| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| Roof, brick, window leak, HELP PLEASE | 11/19/2009 |
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 ...
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| underlayment and ventilation | 11/18/2009 |
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 Roof | 11/17/2009 |
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 insulation | 11/12/2009 |
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 roof | 11/11/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roof felt | 11/10/2009 |
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 do | 11/10/2009 |
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 ...
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| Ridge Vent vs. Turbines | 11/9/2009 |
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 roof | 11/7/2009 |
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 solution | 11/5/2009 |
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 ...
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| Oven Range Vent | 11/3/2009 |
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 Slope | 11/3/2009 |
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 Improvements | 11/3/2009 |
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 Vent | 11/3/2009 |
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 Vent | 11/3/2009 |
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 ...
|
| Roofing | 11/1/2009 |
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 membrane | 11/1/2009 |
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 specifications | 10/31/2009 |
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 Slope | 10/29/2009 |
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 vapors | 10/29/2009 |
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 pitch | 10/28/2009 |
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 cambridge | 10/27/2009 |
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 membrane | 10/23/2009 |
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 choice | 10/23/2009 |
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 roof | 10/22/2009 |
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 showing | 10/21/2009 |
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 PNW | 10/18/2009 |
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 roof | 10/17/2009 |
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 installed | 10/16/2009 |
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 ...
|
| cupping | 10/15/2009 |
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 roof | 10/14/2009 |
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 sheets | 10/13/2009 |
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 nails | 10/9/2009 |
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 nails | 10/8/2009 |
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 shed | 10/7/2009 |
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 shed | 10/7/2009 |
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 roofing | 10/5/2009 |
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 Vents | 10/1/2009 |
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 Quality | 10/1/2009 |
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 down | 10/1/2009 |
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 down | 10/1/2009 |
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 Roof | 9/30/2009 |
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 roof | 9/30/2009 |
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 Repair | 9/30/2009 |
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 mast | 9/30/2009 |
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 style | 9/29/2009 |
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 wood | 9/27/2009 |
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 wood | 9/27/2009 |
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 gutters | 9/27/2009 |
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? ...
|
| advice | 9/26/2009 |
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 roof | 9/25/2009 |
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 Algae | 9/25/2009 |
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 flashing | 9/24/2009 |
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 roof | 9/24/2009 |
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 ...
|
| roofing | 9/23/2009 |
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 installation | 9/23/2009 |
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 ...
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| IKO shingles | 9/22/2009 |
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 flashing | 9/21/2009 |
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 roofs | 9/20/2009 |
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 ...
|
| Crickets | 9/20/2009 |
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 Venting | 9/19/2009 |
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 roofs | 9/19/2009 |
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 roof | 9/19/2009 |
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. ...
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| new roof | 9/17/2009 |
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 job | 9/17/2009 |
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 ...
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| new roof | 9/17/2009 |
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 job | 9/16/2009 |
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 Vents | 9/14/2009 |
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 ceiling | 9/13/2009 |
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 Flashing | 9/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| Ice and Water Shield over 1st Roof | 9/10/2009 |
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 spots | 9/9/2009 |
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 skylight | 9/8/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 roof | 9/4/2009 |
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 roofing | 9/4/2009 |
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 shake | 9/3/2009 |
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 vent | 9/2/2009 |
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 Shingles | 9/1/2009 |
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. ...
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| DOME ROOF | 9/1/2009 |
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 roof | 9/1/2009 |
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 roof | 8/31/2009 |
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 ...
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| replacing flat roof | 8/30/2009 |
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 ...
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| reroofing questions | 8/30/2009 |
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 Vents | 8/29/2009 |
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 - ...
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| replacing flat roof | 8/29/2009 |
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 wall | 8/26/2009 |
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 roof | 8/26/2009 |
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 roof | 8/25/2009 |
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 Code | 8/24/2009 |
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 roofing | 8/23/2009 |
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 room | 8/23/2009 |
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 cedar | 8/23/2009 |
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 Valley | 8/22/2009 |
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 ...
|
| Roofing | 8/21/2009 |
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 Board | 8/19/2009 |
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 deck | 8/17/2009 |
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 Roof | 8/17/2009 |
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 off | 8/16/2009 |
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 please | 8/14/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roofing materials and felt weight | 8/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| vaulted ceiling insulation and roof | 8/11/2009 |
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 ...
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| Wicking through ridge vent | 8/11/2009 |
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 ...
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| Flashing/Gutter system | 8/10/2009 |
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 ...
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| vaulted ceiling insulation and roof | 8/9/2009 |
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, ...
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| Building | 8/7/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Roof venting | 8/5/2009 |
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 ...
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| epdm | 8/5/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Building "Shed" Roof on New Sunroom | 8/5/2009 |
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 ...
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| Tar & gravel roof | 8/4/2009 |
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 ...
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| Low slope/pitch roofing | 8/2/2009 |
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 ...
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| Using Drip Edge at Rake Edge | 8/1/2009 |
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 ...
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| adhesive glue on torchdown | 8/1/2009 |
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 ...
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| Low slope/pitch roofing | 8/1/2009 |
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 ...
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| Low slope/pitch roofing | 8/1/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roof insulation | 7/31/2009 |
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 ...
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| Torch Down or New Re-Frame with Shingles | 7/29/2009 |
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 ...
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| valleys | 7/29/2009 |
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 ...
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| my mother's tile roof in Florida | 7/27/2009 |
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. ...
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| reroof,insulate,overhang replcement | 7/23/2009 |
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 ...
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| 3 tab not sticking down | 7/22/2009 |
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 ...
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| How to seal conduit thru roof | 7/22/2009 |
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 ...
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| Architectural roofing shingles | 7/19/2009 |
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 ...
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| fireplace condensation | 7/17/2009 |
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 ...
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| fireplace condensation | 7/16/2009 |
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? ...
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| Multiple Roofing Questions | 7/16/2009 |
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 ...
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| fireplace condensation | 7/16/2009 |
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 ...
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| roof shingles | 7/16/2009 |
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 ...
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| moblehome roof venting | 7/15/2009 |
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 ...
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| Re-roofing from cedar shakes to asphalt | 7/14/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Potential pitfalls of having roofing done separately from gutters, etc | 7/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| venting in roof | 7/10/2009 |
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 ...
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| snow and ice guard; flashing | 7/8/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| evaluating ridge vent installation | 7/5/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Flashing a roof next to vinyl-sided sidewall | 6/30/2009 |
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, ...
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| Roof Structure | 6/30/2009 |
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 ...
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| Replacing residential roof | 6/30/2009 |
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 ...
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| nail set question re 30 year shingle | 6/29/2009 |
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 ...
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| Seeking advice on repairing a flat black tar roof | 6/27/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Calculating space of attic floor and net free area ratio | 6/26/2009 |
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 ...
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| Calculating space of attic floor and net free area ratio | 6/26/2009 |
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 ...
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| insulation on top of roof deck | 6/24/2009 |
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 ...
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| Bowing roof | 6/24/2009 |
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 ...
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| T-lock shingles mixed with 3-Tab | 6/23/2009 |
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. ...
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| felt underlay | 6/22/2009 |
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 ...
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| "felt" underlayment | 6/22/2009 |
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 ...
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| Wet interior wall | 6/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| Bitumen roof | 6/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| Barn style Shed Roof | 6/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| Low pitch roof | 6/19/2009 |
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 ...
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| buckled/warped shingles | 6/19/2009 |
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 ...
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| 70's flat tar roof | 6/17/2009 |
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 ...
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| new roof | 6/15/2009 |
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 ...
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| leaking tongue and groove ceiling | 6/15/2009 |
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 ...
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| leaking tongue and groove ceiling | 6/10/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Ridge vent vs. Power vent | 6/9/2009 |
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 ...
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| Ridge vent vs. Power vent | 6/8/2009 |
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 ...
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| Multicolored Architectural Roofing | 6/6/2009 |
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 ...
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| metal vs asphalt shingles on a hot roof system | 6/3/2009 |
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 ...
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| Procedure on roofing where the porch meets the house | 5/31/2009 |
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 ...
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| Procedure on roofing where the porch meets the house | 5/31/2009 |
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 ...
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| improperly installed drip edge flashing | 5/27/2009 |
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 ...
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| improperly installed drip edge flashing | 5/27/2009 |
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 ...
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| improperly installed drip edge flashing | 5/27/2009 |
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 ...
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| removing old #15 Felt | 5/25/2009 |
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 ...
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| New Roof job | 5/25/2009 |
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 ...
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| cricket ventelation | 5/24/2009 |
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. ...
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| peel and stick roofing | 5/23/2009 |
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 ...
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| 1 1/2 storey attic venting | 5/22/2009 |
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 ...
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| Shingle weight selection | 5/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roofing and venting | 5/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roof Ventilation and other questions | 5/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| Sagging carport roof | 5/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| foam spray or new roof | 5/19/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roof Ventilation and other questions | 5/19/2009 |
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 ...
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| foam spray or new roof | 5/19/2009 |
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 ...
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| foam spray or new roof | 5/18/2009 |
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 ...
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| Flat roof issues | 5/18/2009 |
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 ...
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| roofing valleys | 5/17/2009 |
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 ...
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| Wood roof | 5/16/2009 |
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. ...
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| new home exposed cantilever | 5/16/2009 |
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 ...
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| roofing | 5/16/2009 |
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 ...
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| Shingles overlap at drip edge | 5/15/2009 |
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 ...
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| leaking valley | 5/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Low Slope Roof | 5/12/2009 |
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 ...
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| reroofing a cricket | 5/10/2009 |
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 ...
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| Shingles overlapping gutter | 5/3/2009 |
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 ...
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| replacing shingles w/aluminum siding on mansard roof | 4/30/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Garage door roof | 4/28/2009 |
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 ...
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| Ridge vent vs. box vents | 4/28/2009 |
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 ...
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| Cricket above stone chimney | 4/27/2009 |
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 ...
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| Builder left a small gap between Fascia and Plywood roof deck | 4/25/2009 |
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 ...
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| Gaf/Elk Timberline 30yr vs 50 yr & Gaf Warranties | 4/24/2009 |
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 ...
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| roof repair | 4/24/2009 |
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 ...
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| Gaf/Elk Timberline 30yr vs 50 yr & Gaf Warranties | 4/23/2009 |
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 ...
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| Verticle ripples along roof | 4/23/2009 |
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 ...
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| Replacing Roof | 4/23/2009 |
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 ...
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| remove or reroof | 4/23/2009 |
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 ...
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| got roof quote | 4/22/2009 |
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 ...
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| Mobile home with low pitch - Rolled Roof | 4/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| Mobile home with low pitch - Rolled Roof | 4/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| roofing question | 4/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| 3-12 pitch | 4/21/2009 |
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. ...
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| Ridge Vent | 4/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| IKO Cambridge Shingles | 4/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| roofing question | 4/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| Long roof cricket | 4/18/2009 |
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 ...
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| roof condensation | 4/18/2009 |
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. ...
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| Roofing Underlays available | 4/17/2009 |
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 ...
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| weather for reroofing | 4/16/2009 |
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 ...
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| Low pitch roof | 4/15/2009 |
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 ...
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| Life span of laminate shingles | 4/15/2009 |
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 ...
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| Flashing in valleys when re-roofing | 4/14/2009 |
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 ...
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| 3 tabs thicker than laminates | 4/14/2009 |
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 ...
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| new roof | 4/14/2009 |
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 ...
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| reasonable alternatives when replacing a cedar shake roof | 4/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| low slope roof and curled shingles | 4/11/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roof leak around fireplace pipe | 4/10/2009 |
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 ...
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| Partially Exposed Nails | 4/8/2009 |
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? ...
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| gable vent | 4/8/2009 |
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 ...
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| roof color/organic shingles | 4/7/2009 |
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 ...
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| asphalt shingles flap in high winds | 4/6/2009 |
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 ...
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| soffits | 4/6/2009 |
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 ...
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| Ice Storm Repairs | 4/5/2009 |
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 ...
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| roof/gutter overflow issue | 4/3/2009 |
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 ...
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| mis match pattern on archatectural shingles | 4/3/2009 |
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 ...
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| roof/gutter overflow issue | 4/3/2009 |
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 ...
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| New roof installation | 4/3/2009 |
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 ...
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| Reinforcing Roof | 4/2/2009 |
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 ...
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| tin roofing | 4/1/2009 |
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 ...
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| Resealing Asphalt Shingles | 3/31/2009 |
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 ...
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| code | 3/30/2009 |
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 ...
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| roofing paper | 3/30/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roof Ventilation | 3/30/2009 |
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 ...
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| building higher pitched roof over existing | 3/29/2009 |
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 ...
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| building higher pitched roof over existing | 3/29/2009 |
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 ...
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| roofing | 3/29/2009 |
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 ...
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| Diverter question | 3/27/2009 |
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 ...
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| replacing shingle | 3/26/2009 |
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 ...
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| Tax rebate on roofing | 3/24/2009 |
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 ...
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| Torch down roof | 3/24/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Attic Ventilation | 3/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| Cobra rigid vent 2 | 3/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| Mold on Roof | 3/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| Flat Roof Ventilation | 3/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| 3 tab warranties | 3/19/2009 |
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 ...
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| flashing around chimney | 3/16/2009 |
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 ...
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| Replacing roof | 3/15/2009 |
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 ...
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| Ice & Water shield | 3/15/2009 |
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 ...
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| Venting shingle roof | 3/14/2009 |
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 ...
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| Attic insulation and venting | 3/14/2009 |
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 ...
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| new shingle blow off | 3/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roof blew off 2 months after installation | 3/12/2009 |
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 ...
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| roofing | 3/10/2009 |
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 ...
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| raising roof on rancher | 3/10/2009 |
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 ...
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| rebate | 3/9/2009 |
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. ...
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| cost differnce with ice and water shield and how far should it go | 3/9/2009 |
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. ...
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| attaching 4/12 pitch patio roof to 10/12 pitch house | 3/8/2009 |
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 ...
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| Leaking tongue & groove ceiling | 3/8/2009 |
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? ...
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| modified bitumen roof with silver coat | 3/5/2009 |
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 ...
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| modified bitumen roof with silver coat | 3/4/2009 |
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 ...
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| moisture between roof and ceiling drywall | 3/3/2009 |
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 ...
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| moisture between roof and ceiling drywall | 3/3/2009 |
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 ...
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| flat cooncrete roof, leak | 3/2/2009 |
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 ...
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| roof vents | 3/1/2009 |
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 ...
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| Buckling felt paper | 2/28/2009 |
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 ...
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| Buckling felt paper | 2/28/2009 |
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 ...
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| Buckling felt paper | 2/28/2009 |
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 ...
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| hot mopping in residencial Newport Beach, CA | 2/27/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roofing | 2/27/2009 |
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 ...
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| roofing | 2/26/2009 |
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 ...
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| discontinued shingles | 2/26/2009 |
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 ...
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| ROOFING | 2/26/2009 |
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, ...
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| roof replacement | 2/24/2009 |
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 ...
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| Re-roofing | 2/24/2009 |
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 ...
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| New Roof | 2/23/2009 |
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 ...
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| New Roof | 2/23/2009 |
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 ...
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| ventilation in bungalow attic space | 2/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| roof replacement | 2/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| ventilation | 2/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| ventilation | 2/19/2009 |
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 ...
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| Ice dams and leaks | 2/18/2009 |
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 ...
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| lightning rod | 2/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| roof new/repair | 2/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| Asbestos slate roofing | 2/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| Best weather for a new roof | 2/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| ice dams | 2/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| cold asphalt shingle applications | 2/12/2009 |
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 ...
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| Attic Frost | 2/11/2009 |
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 ...
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| gambrel roof | 2/8/2009 |
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 ...
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| repair to low slope roof | 2/8/2009 |
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 ...
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| repair to low slope roof | 2/8/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Attic Frost | 2/5/2009 |
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 ...
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| Roofing | 2/4/2009 |
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 ...
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| Desperate - Losing Sleep | 2/3/2009 |
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 ...
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| installation conditions - weather | 2/3/2009 |
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 ...
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| ice damning | 2/1/2009 |
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 ...
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| Re-Roofing our low slope roof | 2/1/2009 |
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 ...
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| creating a woodshop above my garage | 1/31/2009 |
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 ...
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| Reroofing materials for Flat Roof | 1/30/2009 |
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 ...
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| Refoofing a flat roof | 1/29/2009 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| reroofing/flashing | 1/28/2009 |
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 ...
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| estimates and conflicting information | 1/28/2009 |
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 ...
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| torment | 1/26/2009 |
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. ...
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| torment | 1/25/2009 |
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 ...
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| flat roof replacement | 1/24/2009 |
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 ...
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| Snow sliding off off gently sloped (flat) rubber roof | 1/23/2009 |
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 ...
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| renovation the roof | 1/22/2009 |
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 ...
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| Ridge Cap Repair | 1/22/2009 |
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 ...
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| polar ply sheating | 1/22/2009 |
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 ...
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| Metal Roofing on a Low Slope Roof | 1/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| re-roofing and adding insulation | 1/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| mold in the attic after new roof | 1/21/2009 |
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 ...
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| mold in the attic after new roof | 1/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| mold in the attic after new roof | 1/20/2009 |
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 ...
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| mold on ceiling | 1/19/2009 |
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) ...
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| mold on ceiling | 1/18/2009 |
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 ...
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| mold on ceiling | 1/18/2009 |
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 ...
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| ridge cap | 1/17/2009 |
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 ...
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| Reroof | 1/15/2009 |
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 ...
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| Increasing existing roof pitch | 1/15/2009 |
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 ...
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| Hot Mop Roof Repair | 1/14/2009 |
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 ...
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| Reroof | 1/13/2009 |
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 ...
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| roofing/how many eyebrow vents | 1/10/2009 |
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 ...
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| roofing/how many eyebrow vents | 1/10/2009 |
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 ...
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| Torchdown Roofing | 1/9/2009 |
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 ...
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| Flat roof drain | 1/6/2009 |
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 ...
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| burndown roofing | 1/5/2009 |
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 ...
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| low pitch roof | 1/1/2009 |
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 ...
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| Plywood sheating bulging | 12/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| torch down re-roofing question | 12/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| torch down re-roofing question | 12/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| constructing a lean-to port | 12/30/2008 |
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 ...
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| stovepipe penetration through rubber roof | 12/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flat Tar Roof Repairs | 12/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Plywood sheating bulging | 12/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| parapet walls - new construction | 12/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| Missing Shingle & Snow | 12/25/2008 |
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 ...
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| Shingling a Townhouse with Continuous Run | 12/25/2008 |
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 ...
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| tar and gravel roof replacement | 12/25/2008 |
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 ...
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| Shingling a Townhouse with Continuous Run | 12/25/2008 |
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 ...
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| Snow in bonus room | 12/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| Frost inside roof, with continuous ridge vent and continuous soffit vents | 12/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| Frost inside roof, with continuous ridge vent and continuous soffit vents | 12/21/2008 |
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. ...
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| Need a referee on my porch roof | 12/20/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Nail Size | 12/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| Bathroom fan dripping water and bubbles in paint | 12/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Nail Size | 12/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| gutter drip edge installation | 12/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| gutter drip edge installation | 12/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| had a new roof installed | 12/14/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof layers allowed by Law | 12/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| damp plywood | 12/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| insulation | 12/10/2008 |
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? ...
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| roof insulation | 12/9/2008 |
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 ...
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| Ice/Water Shield | 12/8/2008 |
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 ...
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| pros and cons about owens corning shingles | 12/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| New Roof Replacment | 12/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Owens Corning 40 yr Oakridge | 12/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flat roof | 12/1/2008 |
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 ...
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| Warped Roof | 11/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| roof leak | 11/27/2008 |
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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| replace flat roof with sloped roof | 11/25/2008 |
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 ...
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| Three Re-Roof questions | 11/24/2008 |
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 ...
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| New construction roof material | 11/24/2008 |
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 ...
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| Three Re-Roof questions | 11/23/2008 |
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 ...
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| Rolled Roofing | 11/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| Three Re-Roof questions | 11/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| rolled roofing | 11/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| rolled roofing | 11/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| Ice dams / powered gable venting | 11/21/2008 |
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 ...
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| ROLL ROOF | 11/21/2008 |
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 ...
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| Low Slope Roof Replacement | 11/20/2008 |
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. ...
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| ice & water, intake venting, iso vs. structa | 11/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| connecting a trellis to a new roof | 11/14/2008 |
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 ...
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| tie in metal roof to asphalt | 11/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| Chimney leak where a flat roof meets a sloped roof | 11/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| Dried in wrinkles | 11/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| Composition Roof Warranties | 11/9/2008 |
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. ...
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| Applying new felt over the top of existing felt | 11/9/2008 |
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 ...
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| Felt used for underlayment on roofs | 11/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Soffit vents....none | 11/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| Ceiling Cracks after/during New Roof | 11/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| ice and water shield | 11/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| roofing | 11/4/2008 |
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 ...
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| Bizarre Drip Edge | 11/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| gutter installation problem | 10/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| Reroofing low-slope BUR-gravel roof | 10/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| rigid roof insulation | 10/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| Vallleys and Underlayment Materials | 10/30/2008 |
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 ...
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| Shrinkage of Membrane on Flat Roof | 10/30/2008 |
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". ...
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| ice and water shield | 10/30/2008 |
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 ...
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| water leak in house | 10/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| replacing roof | 10/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| Dimensional shingle cupping or winging | 10/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| Temperature to adhere sealing strip on Tamko shingles | 10/24/2008 |
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 ...
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| step flashing | 10/21/2008 |
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 ...
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| flat roof | 10/20/2008 |
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 ...
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| Shingles | 10/20/2008 |
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 ...
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| caulking worn shingles | 10/19/2008 |
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 ...
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| General Roof Specs | 10/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| reworking roof | 10/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| Plywood on roof is bulging up | 10/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| Cedar Shake Roof Repair | 10/14/2008 |
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 ...
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| Cedar Shake Roof Repair | 10/14/2008 |
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 ...
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| Small Cantilever or overhang roof | 10/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| My "wavy" roof | 10/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| Shingles | 10/8/2008 |
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 ...
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| roof problems | 10/7/2008 |
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. ...
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| roof repair products | 10/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| cedar roof close valley | 10/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof defect and Hurricane Ike | 10/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| roof / wall leak | 10/3/2008 |
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 ...
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| steep roof shingle recommendation | 10/1/2008 |
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 ...
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| flat rubber roofs | 9/30/2008 |
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. ...
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| low slope roofing | 9/27/2008 |
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 ...
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| To tarp or not to tarp | 9/27/2008 |
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. ...
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| Nail Guns & Roofs | 9/27/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof repair versus new roof | 9/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| Trying to Repair Leaking Roof on SW Style Building | 9/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| ventilation | 9/24/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| GACO deck kit a a roof | 9/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| material usage | 9/22/2008 |
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. ...
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| Neighborhood wide shingle failure from IKE | 9/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| ridge vent | 9/21/2008 |
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 ...
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| preventing roof drips in winter | 9/20/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Elk Shingles Loosing Grit From Venting | 9/20/2008 |
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 ...
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| Elk Shingles Loosing Grit From Venting | 9/19/2008 |
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. ...
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| valley on roof | 9/19/2008 |
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 ...
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| Neighborhood wide shingle failure from IKE | 9/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| white paint on black roof | 9/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| low slope new roof advice | 9/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| Hurricane Ike damage-Repairs to shingles | 9/17/2008 |
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 - ...
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| attic humidity | 9/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| deck armor and ice and water shield | 9/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| New roof, warped decking | 9/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| lifting shingles and rubber vent collar | 9/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| Ridge Vents | 9/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| Ridge Vents | 9/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Shingles | 9/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| New roof, warped decking | 9/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| Plywood on roof is soaked | 9/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| roofing/tar paper | 9/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| water diverter for a valley | 9/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| Storage Loads on roof trusses in garage | 9/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| Switching from wood to impact resistant shingles | 9/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flat Roof Edge | 9/11/2008 |
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 ...
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| low slope shingle roof | 9/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| ridge vents + dust, small attic +big roof | 9/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| power vent - no soffits | 9/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Defective roofing due to plastic strips falling off | 9/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| Contractor scarred new roof | 9/8/2008 |
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 ...
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| Defective roofing due to plastic strips falling off | 9/8/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Defective roofing due to plastic strips falling off | 9/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| water diverter for a valley | 9/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| Winter gaurd membrane | 9/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof venting, 1950's California ranch house | 9/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| gutter overhang | 9/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| Bay Window Shingle | 9/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| Elastomeric on rolled roof | 9/3/2008 |
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 ...
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| built up roofs | 9/3/2008 |
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 ...
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| venting in low slope roof attic | 9/3/2008 |
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 ...
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| Ridge vent opening and ventilation options | 9/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| shingle company question | 9/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| built up roofs | 9/2/2008 |
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. ...
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| replacing shingles questions | 9/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| roofing--caulking | 9/1/2008 |
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 ...
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| Surface Water on Flat Roof | 9/1/2008 |
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 ...
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| Using Roll Roofing | 9/1/2008 |
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 ...
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| very uneasy about new roof job | 9/1/2008 |
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 ...
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| replacing a flat roof | 8/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Quote GAF | 8/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof and gutters | 8/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof and gutters | 8/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| flat rubber roof | 8/30/2008 |
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. ...
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| Roof bubble | 8/30/2008 |
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 ...
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| Timberline shingles | 8/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| gutters | 8/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flat Roof Issues | 8/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| starter shingles | 8/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| Tar Paper | 8/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| tar and gravel roof | 8/27/2008 |
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 ...
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| installing a tile roof | 8/27/2008 |
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 ...
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| New roof on urban row home | 8/27/2008 |
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 ...
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| installing a tile roof | 8/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| to raise the ceiling higth of a rafter roof | 8/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| connect two buildings with a hallway | 8/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flat roof gutter dam | 8/25/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof and shingle repair | 8/24/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| new deck on top of the new roof | 8/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flat tar roof | 8/22/2008 |
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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| Drip edge with seamless gutters | 8/20/2008 |
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 ...
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| Failed weather protection on unfinished roof | 8/20/2008 |
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 ...
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| Failed weather protection on unfinished roof | 8/19/2008 |
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 ...
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| roof ventilation | 8/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| ondura roofing | 8/17/2008 |
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. ...
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| roof ventilation | 8/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| using iso on a flat roof that is also used as a porch deck | 8/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| using iso on a flat roof that is also used as a porch deck | 8/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| roof warranties | 8/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| TORCH DOWN | 8/11/2008 |
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 ...
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| Elderly parent out of state with siginifcant roofing issues | 8/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| New roof is buckled in spots | 8/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| New roof is buckled in spots | 8/9/2008 |
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 ...
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| 30 lb tar paper vs 15 lb tar paper | 8/9/2008 |
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 ...
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| low slope roof replacement | 8/4/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roofing/ Gutters | 8/3/2008 |
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 ...
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| torch down roof coating | 8/3/2008 |
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 Siding | 8/3/2008 |
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 coating | 8/2/2008 |
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 roof | 8/1/2008 |
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 roof | 7/31/2008 |
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 roof | 7/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 roof | 7/29/2008 |
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 problem | 7/28/2008 |
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, ...
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| Applying roll roof over insulation | 7/26/2008 |
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 Warranties | 7/26/2008 |
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 Warranties | 7/26/2008 |
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 Barrier | 7/25/2008 |
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 showing | 7/24/2008 |
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 conundrum | 7/24/2008 |
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 sheathing | 7/24/2008 |
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 shingles | 7/22/2008 |
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 material | 7/21/2008 |
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 rot | 7/21/2008 |
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 thickness | 7/19/2008 |
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 Dams | 7/17/2008 |
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 issue | 7/17/2008 |
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 issue | 7/16/2008 |
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 Venting | 7/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| Preventing Ice Dams | 7/15/2008 |
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 Roof | 7/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| Attic Fans and Roof | 7/14/2008 |
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. shingles | 7/14/2008 |
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 overhang | 7/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| Falling Shingles | 7/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| 12 inch drop almost flat roof | 7/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| ridge caps and vent concern | 7/11/2008 |
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 ...
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| shingles rolling up | 7/11/2008 |
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 mainenance | 7/10/2008 |
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 ventilation | 7/10/2008 |
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 ventilation | 7/10/2008 |
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 overhang | 7/8/2008 |
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 roof | 7/7/2008 |
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 home | 7/7/2008 |
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 Damage | 7/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| Hail Damage | 7/6/2008 |
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 home | 7/6/2008 |
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 shigles | 7/4/2008 |
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 Stripping | 7/4/2008 |
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 house | 6/30/2008 |
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 ...
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| new roof/moldy house | 6/29/2008 |
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 ridge | 6/27/2008 |
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 ...
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| soffits vents needed or not with attic fan & attic vents | 6/25/2008 |
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 roofing | 6/25/2008 |
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 roof | 6/24/2008 |
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 Roof | 6/24/2008 |
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 ...
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| tapping into existng roof | 6/24/2008 |
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 roofs | 6/23/2008 |
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 ...
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| Class A roofs | 6/23/2008 |
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 off | 6/21/2008 |
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 choose | 6/19/2008 |
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 tin | 6/16/2008 |
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 Dimensional | 6/16/2008 |
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 tin | 6/13/2008 |
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 Roofs | 6/12/2008 |
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 ...
|
| Warranty | 6/12/2008 |
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 issues | 6/11/2008 |
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 roof | 6/10/2008 |
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 ridge | 6/9/2008 |
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 subport | 6/8/2008 |
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 extansions | 6/8/2008 |
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/ventilation | 6/6/2008 |
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 homes | 6/5/2008 |
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 question | 6/5/2008 |
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 Ventilation | 6/5/2008 |
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 ...
|
| sheathing | 6/5/2008 |
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 condensation | 6/4/2008 |
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 failure | 6/4/2008 |
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 VENT | 6/4/2008 |
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 Felt | 6/3/2008 |
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 Leak | 6/2/2008 |
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 valley | 6/2/2008 |
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 problem | 6/2/2008 |
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 Leak | 6/2/2008 |
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 valley | 5/31/2008 |
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 ...
|
| roof | 5/31/2008 |
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 roof | 5/31/2008 |
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 vents | 5/30/2008 |
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 roofing | 5/29/2008 |
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 roof | 5/27/2008 |
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 firestone | 5/27/2008 |
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 paper | 5/27/2008 |
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 oddly | 5/25/2008 |
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 firestone | 5/25/2008 |
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 problem | 5/24/2008 |
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 roofs | 5/24/2008 |
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 hip | 5/23/2008 |
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 Shingles | 5/22/2008 |
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 roof | 5/18/2008 |
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 trusses | 5/16/2008 |
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 trusses | 5/16/2008 |
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 Comparisons | 5/16/2008 |
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 top | 5/15/2008 |
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 repair | 5/15/2008 |
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 ...
|
| sheathing | 5/14/2008 |
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 repair | 5/8/2008 |
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 modern | 5/8/2008 |
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 attic | 5/7/2008 |
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 modern | 5/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| LENGTH OF RIDGE VENT | 5/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| Low slope roof | 5/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| Low slope | 5/4/2008 |
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 ...
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| low pitch roof | 5/3/2008 |
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 ...
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| low pitch roof | 5/3/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Certification | 5/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| Reroofing | 5/1/2008 |
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 ...
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| walk out roof | 4/30/2008 |
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 ...
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| Shingle Re-roofing | 4/29/2008 |
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. ...
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| sagging roof ridge | 4/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| tear-off or re-shingle on hail damaged shingles | 4/27/2008 |
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 ...
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| Shingle Re-roofing | 4/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| replacing a flat roof | 4/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| white/reflective elastomeric coatings | 4/25/2008 |
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 ...
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| Replacing 30-Year Cedar Shake Roof | 4/25/2008 |
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 ...
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| roof replacement | 4/25/2008 |
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 ...
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| Rubber Roof | 4/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Leak | 4/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| wind damage | 4/21/2008 |
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 ...
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| shingle rating | 4/20/2008 |
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 ...
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| re-roof with furring to ventilate | 4/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| re-roof with furring to ventilate | 4/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Inspections | 4/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Multiple roof leaks/ridge vents | 4/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| Low pitched roof metal roof application and insulation | 4/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| roof repair questions | 4/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| ridge vent and power vent together | 4/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| roof repair questions | 4/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| Owens-Corning Duration asphalt roof shingle | 4/11/2008 |
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 ...
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| Unvented cathedral ceiling | 4/11/2008 |
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 ...
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| Owens-Corning Duration asphalt roof shingle | 4/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| Unvented cathedral ceiling | 4/10/2008 |
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. ...
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| Torch down failure | 4/9/2008 |
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. ...
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| Low slope-Patio Cover-Roofing options | 4/8/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| ridge vent, stupid question | 4/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| hot mopping vs. poly stick | 4/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| ridge vent, stupid question | 4/5/2008 |
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. ...
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| Roofing Felt | 4/3/2008 |
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 ...
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| Dura Roof Tile | 4/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| new roof, loosing shingles | 4/2/2008 |
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, ...
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| ballasted vs non ballasted flat roof | 4/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| No tar paper under roof | 4/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| creaking roof/attic | 3/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| creaking roof/attic | 3/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| rolled roofing for small homemade shed | 3/30/2008 |
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 ...
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| reroof | 3/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| Dormer repair swindle | 3/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| rolled roofing for small homemade shed | 3/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| roofing ventilation | 3/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| water protection during construction | 3/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Materials decision | 3/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| Shingle roof slopes | 3/24/2008 |
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 ...
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| Low sloped roof | 3/23/2008 |
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 ...
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| COLD ROOF OVER EXISTING ROOF | 3/21/2008 |
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 ...
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| Screen Porch Roof | 3/21/2008 |
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 ...
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| Install rubber roofing | 3/20/2008 |
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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| Flat roof over porch | 3/19/2008 |
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 ...
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| Finishing a Shed type roof | 3/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| venting a flat roof | 3/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| Adding ventilation to a low slope roof | 3/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| Building patio cover off of shingled roof | 3/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flashing a flat roof | 3/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flat roof over porch | 3/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| Dirt Roofs | 3/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| Low sloped porch roof and ventilation | 3/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| Reshingling a roof | 3/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| condensation | 3/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| Composition roof | 3/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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. ...
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| 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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| composition shingles | 3/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roofing a low sloped roof | 3/9/2008 |
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 ...
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| roofing / tar paper | 3/9/2008 |
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 ...
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| roof buckling & wood creaking noises | 3/8/2008 |
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 ...
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| ice down condensation on asphalt shingles | 3/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof and ceiling edge leaks | 3/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| Low Slope front porch roof | 3/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| ridge vents | 3/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| new roof on old adobe | 3/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| ice down condensation on asphalt shingles | 3/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Install/Ventilation | 3/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| tar paper | 3/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Install/Ventilation | 3/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| warped roof | 3/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| ROLLED ROOFING | 3/5/2008 |
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. ...
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| Flat Roof Scraper | 3/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| estimates | 3/4/2008 |
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 ...
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| facia board | 3/4/2008 |
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 ...
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| new shingle roof | 3/3/2008 |
Q: In November of 2007 I had a modular put up on my lot from a company in Madison and the buttoning up ...
A: All shingles have a wind rating or at least what the manufacturer guarantees up to. The only ...
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| Hurricane resistance with 3 tab vs dimensional shingles | 3/3/2008 |
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 ...
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| new roof | 3/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Felt paper under asphalt shingles | 2/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| 3 12 pitch cathedral ceiling throughout | 2/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Jack Options for Plumbing Vent Pipe | 2/27/2008 |
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 ...
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| low slope roof to replace | 2/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| 3 12 pitch cathedral ceiling throughout | 2/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| Attic Condensation | 2/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flat Roof Repair Question | 2/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| Attic Condensation | 2/23/2008 |
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 ...
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| Attic Condensation | 2/23/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Bitumen roof vs shingles | 2/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| Bitumen roof vs shingles | 2/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| New Roof | 2/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| vent pipe in middle of valley | 2/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Ventilation | 2/21/2008 |
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 ...
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| Copper sheet | 2/19/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flat to low slope connection leaks | 2/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| Flat to low slope connection leaks | 2/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| GAF System | 2/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| GAF System | 2/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| water leaking through light fixture | 2/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| Copper Flashing @ Chimney | 2/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| exposed butt seams | 2/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| Ice damming and roofing leaks | 2/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof Replacement | 2/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Shingles | 2/8/2008 |
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 ...
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| lean-to roof | 2/8/2008 |
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 ...
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| Garage Roof | 2/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roofing ventilation | 2/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| bad roofing job | 2/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roofing | 2/6/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Flat Roof | 2/3/2008 |
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 ...
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| Newbie homeowner, 8 yr old home | 2/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| low slope roofing | 2/1/2008 |
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 ...
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| re-roofing parapet roof | 2/1/2008 |
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 ...
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| Ridge Vent | 1/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| low slope roof | 1/31/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Tar paper | 1/30/2008 |
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 ...
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| wind damage to shingle roof | 1/30/2008 |
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 ...
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| Minimum temperature to lay shingles | 1/29/2008 |
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 ...
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| Ridge vent Low Slope Roof | 1/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| low-slope roof and leaky ridge vent | 1/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| Cathedral ceiling ventilation | 1/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| Cobra Vent issue | 1/28/2008 |
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 ...
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| water damage | 1/27/2008 |
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 ...
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| Moisture in Attic | 1/26/2008 |
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 ...
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| Moisture in Attic | 1/26/2008 |
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. ...
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| concrete roof design | 1/25/2008 |
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 ...
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| semi-flat sunroom roof | 1/23/2008 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Roof replacement shake versus shingle | 1/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| semi-flat sunroom roof | 1/22/2008 |
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. ...
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| Cathedral ceiling insulation / venting / roofing | 1/22/2008 |
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 ...
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| roof repair | 1/21/2008 |
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 ...
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| Installation environment for torch on roofing | 1/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| Modified Mansard Roof | 1/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| roofing | 1/18/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roofing Materials...Certain Teed VS. Elk | 1/17/2008 |
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 ...
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| Chimney Flashing Continues | 1/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| low slop roof replacement | 1/16/2008 |
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 ...
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| "Algae-Relief" Shingles | 1/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| roll roofing over existing roll roofing | 1/15/2008 |
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 ...
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| Chimney Flashing | 1/14/2008 |
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
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| Chimney Flashing | 1/13/2008 |
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 ...
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| Chimney Flashing | 1/12/2008 |
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 ...
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| replacing cedar shakes on a mansard roof | 1/11/2008 |
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 ...
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| Defective 3 tab shingle | 1/10/2008 |
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 ...
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| Roof just blew off | 1/9/2008 |
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 ...
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| Determining how to proceed with Roofing Proposals | 1/9/2008 |
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 ...
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| Determining how to proceed with Roofing Proposals | 1/8/2008 |
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 ...
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| ridge vents for attic ventilation | 1/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| Determining how to proceed with Roofing Proposals | 1/7/2008 |
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. ...
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| attic ventilation | 1/7/2008 |
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 ...
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| low slope roofing and heavy snow accumulation | 1/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| leaky roof | 1/5/2008 |
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 ...
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| flat roof leaking | 1/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| condensation on roof | 1/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| condensation on roof | 1/2/2008 |
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 ...
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| condensation on roof | 1/1/2008 |
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 ...
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| Watermark on the ceiling | 12/29/2007 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| venting a porch roof | 12/24/2007 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Leaking in Inaccessible attic space | 12/20/2007 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Attic Ventalation | 12/17/2007 |
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 ...
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| How to use my heat cable system | 12/17/2007 |
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 ...
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| How to use my heat cable system | 12/16/2007 |
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 ...
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| Roof Ice Damning | 12/16/2007 |
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 ...
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| roof stand pipe seals leaking | 12/14/2007 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Re-roofing of flat roof | 12/12/2007 |
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 ...
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| Roofing dispute | 12/11/2007 |
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 ...
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| Felt Paper/tar paper | 12/11/2007 |
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 ...
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| flat roof question | 12/10/2007 |
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 ...
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| Cost of 30 year roof versus 50 year versus cedar shingles | 12/10/2007 |
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 ...
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| Organic shingles | 12/10/2007 |
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 ...
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| flat roof | 12/9/2007 |
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 ...
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| life span of felt paper | 12/9/2007 |
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 ...
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| flat roof question | 12/7/2007 |
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 ...
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| design flaw? in roof | 12/6/2007 |
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". ...
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| Re-roofing of flat roof | 12/5/2007 |
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 ...
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| roof drainage | 12/5/2007 |
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 ...
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| COLOR OF ROOFS IN FLORIDA | 12/4/2007 |
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 ...
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| Closing soffit vents | 12/2/2007 |
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 ...
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| colonial gambrel roof shingle style | 12/1/2007 |
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 ...
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| Leaking tar and gravel roof | 11/29/2007 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| pay rates | 11/28/2007 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Damp plywood | 11/26/2007 |
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 ...
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| Roof frost & snow in attick | 11/26/2007 |
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 ...
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| Roofing | 11/25/2007 |
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 ...
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| Fascia Board / Deck roofing gap | 11/24/2007 |
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 ...
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| Roofing contract | 11/24/2007 |
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 ...
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| Ice Shield Problem | 11/23/2007 |
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 ...
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| 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 ...
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| Tiling a Flat Roof | 11/21/2007 |
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 ...
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| Ice Shield Problem | 11/21/2007 |
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 ...
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| Flat roof venting | 11/21/2007 |
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 ...
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| ROOF VENTILATION | 11/20/2007 |
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 ...
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| Tiling a Flat Roof | 11/20/2007 |
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 ...
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| squirrels chewing wood shake shingles | 11/20/2007 |
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 ...
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| Reroofing | 11/19/2007 |
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 roofing | 11/19/2007 |
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 ...
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| repairing chimney hole in roof | 11/15/2007 |
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 ...
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| black residue | 11/13/2007 |
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 roof | 11/11/2007 |
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 ...
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| Modified Bit for Low-Slope Roof | 11/11/2007 |
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 ...
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| Modified Bit for Low-Slope Roof | 11/10/2007 |
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. ...
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| Building a second story | 11/9/2007 |
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 ...
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| Roof Condensation | 11/8/2007 |
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 question | 11/8/2007 |
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 ...
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| nail through roofing in new home | 11/8/2007 |
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 ...
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| Ridge Vent in roof | 11/8/2007 |
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 Condensation | 11/7/2007 |
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 ...
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| Extending a roof | 11/7/2007 |
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 roof | 11/6/2007 |
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 ...
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| Drip edge vent versus smart vent | 11/6/2007 |
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 ...
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| Drip edge vent versus smart vent | 11/6/2007 |
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 ...
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| Drip edge vent versus smart vent | 11/5/2007 |
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 ...
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| Overlay vs. removal | 11/5/2007 |
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 ...
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| Shingles | 11/4/2007 |
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 ...
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| repair of slightly sloped asphalt roof | 11/3/2007 |
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 Engineers | 11/3/2007 |
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 ...
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| Shingles | 11/3/2007 |
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 ...
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| Shingle roof nail pops and craked shingles | 11/2/2007 |
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 ...
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| Roof venting | 11/2/2007 |
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 ...
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| Mismatched shingles on a new house | 11/1/2007 |
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 ...
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| Pipe Roof Flashing on a flat roof | 10/31/2007 |
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 ...
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| Needing new roof | 10/30/2007 |
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 cover | 10/29/2007 |
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 ...
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| Holes in roofing felt on a new roof | 10/29/2007 |
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 ...
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| Felt and Mineral Surface Roofing for Low-slope Shed | 10/29/2007 |
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 ...
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| Felt and Mineral Surface Roofing for Low-slope Shed | 10/29/2007 |
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 ...
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| Ridge vents | 10/28/2007 |
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 Roof | 10/27/2007 |
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 ...
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| Shingles | 10/26/2007 |
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 ...
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| Valley Flashing & Ridge Venting & Waterproof Underlayment | 10/26/2007 |
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 ...
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| We had roof redone and now it leaks | 10/25/2007 |
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 ...
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| re-roofing | 10/24/2007 |
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 ...
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| leak between existing roof and new addition roof | 10/24/2007 |
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 ...
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| Drainage on Modified Bitumen Rolled Roof | 10/24/2007 |
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 ...
|
| addition | 10/23/2007 |
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 ...
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| Drainage on Modified Bitumen Rolled Roof | 10/23/2007 |
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 ...
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| questions about step flashing / drip edge | 10/22/2007 |
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 roofing | 10/22/2007 |
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 roof | 10/21/2007 |
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 ...
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| apparent fishmouthing shingles on a new construction roof | 10/21/2007 |
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 ...
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| apparent fishmouthing shingles on a new construction roof | 10/21/2007 |
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 roof | 10/21/2007 |
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 question | 10/20/2007 |
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 shingle | 10/19/2007 |
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 attic | 10/17/2007 |
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 attic | 10/17/2007 |
Q: Brad, We recently purchased a 1950s brick facade timber frame house in Seattle. The footprint is ...
A: The noises are from wood creaking. It is wood moving apart and together again. You have framing of ...
|
| replacing roof on a log home | 10/16/2007 |
Q: My husband is currently on a job where he is tearing off the existing shingle and replacing it with ...
A: I don't know about a log home but roofs should not be sealed with any sealant such as roof cement or ...
|
| roofing | 10/15/2007 |
Q: We are replacing the roof on my mother's home. We also need to replace some of the fascia and add ...
A: The gutters are fragile. If you do the gutters first you will mark them all up and damage them by ...
|
| Attic Ventilation | 10/12/2007 |
Q: We are considering purchase of a midwestern ranch house with mold in the attic that will be ...
A: The way it's supposed to work is that cool air comes in the bottom of the roof. As it heats up from ...
|
| torch down roofing. | 10/11/2007 |
Q: which torch down brand is better. 1)GTA 2)JM APPEX.my roofer wrote in the contract that he supply ...
A: I never heard of GTA. I assume JM is Johns Manville. They are not that big in the market and never ...
|
| clerestory flashing | 10/10/2007 |
Q: I've added a shed roofed sunroom to my home. We are roofing with fiberglass shingles. At the peak ...
A: I don't know why you'd divert water away from the fascia as that is where water usually drips off ...
|
| Exposed eaves - roofing nails poking through | 10/10/2007 |
Q: I am in the process of getting a new roof on a garage built in 1935. There are exposed eaves about ...
A: The professional way would have been for the roofer to discuss this ahead of time. Many people have ...
|
| Low Slope Ventilation | 10/9/2007 |
Q: We have a 1959 bungalow with an addition in 1979 off the front, all vaulted ceiling with sealed ...
A: You cannot stop ice damming so don't try. The idea is to let the outside of the house do its thing ...
|
| Power Vent problem | 10/9/2007 |
Q: I recently had my roof replaced. I had a power vent already on the roof. The roofing company ...
A: Something probably got bent out of shape when it was being removed or it is not fully nailed and is ...
|
| troubleshooting leaks: hot mop , torch down | 10/8/2007 |
Q: I have a flat roof. I've been talking to a few roofers, and im in the middle of debating between a ...
A: In the hot map they're not going to set up the kettle again to fix a bad spot. They will only patch ...
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| new roof | 10/8/2007 |
Q: I just built an attached garage onto my house. The pitch is walkable and the roof line is the same ...
A: Roof deck, then snow and Ice OR felt. You don't do both in one place. Either you do Snow and Ice or ...
|
| leaky patio roof | 10/5/2007 |
Q: I havae a patio roof that has some low spot that causes water to seat when it rains and gets under ...
A: If you're not from this country then I'll give you extra leeway. It just gets frustrating when ...
|
| leaky patio roof | 10/3/2007 |
Q: I havae a patio roof that has some low spot that causes water to seat when it rains and gets under ...
A: I don't understand this talk about painting the shingle to waterproof them. Aren't' shingles ...
|
| leaky patio roof | 10/3/2007 |
Q: I havae a patio roof that has some low spot that causes water to seat when it rains and gets under ...
A: A shingle roof can't hold water because it is sloped. Even if a spot sagged the spot is still ...
|
| roll roof on flat roof | 10/2/2007 |
Q: I have a guy who wants to use gaf mineral guard roll roofing on a flat roof-no slop. This is not a ...
A: All roofing for flat roofs is "roll roofing". I cannot find anything on GAF's website called ...
|
| Installing Vinyl Gutters, Screw thru Drip Edge? | 10/2/2007 |
Q: I want to install vinyl gutters (DYI). Raingo or Tuflo "contemporary" not K-style. Currently I have ...
A: I'm not sure what you have. How can you have a sloped fascia? Do shingles really extend 1' over. ...
|
| Attaching a patio cover to a roof | 10/1/2007 |
Q: I want to attach a cedar patio cover to my shingled roof. My roof is fairly low so I will need to ...
A: I can think of many ways to do this but I'd have to see what you have. Drilling holes in the roof is ...
|
| roof valley and ice dams | 9/29/2007 |
Q: I have an older home, original 1799 post -beam and 2 additions later on. One of the valleys from the ...
A: Ice and Water Shield should not be used to try to stop leaks. If water got to the material that ...
|
| roofing estimate | 9/29/2007 |
Q: I'm replacing a small rectangular roof that is exactly 183 sq ft. The estimate was given for 2 ...
A: I don't think any roofer is going to calculate by the exact square foot. If it take 2 hours to do ...
|
| Slope meets flat | 9/26/2007 |
Q: Problem 1 - I live in Florida land of rain Problem 2 - I have a home that has a roof over done on ...
A: Shingles cannot come down to the flat roof. Shingles must always be sloped or they will leak. So the ...
|
| Tear off v/s Overlay before installing new metal roof | 9/25/2007 |
Q: am planning to a new roof to replace my 30 yrs old wood shingles roof. I have decided to go with ...
A: Wood shingles are a very light roof so there is no weight issue. There is a fire hazard. Many towns ...
|
| turbines vs. ridge vents | 9/24/2007 |
Q: I have a 1950 house in Atlanta, GA., with gable vents and two turbine vents on the main part of the ...
A: Neither vent will work well if you don't have soffit vents. The idea is cool air comes in the bottom ...
|
| gutters on a tar and gravel roof | 9/24/2007 |
Q: I currently have a tar and gravel roof that is in fairly good condition. We have a low-pitch but ...
A: You can add gutters to any type of roof. As far as drainage problems, use pipes to get the water ...
|
| Estimates | 9/24/2007 |
Q: I was wondering if you could give me as much information on how you do your roof estimates. I have ...
A: Most businesses do 1/3 labor, 1/3 materials and 1/3 profit but for roofing the profit margin is ...
|
| PVC roofing | 9/23/2007 |
Q: We had PVC roofing installed on a flat portion of our roof 3 months ago. We have just discovered ...
A: The wood will dry out if you let air get to it for a while. If the PVC is leaking then the wood will ...
|
| celotex failure | 9/22/2007 |
Q: Our Celotex 25 year roof was intalled in 1992 in our home in central Virginia. The plywood ...
A: There's no information there that points to a problem with the shingles. It sounds like you have a ...
|
| flat roof leak | 9/21/2007 |
Q: I have a flat roof on a 4-season porch attached to my house on the opposite side of the chimney ...
A: Most people do not have chimney caps. Chimney caps keep the water from going down the chimney into ...
|
| Residential Roof Damage | 9/20/2007 |
Q: In Jan of this year, we had an ice storm of heroic proportions. My house has a composition shingle ...
A: Send me pictures to Brad@FallLine.org I have never seen shingle damage that I can attribute to ice ...
|
| Pouring rain while crew is roofing | 9/19/2007 |
Q: Brad, We hired a reputable contractor to side our house & put new (asphalt) shingles on our roof. ...
A: If he used regular asphalt paper under the shingles it will buckle when wet and the buckles will not ...
|
| modified cricket? | 9/19/2007 |
Q: I will try to be more specific. I have an existing gable with an adjacent deck. I want to add a ...
A: When you say you have a deck attached to a gable roof, the deck could be attached to the bottom, the ...
|
| 2 x 12 slope roofing material and ice damming | 9/18/2007 |
Q: Our home has a 2 x 12 roof line with an inside valley over the front entrance and vaulted ceilings ...
A: Yes, modified roofs do not last as long as shingle roofs. Shingle roofs start at 20 and go up to ...
|
| best quality shingle | 9/18/2007 |
Q: I would like your input on which of the following 3 tab comp shingle you consider the best choice ...
A: Certainteed, Tamko and Elk are all big player and all probably good although I've never really ...
|
| roof pitch | 9/18/2007 |
Q: My questions is can you tell me approxemently how much head room I will have if I buy a modular home ...
A: The width of the room is basically the width of the house. The height at the center depends on which ...
|
| Rolled roofing | 9/15/2007 |
Q: I have a detached garage with an 800 sq. ft. fairly low slope roof. It currently has a double ...
A: All roofing that is not shingles is "rolled" roofing so I don't know what you're referring to. EPDM ...
|
| 2 x 12 slope roofing material and ice damming | 9/12/2007 |
Q: Our home has a 2 x 12 roof line with an inside valley over the front entrance and vaulted ceilings ...
A: Ice damming is not a problem so you might be trying to change something that you THINK is a problem. ...
|
| re roofing | 9/11/2007 |
Q: I'm in the process of replacing gutters. The fascia behind the gutters were rotted and the edges of ...
A: You said, "Should I reroof with 2nd roof or replace entire roof? He said it would be better & less ...
|
| roof overhang | 9/11/2007 |
Q: I have a 30 degree roof with truss that extend 60" past the front exterior support wall. They're is ...
A: 60" out is a long way to support itself. Anything can be designed but the question is were these ...
|
| Repair of a flat roof | 9/10/2007 |
Q: We have a small flat-roof section of our roof that is leaking. The roof was shingled, just like the ...
A: No, it is not a reasonable price. A reasonable price would be $0. If single paper did not stop the ...
|
| roof slope | 9/7/2007 |
Q: I have built a small shed, about 9x16 but due to the height allowance, I was only able to give the ...
A: A slope can only be measured in angles or a ratio. 2" in 20 feet is almost no slope at all. 2/12 is ...
|
| Roof color | 9/7/2007 |
Q: We're putting a new architectural shingle roof on our home that has some sea green shingles from the ...
A: One thing I would never get into is picking colors. Maybe a decorator wouldn't mind doing that. What ...
|
| corrugated roof replacement | 9/7/2007 |
Q: We own a waterfront vacation home on the pacific ocean. The carport needs the corrugated fiberglass ...
A: The experts aren't skipping the polycarbonate roof because it's inferior. They're skipping it ...
|
| roofing insulation | 9/7/2007 |
Q: I have recently replaced a 15+ year old BUR installed on top of 2 inches of rigid foam insulation. ...
A: Your city inspector's an idiot. The basic instructions are on every single shingle package and you ...
|
| 3-Tab vs. Architectural Roof Value | 9/6/2007 |
Q: We are looking to replace our roof but don't plan on being in the house for more than 3 more years ...
A: Neither one will bring you any return for you money. You usually do not get the money back out that ...
|
| corrugated roof replacement | 9/6/2007 |
Q: We own a waterfront vacation home on the pacific ocean. The carport needs the corrugated fiberglass ...
A: I don't know what your question is. You said you need to hire a handyman. Then I guess you have to ...
|
| roofing insulation | 9/6/2007 |
Q: I have recently replaced a 15+ year old BUR installed on top of 2 inches of rigid foam insulation. ...
A: First of all, you can't install shingles on a 2/12 slope or it will leak. That's why you had a BUR ...
|
| Ridge Vent | 9/6/2007 |
Q: Brad! I recently had mold remediation done in my attic, and a ridge vent was part of the solution. ...
A: Negative pressure just means that the air might flow the other way. But that is rare and even if it ...
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| Ridge Vent | 9/4/2007 |
Q: Brad! I recently had mold remediation done in my attic, and a ridge vent was part of the solution. ...
A: If he feels that the east side is safer to open because wind USUALLY comes from the west side then ...
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| white/black GAF Timberline 30 tiles. | 9/4/2007 |
Q: We are installing a GAF Timberline 30 roof......... Our home is on the mid-Atlantic shore line, ...
A: Light color anything is cooler than dark color. That's why Arabs wear white in the desert and not ...
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| roofing an old house | 9/4/2007 |
Q: 'Just picked up my 1st house. It's about 50 years old, has been boarded about 10 years, has ...
A: Plywood will be stronger but if it is visible inside then it won't look right. You'll have to use ...
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| Removing roof vent | 9/3/2007 |
Q: I live in New York. I had a new roof installed last August. Although I already had a vent in one ...
A: You replace the shingles that have been cut or nailed through. It will probably be 3-4 rows on each ...
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| My new roof | 9/3/2007 |
Q: Some GAF Ultra shingles on my new roof are 36 & 15/16" in length & some are 36" in length. Do you ...
A: I don't know why you have two different size shingles. Neither one is big enough for the metric ...
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| attic ventilation | 9/2/2007 |
Q: I am replacing my roof due to a hail storm. My roof is a gable with 6/12 pitch. My house is 50x30. I ...
A: I don't now what "turtle" vents are. The idea is to vent out as much as possible. It's like airing ...
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| Comparison of Different Shingles | 8/31/2007 |
Q: I am trying to decide between the 30 year Duration (not Duration Premium), GAF Timberline 30 and ...
A: I never heard of Duration. GAF is the big guys in the market. Timberline is popular. Most of a ...
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| flat/low slope roofing | 8/31/2007 |
Q: We are looking at replacing two portions of our roof -- one low-slope, and the other completely ...
A: I am not that familiar with TPO. It is a type of plastic and I don't like it's properties but it is ...
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| Skylight Replacement | 8/31/2007 |
Q: While re-roofing my home, I realized our 16yr. old curb mounted acrylic bubble skylight has ...
A: Curb mounted skylights are for flat (low sloped) roofs. Shingle roofs use Velux's standard deck ...
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| Diagonal reglet? | 8/30/2007 |
Q: I am re-roofing a hip-roof bay window set into a existing brick wall. I’d like to create a smoother ...
A: You also could just add a piece on top of the step flashing but not cut into the brick so it is not ...
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| Roof | 8/29/2007 |
Q: I built a 20x16 shed with a 5 pitch. The only thing I really do not know is how to roof. Can you ...
A: You don't buy shingles by the bundle as some are 3 bundles to a square and some are 4. You also need ...
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| roof buckling | 8/28/2007 |
Q: I have a log home and the roof is buckling upwward in multiple areas. It is 5 years old. The ...
A: Was there space left between the sheets of the plywood? Everything expands and contracts and must ...
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| 2/ 12 pitch - what is in inches? | 8/27/2007 |
Q: pitch of shed roof to be at least 2/12 pitch, what is that in inches?
A: 2/12 is a ratio. It applies to any units of measurement you can come up with. It is 2 inch rise to a ...
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| rolled roofing | 8/25/2007 |
Q: What is the proper method for installing rolled roofing. I am looking to install a roof 12' ...
A: Now you've mentioned a specific kind. Even your Big Box store (Home Depot) sells more than just 90 ...
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| Roof | 8/24/2007 |
Q: I have a flat roof home built in 1988 (tar & gravel) should I replace it with the same or the new ...
A: Of course price depends on location, difficulty of roof, supply and demand and many other factors. ...
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| rolled roofing | 8/24/2007 |
Q: What is the proper method for installing rolled roofing. I am looking to install a roof 12' ...
A: The term "Rolled Roofing" applies to all roofing for low slopes. That takes in a hundred different ...
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| Flat Roof Options | 8/23/2007 |
Q: We have a French Colonial home in Delaware with a flat roof surrounded by a mansard shingle roof. ...
A: I like torch-down but Brai is a junk brand of torch-down. I thought they went out of business. EPDM ...
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| Roofing claim on house that is for sale | 8/22/2007 |
Q: We are in the process of selling a second home. A week after it went on the market a hail/high wind ...
A: The insurance company pays you for damage. You do not have to replace that damage. You can keep it ...
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| GAF Horror Story | 8/22/2007 |
Q: I have been having HUGE HUGE problems with GAF. Have you had problems dealing with them, or do you ...
A: It is rare to deal directly with the manufacturers so I might have dealt with them 10 years ago. ...
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| Air Pockets in Hot Mopped roof | 8/20/2007 |
Q: Yesterday I had my flat roof Hot Mopped over 75lbs base using sbs modified! The guys that did this ...
A: First, if you only nailed the base then the base is only partially adhered to the roof. If you ...
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| Underlayment | 8/19/2007 |
Q: I will be stripping my roof to the sheathing and would like to cover the entire plywood surface with ...
A: Anything you put under the shingles is a vapor barrier. Ice and Water Shield was not made as a vapor ...
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| Water shields, pipe flashings and ridge vent system | 8/16/2007 |
Q: I was told that I would be given ice and water shield at gutters edge, replace pipe collar ...
A: Flashings don't get sealed. When a roof is put together properly nothing gets sealed. It just all ...
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| rain during roofing | 8/16/2007 |
Q: While in process of installing asphalt shingles (about 1/2 way up one side of a gable roof) we ...
A: Yes, I've gotten caught by unexpected rain. When it happens you STAY on the roof for 5 extra minutes ...
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| Roof + New Chimney = persistent leak? | 8/14/2007 |
Q: We recently built a new chimney when we decided to install a new roof. By chimney I mean the part ...
A: You have better logic then your roofer...or maybe he knows what he says is bogus but is trying to ...
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| excessive run-off in valleys | 8/13/2007 |
Q: I have two sections of steep roof that form a valley that can overwhelm the gutter capacity. I was ...
A: Put a piece of metal on the outside corner of the gutter to try to catch the water shooting straight ...
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| roofing estimate | 8/12/2007 |
Q: I have a building that we have been using for a garage. It measures 25' x 22'. It is a simple two ...
A: If guy #2 says he will give you a 30 year warranty for 3-tab shingles then he's the one that's a ...
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| deck off house over room | 8/12/2007 |
Q: I have a split level house all in excellent condition except for what I consider a major problem, a ...
A: If it's level how will the water get off the roof. It will rot the roof again. You might have to ...
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| roof problem | 8/8/2007 |
Q: We have rotted window sills which has caused ceiling stains on the ceiling below from water damage ...
A: Water getting in through the soffit would have to go vertically up. It is more likely there is a ...
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| roof problem | 8/8/2007 |
Q: We have rotted window sills which has caused ceiling stains on the ceiling below from water damage ...
A: You could install a gutter to carry the excess water away. You could also repair the window sills so ...
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| roof brand | 8/7/2007 |
Q: Most roofers that I have got estimates for in Long island,NY seem to use a GAF roof. But the one ...
A: I can't say "not true" as I have not followed it for 20 years. The bigger names in shingles are GAF ...
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| difference between contractor & Lowes | 8/6/2007 |
Q: My question is this i am going to do a reroof of probably 25 year old shingles.I am using 30 or 40 ...
A: Most contractors will use the cheapest materials they can get so just because contractors use a ...
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| CURVED PORCH ROOF | 8/6/2007 |
Q: My contractor is very good but he is having a hard time finding flexible drip edge that is made for ...
A: They don't make flexible drip edge. When you have something odd like that you have to fudge ...
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| Asphalt Shingles | 8/5/2007 |
Q: The contractors have begun replacing my cedar shake roof with asphalt shingles, but in some areas ...
A: Why would someone start in the middle of a roof? You might have to do this when running up two sides ...
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| flat roof | 8/5/2007 |
Q: I have a large one car garage built against my house with a flat roof it has started leaking due to ...
A: It sounds like you have a "handyman" roof. There is no way to "properly" fix something that should ...
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| installing a cold roof / no ridge ventilation | 8/2/2007 |
Q: I have a 14.5 square' roof with 50% 8/12 and 50% 3,2 pitch. The original portion of the cabin was ...
A: Ice damming will always occur. The idea is to make a system that will keep the water from coming in. ...
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| Gutter rerouting | 8/2/2007 |
Q: I am hoping that you also comment on guttering; it is not a separate category on AllExperts. I have ...
A: I've always wondered how those solid gutter guards can take heavy rain without the water going over ...
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| modified bitumen roof installations | 7/31/2007 |
Q: I have to take my roofer to court because he would not honor his warranty on a leak over my carport. ...
A: I don't know of any but what is "professional"? I wrote to Bob Villa because he doesn't now how to ...
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| attaching deck trellis directly to roof | 7/30/2007 |
Q: I have an asphalt roof with at least 5 years life left in it. At the back of the property, the deck ...
A: I'm not sure what you're doing. It's hard to picture all that you said. One thing is certain - if ...
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| Tile roof leaking | 7/30/2007 |
Q: My 10-12 year old concrete tile roof in Chapel Hill, NC is leaking in a couple of spots. One of ...
A: It has nothing to do with amount of rain or length of rafter. The low slope of the roof is a major ...
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| Attic insulation and ventalation | 7/29/2007 |
Q: I live in Washington DC in a 1939 row house with a slight peak (3- 4 feet) toward the front, but the ...
A: The blown in insulation wouldn't take up all the room so there should be room for air flow above the ...
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| Attic/Roof Venting | 7/28/2007 |
Q: We have had an offer accepted on a home we have found to purchase. The house was originally built in ...
A: Venting is a good idea but many houses were built without it and those houses didn't fall down. ...
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| repair of patio roof | 7/28/2007 |
Q: We HAVE A SCREENED IN PATIO ROOM that has been a part of the house SINCE WE BOUGHT it 13 years ago. ...
A: There is no picture there. I don't know what that link is but it takes me to some other part of the ...
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| 3 Mansard Roof questions... | 7/28/2007 |
Q: I have a circa 1900 2 story mansard (the second story is essentially roofed) which appears to have ...
A: It sounds like what you have are dormer windows and they usually get shingles but shingles are for ...
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| low pitch roof | 7/27/2007 |
Q: I have 3 quotes on re-roofing my addition (2 room are part of the main house plus a screened in ...
A: Torch applied rubber and Certainteed Flintlastic are probably the same. Rubber is the nickname the ...
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| Dura-Ridge | 7/27/2007 |
Q: Over thirteen years ago the construction company that I am now employed for built a house that under ...
A: I never heard of the company so it must have been a fledging business to start with. The ...
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| Low Slople Flat roof & ventilation | 7/27/2007 |
Q: I live in Winnipeg Canada and have a tar and gravel low pitch flat roof (2/12) that is over 50 years ...
A: Ventilation is a good idea but if you can't do it then skip it. When I was a kid they did not make a ...
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| Missing Felt Paper | 7/27/2007 |
Q: We are selling our house and the roofing inspector discovered that we do not have any felt paper ...
A: Some roofers do not like to use felt. It saves them a couple of pennies. Some believe on steep ...
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| EPDM | 7/26/2007 |
Q: I'm considering hiring a contractor to put EPDM on my low pitch roof. He says he will put down ...
A: How will the air get out? If it is trapped it is stuck there. Also, a bubble means the material is ...
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| blocked ridge vent | 7/26/2007 |
Q: the blocking came in two foot long sections that were toenailed in and I assume that it is part of ...
A: I never heard of this problem so I disagree that many other homes have this problem. He knows that ...
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| stay flat or add gable | 7/26/2007 |
Q: I have a one story family room (13' x ') attached to the back of my two story colonial. The main ...
A: Water should not lay on a roof more than 48 hours. If it does than option 1 of a new roof is not a ...
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| TORCH DOWN MODIFIED ROOFING | 7/25/2007 |
Q: IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I DID TORCH DOWN, CAN YOU REFRESH MY MEMORY, SUPPLIES TEMPERATURE OF TORCH ...
A: I have no idea of temperature. You torch until it melts. There's no thermometer. I'd guess it melts ...
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| flat roof material? | 7/25/2007 |
Q: i have a flat roof over a car port and additional room that leaks. I've gotten estimates from local ...
A: Putting on a new roof would be like replacing wood on your window. Coating the roof would be like ...
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| tar paper | 7/24/2007 |
Q: I am a disabled Vietnam Vet.I just had my roof done. The roofer installed the tar paper vertically, ...
A: It won't make any difference as long as you don't have a leak. If you have a leak then water running ...
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| how to install aluminum strip rain diverters for asphalt shingled roof | 7/24/2007 |
Q: Since my house does not have gutters, I would like to know how to add aluminum strip rain diverters ...
A: Take a 90 degree metal and slide one end under the shingles. Give it an angle so water will not get ...
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| Low incline roof. Shingles? | 7/23/2007 |
Q: Question for you. I have a low incline roof over some bay windows in front of our house. The house ...
A: The minimum slope for shingles is 2" per foot which is about 9 degrees. Even then you have to use ...
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| MODIFIED OR EPDM | 7/23/2007 |
Q: I have an old Itanliante style house with a flat roof. I am in need of a new roof but I don't know ...
A: EPDM is a commercial roof and cannot touch asphalt products or it will eat away at it. So if you ...
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| rubber roof, animals | 7/22/2007 |
Q: Brad, racoons and squirrels are eating our black rubber roof. We have had it repaired and tried to ...
A: I've only seen a roof chewed once before and have no idea what made them do it. My guess is they ...
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| Drip Edge | 7/22/2007 |
Q: I had a new roof installed on my house. The roofers finished yesterday (7/21). Only they were to ...
A: Drip edge should be installed to protect the wood that is between the top of the gutter and the ...
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| Mansard design | 7/18/2007 |
Q: We own a 1890's Mansard that is 32x32, without the back addition. Our roof is 29x29 plus dormers. ...
A: Mansard roofs today generally get done with shingles. What's your definition of "green". Are you ...
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| Low Pitch Roof | 7/18/2007 |
Q: We are purchasing a home that was recently inspected. On inspection the inspector told us there was ...
A: My question is, if you have a 1:12 slope then why don't you have a hundred leaks. You can't put ...
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| Merging new porch roof to existing roof | 7/16/2007 |
Q: I'm planning a roof over a screen porch and in order to achieve enough head room, I'll need to ...
A: If you remove those two rows then you have to loosen the two rows above that. To loosen any row you ...
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| Merging new porch roof to existing roof | 7/16/2007 |
Q: I'm planning a roof over a screen porch and in order to achieve enough head room, I'll need to ...
A: You can't just lay the new roof onto the old one so it has to be nailed. No water should ever hit ...
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| Wet Tar Paper | 7/14/2007 |
Q: Cn I continue to install my ashphalt shingles while the underlying tarpaper is still wet from a ...
A: It probably will dry out but why take a chance. It only takes an hour or two of dry weather to dry ...
|
| Stepping of Landmark 30 metric shingle | 7/12/2007 |
Q: I live in Minnesota and I am going to reshingle my residential roof using Landmark 30 metric ...
A: Many roofers just put a full shingle and then cut 6" and then a full shingle and then 6". The idea ...
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| underlayment and ice/water shield | 7/12/2007 |
Q: I am going to be putting on a new roof on our summer lake house. I wanted to know if I should use ...
A: The underlayment paper is a vapor barrier. Many roofers use 15. If it is going to rain on the paper ...
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| proper way to insulate roof | 7/11/2007 |
Q: I'm having a house built. I noticed my builder ( on another house)uses baffles and small batts to ...
A: "If you don't have any insulation you will will not have ice damming." A roof of 8/12 will probably ...
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| New Low Slope Roof Failure | 7/9/2007 |
Q: I am looking for advice on the best way to remedy a new roof that has failed multiple times over the ...
A: The thickness of the metal used is irrelevant. That might have a bearing on the number of years it ...
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| life expectancy on shingle roof | 7/9/2007 |
Q: I will be reroofing a ranch house and adding a 4-season room. I am fifty-nine; the house is in ...
A: Read their details of the warranty. ...
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| Cedar Shake Installation Cost | 7/8/2007 |
Q: Brad we are builing an addition to our existing home which is roofed with cedar shakes about 7 years ...
A: I have no way of telling how long it would take. A valley will eat up a LOT of time. I have seen ...
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| Cedar Shake Installation Cost | 7/8/2007 |
Q: Brad we are builing an addition to our existing home which is roofed with cedar shakes about 7 years ...
A: How can you have a breezeway between two roof that connect? You have a slope uphill and then a flat ...
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| applied acrylic roof patch over valleys | 7/7/2007 |
Q: I have a asphalt shingles on a 3/12 roof, I want to make my roof last longer, I am painting the roof ...
A: A California Valley is not a good type of valley. Many manufacturers will not allow it and many ...
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| New roof needed | 7/3/2007 |
Q: I have a split level home on Long Island, NY. I am interested in replacing my whole roof. I have ...
A: Oh, if only these people had brains - unless he's lying to save some money. The shingles overhang ...
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| Asphault Odor | 7/2/2007 |
Q: Almost a year ago we had our 15 year old slightly sloped roof redone. The material used was Awaplan ...
A: I can't imagine roofing material giving off odor once it hardens. I never heard of that. Unless he ...
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| burning bitumen | 6/30/2007 |
Q: I want to kn ow if you heat the whole roll of bitumen when you are burning it down, or do you heat ...
A: EVERYTHING expands and contracts. You'll need to heat the entire back side of the roll and also the ...
|
| double wide roofing question | 6/28/2007 |
Q: I am basically inheriting a 2003 Oakwood 78X28 doublewide. Obviously the home is not paid for, it is ...
A: At one point you said the exterior walls are 2x6 (which is the frame) and then later you said the ...
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| hotmop roof | 6/27/2007 |
Q: I am a new resident of San Diego (from VA) and have had no experience with "hotmop" roofs back East. ...
A: You can use that or an aluminum coating which is brushed on. I use aluminum coating. Whatever, just ...
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| New roof needed | 6/27/2007 |
Q: I have a split level home on Long Island, NY. I am interested in replacing my whole roof. I have ...
A: Starter shingles is HOW the first course is done. It is not a special shingle although I recently ...
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| Rolled roofing over asphalt shingles | 6/26/2007 |
Q: One of the roofs of our home has a 12 x 2.75 incline; the plans called for a rolled roof, but for ...
A: I don't know what you mean by a 12 x 2.75 incline. That's not the way to describe a slope. If you ...
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| Bid includes refund for advertising | 6/26/2007 |
Q: Due to high winds in the area (Austin, TX), I'll need my roof replaced. The insurance adjuster came ...
A: I have a bridge to sell you too. I'm not sure what you're describing. You said one bidder said he ...
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| Shingle Warranty | 6/25/2007 |
Q: Brad, I am moving into a new home (a two dormer cape) that is 13 years old. There is a small front ...
A: Some manufacturers print their name on the back of the shingle. I assume that it is not a slope that ...
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| rolled roofing over low slope garage roof | 6/25/2007 |
Q: Our slanted garage roof is 2/12 pitch and has what appears to be builder's felt or rolled asphalt ...
A: Sealed roofs are for low slopes. Shingles are for higher slopes. Shingles are not sealed and if ...
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| new roof | 6/24/2007 |
Q: I need to replace asphalt shingles on the older part of the house to match the new addition. My ...
A: You can go up to two roofs before ripping them off. If you put on a second roof you run the risk of ...
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| two different pitched roofs | 6/24/2007 |
Q: I am joining two roofs over a heated living area. The first larger pitch is 10:12 and perpendicular ...
A: It's hard to picture what you have without pictures. I don't know what a California roof is. 4:12 is ...
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| Remove wood shake, install 50 yr Elk shingle | 6/23/2007 |
Q: Brad, I live in Denver, Co. I have a 2,600 sq ft ranch. The roof is the original wood shake roof ...
A: There is no such thing as a set price for labor. I advertise that I'm more expensive than other ...
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| flat roof resheathing | 6/22/2007 |
Q: I recenting had a roofing company reroof my flat roof condo and I am concerned about the amount of ...
A: That's a tough one. The question would be, where they were nailing, is there any possibility that a ...
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| flat roof resheathing | 6/22/2007 |
Q: I recenting had a roofing company reroof my flat roof condo and I am concerned about the amount of ...
A: It's hard not to hit the trusses. You draw a line or do a chalk like or just eye it up since you ...
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| Gambrel roof -- what material? | 6/21/2007 |
Q: Our home has a gambrel roof. I cannot tell you the pitch, but I do know that the angle of the ...
A: A roof can be zero degrees (flat) or 90 degrees (vertical) but it cannot be 110 degrees. If it is ...
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| Rafters bowing, pulling away from ridge board | 6/20/2007 |
Q: We put an offer on a 62 year old home. The inspection revealed "2x4 rafters beams not properly ...
A: There is no such thing as a "certified" roofer. The improper work sounds like 90% of the roofing ...
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| ventilation | 6/19/2007 |
Q: I have a gambrel-style roof. A ridge vent runs along the top stopping about 12 inches from both ...
A: You don't have to be that technical with the set up. Just open up as much as you can and air will ...
|
| Flat roof Spray seal | 6/16/2007 |
Q: I'm looking into a project in Iran/Tehran to create roof gardens inorder to improve the air quality ...
A: Yes, this is a site by experts but we're all volunteers, we get paid nothing for this and we do it ...
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| Flat roof Spray seal | 6/15/2007 |
Q: I'm looking into a project in Iran/Tehran to create roof gardens inorder to improve the air quality ...
A: Yes, there are sanctions against Iran but the U.S. is a government run by the people (of which Iran ...
|
| rolled roof needs replaced | 6/14/2007 |
Q: I have rolled roofing on the back of my house, this was an addition many years ago. 2/12 pitch and ...
A: The proper materials would be a modified roof but a homeowner can do that without training and ...
|
| Flat roof question | 6/13/2007 |
Q: I have a garage with a low slope roof and old tar roofing. The tar extends over the fascia board ...
A: Put the new gutter up and then add a drip edge that ends over the gutter so water will go in the ...
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| Black Roof Shingles | 6/13/2007 |
Q: I just had a pewter gray roof installed on my house. The color of the finished product resembles a ...
A: It will make your house warmer in the summer and warmer in the winter. It will produce heat all the ...
|
| New Pipe Vent Built-Up Roof | 6/13/2007 |
Q: I just had a service box upgrade. Since a new vertical electrical conduit was installed through the ...
A: Nail the collar with cement all around and then seal with cement, layer of fabric and cement again. ...
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| Roof repairs and insurance | 6/12/2007 |
Q: 1st time homeowner. Stains on walls indicate leaking in a few separate locations in a 3 story ...
A: What to do first: Fix the roof first then paint. You call the insurance company when you can get ...
|
| New roof needed | 6/12/2007 |
Q: I have a split level home on Long Island, NY. I am interested in replacing my whole roof. I have ...
A: Picking the right roofer - see my website at ZachariaRoofing.com Liberty - I thought it was a ...
|
| Sagging roof | 6/12/2007 |
Q: The house is 100+ years old. Last year a roofing contractor fixed the leaking roof by re-enforcing ...
A: Cross beams keep the two side walls from pushing apart which will eventually make the house ...
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| sealing vent pipes on roof | 6/11/2007 |
Q: our recent home inspection revealed none of the plumbing stacks or vent pipe for gas heating or ...
A: They don't get sealed. They get collars. When properly done nothing gets sealed. Unless we're ...
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| Venting Net area | 6/11/2007 |
Q: I am researching whole house fans in order to cool my 130 yr. old 2-Story Victorian. I sizing out ...
A: It sounds like you're comparing square footage with cubic feet. The fan measures cubic feet as in ...
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| OK to staple felt? | 6/10/2007 |
Q: I am installing a new roof and using 15# felt underlayment. I have had conflicting advice on ...
A: You can use staples. It will eventually have a thousand nails through it so you only need enough to ...
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| roofing a front wrap-a -round porch | 6/9/2007 |
Q: We just had a home inspection done and the inspector commented that the porch roofing was not up to ...
A: It's not a major item. The steeper the slope the less need for the paper but it should have been ...
|
| re roofing | 6/8/2007 |
Q: I want to re-roof my house with 30-yr architectural shingles. Our house is a 44' x 16' ranch with a ...
A: I assuming by 4" you mean 4" per foot. You can use the old drip edge if it still looks good. I guess ...
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| How to tell if I have a Timberline roof.. | 6/7/2007 |
Q: I just purchased a house and the previous owner were to fix a problem the house had around the ...
A: Timberline is the name of GAF's dimensional shingles. There are others that look the same and some ...
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| flat roof | 6/7/2007 |
Q: I have severe ponding (over 2") that can last for up to three weeks and my roof leaks. My roof is ...
A: It sounds very high to me. I'd be doing 20 sq for about $4,000. "All say it will hold water". Yeah, ...
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| flat portion of roof | 6/5/2007 |
Q: One simple question - Is it standard to put shingles on a flat portion of a home? A company did this ...
A: Did you ever see shingles on a flat roof? You can't put shingles on a flat roof or they'll leak. But ...
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| Flat roof leaks | 6/4/2007 |
Q: I have a small 3 sided building which I have attached to my existing garage. The garage roof has a ...
A: After just one roof and a leak I would have had second thoughts. It's not the type of roof that ...
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| creaking/popping rafters | 6/3/2007 |
Q: House built 1949. Single story, standard slope ranch with gable roof. Single layer of shingles ...
A: Houses can creek. It is caused by either settling of the house or expansion and contraction due to ...
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| creaking/popping rafters | 6/3/2007 |
Q: House built 1949. Single story, standard slope ranch with gable roof. Single layer of shingles ...
A: What is standard slope? I have a standard car. What does it mean "rafters are popping"? Popping as ...
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| ventillation and roofing | 6/2/2007 |
Q: I am interested in purchasing a house that does not have an attic on it. I am concerning about is ...
A: Unless you have a cathedral ceiling there has to be a crawl space. The roof has to be sloped to ...
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| Drip edge on High slope roof | 6/1/2007 |
Q: Several local and presumably reputable installers have indicated that it's not standard practice to ...
A: It is true that a 90 degree bend won't work right on a 12/12 slope (45 degree slope)...that is why ...
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| adding living space | 6/1/2007 |
Q: We have a 1300 sq ft ranch with 800 sq ft attached garage, outer dimension is 30 X 70. The floor of ...
A: You can do anything you want. You just have to make sure HOW to do it. You can't just add a floor ...
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| RE-Roofing Over Bur | 6/1/2007 |
Q: I wrote you a question yesterday about re-roofing and my personal inspection of the roof. I did a ...
A: They have a self-stick base sheet for modified or you can use shingle underlayment. It will stick if ...
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| RE-Roofing Over Bur | 5/31/2007 |
Q: I wrote you a question yesterday about re-roofing and my personal inspection of the roof. I did a ...
A: A slope of 1-2/12 is pretty steep. Are you sure you want to go that steep for a low-slope type of ...
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| flat roof ventilation/r.b. foil | 5/30/2007 |
Q: Sir, we have a project in Newport Beach, Ca, climate zone 6. Very mild. OUr building department has ...
A: Codes might change but to me they change for the worse. They build junk houses today. In my youth ...
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| squirrel damage to lead pipe vents | 5/29/2007 |
Q: Squirrels or rats have eaten the lead around the top of all my pipe vents on a three year old roof. ...
A: You can't cover the vent pipe at the top. It's OK for water to go down the pipe - assuming it's a ...
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| Roofer screwup? | 5/27/2007 |
Q: Just had a new three-tab put on -- it's only been 37 years, but thought what the heck! Walked the ...
A: It was probably from foot damage working in the heat. If the damage is only on the top then they ...
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| Flat Roof Replacement | 5/27/2007 |
Q: Our condo association has 24 flat roofs (approx. 4500 sq. ft/each) that need to be replaced over the ...
A: Modified is what I like the most. EPDM is more for commercial. It is good but it is very thin and ...
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| Roof vents on new roof | 5/25/2007 |
Q: I live in the DFW area and need a new roof due to hail damage. We currently have several of the ...
A: Maybe the ridge vents were installed improperly. Maybe the slope of the roof is too low. They seem ...
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| Replacement of 19 year old roof | 5/25/2007 |
Q: I currently have a 19 year old cedar shake roof and it has spots where you can see the underlying ...
A: If you have to replace half the roof then how far behind can the other half be? You might as well ...
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| Heat cables for roof | 5/24/2007 |
Q: First off I had guttershutter install their product on my gutters. During the winter the ice built ...
A: They do use heat cables on roofs. I guess they're permanent. I don't think they should rot. How much ...
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| Problems with roof above a cathedral ceiling | 5/20/2007 |
Q: The house I bought in December 2003 (I'm in Toronto, Canada) had a major reno in 1997 by the ...
A: Ice dams will always form. You can't stop that. The reasons ice dams occur is because the snow melts ...
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| hail damaged 3 tab shingles | 5/20/2007 |
Q: I meet with an adjuster today for hail damage, he said since the backing of the shingles weren't ...
A: You have hail damage. The question is should State Farm pay for it. If you get a scratch on your car ...
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| Problems with roof above a cathedral ceiling | 5/19/2007 |
Q: The house I bought in December 2003 (I'm in Toronto, Canada) had a major reno in 1997 by the ...
A: What is the slope of the roof? You can’t put shingles on low slopes or they will leak. Many times ...
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| Ridge vents | 5/19/2007 |
Q: I am having a new roof put on a residential home. One contractor wants to use Trimline Shingle-over ...
A: I like the solid vents because they give a rigid straight line. With the soft vents you have to be ...
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| no drip edge at front eave | 5/17/2007 |
Q: we are having major issues with wood rot from a leak behind the gutter of our 2story townhouse. ...
A: Codes don't cover every single thing in life. They basically are put in place to keep things safe. ...
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| Popping noise | 5/16/2007 |
Q: I recently have been experiencing load "Popping Noises" coming from my roof. My house was built in ...
A: Popping sounds usually come from some solid objects moving - that would be wood. Only solid objects ...
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| Roof Drip Guad | 5/15/2007 |
Q: Brad, Our house is 18 years old and prior to our purchase the roof was replaced in 1996 do to a hail ...
A: 1) Should the drip guard be replaced with a re-roof? You could ask that of every aspect of a roof or ...
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| Modified Bitumen flat roof | 5/14/2007 |
Q: What is the preferred nailing pattern for the base sheet in a modified bitumen flat roof, I use the ...
A: There is no real nailing pattern. The idea is to make sure there are enough nails to secure it so ...
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| Need a new roof after hail damage. | 5/12/2007 |
Q: A bad hail storm passed through the NW area of Atlanta a few weeks back and the result was damaged ...
A: Referrals are good as long as they didn't come from the roofer. People that had their roof done can ...
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| Henry low slope self-adhesive roll roofing | 5/12/2007 |
Q: I just rebuilt my 16 x 20 detached garage which has a flat (low slop) roof. (approx 2 inch drop over ...
A: Self-adhesive roofing is a new item and has not been tested over time. I do not like the idea. You ...
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| roof, Flashing missing, building felt not to teh edge | 5/11/2007 |
Q: We bought a new house, the inspection report said that flashing is missing in valleys. The builder's ...
A: The metal (if it is even used) in the valleys is not called flashing. There are 3 ways to do ...
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| Asphalt shingles | 5/11/2007 |
Q: I am remodeling a 70+ year old house. It had an old, rusted metal roof and we decided to go with ...
A: But 50? That means on the first day he will work and not get paid since he's already been paid for ...
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| Code on wood shake & ice/water shield | 5/10/2007 |
Q: Can you indicate if removal of older wood shakes installed under an existing shingle roof is ...
A: Every town has their own code so you can't say "The Code". There are standard practices of which ...
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| Asphalt shingles | 5/10/2007 |
Q: I am remodeling a 70+ year old house. It had an old, rusted metal roof and we decided to go with ...
A: If he nailed a 2x4 into the shingles then he just made holes. He might try to plug them up but then ...
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| porch roof | 5/9/2007 |
Q: i resheathed and applied rolled roofing to a really low slope 10x16 porch roof a few years ago. it ...
A: All roofing except for shingles is "rolled roofing" so I don't know what you have. EPDM is a ...
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| Asphalt roofing | 5/9/2007 |
Q: What type of asphalt is used with rock on a roof with a slope of 2% type1, type2 type3 or type4, ...
A: I forget what 2% comes out to be. Roof slopes are measured in inches rise per foot run. If 2% means ...
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| attic ventilation/ridge vent | 5/8/2007 |
Q: We live in the hot,humid Baltimore-Washington corridor. My house is approx. 2300 sq ft with standard ...
A: It's simple concept and you can just use your gut feeling as you do when you air your house out. The ...
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| shingles buckling | 5/8/2007 |
Q: i am have a house built by a small builder. several of the other homes already completed have the ...
A: When you say, "they got the roof on", what roof did they get on? Did they do a new roof? You didn't ...
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| Granular Spray Roof Coating Over Asphalt | 5/7/2007 |
Q: WE have a new asphalt shingle roof that our homeowners association in Atlanta will not approve ...
A: I have never heard of anything other than paint that will allow you to change color. The paint will ...
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| tile roof | 5/7/2007 |
Q: I live in a house that was built in 1927. It has the original tile roof. I live in upstate NY and ...
A: It depends how you look at it. You could remove the insulation and that will keep the roof warm and ...
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| shingles buckling | 5/5/2007 |
Q: i am have a house built by a small builder. several of the other homes already completed have the ...
A: Most roofers just use 15 lb or 30 lb paper because it is cheap. But this paper cannot get wet or it ...
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| moisture lap | 5/4/2007 |
Q: what is the technical name for the moisture lap on a 3 in 1 asphalt shingle roof
A: There is no lap on shingles that prevents moisture from getting through to the deck. Shingles are ...
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| raising a flat roof | 5/4/2007 |
Q: My house has a low (about 4ft at peak) regular gable roof with shingles that runs from front to back ...
A: How's this. At the drip edge lay the plywood on the roof. Run a 1x about 2' back. Run a 2x about 4' ...
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| venting low sloped cathedral ceiling | 5/4/2007 |
Q: I live in upstate NY and have been asked to remedy a low pitched cathedral roof section that has ...
A: You did not say what kind of roof it is. I hope you're not talking shingles since you can't put ...
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| Slate Look-alike | 5/3/2007 |
Q: Pretty simple Brad, Looking for that premium asphalt shingle that comes closest to harmonizing with ...
A: I do not do much shingles or slate so I don't know all the kinds but there are many, many kinds of ...
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| should we remove shiplap planks and cross strap to get attic ventilation? | 5/3/2007 |
Q: we live in a 1.5 story 1941 Bungalow in the Pacific Northwest. We are south-facing, with the eastern ...
A: The whole idea is to vent as much of the attic out as you can to cut down on heat and possible ...
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| 2/12 Architectural Roofing Procedures (yet another low slope roof) | 5/2/2007 |
Q: I've read through many of your responses, great information, thank you! I have a 36 year old home ...
A: I couldn't teach you all this stuff by e-mail. I have a hard enough time teaching my men while they ...
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| Concerned about new roof installation quailty | 5/2/2007 |
Q: Had a new 30yr asphalt roof installed recently, but I am concerned about the quality of their work. ...
A: They should have taken the underlayment as far out as they could. If you need the wood covered in ...
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| sheathing delamination | 5/1/2007 |
Q: I am in upstate New York. How much moisture exposure or how long does it take for attic sheathing ...
A: Assuming you're talking about exterior plywood, it should survive a while in the weather but how ...
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| Unsupported roof overhang | 4/30/2007 |
Q: I've owned my home for 3 years and just noticed this spring that the roof overhangs on either side ...
A: Your friend is right. It is called a cantilever beam. The beam is not special. It's the placement ...
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| GAF Liberty system vs rubber roof | 4/28/2007 |
Q: We need to replace a battered sheet asphalt roof on a low pitched dormer on our bungalow. How does ...
A: GAF Liberty IS a rubber roof - it's just the self-stick kind. Self-Stick is a new item so no one ...
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| roof and house ventilation | 4/28/2007 |
Q: I live in a 150 yr old row house in Maryland, shotgun style with a central stair system that draws ...
A: I don't know what they have for your situation. If you use a fan at the roof to pull they usually ...
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| leaking roof | 4/27/2007 |
Q: I had a new roof installed about 5 years ago. In a side room (no second floor above it) coming from ...
A: When your car breaks down on year 7 how can that be since it worked fine the day before. Everything ...
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| Competing quotes | 4/27/2007 |
Q: I am about to redo the roof of my residence, an old Victorian. I have in front of me some very ...
A: Rubber valleys? Unless it's some special rubber that last 30 years. Roofing rubber will not last as ...
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| Snow and Ice Shield Over Rolled Roof? | 4/26/2007 |
Q: My addition is 15 x 25 and has a 1:12 pitch. I currently have rolled roofing and have coated it ...
A: The shingles are not there to protect the Ice and Water Shield. If you wanted to protect the Ice and ...
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| A deck on a roof | 4/26/2007 |
Q: There is an 2-story extension built onto the back of my 3-story brick house. The walls of the ...
A: I guess I did use the word "deck" too many times. The new deck will have weight to it. You have to ...
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| 2/12 Architectural Roofing Procedures (yet another low slope roof) | 4/26/2007 |
Q: I've read through many of your responses, great information, thank you! I have a 36 year old home ...
A: Any tips for roofing around a skylight? Lastly, any tips for doing step flashing around a chimney. ...
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| low pitch roof - shingle or roll? | 4/25/2007 |
Q: I will be doing the roof on my house shortly (the current covering is 25 years old and has repair ...
A: The absolute minimum for shingles is 2/12 so you're right at the edge. And even then you need ...
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| A deck on a roof | 4/24/2007 |
Q: There is an 2-story extension built onto the back of my 3-story brick house. The walls of the ...
A: If you put 4x4s through the roof then you just made holes in your roof. You can't seal the roof ...
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| torch applied bitumen vs elt & modified rubberized | 4/24/2007 |
Q: I have a rent house (my college student lives in) and need to have the flat roof replaced over the ...
A: You never said the size of the roof. There is no such thing as 90 lb modified so I don't know what ...
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| 2/12 Architectural Roofing Procedures (yet another low slope roof) | 4/23/2007 |
Q: I've read through many of your responses, great information, thank you! I have a 36 year old home ...
A: Don't do it, is my advice. 2/12 pitch is the absolute minimum for shingles and even then it takes ...
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| torch down vs paint on waterproofing | 4/23/2007 |
Q: Brad, as part of a project to put a pool in our yard , we are tearing out elevated deck.....the new ...
A: Sealoflex is an oddball roof so I'd stay away from it. Go with one of the main staples of the ...
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| Dead flat roof addition | 4/20/2007 |
Q: An addition was built onto the house that I now own. The surface had numerous cracks an areas where ...
A: All roofs need a slope so you'll have to redesign the roof. This can be done with lumber or tapered ...
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| New roof. | 4/18/2007 |
Q: I have ponding water on the area where an addition meets the older part of the home. The area that ...
A: For $6,000 I'll be on the next plane. If you have a roof sloped the wrong way and you add one inch, ...
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| No vents | 4/18/2007 |
Q: I own a home in Pennsylvania Poconos built 40 years ago I believe -it is unusually shaped with a ...
A: I'm not sure of some of your point due to the spelling errors. Condensation usually happens over ...
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| replacing a rolled roof | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: I live in South Florida and have replaced portions of my |
