2008
  Q: I have a SFH which has a porch converted into a Florida room. There are two a/c ducts in the ...
  A: It can be coming in from anywhere. Water can travel sideways as it goes vertically. If you have ...
Torch-down rubber firestone5/25/2008
  Q: I have a firestone torchdown rubber roof (no glue) as I was on the roof occassionally when the ...
  A: Bubbles are from the roofing material not being attached to the deck. It depends how he applied the ...
Plywood bowing problem5/24/2008
  Q: I was up on my roof yesterday, blowing the pine needles off, and I noticed a spot where the shingles ...
  A: It sounds like you have a sheet of plywood that was not screwed or nailed down. The only way to fix ...
tar and gravel roofs5/24/2008
  Q: hey brad this is camron i live in the cold and wet state of idaho. I have a bunch of questions ...
  A: 15-20 degrees is not a low slope. It is a steep slope for a tar and gravel roof. Once you get to ...
cedar shingle hip5/23/2008
  Q: I built a gazebo and put cedar shingles on it. The eight "triangles" are done, except for the hip ...
  A: The hip shingles will be higher than the rest of the roof just as they would be on a shingle roof. ...
Rake-edge to Hip transition - Laminated Shingles5/22/2008
  Q: I’m planning on roofing with laminated shingles (BP – Mirage) on a 4:12 slope roof in Canada. I have ...
  A: I'm lost on some of your questions and can't picture it. You can start in the middle of a roof but ...
hip roof5/18/2008
  Q: I need to insulate a hip roof.Ihave been told that I have to remove the new shingles on my roof, ...
  A: Ventilation is nice to have but can be skipped. Your house won't fall down if you don't have ...
Modifying 'M' type trusses5/16/2008
  Q: I have a 1 storey house , its about 2 yr old they used 'M' type struss , i was wondering if the 45 ...
  A: I know you're not talking about removing the entire truss. I said that the only way to make room in ...
Modifying 'M' type trusses5/16/2008
  Q: I have a 1 storey house , its about 2 yr old they used 'M' type struss , i was wondering if the 45 ...
  A: Absolute not! Each piece of a truss was designed to take up a certain force at a certain angle. It ...
Brand Comparisons5/16/2008
  Q: Need to re-roof two story 15-yar old Ryan/Ryland built home, with fairly steep slopes, in ...
  A: Probably no one rates them because they're all pretty much the same. When shingles say they will ...
deck for entertaing on roof top5/15/2008
  Q: We have a flat roof in Tucson AZ. We would like to get better city views from our home by adding a ...
  A: You can't make a roof suitable for living on. Roofs are fragile and people damage them when they try ...
slightly sloped torch down roof repair5/15/2008
  Q: my contractor did a terrible job installing a torch-down rubber roof in Brooklyn NY. As he had one ...
  A: Tar is just a layman’s term for anything in roofing so based on that term I have no idea what he ...
sheathing5/14/2008
  Q: 35year old shake roof has had it. Is installed over what seems to be called 'skip sheathing'(1x4's ...
  A: Strips of wood are much weaker then sheets of wood. You would also have a lot of seams so nails ...
Porch roof repair5/8/2008
  Q: I have an open front porch. The roof doubles as the floor for the uncovered porch above. It has a ...
  A: Roofs are fragile and people that try to live on then inevitably destroy them. You need to put ...
low slope mid century modern5/8/2008
  Q: I plan to reroof my 1956 low slope 1 1/2 :12 (not visible side) 2:12 partial view from street. The ...
  A: You said your last roofer did shingles without even doing an ice shield. You can't do shingles under ...
Metal roofing on log home with no attic5/7/2008
  Q: We have a log home with cathedral ceilings (i.e. no attic) and wish to replace our shingled roof ...
  A: Insulation does not require any airspace. Airspace is used to try to get heat out by having heated ...
low slope mid century modern5/7/2008
  Q: I plan to reroof my 1956 low slope 1 1/2 :12 (not visible side) 2:12 partial view from street. The ...
  A: I went to ibroofs.com and all I got was a plain page that said "coming soon". I don't know if it is ...
LENGTH OF RIDGE VENT5/7/2008
  Q: I recently had my 21 year old roof stripped and reshingled (I live in New England). Everyone else in ...
  A: It seems like you did get shorted. In my area many roofers stop short of each end by about a foot ...
Low slope roof5/6/2008
  Q: I have received three estimates for my low-slope roof (approx 3/12). Two estimates called for ...
  A: Shingles can be installed in the normal way when above 4/12 slope. Between 2/12 up to 4/12 takes ...
Low slope5/4/2008
  Q: What is the minimum slope that you would apply Owens Corning Duration Series shingles to. Most of ...
  A: I can assure you that it WILL leak. Shingles can only go down to 2:12 slope and even then you need ...
low pitch roof5/3/2008
  Q: Brad, Are there products available to get a shingled look on a low pitch roof(below 2/12)? Is it ...
  A: The basic instructions for shingles are on every package of shingles. No package will say you can do ...
low pitch roof5/3/2008
  Q: Brad, Are there products available to get a shingled look on a low pitch roof(below 2/12)? Is it ...
  A: What would be the point of a "leak protection barrier" if you're only going to nail through it with ...
Roof Certification5/2/2008
  Q: I hired a roofing company to come out and fix a few leaky places in my roof, they told me it would ...
  A: If you knew that they repaired it 7 times for no extra charge then you can assume that number 8 ...
Reroofing5/1/2008
  Q: I have a house built in 1955 that has a 6 in 12 slope vaulted ceiling. The rafters are 2x6 on 24" ...
  A: If the ceiling is an open beam ceiling there is nothing you can do on the inside. If it is a closed ...
walk out roof4/30/2008
  Q: I have a walk out deck roof above the garage. The home is only 4 years old and this roof leaks. It ...
  A: I don't know what the paint/sand thing is but obviously it did not work out too well. Many times no ...
Shingle Re-roofing4/29/2008
  Q: I need to know how much to charge a friend to re-roof their ranch and gambrel style roof on their ...
  A: If I were doing it I'd probably charge about $15-20K. Less material would be less about less $2500. ...
sagging roof ridge4/28/2008
  Q: We had a home inspection performed on a brick Georgian built in 1927 (the inspection period ends ...
  A: What do you mean that the inspection period expires? How does an inspection expire? Someone does an ...
tear-off or re-shingle on hail damaged shingles4/27/2008
  Q: I am interested in learning how to determine whether or not a tear-off is necessary, or if shingling ...
  A: **Is a new roof required for hail damage? No **Is a tear-off required for hail damage? No **Is a ...
Shingle Re-roofing4/26/2008
  Q: I need to know how much to charge a friend to re-roof their ranch and gambrel style roof on their ...
  A: There are a hundred factors that go into pricing a roof. I charge double what other roofers charge ...
replacing a flat roof4/26/2008
  Q: My sun room’s a flat roof of 320 sq. ft. needs to be replaced. I have two quotes listed below. The ...
  A: Quote 1: Nailing down base sheet is not as good as a fully adhered base sheet. It can still blow ...
white/reflective elastomeric coatings4/25/2008
  Q: I have an older house with a flat roof. The roof was redone about ten years ago, in a black ...
  A: I don't know what you mean by "composite" material. Composite means made up of several items and ...
Replacing 30-Year Cedar Shake Roof4/25/2008
  Q: Am wondering about alternatives. Specifically, either the fake shake... or something else (metal?). ...
  A: Real cedar will change it look over time. It look great when done but will fade over time. It also ...
roof replacement4/25/2008
  Q: We need to replace both a shingle roof and flat rubber roof. Our home was built in 1929, and we ...
  A: Your only question is copper or aluminum????? The rest of everything you said is a mess. It sounds ...
Rubber Roof4/22/2008
  Q: Do you recommend putting a new rubber roof over top of a hot roof or ripping up the original and ...
  A: You can do the rubber roof on top of the old asphalt roof as long as the old roof is not too lumpy ...
Roof Leak4/22/2008
  Q: I have a two-story home located in Ohio(flat, high-wind prone area. The roof line is technically ...
  A: It took me a while to answer your question because there was so much to read. I kept putting it off ...
Venting an existing flat roof?4/21/2008
  Q: We are about to have a 25 year old flat roof replaced. Some have suggested that to reduce the ...
  A: No, do not vent it out. Your insulation barrier is on the roof trying to keep you warm in the ...
wind damage4/21/2008
  Q: we are working a storm in jackson ms. damages were caused by high winds from several tornados. many ...
  A: The asphalt strip probably won't reseal after all this time but all you have to do is put a dab of ...
shingle rating4/20/2008
  Q: How do I rate a shingle? Is there a rating? I only find a "years of life" rating. Is it by weight? ...
  A: They do not use weight anymore. The years would be the only thing people would care about. If a ...
re-roof with furring to ventilate4/17/2008
  Q: I have a 115 y.o victorian with a huge cathedral ceiling in 3rd. floor that was finished w/ ...
  A: I have been unable to find anything on the venting plywood but I have seen it in magazines. It is a ...
re-roof with furring to ventilate4/17/2008
  Q: I have a 115 y.o victorian with a huge cathedral ceiling in 3rd. floor that was finished w/ ...
  A: It should work but screw everything together instead of nailing it. They do make boards you can lay ...
Roof Inspections4/16/2008
  Q: I have a building in Arizona with part concrete tile (5/12 pitch) and part flat with a foam ...
  A: There is no checklist for roofs. Inspections depend on your situation. I have customers that pay me ...
Tar and gravel DIY?4/16/2008
  Q: I live in Central California where the summer temps get up to over 80 degrees and winter temps ...
  A: If it's alligatored badly it might just be time for a new roof. Silver Dollar is junk so don't ...
Multiple roof leaks/ridge vents4/16/2008
  Q: I had a new roof installed in Oct 07 from a subcontractor that was recommended by the builder I work ...
  A: If the leaks are from poor ventilation then why did he replace flashing? He's lying. Poor ...
Low pitched roof metal roof application and insulation4/13/2008
  Q: I have a low pitched (I believe 2:12 slope) rolled roof that is directly above a beautiful wood ...
  A: I don't know much about metal roofs. A 2/12 slope is a low slope and basically faces the sky so you ...
roof repair questions4/13/2008
  Q: I have a low slope area on a garage roof (just 2/12), it currently has ice guard, drip edge, and 30 ...
  A: Modified can be put down torch-down, glue-down, mop-down or the new peel and stick. I prefer ...
ridge vent and power vent together4/13/2008
  Q: I am re-roofing my 14 year old home... I have a ridge vent on it at present, 2 neighbors and a ...
  A: One might negate the other but it does not hurt. Negating one just leaves the other. It does not ...
roof repair questions4/12/2008
  Q: I have a low slope area on a garage roof (just 2/12), it currently has ice guard, drip edge, and 30 ...
  A: Shingles will leak if done on low slopes. Shingles cannot be installed below slopes of 2/12. And ...
Owens-Corning Duration asphalt roof shingle4/11/2008
  Q: Explain how a good bond is achieved in the "surenail" bonding area when the clear strip labeled ...
  A: They do not recommend removing the strip because the strip is not supposed to be a problem. It is ...
Unvented cathedral ceiling4/11/2008
  Q: I sure hope you can help us. Every roofer we have out seems to have a different idea on how to ...
  A: I guess you could get air flow under the metal roof. Condensation forms when you have moist air and ...
Owens-Corning Duration asphalt roof shingle4/10/2008
  Q: Explain how a good bond is achieved in the "surenail" bonding area when the clear strip labeled ...
  A: Oh, shingles! In normal shingles you have the glue strip at the nail line. When the shingles are ...
Unvented cathedral ceiling4/10/2008
  Q: I sure hope you can help us. Every roofer we have out seems to have a different idea on how to ...
  A: If you had a leak then you have a hole in the roof. The lack of ventilation did not cause the leak. ...
Torch down failure4/9/2008
  Q: The contract refers to it as "20 year modified Bitumen torch-down system/25 lb glass base sheet ...
  A: No manufacturer guarantees their roofing material for 20 years so you were had from the beginning. ...
Low slope-Patio Cover-Roofing options4/8/2008
  Q: I am planning a covered patio that, considering the distance out from the house (14 feet), will ...
  A: A minimum slope is 1/8" per foot so for 14 feet that's a drop of 1.75". For low slopes you need a ...
roof "radiant barrier"4/8/2008
  Q: One roofer I talked to recommended LP TechShield Radiant Barrier. It costs about $600 for my small ...
  A: Hear's a link to a website on Radiant heat and barriers from the US Dept of Energy. ...
ridge vent, stupid question4/6/2008
  Q: we have an aluminum ridge vent that seems to be leaking in several places. we've sealed the edge, ...
  A: Yes, all the holes should be open. I have not had experience in such things because I have not come ...
hot mopping vs. poly stick4/6/2008
  Q: would you please give me your professional opinion of the benefits or lack of... with both the use ...
  A: Tiles would go on a sloped roof. I don't see how you're going to hot mop on a slope. Everything will ...
ridge vent, stupid question4/5/2008
  Q: we have an aluminum ridge vent that seems to be leaking in several places. we've sealed the edge, ...
  A: The holes are to let the water drain out. If the vent is leaking then it is installed improperly. ...
Roofing Felt4/3/2008
  Q: Are there different specific uses for 15# and 30# felt? Is one better for low slope / flat roofs? ...
  A: 15# and 30 # paper was made for BUR (Built Up Roofs) with hot asphalt on flat roofs. It is not for ...
Dura Roof Tile4/2/2008
  Q: I work for a roofing contractor and recently a claim was submitted to the insurance company to ...
  A: Is the manufacturer still in business but just not making the tile or is the entire company out of ...
new roof, loosing shingles4/2/2008
  Q: This past October I had my roof redone. It was a shake roof with a layer of asphalt on top, all of ...
  A: I don't understand how you can put a shingle roof on a deck that is not fully there. With shakes, ...
ballasted vs non ballasted flat roof4/2/2008
  Q: I am getting bids on replacing a flat roof at my rental building, I have some proposals for going ...
  A: A ballasted system is cheaper and faster to do but if you ever have a problem it is impossible to ...
No tar paper under roof4/2/2008
  Q: We live in Southern Illinois, and our area has just been delared a disaster area because of the ...
  A: You need a new roof inspector and some new roofers bidding on the job. Lack of tar paper cannot ...
creaking roof/attic3/31/2008
  Q: I see that you have had this question before, however I must ask of clarification; Would adding roof ...
  A: Everything that breaks in the world worked the day before. You keep saying the roof was done 6 years ...
creaking roof/attic3/31/2008
  Q: I see that you have had this question before, however I must ask of clarification; Would adding roof ...
  A: Creaking is from things moving that are not attached securely such as two pieces of wood that were ...
rolled roofing for small homemade shed3/30/2008
  Q: Mr Z. I made a little clubhouse for my daughter in our backyard- nothing great- But it turned out ...
  A: You must have a completely sealed roof on a low slope. The only thing a homeowner can do is buy ...
reroof3/29/2008
  Q: I have a low slope roof with Brai modified bitumen. Part of this was torched on wood and part hot ...
  A: If they had a coating that held up as well as a roof then no one would ever do a roof - you'd just ...
Dormer repair swindle3/29/2008
  Q: I have just had a roofing contractor do repair work on 3 dormers. The original estimate for the ...
  A: A verbal contract is perfectly legal. It is just harder to prove. But it's also harder for him to ...
rolled roofing for small homemade shed3/29/2008
  Q: Mr Z. I made a little clubhouse for my daughter in our backyard- nothing great- But it turned out ...
  A: I don't know what your slope is but you said it was "very slight". You can't put shingles on low ...
roofing ventilation3/28/2008
  Q: I am getting ready to have a 30 year GAF Timberline roof installed. Included in this installation ...
  A: You could use electricity to force more air through the attic then would otherwise go. You can put ...
water protection during construction3/28/2008
  Q: I am in the process of completely reroofing my house, from the joists up, and it is taking me much ...
  A: Tar paper will buckle after being wet so if you go that route rip it all off and do fresh paper ...
Roof Materials decision3/26/2008
  Q: We are a Condominium consisting of 8 buildings total, all ranging in various sizes. I am a board ...
  A: I never heard of HydroStop but I guess it means "WaterStop". Named products can be very localized so ...
Shingle roof slopes3/24/2008
  Q: I am considering raising the roof over a storage room above my garage. The simplest roof framing ...
  A: For that slope use Ice and Water Shield material on the entire roof without any tar paper. Special ...
Low sloped roof3/23/2008
  Q: I have a low sloped roof, just over 3/12. I was going to use 3tab shingles with a 4inch exposure and ...
  A: A 3/12 slope is low for shingles. You must use Ice and Water Shield on the entire roof instead of ...
COLD ROOF OVER EXISTING ROOF3/21/2008
  Q: I AM LOOKING AT ADDING A COLD ROOF OVER THE TOP OF AN EXISTING ROOF. I LIVE IN WYOMING AND AM ALSO ...
  A: You don't have to rip off shingles before adding more but the lumber you're adding might be the big ...
Screen Porch Roof3/21/2008
  Q: We are having a screen porch built on the back of our home. The roof is a gable roof with standard ...
  A: If anything the insulation would cut down on moisture that could be caused by air leaking from the ...
Install rubber roofing3/20/2008
  Q: Brad -- I'm a remodeling contractor and I'm building a screened-in porch with a low slope (<1/12). ...
  A: I don't even know what kind of roof you're thinking about. For a low slope I'd use a modified roof. ...
Told that direction of valley installation was incorrect on second-layer of shingles--REALLY?3/20/2008
  Q: We are selling our home, and from the buyers' inspection we were told that the shingles in the ...
  A: Having experience for 4 years and doing 3 other roofs does not make a roofer. Many roofers do this ...
Flat roof over porch3/19/2008
  Q: Do you know of some online resources regarding how to design a flat roof (low angle) that drains ...
  A: Oh, I thought you were "designing" starting with the lumber. You can't slope with layers of roofing ...
Finishing a Shed type roof3/18/2008
  Q: A lady ask you How to finish a Shed style roof. You told her to use a ridge cap. Is a ridge cap like ...
  A: If it's a single angled shed type roof then how can you have two angles - high on one side and low ...
venting a flat roof3/18/2008
  Q: I am insulating a room with a flat roof from the inside. I will have about 4" of space between the ...
  A: You could try to put one vent in the center of the top of the roof and then cut notches underneath ...
Adding ventilation to a low slope roof3/18/2008
  Q: I have a 2/12 sloped roof with tar and gravel, and it has no exhaust ventilation. Is it a difficult ...
  A: It sounds like a stretch to make it work. Venting will do nothing if you just add a vent to the ...
Building patio cover off of shingled roof3/18/2008
  Q: I had a similar question to Tommy from: ...
  A: I would rip up the shingles and wood and get the new rafters nailed right to the house rafters but ...
Flashing a flat roof3/17/2008
  Q: What is the best way to flash a flat roof to the side of a house. We just purchased a small two ...
  A: For EPDM they usually use "termination bar" that is anchored into the wall and then they caulk the ...
Flat roof over porch3/16/2008
  Q: Do you know of some online resources regarding how to design a flat roof (low angle) that drains ...
  A: I don't think anyone would write about it in a book as it would be a simple task for anyone that is ...
Dirt Roofs3/16/2008
  Q: I am building a 10' x 8' small DIRT ROOF cabin on a hillside in the mountains of the NW for a ...
  A: I have no idea what LVLs are or hurricane clips are. I can't see how coating plywood would ...
Low sloped porch roof and ventilation3/15/2008
  Q: Brad-I have a wrap around front porch with a 2 to 3/12 sloped,shingled roof with 8 skylights and a ...
  A: Below 2/12 slopes you can't even use shingles or they'll leak. Between 2/12 and 4/12 you can use ...
Reshingling a roof3/13/2008
  Q: I live in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. WE get a fair amount of now and freezing rain. I currently have ...
  A: If you put tar paper on one spot on the roof it must be there for a purpose (such as protecting the ...
condensation3/13/2008
  Q: My sister-in-law had her 60 year old house re-roofed last fall. There was no ventilation, so the ...
  A: Yes it can be condensation but condensation happens at other times other than rains and snows. If ...
Composition roof3/12/2008
  Q: I'm building a new house near Leander, TX (north of Austin). I noticed the tar paper did not come ...
  A: Building codes are different for each agency. It might be township, county, state or none. There is ...
unvented soffits with hot roof design?3/12/2008
  Q: We recently bought a 100 year old house that was mid-renovation. The previous owner had turned the ...
  A: You said, " but the roofer must have allowed for that???" Yeah, and I have a bridge to sell you too. ...
Rolled Roof - Repair, Replace, or Redesign?3/10/2008
  Q: We're looking at buying a 3,000 sq ft L-shaped unit that is 1/2 owner-operator residence, 1/2 ...
  A: I never heard of a rolled metal roof so I don't know what that is. Metal roofs are more for ...
unvented soffits with hot roof design?3/10/2008
  Q: We recently bought a 100 year old house that was mid-renovation. The previous owner had turned the ...
  A: You said, "We were concerned that our roof didn't have any ventilation, but he insisted that it was ...
composition shingles3/10/2008
  Q: New construction roof: Elk 40yr. still being installed and there numerous areas where the edges ...
  A: When you say "edges" do you mean the edges of the shingles or the edge of the roof? The edges of the ...
Roofing a low sloped roof3/9/2008
  Q: I recently purchased a house that had a new roof installed approximately 4 months before I moved in. ...
  A: It is not that shingles are not "common" on such slopes. They are NEVER used on such slopes or they ...
roofing / tar paper3/9/2008
  Q: Brad We're building a new house and our contractor put the roof up approximately 3-4 weeks ago and ...
  A: Tar paper curls once it is wet and can leave lumps under the finished roof. Rip it all off and start ...
roof buckling & wood creaking noises3/8/2008
  Q: Have a year plus 5 months old roof installation - Elk reflective tile ($14,000 for 1600 sq ft liv. ...
  A: If the plywood is set up against each other the wood will buckle. You can usually tell from ...
ice down condensation on asphalt shingles3/7/2008
  Q: We live in sw Missouri in the past month we have had two ice storms that occurred two weeks from ...
  A: "owens corning asphalt shingle company said that much saturation and slow ice down melting and 70 ...
Roof and ceiling edge leaks3/7/2008
  Q: This summer, we had the roof on the addition to our colonial house (1970s) replaced. It was replaced ...
  A: All your symptoms could be from walls and ceiling moving due to settling of the house. It is ...
Low Slope front porch roof3/7/2008
  Q: I have a rather old house. My front porch has almost no slope and currently has shingles on it. ...
  A: Yes, you can't put shingles on low slopes or they will leak. Low slopes tend to face the sky and are ...
ridge vents3/7/2008
  Q: I just read your answer on winter venting with a ridge vent and I'm complelled to respond. Just had ...
  A: Venting does two things. It vents the heat out in the summer so it is not as hot in the attic and so ...
new roof on old adobe3/7/2008
  Q: I have an old adobe house built in 1946 that currently has a hip roof with 4/12 and 5/12 pitches. ...
  A: Whether the roof (or walls) can take the extra load all depends on what's in those walls. Someone ...
ice down condensation on asphalt shingles3/6/2008
  Q: We live in sw Missouri in the past month we have had two ice storms that occurred two weeks from ...
  A: What you wrote is difficult to read. But after struggling with it I figure you're asking if ice can ...
Roof Install/Ventilation3/6/2008
  Q: I am in the process of receiving quotes for a new roof. My current situation is that I have gable ...
  A: There is no right answer as it depends on how much of each system you have. I don't the power of the ...
tar paper3/6/2008
  Q: my house is heated by hot water heating system,, a pipe busted and the whole house was steamed ...
  A: Steam is hotter than 212. 212 is the lowest temperature steam can exist at sea level. But as soon as ...
Roof Install/Ventilation3/5/2008
  Q: I am in the process of receiving quotes for a new roof. My current situation is that I have gable ...
  A: It is true that a ridge vent should not be used without a soffit vent. BUT adding any and all vents ...
warped roof3/5/2008
  Q: Perhaps you can help direct me. My house is 37 years old and thereis a warp in the roof over an area ...
  A: There's no way of knowing if the movement or bending has stopped or you're looking at a mid-stage ...
ROLLED ROOFING3/5/2008
  Q: We live in hot AZ with a low slope dining room addition. Currently has shingles. We are re-roofing ...
  A: It depends what you mean by "low" slope. Low slopes cannot have shingles on them or they will leak. ...
Flat Roof Scraper3/5/2008
  Q: We are installing several Solatube Daylighting Systems on an existing flat/tar & gravel roof. We ...
  A: To scrape slag (gravel) we use a roof scraper you can get at a roofing supply. Slag roofs are form ...
estimates3/4/2008
  Q: This is the first time I will be pricing and roofing a home. My house is an older house and the ...
  A: Code says you can only go up to two roofs so if you already have two roofs then you must strip it ...
facia board3/4/2008
  Q: Morning, I live in Florida and was wondering the best wood for facia boards (Spruce or Pine?) and ...
  A: I don't know that much about types of wood as I do roofing but if I needed a piece of wood for ...
Hurricane resistance with 3 tab vs dimensional shingles3/3/2008
  Q: Hurricane resistance with 3 tab (flat) vs dimensional shingles I thought I asked my contractor to ...
  A: If something is lifted by wind the wind does not have to get "under" it. When wind passes over an ...
new roof3/2/2008
  Q: Am I required to get a building permit to put a new roof on my home?
  A: Every town is different. Some towns don't even do licensing for contractors and others do. In my ...
can I shovel snow from an asphalt flat roof?3/1/2008
  Q: My Wife owns a bar and her building is extremely old with a flat (very slight slope to one end) wore ...
  A: Technically, the material will be more fragile in winter than summer but it's not so fragile that ...
Felt paper under asphalt shingles2/29/2008
  Q: Our roofing contractor recently installed felt paper vertically (perpendicular to the eave)on a 6/12 ...
  A: There is no such thing as running it another direction because of winds. The winds should never make ...
3 12 pitch cathedral ceiling throughout2/28/2008
  Q: Bras, I Have a hot roof. I live in upstate NY. My home is a ranch, with cathedral ceilings running ...
  A: 3/12 slope is kinda low for shingles. In those slopes you must put Ice and Water Shield under the ...
Roof Jack Options for Plumbing Vent Pipe2/27/2008
  Q: I'm looking for advice on what type of roof jack to use for a new penetration in my roof. The ...
  A: I'm lost. You keep asking about roof jacks but then you talk about collars. A roof jack is a bracket ...
low slope roof to replace2/26/2008
  Q: I need to hear from an expert on what I can and should replace my 'old' roof and soon to be addition ...
  A: You wouldn't rebuild the slope with trusses. You would just do the correct type of roof for the ...
3 12 pitch cathedral ceiling throughout2/26/2008
  Q: Bras, I Have a hot roof. I live in upstate NY. My home is a ranch, with cathedral ceilings running ...
  A: Ice dams are something that occurs on roofs and should not be a problem unless you have a problem ...
Attic Condensation2/26/2008
  Q: My house 1950's built with a simple gable roof with 700sqft attic. Recently I had heavy condensation ...
  A: The attic should be the same temperature as the outside. Since you have vents all over it is open to ...
Flat Roof Repair Question2/26/2008
  Q: Brad, I have a question on a roof repair that was done on 12/20/07 to my flat roof on an addition ...
  A: I've heard one or two people mention this before but it is rare. I've never smelled anything after ...
Attic Condensation2/23/2008
  Q: My house 1950's built with a simple gable roof with 700sqft attic. Recently I had heavy condensation ...
  A: Put the humidity gauge in the attic and see if the humidity is really high there. Keep in mind that ...
Attic Condensation2/23/2008
  Q: My house 1950's built with a simple gable roof with 700sqft attic. Recently I had heavy condensation ...
  A: You have too much humidity in the house. The humid air is escaping into the attic and hitting the ...
interio drywall leak due to roof?2/23/2008
  Q: I have some wetness showing through the interior drywall of the exterior wall in the master bedroom. ...
  A: I don't see how you can rule anything out. Just because one pipe doesn't leak doesn't mean the other ...
Bitumen roof vs shingles2/22/2008
  Q: I had a bitumen roof installed recently on my roof with a slight slope. The roofer initially quoted ...
  A: Oh, "drywall" as in one word which is a nickname for sheetrock. If the roof was put down with a ...
Bitumen roof vs shingles2/22/2008
  Q: I had a bitumen roof installed recently on my roof with a slight slope. The roofer initially quoted ...
  A: You said they were going to do plywood and sheathing. Sheathing is plywood. I don't know what a dry ...
New Roof2/22/2008
  Q: Hey Brad. I am a new home owner. Recently I decided to put an addition on my home. It is 20' x 23' ...
  A: The rate a roofer makes working for a roofing company and a rate that a roofer makes for himself is ...
vent pipe in middle of valley2/22/2008
  Q: I have a serious problem. I plan to re-shingle my roof this summer. Since I have former experience ...
  A: Having a pipe in the middle of the valley is a disaster waiting to happen. There is nothing you can ...
Roof Ventilation2/21/2008
  Q: I need a new roof. Currently I have one motor powered vent fan that's it. I received two estimates ...
  A: The more vents the better. It's like airing out your house. You just open all the windows. The more ...
Copper sheet2/19/2008
  Q: 1. How do I know how much of copper sheet I will need with a chimney's measurement with 59" long x ...
  A: Just add the area of each side of the chimney you want to do. I don't know how high you need to go ...
Flat to low slope connection leaks2/18/2008
  Q: I have had my low slope roof shingled in the summer with a flat roof ajoined to it and during the ...
  A: 1.75/12 is too low a slope for shingles. That's why it's leaking. It should never have been shingled ...
Flat to low slope connection leaks2/17/2008
  Q: I have had my low slope roof shingled in the summer with a flat roof ajoined to it and during the ...
  A: The plastic strip does not get removed. The key may be that you said it was a low slope roof. You ...
GAF System2/17/2008
  Q: We are re-roofing our home and have decided on the GAF Timberline 30-year shingle. To our ...
  A: There's a lot to read under the 3 different warranties. I do not see anything mentioned about ...
GAF System2/17/2008
  Q: We are re-roofing our home and have decided on the GAF Timberline 30-year shingle. To our ...
  A: A 30 year shingle has a 30 year warranty...prorated. Where did you get the 15 or 5 from? Any roof ...
water leaking through light fixture2/17/2008
  Q: about 5 am, i went downstairs and one side of my counter and the floor was completely soaked with ...
  A: You never asked about the light fixture. Your only question was if the melting snow can be the cause ...
Copper Flashing @ Chimney2/16/2008
  Q: I prefer to use copper flashing around the chimney. I couldn't find more details in any roofing ...
  A: You couldn't find more details because you don't seal anything on a roof with caulking or any kind ...
exposed butt seams2/15/2008
  Q: I have had a new shingle roof installed about 18 months ago, and when I was up on it this winter, I ...
  A: I guess you have dimensional shingles where one lays up against the other. If you covered the joints ...
Ice damming and roofing leaks2/15/2008
  Q: I recently read an informative reply to someones question regarding ice damming and roof leaks from ...
  A: "If a home passes the necessary inspections, apparently the builder has met the requirement." NOT ...
Roof Replacement2/13/2008
  Q: Brad; I chose a local roofing contractor from 3 bids they were neither the most expensive nor the ...
  A: Finding more work after a job is started is a common scam so make sure this is for real. Were they ...
Thin Tile Roofing Materials OK for Hail areas?2/12/2008
  Q: HOA does not allow asphalt shingles as a replacement for wood shingles/ shakes which are now not ...
  A: I have no idea what HOA is. Metal roofing would dent from hail. What are "thin tiles"? There is a ...
Shingles2/8/2008
  Q: Brad, I have received several estimates for replacing my roof and have finally decided on a ...
  A: Architectural shingles cost only slightly more to buy than 3-tab shingles. The roofer is not ...
lean-to roof2/8/2008
  Q: I'm currently adding an addition to my kitchen that is covered by a lean-to roof with about 2.5/12 ...
  A: Wouldn't that be a "lean-away from" roof? If I was going to give it a name it would have to be that ...
Garage Roof2/7/2008
  Q: We are in the process of designing a 20 x 20 stand alone garage. We are designing the plans with the ...
  A: Torch-down modified comes smooth black or with granules in colors. The smooth can be aluminum coated ...
Roofing ventilation2/6/2008
  Q: I e-mailed you earlier. I have still another opinion that appears to make sense however I'll see if ...
  A: For any ventilation system to work you must have soffit vents. Having just vents at the top of the ...
bad roofing job2/6/2008
  Q: Okay here we go my situation is this. I bought a home from Ball Homes of KY which was my first ...
  A: You can't put roof paper on the wrong way. You can nail the shingles in the wrong places. They do ...
Roofing2/6/2008
  Q: I live in Delaware. I need a new roof and keep getting conflicting proposals. With regards to ...
  A: Nails usually pop up because they were not properly put in. I see no reason that loose nails can't ...
tar paper floor?2/4/2008
  Q: We have a 7'x 5' "airing porch" (for lack of a better term) on our second floor that stands directly ...
  A: A good roof would be a modified roof but roofing material is not made to live on. When you do that ...
Flat Roof2/3/2008
  Q: I am building a house at the North Carolina coast.This is a Charleston style neighborhood. I have 3 ...
  A: You can do 2 things. One is to let the water go through the deck and catch it underneath and the ...
Newbie homeowner, 8 yr old home2/2/2008
  Q: I'm the original owner of an 8 yr old home and this is my first home ever bought. Never had a roof ...
  A: Vent pipes do not get caulked so that already means he does not know how to do a roof. When you do a ...
low slope roofing2/1/2008
  Q: I have a 12/3 slope roof without any valleys. Currently it is covered with rolled roofing, but it ...
  A: A 12:3 slope is quite steep so I will assume you mean 3:12. Shingles cannot be installed below ...
re-roofing parapet roof2/1/2008
  Q: I found your answers that you gave to the other person very helpful..I am hoping you can help me as ...
  A: The roofer’s first problem is that he did not do the walls when he originally said he would. It’s ...
Ridge Vent1/31/2008
  Q: It appears as though snow is coming into the ridge vent in my attic. I am not certain if it is the ...
  A: If you saw no light and there was no air gap then there would be no point in having a vent. The word ...
low slope roof1/31/2008
  Q: We need a new roof as the one which is on now is shingles that someone put on OVER tar and gravel ...
  A: 2:12 slope is the absolute minimum for shingles and even then it requires special procedures until ...
Roofing - warranty?1/30/2008
  Q: We purchased our home in February 2006. The previous owners had a new roof (shingles) put on in May ...
  A: The original roof came with a guarantee. What is that guarantee? Did you get that guarantee when you ...
Tar paper1/30/2008
  Q: Our neighbor is getting a new roof, and as the old shingles are coming off, we are not seeing any ...
  A: The tar paper acts as a moisture barrier since shingles are not sealed air tight. There are some ...
wind damage to shingle roof1/30/2008
  Q: We had 50 mile an hour winds last night. Several shingles blow off our roof. Also you could hear the ...
  A: If you replace the ones that blew off what about the ones that are flapping around? They're just ...
Minimum temperature to lay shingles1/29/2008
  Q: We have a fairly new home (4 years olds - built in 2003) - 2 storey in which we have now discovered ...
  A: If you have leaks in doors, windows and walls are you sure the leak is coming from the roof? -3 to ...
Ridge vent Low Slope Roof1/28/2008
  Q: Brad, I have a condensation issue with my Dormer, it is a low slope roof which mates up with a ...
  A: I'm not sure what you're trying to do. I don't see how you can have a ridge vent where a low slope ...
low-slope roof and leaky ridge vent1/28/2008
  Q: We bought a home last summer built in 1957 with a low-slope (approx. 2:12) roof. The roof was ...
  A: 2:12 roof is the absolute minimum slope you can do shingles on and even then it's tricky until you ...
Cathedral ceiling ventilation1/28/2008
  Q: I have a cathedral ceiling in one room only, a 3 year old additon. One side of the catheral ceiling ...
  A: Ventilation is a good idea but is not some cure-all for problems. Condensation can also be a problem ...
Cobra Vent issue1/28/2008
  Q: About 4 years ago my shingles were pulled off by a tornado/shear winds. The roof was completely ...
  A: Ice damming is a normal thing for roofs so you really don't have any problem. If you don't have ice ...
water damage1/27/2008
  Q: having trouble with water damage. new roof 2003. room under flat roof water damage to wall and ...
  A: if you have leaks in walls then you have to have leaks in attic. leaks can't get to walls without ...
Moisture in Attic1/26/2008
  Q: I have recently had a new roof put on. I have noticed frost in the attic on the plywood and on the ...
  A: A heater with a humidifier puts out hot and humid air. By the time it is disperses in a room it ...
Moisture in Attic1/26/2008
  Q: I have recently had a new roof put on. I have noticed frost in the attic on the plywood and on the ...
  A: Your humidity is too high in the house. What is the humidity there? It should not be higher than 50. ...
concrete roof design1/25/2008
  Q: I have contracted the construction of a block retaining wall and integrated building, using the ...
  A: No contractor would have a good grasp of it. Your asking contractors about engineering. There are ...
semi-flat sunroom roof1/23/2008
  Q: I had a sunroom added on to my home about 3 years ago, the contractor had to "re-do" the roof due to ...
  A: A modified roof is what most people call a "rubber" roof. Modified (rubber) and tar roofs go on flat ...
Roof(flat) is leaking. All work is under warranty, but contractors make excuses.1/23/2008
  Q: I have both a flat roof and a mansard roof which are under warranty. The roof is now leaking within ...
  A: If the leak is at the joint between the two roofs then I'd say it is probably the fault of the last ...
Roof replacement shake versus shingle1/22/2008
  Q: I am a board member and we are in the process of replacing a roof on a >100 year old farm house. The ...
  A: No building is (or at least shouldn't be) built so that a few more pounds causes it to collapse. If ...
semi-flat sunroom roof1/22/2008
  Q: I had a sunroom added on to my home about 3 years ago, the contractor had to "re-do" the roof due to ...
  A: A combination. There is usually no need to rip off the old roof unless it is lumpy or water logged. ...
Cathedral ceiling insulation / venting / roofing1/22/2008
  Q: Due to recent storm damage, I need to replace my current roof. Note: I live in the northern San ...
  A: Just add some insulation on top of the old insulation but leave space to air out under the roof. You ...
roof repair1/21/2008
  Q: We have a flat/low slope roof over our patio. Some of the fascia boards are rotting and falling out. ...
  A: You can carefully inspect the wood from above. Anything weak or rotted would need to be replaced. If ...
Installation environment for torch on roofing1/18/2008
  Q: Our 30-year tar & gravel roof is leaking due to the melting of snow in Calgary, Canada. Both ...
  A: The asphalt is torched to 500F degrees so whether it's 70 out or 10 out does not make too much of a ...
Modified Mansard Roof1/18/2008
  Q: I have a modified Mansard roof--flat top and sloping sides. I've had both built-up roofing (tar and ...
  A: You could reslope the top but it sounds like you have bad roofers working on your house. Coatings do ...
roofing1/18/2008
  Q: Brad, I would like to thank you in advance for your forthcoming response. I have added a room and ...
  A: You must remove the shingles where the valley will go, place the valley in and then shingle back ...
Roofing Materials...Certain Teed VS. Elk1/17/2008
  Q: Brad, Thank you for taking the time to answer this question. I live in Houston and I will be ...
  A: Certainteed has been around longer but both are good. As far as resisting staining, shingles can get ...
Chimney Flashing Continues1/16/2008
  Q: I still like to ask you couple more questions. I've decided to go with copper instead of stainless ...
  A: I've never actually worked with copper so I don't know the thicknesses but any thickness should be ...
low slop roof replacement1/16/2008
  Q: I just purchased a contemporary style home in Mobile, AL The roof is a simple design, only a top ...
  A: You can't put shingles on such a low slope or they'll leak. That's your first problem. You have the ...
"Algae-Relief" Shingles1/15/2008
  Q: We will be roofing shortly with asphalt shingles, replacing the existing cedar shake, and live in ...
  A: All manufacturers now make an algae resistant shingle. Algae has become a big problem that leaves ...
roll roofing over existing roll roofing1/15/2008
  Q: before hot mopping roll roofing over aluminum paint what shoul i do.
  A: If it's an asphalt based aluminum coating then you don't have to do anything. If it's just some ...
Chimney Flashing1/14/2008
  Q: The chimney I'm dealing with isn't a typical chimney with its front base on a flat surface. The ...
  A: "Maxed out" probably means my limit for the day. I have it set to a max of 5 questions a day. Brad
Chimney Flashing1/13/2008
  Q: The chimney I'm dealing with isn't a typical chimney with its front base on a flat surface. The ...
  A: If someone make "piece" that implies you have more than on piece. If you put two pieces together ...
Chimney Flashing1/12/2008
  Q: The chimney I'm dealing with isn't a typical chimney with its front base on a flat surface. The ...
  A: Chimneys in the middle of valleys are horror stories to work with. They are very difficult to do. On ...
replacing cedar shakes on a mansard roof1/11/2008
  Q: I'm thinking of replacing and adding cedar shakes to an older mansard roof. How are they nailed so ...
  A: I never worked on a shake roof but it would probably be the same as slate. You don't want to nail on ...
Defective 3 tab shingle1/10/2008
  Q: Brad, I purchased a new back in 2000, which I had the contractor upgrade the roof from a standard 3 ...
  A: Premature failure is rare and I don't know of any widespread issues. Some manufacturers are putting ...
Roof just blew off1/9/2008
  Q: We had our roof "re-roofed" with 30 year architectural shingles. They put another layer on top of ...
  A: How can you lose EVERY shingle? I’ve seen pictures of areas hit by hurricanes and they still have ...
Determining how to proceed with Roofing Proposals1/9/2008
  Q: To make a long story short...Just moved into a house 2 weeks ago and I need roof repairs. I have ...
  A: You said they are taking up the tile ONLY to replace the underlayment and then IF they see broken ...
Determining how to proceed with Roofing Proposals1/8/2008
  Q: To make a long story short...Just moved into a house 2 weeks ago and I need roof repairs. I have ...
  A: Are they taking up the tiles just to replace the underlayment or are they taking up the tile to redo ...
ridge vents for attic ventilation1/7/2008
  Q: I recently had a continuous ridge vent installed and now read that I need soffit vents instead of ...
  A: The idea is that cool air enters the bottom of the roof, heats up as it rises and goes out the top ...
Determining how to proceed with Roofing Proposals1/7/2008
  Q: To make a long story short...Just moved into a house 2 weeks ago and I need roof repairs. I have ...
  A: The felt does not stop leaks. If it did you wouldn't need the tiles. You'd just do the roof in felt. ...
attic ventilation1/7/2008
  Q: Is there a formula that can be used to determine the ventilation requirements (both inflow and ...
  A: I guess technically if you put screening over a vent it will reduce air flow so you can just add ...
low slope roofing and heavy snow accumulation1/5/2008
  Q: We have a gable-roofed cape with high quality shingles and venting, and heavy snow accumulation (up ...
  A: The reason you can't put shingles on there has nothing to do with thermal expansion. Shingles cannot ...
leaky roof1/5/2008
  Q: We purchased our log home 2 years ago. The home is approximately 10 years old. We have very high ...
  A: What is the slope of your roof? Lower slopes are more prone to leaks and need special procedures ...
flat roof leaking1/2/2008
  Q: I have been having a lot of problems with my flat roof leaking. I have the rolled roofing that is ...
  A: There is nothing you can spread on the roof. If there was a magic coating that prevented leaks then ...
condensation on roof1/2/2008
  Q: I had a complete new roof installed, sheathing and all, about 2 months ago. I am now getting ...
  A: You probably had too much humidity in the house and it is making its way to the attic. It probably ...
condensation on roof1/2/2008
  Q: I had a complete new roof installed, sheathing and all, about 2 months ago. I am now getting ...
  A: If you never had condensation before then what has changed? You said it might not be properly ...
condensation on roof1/1/2008
  Q: I had a complete new roof installed, sheathing and all, about 2 months ago. I am now getting ...
  A: When you say condensation "ON" roof that means outside but many night produce dew or fog which is ...
Watermark on the ceiling12/29/2007
  Q: It is raining season on the west coast. My roof was/is leaking. So I got some watermark on the ...
  A: You should pull out wet insulation and replace it. The rest will dry out. Re-roofing can be done any ...
Which valley method is the best to prevent leaks?12/24/2007
  Q: I have 4/12 slope. Which valley method is better, Open Valley or Closed Valley? Open valley has ...
  A: Don't use any felt. Cover the entire deck with Ice and Water Shield. The problem with using two ...
venting a porch roof12/24/2007
  Q: is it necessary to use soffit vents and a ridge vent -- or any venting at all--on the roof of an ...
  A: The theory with venting is that humid air can get trapped in the closed spaces during the day and ...
Which valley method is the best to prevent leaks?12/23/2007
  Q: I have 4/12 slope. Which valley method is better, Open Valley or Closed Valley? Open valley has ...
  A: Closed valleys would be more waterproof. All 3 types of valleys (1 open and 2 closed) are ...
Leaking in Inaccessible attic space12/20/2007
  Q: We purchased a 30-yr-old home with a new roof (installed week before we bought). About a year later, ...
  A: You have to get on the roof above that area to find the leak. You have holes where water is coming ...
7/16" sheathing, bad?12/18/2007
  Q: My contractor was told to use 1/2" osb sheathing on a roof with the rafters @ 24" o.c. The roof has ...
  A: Even 1/2" board is a little thin for 24" centers. I would have used 5/8 but most roofers would use ...
Attic Ventalation12/17/2007
  Q: I presently live in a 100 year old home with a steep pitch roof. The roof was redone 7 years ago ...
  A: You probably only feel the air movement if you stand between the gable vent and the ridge vent as ...
How to use my heat cable system12/17/2007
  Q: I have self-regulating heating cables (1,000 linear ft. of Raychem Wintergard.) Operation of the ...
  A: If there's no snow on your roof and it hasn't snowed in a week and it won't snow soon then leaving ...
How to use my heat cable system12/16/2007
  Q: I have self-regulating heating cables (1,000 linear ft. of Raychem Wintergard.) Operation of the ...
  A: I would turn them on when you want to melt snow or ice. I would turn them on as soon as it starts ...
Roof Ice Damning12/16/2007
  Q: I live in Wisconsin and we had a ice storm and 12" of snow over the last three weeks. Now I have ...
  A: Ice Shield is good but not perfect but if you have multiple leaks then something's wrong. Do you ...
roof stand pipe seals leaking12/14/2007
  Q: We have gable roof with shingles. There are 4 plumbing pcv vent pipes. These are enclosed in metal ...
  A: Yes there's a better way. Find a more reasonable roofer. I don't know what the metal brackets are ...
Rafter Tails, and/or maybe eave-rolling?12/13/2007
  Q: Here's a snapshot of our roof detail: http://www.mechworksdesign.com/house.htm The framing ...
  A: First, you're asking a roofer about carpentry but I'll give it a try. The blueprint just shows a ...
Re-roofing of flat roof12/12/2007
  Q: My townhome in Houston is connected to my neighbors with firewall on both sides. I have a flat roof ...
  A: I have no good reasons against TPO. I came across it once and it was hard and cracked when I bent ...
Roofing dispute12/11/2007
  Q: Last spring I had the hail-damaged roof on my home replaced with standard three tab shingles. The ...
  A: You can place blame all over the place for this one. Obviously the house was not built right before ...
Felt Paper/tar paper12/11/2007
  Q: Short story...I have a 3 year old home in O'Fallon, MO that has started leaking in 3 bedrooms after ...
  A: I would imagine that underlayment would be a requirement by manufacturers. The instructions are on ...
flat roof question12/10/2007
  Q: I recently came across a flat roof that appeared to be made up of fairly thin (30 lb) fiberglass ...
  A: A home inspector's job is to tell you what you have. He can also state if something is not to his ...
Cost of 30 year roof versus 50 year versus cedar shingles12/10/2007
  Q: We had a roof replaced from cedar shakes to a 50 year architectural roof. The quote came in so high. ...
  A: There's no way of telling without seeing it. Give me a plain roof at $10,000 and I can get there ...
Organic shingles12/10/2007
  Q: Is it possible to repair a roof that has a 10 year old organic shingle? Are organic shingles still ...
  A: I think there are a few companies that still make asphalt shingles but I wouldn't be surprised if no ...
flat roof12/9/2007
  Q: i have a 20,000 sqft flat asphalt build up that is at its life cycle, i want to use tpo or white ...
  A: If you have something that does not drain well and you add 1/2 inch or 1 mile it still has the same ...
life span of felt paper12/9/2007
  Q: I have a concrete tile roof. I don't know what kind of paper was used for underlayment. What is the ...
  A: You hope that they used an underlayment that will last the life of the roof because once it's on ...
flat roof question12/7/2007
  Q: I recently came across a flat roof that appeared to be made up of fairly thin (30 lb) fiberglass ...
  A: I have seen many odd things and I usually just figure we have beginners or "handymen" trying to do ...
design flaw? in roof12/6/2007
  Q: We have a 20+ year old south facing back split detached house with the front being brick and the ...
  A: You said the area has been "properly sealed"...but apparently not. You said they used "sealer". ...
Re-roofing of flat roof12/5/2007
  Q: My townhome in Houston is connected to my neighbors with firewall on both sides. I have a flat roof ...
  A: The "coatings in a can" will not do much so throw them out. The TPO is a newer thing but I'm not ...
roof drainage12/5/2007
  Q: we just had our roof re-roofed, they finished the day before Thanksgiving. My problem is, we ...
  A: If gutters were a bad thing then who would buy them. The idea of gutters is to take the water from ...
COLOR OF ROOFS IN FLORIDA12/4/2007
  Q: IN FLORIDA ARE LIGHT COLORED SHINGLES COOLER THAN DARK COLOR AND DO LIGHT OR DARK LAST LONGER AND IS ...
  A: Not just Florida but anywhere in the universe light colored shingles are cooler than dark colored ...
Closing soffit vents12/2/2007
  Q: I have an attached garage and porch which has soffit vents. Their is no gable or ridge vent for ...
  A: Insulation does not stop things from freezing. It slows down the rate at which it will freeze. Turn ...
colonial gambrel roof shingle style12/1/2007
  Q: We have a williamsburg style gambrel roof and I need to find a shingle that would match that ...
  A: I don't know what a Williamsburg style Gambrel is. You would need to talk to a designer or architect ...
Leaking tar and gravel roof11/29/2007
  Q: Our tar and gravel roof, about 12 years old, has leaked now into an area of the ceiling above our ...
  A: Generally the leak in the roof is above your problem in the house. Go to that spot on the roof and ...
rubber?11/29/2007
  Q: Brad, I own Joe's Paint & Electric in Santa Fe, NM. Yes...I said Santa Fe, where building techniques ...
  A: Rubber is pretty much a generic word. It means different things to different types of roofs. For ...
pay rates11/28/2007
  Q: Yes Brad, I've been out of the roofing business for about 10 yrs. and I am now going to help a ...
  A: Now you've changed the whole picture. You never said anything before about plywood which is a MAJOR ...
porch roof venting?11/27/2007
  Q: I'm re-building an unenclosed 3 level porch. I've rebuilt the level 2 and 3 decks: EPDM membranes ...
  A: If you seal it up tight then the air should not change or circulate in there. Some theories: 1. In a ...
Damp plywood11/26/2007
  Q: On one side of our house(the side w/out the sun) in the attic the plywood is wet on the inside. The ...
  A: If it is a small area then you have a leak. If it is a large area then you have too much humidity in ...
Roof frost & snow in attick11/26/2007
  Q: I have two problems. Last winter I experienced frost on approx 1/2 of the interior roof. I have 3 ...
  A: You can't just dump the bathroom exhaust into the attic. You're supposed to be getting rid of the ...
Roofing11/25/2007
  Q: I installed ruftex vinyl roofing over my deck. I have leaks at most of the screw holes. I used the ...
  A: I don't know what Ruftex is. Even a Google search showed no results. If it is a congregated material ...
Fascia Board / Deck roofing gap11/24/2007
  Q: New house. Cleaning gutters and notice 1.5" gap between roof deck and fascia board. The worst part ...
  A: Yeah, it can probably be covered with metal but I'd had to see pictures of exactly what you're ...
Roofing contract11/24/2007
  Q: Brad what kind of wording should I get from contractor for "re-roof", such as guarantees on ...
  A: Different areas have different guarantees but I'd look for at least a 10 year guarantee from the ...
Ice Shield Problem11/23/2007
  Q: My mom had a new roof installed in 2004. Since then she has had a problem with water leaking between ...
  A: What is the slope of the roof? The lower the slope the more likely to have ice damming problem. It ...
Leak from vent pipe...11/21/2007
  Q: A wet spot appeared in the main floor bathroom...I cut out the portion of ceiling to find water ...
  A: The pipe could be clogged down below and water is building upward over the joint. Also, a lot of ...
Tiling a Flat Roof11/21/2007
  Q: We are a single family residential builder. There has been many occasions where we have a flat roof ...
  A: You don't have to raise the door. You can use a shorter door so the bottom comes up but the top does ...
Ice Shield Problem11/21/2007
  Q: My mom had a new roof installed in 2004. Since then she has had a problem with water leaking between ...
  A: Forget his double talk. It's simple! Roof leaks. Roofer has a problem. It's his roof. Ice and ...
Flat roof venting11/21/2007
  Q: I am building a room under my cottage deck (12x32 feet) which is flat deck with a new torch on roof ...
  A: No it won't work. It will work a little but what's going to push air from the far end of the roof to ...
ROOF VENTILATION11/20/2007
  Q: Brad, I live in PA in a house built in 1943 and my gas bills in the winter are crazy. I decided to ...
  A: First, you insulated the wrong part of the attic. You should have insulated the floor of the attic ...
Tiling a Flat Roof11/20/2007
  Q: We are a single family residential builder. There has been many occasions where we have a flat roof ...
  A: You said that by the time you're done you only have 2 to 2.5 inches to the bottom of the door and ...
squirrels chewing wood shake shingles11/20/2007
  Q: Squirrels have chewed on or removed about 75 wood shake shingles at the edges of our roof. We'll be ...
  A: The squirrels have found a nice warm spot by finding a hole. I don't know why they have chewed so ...
Reroofing11/19/2007
  Q: I live in western Washington, you know the rainy place. I am thinking about getting a new roof put ...
  A: If you're talking shingles then they will form better in the warmer weather but summer it gets too ...
asphalt roll roofing11/19/2007
  Q: Brad, how much does a roll of mineral roll roofing weigh? Thanks.
  A: In the old days the numbers referred to its wight so if you bought a roll of 60 it was 60 lb per 100 ...
repairing chimney hole in roof11/15/2007
  Q: We have just replaced an existing zero clearance fireplace with a new one, but because it is a newer ...
  A: You said you have a low slope roof with shingles but you can't put shingles on a low slope or ...
black residue11/13/2007
  Q: We have electric radiant heat - in our ceilings. the house was built in the 60's. my mom owned the ...
  A: I don't see how any of it can be related to the roof. The attic should be sealed from the house so ...
Exposed nail heads on new asphalt shingle roof11/11/2007
  Q: I live in Utah and just had my roof redone 2 weeks ago. The contractor (or his workers, rather) did ...
  A: You've got it exactly! Every exposed nail is a future leak. Each nail is a hole and if it's exposed ...
Modified Bit for Low-Slope Roof11/11/2007
  Q: After months of interviewing roofers and talking to manufacturers, we are trying to come up with ...
  A: If you don't have an attic then you have a different situation. Warm air from the house will be ...
Modified Bit for Low-Slope Roof11/10/2007
  Q: After months of interviewing roofers and talking to manufacturers, we are trying to come up with ...
  A: Here is an article if you can make head or tails out of it. ...
Building a second story11/9/2007
  Q: we are looking to purchase a loft apartment that has rights to build an addition onto the roof which ...
  A: As long as the roof can support it you should build on top of the roof. If you puncture it with ...
Roof Condensation11/8/2007
  Q: I have been dealing with an attic condensation problem for several years. The problem is most acute ...
  A: I guess an HVAC person but he might just say that since he can't prove it's the HVAC then he can't ...
Flat roof question11/8/2007
  Q: For a flat roof, what is the difference between a "hot tar asphalt roof" and a "3-ply hot tar system ...
  A: Tar is not used in roofing. It is asphalt. A 3-ply hot asphalt roof is a finished roof. Some roofers ...
nail through roofing in new home11/8/2007
  Q: we are mocing into a new home next week, and during the walk-thru yesterday, we saw a 2x4 nailed ...
  A: Yeah, they should replace the shingles that now have nail holes through them. They could lift up the ...
Ridge Vent in roof11/8/2007
  Q: I just had a new roof installed with ridge venting and the shingles do not extend to the end of the ...
  A: If there aren't shingles on the end of the roof then what's there- exposed plywood???? Some roofers ...
Roof Condensation11/7/2007
  Q: I have been dealing with an attic condensation problem for several years. The problem is most acute ...
  A: The humidity is too high in the attic. It's probably coming from your house but let's work through ...
Extending a roof11/7/2007
  Q: I'm adding an extension to my house. This PDF shows a CAD rendering of the before and after: ...
  A: I don't see how you could match the slope of the addition to the house. The run would be too long so ...
Low pitched roof11/6/2007
  Q: I have a patio porch that is 2/12 pitched. It is covered with rolled tar paper. It is only about 5 ...
  A: You're probably doing a "Handyman" type of roof so don't expect too much out of it but a leak means ...
Drip edge vent versus smart vent11/6/2007
  Q: I need a new roof and I plan to use the 2 reputable roofers in my area even though their estimates ...
  A: I had seen that website. In theory it is fine. I never worked with it so I don't have hands-on ...
Drip edge vent versus smart vent11/6/2007
  Q: I need a new roof and I plan to use the 2 reputable roofers in my area even though their estimates ...
  A: I have never used Smart Vent for the intake. The main thing is the area of opening and both will ...
Drip edge vent versus smart vent11/5/2007
  Q: I need a new roof and I plan to use the 2 reputable roofers in my area even though their estimates ...
  A: For venting to work, cool air must come in the bottom, it heats up on its way up the roof and exists ...
Overlay vs. removal11/5/2007
  Q: I have found a bit of conflicting information on whether or not to recover or remove a roof. We ...
  A: The reason you did not get your answer is because I received the following question, "Residential ...
Shingles11/4/2007
  Q: Took off roof on rear side and noticed the previous owner had two felts on for 30 years. Surprised ...
  A: Yes, that's good enough. Many roofers just staple the paper to the wood. AS I said, you're only ...
repair of slightly sloped asphalt roof11/3/2007
  Q: This roof is over an add-on room that is currently used for storage. Last winter it had a leak in ...
  A: Why would a roofer point you to do your own roof? Any liquid you apply will not stop leaks. If you ...
Roofing Engineers11/3/2007
  Q: I just read an answer that you provided in 2006 to a person that had written asking, among other ...
  A: It depends on your definition of "engineer". To me an Engineer is someone that went to college for 4 ...
Shingles11/3/2007
  Q: Took off roof on rear side and noticed the previous owner had two felts on for 30 years. Surprised ...
  A: One layer of felt is enough. What do you mean 1-1/4 for felt and 1-1/2 for shingles? How can you ...
Shingle roof nail pops and craked shingles11/2/2007
  Q: I live in Central Florida.i moved in to a new home I build in 2/28/07 I have had roof likes starting ...
  A: nail pops are nails that are either moving up or nails that were not nailed in all the way the ...
Roof venting11/2/2007
  Q: I have a 12/12 pitched roof built with 2X12's. It's a log home with a gable dormer the width of the ...
  A: Leaks from ice damming on a 12/12 roof is not likely so I'd wonder what else is going on. Are there ...
Mismatched shingles on a new house11/1/2007
  Q: My daughter and son-in-law are buying a newly constructed house. I noticed, and brought to the ...
  A: If the prior shingles are only 2 months old then they haven't had time to change color so you ...
Pipe Roof Flashing on a flat roof10/31/2007
  Q: I have a flat rubber roof. At the vent pipes, is there a special type of flashing you should use ...
  A: It's still a "patch". A patch never last as long as the original material but will hold up for a ...
Needing new roof10/30/2007
  Q: I purchased my home 3 1/2 years ago and was told that I have 3-5 years remaining on the root. Being ...
  A: 2/12 roof is the absolute minimum for shingles. Between 2/12 and 4/12 you can do shingles but ...
1:12 pitch patio cover10/29/2007
  Q: I currently am taking off the old plastic/sun baked rippled cover off my patio because of leaks and ...
  A: Why are you using T111? It has ridges on it so that's not good for roofing. Unless you turn it ...
Holes in roofing felt on a new roof10/29/2007
  Q: I was hoping you can inform me on a roofing issue I have so I can make sure my house is completed ...
  A: I guess someone cut the wood at the ridge for a ridge vent but never did the vent. You can leave it ...
Felt and Mineral Surface Roofing for Low-slope Shed10/29/2007
  Q: I am building a 10' by 30' storage shed in Northern California with a 2 in 12 mono-slope roof. The ...
  A: Tarah's website specifies an underlayment for shingles. They do not specify and underlayment for ...
Felt and Mineral Surface Roofing for Low-slope Shed10/29/2007
  Q: I am building a 10' by 30' storage shed in Northern California with a 2 in 12 mono-slope roof. The ...
  A: You don't put felt paper under the finished roof. There's no purpose to it. You put the roof down by ...
Ridge vents10/28/2007
  Q: I am having a new roof put on my 3 story 1938 vintage home in MI and am confused re: venting (we ...
  A: You talk about ice damming and then venting but never relate the two so I am assuming you think that ...
Leaky Roof10/27/2007
  Q: We live in a townhome in Lynchburg, VA and we just received about 3-4 straight days of rain. I ...
  A: It depends on your definition of "pro". Apparently a roofer already did the roof and he wasn't a pro ...
Shingles10/26/2007
  Q: I had a roof done with Shingles last month. The slope is really steep(14/12 - 2 sides) when you ...
  A: It depends. If the shingles are up on their own then they will soften up in the heat and settle ...
Valley Flashing & Ridge Venting & Waterproof Underlayment10/26/2007
  Q: For Pennsylvania What's the best method (Long-lasting, dependable) for valley flashing..Open, Woven ...
  A: I personally like the open valley. It's a matter of choice. If you have a low slope then you'd be ...
We had roof redone and now it leaks10/25/2007
  Q: A week ago we had our roof reshingled. The old shingles were removed, new plywood put down and new ...
  A: It sounds like a common flashing leak or lack of flashing at all. YES! It's his fault! There was no ...
New winter guard?10/24/2007
  Q: We are having a wrap-around porch built on the front of our house, with a pretty low pitch around ...
  A: The basic instructions are on every package of shingles. You have to cover the entire roof with ...
re-roofing10/24/2007
  Q: Our townhomes were recently re-roofed. Nails are coming through the eaves etc. It looks terrible. ...
  A: This is the way most companies operate. Not that it's right but most companies don't know what ...
leak between existing roof and new addition roof10/24/2007
  Q: how can i resolve the leaks between the old existing roof and the newly added screen room roof? ...
  A: You might be a lay person but you just gave me more information then you did before. You could also ...
Drainage on Modified Bitumen Rolled Roof10/24/2007
  Q: I live in San Antonio, Texas. Currently, I am having a new roof put on my house. There is a wooden ...
  A: I don't know of any sites. You might try some of the manufacturers' website such as GAF, Firestone, ...
New winter guard?10/24/2007
  Q: We are having a wrap-around porch built on the front of our house, with a pretty low pitch around ...
  A: The old weather guard is now full of holes. You'll have to put a new layer down but you can do it on ...
addition10/23/2007
  Q: My current roof is 9 years old, a T lock type, I *think* owens corning. We are adding a small ...
  A: I don't know where to get them. I think I might have seen them sold somewhere. The use for them ...
Drainage on Modified Bitumen Rolled Roof10/23/2007
  Q: I live in San Antonio, Texas. Currently, I am having a new roof put on my house. There is a wooden ...
  A: If the material is inside the gravel guard then the roof was not completely done. You have a space ...
questions about step flashing / drip edge10/22/2007
  Q: I am hearing two different things from two different local contractors and I am hoping you can ...
  A: Yes, you can fix it as you described. The idea is to get the water to go into the gutter and anyway ...
second layer on rolled roofing10/22/2007
  Q: I have a less than 12/4 pitch on a garage attached to my house with rolled roofing. We are having ...
  A: When you describe the slope of the roof the second number is always 12 so I don't know what you ...
apparent fishmouthing shingles on a new construction roof10/21/2007
  Q: I have what looks like (in pictures I saw online) fishmouthing shingles. However this is on a new ...
  A: Next step. Each one that is lifted, is it the middle tab of a 3 tab shingle. You would have to find ...
apparent fishmouthing shingles on a new construction roof10/21/2007
  Q: I have what looks like (in pictures I saw online) fishmouthing shingles. However this is on a new ...
  A: Does it have a pattern of every 3 feet or every third tab? That would be caused by storing the ...
apparent fishmouthing shingles on a new construction roof10/21/2007
  Q: I have what looks like (in pictures I saw online) fishmouthing shingles. However this is on a new ...
  A: If they are bowed in the middle that's a "nail pop" or a nail that was not nailed all the way in. It ...
new roof10/21/2007
  Q: I am getting ready to replace a wood shingle with a asphalt single, 30 year. I have a 12 pitch ...
  A: 50% down is WAY TOO MUCH. Give them 10% then pieces along the way. With 50% down they have no reason ...
flat roof question10/20/2007
  Q: I recently purchased a home with an addition on the back. It's a cape cod with the back of the ...
  A: If you have seams opened, then yes, you should be concerned about leaks. Leaks come in through ...
residental Tamko 30yr shingle10/19/2007
  Q: I just paid over 4000 bucks for a new roof and it seems alot of the shingles are cupped on one side ...
  A: They may and they may not. It depends how much bending is in it. This can happen when they store the ...
Asphalt and Gravel (BUR)10/18/2007
  Q: I have a flat roof which needs to be replaced. I live in Canada. I have got a couple of estimations ...
  A: I'm actually going to call them and follow up on this. I went to their website and they show the ...
roof for cash?10/18/2007
  Q: Looking to replace our roof, it is unanimous that it is in need. We got 4 estimate, $7300, $8900, ...
  A: I would be shocked if you DIDN'T find a guy who wanted money under the table. There is a very large ...
Asphalt and Gravel (BUR)10/17/2007
  Q: I have a flat roof which needs to be replaced. I live in Canada. I have got a couple of estimations ...
  A: They are not putting a 5-ply roof on. They are using a material with a brand name of Ply V or ...
frequent cracking sound in attic10/17/2007
  Q: Brad, We recently purchased a 1950s brick facade timber frame house in Seattle. The footprint is ...
  A: The carpentry issue would not be obvious to an inspector...unless something is really out of place. ...
frequent cracking sound in attic10/17/2007
  Q: Brad, We recently purchased a 1