AllExperts > Roofing 
Search      
Roofing
Volunteer
Answers to thousands of questions
 Home · More Roofing Questions · Question Library  · Free Encyclopedia ·
More Roofing Answers
Question Library

Ask a question about Roofing
Volunteer
Experts of the Month
Expert Login

Awards

About Us
Tell friends
Link to Us
Disclaimer

 
 
 
About Brad Zacharia
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
All aspects of residential Roofing. This includes shingles and flat (low slope) roofs. I have knowledge in the installation as well as the design of roofs from an engineering standpoint.

Experience
I have been doing roofing for 40 years. This was my father's business and I took it over in 1980.

Publications
I have written responses to artcles that I felt needed a response to and those responses have been published in roofing trade magazines.

Education/Credentials
BSEE Drexel University
www.ZachariaRoofing.com
   

You are here:  Experts > Home/Garden > Home Improvement/Repair > Roofing

Questions Answered By Expert  Brad Zacharia 
In Category  Roofing

SubjectDate Asked

Roof, brick, window leak, HELP PLEASE11/19/2009
  Q: I have a bay window in my kitchen. The bay window is on the first floor. There are two windows ...
  A: You're shocked at workers today? Why, I'm shocked! The picture is too far away for me to see any ...
underlayment and ventilation11/18/2009
  Q: I am getting so confused with all these estimates. It's hard to compare apples to apples. One says ...
  A: If you don't get snow then you don't need Ice and Water Shield which is what the self-stick stuff ...
Metal Ridge cap on Slate Roof11/17/2009
  Q: The roofer I hire told me that a metal ridge cap cannot be attached to the slate roof because it ...
  A: Slate roofs generally do not have a ridge cap. Your home inspector is basically a handyman and can't ...
Rubber roof - saturated insulation11/12/2009
  Q: New rubber roof summer 2008, installed over non-leaking tar & gravel roof in MA, as a preventative ...
  A: I would need to see pictures. You can't put EPDM on a roof that has asphalt products on it. Also, ...
Sheating a roof11/11/2009
  Q: How do you lift 4X8 osb sheating over the rafter tails onto the roof? Right now it is only my ...
  A: Use a ladder or a plank that does not extend much above the roof. Use a rope with a hook or a noose ...
Roof felt11/10/2009
  Q: I am an architect in Seattle working on a standard 10:12 roof pitch. We usually say use 30# felt ...
  A: I've never heard of using 60 lb paper for shingles. Most roofers use #15. It's just used for a ...
My roof has developed a leak its a very old roof so i would like to ask what to do11/10/2009
  Q: my roof started leaking rather badly and we can not afford to hire anyone to fix it at the moment i ...
  A: When a shingle roof goes due to age it is usually hundreds of holes by then. If that's the case the ...
Ridge Vent vs. Turbines11/9/2009
  Q: I had been told that a ridge vent will vent more air than turbines. I had a roofing company give me ...
  A: Ridge vents can be put on in any length and up to infinite feet while a turbine has only a specific ...
water dripping from roof11/7/2009
  Q: I have a new asphalt shingle roof. It's been a week since we had heavy rain but I notice water is ...
  A: The gutters have a purpose and if it is not working then I'd say you should be concerned about it. ...
Low slope roof leak solution11/5/2009
  Q: I have a 19 year old house that has a small offset on the rear, covered with a gable sort of like a ...
  A: You said you have a low slope roof. Then you mentioned shingles. The two do not go together. You ...
Oven Range Vent11/3/2009
  Q: I'm the same person who was asking you about possible vent leak and the shingles being positioned ...
  A: The caulking probably won't cause a problem. So now you've determined that the leak is above the ...
Adding roof top insulation on Low Slope11/3/2009
  Q: That section has pot vents but no soffit vents. I want to remove the vents, fill the space between ...
  A: I was talking about water vapor because you brought it up first. You specifically made the ...
Square Hip Roof Ventilation Improvements11/3/2009
  Q: New Northeast homeowner with a small square hip roof that needs to be re-done (asphalt shingles, NO ...
  A: The more venting the better. There is no exact formula. If you want to cool your house off there is ...
Leaves in Roof Vent11/3/2009
  Q: After a hard rainstorm last week, I noticed some dampness in the wood near the attic of my ...
  A: Can you give me a picture of the front of the vent? Also, look at the vertical seams on the vent. ...
Leaves in Roof Vent11/3/2009
  Q: After a hard rainstorm last week, I noticed some dampness in the wood near the attic of my ...
  A: It's not a typical hood. Most are round. Two possibilities. 1. The corners of the vent metal are ...
Roofing11/1/2009
  Q: My neighbour and myself is planning to redo our roofs together.we live in a semi detached ...
  A: I don't know of any problems with Iko shingles. I never heard of a "pig" valley so I don't know ...
outdoor carpet laid over ice and water guard membrane11/1/2009
  Q: 1-How do you affix outdoor carpet on top of ice and waterguard membrane, the latter has been applied ...
  A: Ice and Water Shield is not a finished roof. In fact, it deteriorates in the sun if left exposed. ...
installing shingles according to manufacturer's specifications10/31/2009
  Q: My house was just re-roofed (tear-off)with Timberline high definition prestique 30 shingles, ...
  A: Oh, those numbers. I have never seen any roof installed according to those numbers yet they do have ...
Adding roof top insulation on Low Slope10/29/2009
  Q: That section has pot vents but no soffit vents. I want to remove the vents, fill the space between ...
  A: Why would water vapor come up through the house? Why is your house so full of water vapor? How would ...
Insulation / water vapors10/29/2009
  Q: First let me thank you for all your input provided here as a volunteer. I'm a little confused by a ...
  A: I guess I was talking about 2 different things. The air that is inside the insulation is not ...
Big leak slight pitch10/28/2009
  Q: First of all I apoligize for my l;ack of roofing terminolgy. Electric/Electronics I can handle ...
  A: One thing you know for sure - that the source of the leak is uphill from where it is coming in on ...
30 yr cambridge10/27/2009
  Q: My shingles shave blown off and they tell me it is because they were "high nailed". they say that ...
  A: If you nail high the shingles that blow off will be in sheets. Individual shingles blow off for ...
Low sloped clay tile roof w/ built up membrane10/23/2009
  Q: I have a roof with either a 2 1/2 in 12 or a 3 in 12 pitched roof which was specified to have a ...
  A: Do you get snow? 3/12 slope is low for tiles but you can use special procedures to try to protect ...
Roofing choice10/23/2009
  Q: I have a tar and gravel roof. It is 17 years old and leaks here and there every year. I decided to ...
  A: I do not know much about TPO. It is a new product and rarely used in my part of the country. It is ...
Mobile Home roof10/22/2009
  Q: On a mobile home can I install a new layer of shingles over the existing roof? Or will the weight be ...
  A: No one makes a roof that if you add just a little more weight it will collapse. If you want to have ...
Nail heads showing10/21/2009
  Q: We recently had our roof replace and there are sections on the front where I can see where the nails ...
  A: It's a very big concern. It's called a "future leak". It probably won't leak short term as the ...
hybrid insulation approach to inverted roof assembly for flat roof in PNW10/18/2009
  Q: i would like to do exactly what was proposed in an email sent to you back in 2004 by another ...
  A: You can't "keep the dew point outside". Any air you have has a dew point. It's the point at which if ...
Low pitch roof10/17/2009
  Q: I went through some of your columns and i need your help. I hired a contractor to build a patio ...
  A: There is no reason why you can't do a roof on a 1:12 pitch. I do all low slope roofs and they are ...
Just had a new roof installed10/16/2009
  Q: We just had a new asphalt architectual roof installed. The shingles are not laying flat and it ...
  A: It depend what you mean by not laying flat. Shingles will not be perfectly flat when installed but ...
cupping10/15/2009
  Q: i just had my roof done today. they striped it,and the new shingles are cupped in alot of places. i ...
  A: The cupping can be from various things. Usually the shingles will not lay perfectly flat since they ...
when to roof10/14/2009
  Q: I have an old shake roof and am planning to reroof now in Oct to have peace of mind this rainy ...
  A: The warranty has nothing to do with you removing a chimney. The warranty says the shingles will not ...
Lifting 8x4' 18mm ply sheets10/13/2009
  Q: As the subject really. I have prepared the flat roof with firings for a slight slope, but cannot ...
  A: Two people. One on the ground wraps a rope around the plywood and lays it on the ladder. The guy at ...
attaching metal valley without nails10/9/2009
  Q: I SAW IN A BOOK A HOOK OR CLIP YOU ATTACH TO THE EDGE OF THE METAL VALLEY IT'S ABOUT I'LL SAY 6"OR8" ...
  A: That's an old procedure and they don't make houses like they used to. That was done many years ago. ...
popped nails10/8/2009
  Q: s During a recent storm with strong winds and hail two trees fell on my property. Onw fell on my ...
  A: If a tree falls on the house we know it can't loosen shingles on another part of the house. A "nail ...
roof on breeze block shed10/7/2009
  Q: my build is 16ft by 10 ft by 10ft high can i put a slanted roof on this single wall made up of tiles ...
  A: You might not have asked for an English lesson but if you can't communicate well with another person ...
roof on breeze block shed10/7/2009
  Q: my build is 16ft by 10 ft by 10ft high can i put a slanted roof on this single wall made up of tiles ...
  A: No, you said "i put a slanted roof on this single wall". I am an expert but you wrote the question ...
rubber roof or asphalt shingles?10/5/2009
  Q: I live in the northeast where we get a lot of snow. We need a new roof for our house. We have a ...
  A: Slopes between 2 & 4 can be shingles but they are tricky and need special procedures. Above 4" you ...
IKO roofing10/5/2009
  Q: Here in the Philippines,does IKO roofing products have their "Algae Resistant Asphalt Shingles" ...
  A: I wouldn't know better than you what you have over there. How would I know what a company might be ...
Roof Vents10/1/2009
  Q: Mr. Zacharia: We are trying to choose a roofing contractor for tear-off and replacement. The house ...
  A: You said you have insulation in the "ceiling rafters". When you are in the attic the ceilings of the ...
Shingle Quality10/1/2009
  Q: How does the IKO Cambridge 30 compare to other shingles. I had IKO tabbed arc installed about 12 ...
  A: I have never used Iko but they have been around. They are not as big as GAF in the roofing field. ...
torch down10/1/2009
  Q: we applyed torch down to a commericial building and we even put fiber uv coating on it looks great. ...
  A: But once a piece of rubber is torched down it takes a tornado to separate it. If it is lifting then ...
toarch down10/1/2009
  Q: we applyed torch down to a commericial building and we even put fiber uv coating on it looks great. ...
  A: When wind blows the wind does not have to get under the roofing material to lift it up. When wind ...
Composite Asphalt over Wood Shake Roof9/30/2009
  Q: I'm trying to find the answer through the City of Sacramento's web site but can't. Then I tried ...
  A: Whether it's legal depends on your township or city. Every town has their own rules. Some towns ...
hail damage to roof9/30/2009
  Q: We have a roof that is apprx. 16 yrs old. It is leaking in two areas and while getting estimates ...
  A: I'm assuming you're talking about a shingle roof. As roofs age the material wears and washes away. ...
Slate Roof Repair9/30/2009
  Q: I’d like to get your opinion on a roof repair of my residential home. I recently hired a licensed ...
  A: Do you have more pictures? I'm not sure of some of your descriptions. For example: "Pieces of the ...
electrical mast9/30/2009
  Q: I am going to re-roof my house. How do you deal with roofing around the masthead. What is the risk ...
  A: The risk of shock is the same as re-wring a lamp or plugging it in. It's the same voltage of 120 ...
new roof style9/29/2009
  Q: I'd like to have a "salt-box" or "lean-to" style metal roof built over my 14 x 60 mobile home. With ...
  A: I never heard of a salt-box or lean-to roof so I don't know what you're trying to design. The pitch ...
metal valleys or woven?9/29/2009
  Q: The advice passed down from my great uncle years ago: ask for metal valleys and lead boots. Please, ...
  A: All three methods of valleys are good. It depends on what look you're looking for. If you do a ...
metal valleys or woven?9/28/2009
  Q: The advice passed down from my great uncle years ago: ask for metal valleys and lead boots. Please, ...
  A: Metal valleys take more work so they are trying to avoid that. But even if you do metal valleys you ...
roofing new wood9/27/2009
  Q: My house is about 50 years old with an addition about 35 years old. Part of my roof is a flat roof. ...
  A: Walking on it will tell you how sturdy it is. If you think it's really weak then be careful. Ripping ...
roofing new wood9/27/2009
  Q: My house is about 50 years old with an addition about 35 years old. Part of my roof is a flat roof. ...
  A: The thickness of the plywood depends on the spacing of the rafters. But 3/8" is kind of paltry. You ...
Sagging gutters9/27/2009
  Q: Rain gutters sag backward against fascia boards that were angled backward towards the house for 50's ...
  A: Don't the gutters tilt forward and not backward based on your follow-up description of the setup? ...
advice9/26/2009
  Q: .just asking some advice with a couple of questions. first, is it ok to put a new roof over and old ...
  A: You can put a new roof over old ones in most circumstances. There are several types of flashings ...
Carpet on flat roof9/25/2009
  Q: I have flat roof over the garage that we use as a porch. We have owned our 1949 cabin for 2 years ...
  A: It appears that "bituthene" is a brand name used by Grace. They only talk about it as far as ...
condensation?9/25/2009
  Q: About 2 years ago I replaced the roof. The roofer insisted on soffit vents saying that the ridge ...
  A: You didn't say originally that you had a cathedral ceiling. That makes it all more difficult to ...
Questions about zinc strips for Algae9/25/2009
  Q: Last week, I had my old roof tore off (because there were 2 layers on the old roof) and replaced ...
  A: I have never used zinc strips but the solution is simple. Most shingles today are "AR" rated (Algae ...
Wood shingles > Window flashing9/24/2009
  Q: I read you answer to Roofing - Bay window flashing 9/21/2009 and realized after reading it that I ...
  A: Can you get me a picture. Even a far away picture from the ground so I can see the set-up you have. ...
Carpet on flat roof9/24/2009
  Q: I have flat roof over the garage that we use as a porch. We have owned our 1949 cabin for 2 years ...
  A: I do not know about adhesives in general. There is no roofing called Bitchatane so I don't know ...
condensation?9/24/2009
  Q: About 2 years ago I replaced the roof. The roofer insisted on soffit vents saying that the ridge ...
  A: If the roofer said that he should not be in the roofing business AT ALL. If he was that bad with the ...
roofing9/23/2009
  Q: when installing the drip edge, is it supposed to be installed under or over the waterproof membrane?
  A: That's the $64,000 question. Most roofers do the membrane to the edge and then nail down a drip edge ...
Deck installation9/23/2009
  Q: The decking also got wet prior to putting the roll paper on it, How bad can it warp and is it due to ...
  A: Remember that the entire house gets wet while the house is under construction. Everything gets wet ...
IKO shingles9/22/2009
  Q: I understand there is a class action lawsuit against IKO. Is this the Canadian company? I'm getting ...
  A: I don't know about any class action lawsuit of Iko. I think all the shingles companies have had ...
Bay window flashing9/21/2009
  Q: I just had a new decorative asphalt shingle installed on my house(Certainteen Country Cottage). For ...
  A: Picture how water runs. As it runs down you always want the water to run on top of the next item. As ...
ridge vents/steep hip roofs9/20/2009
  Q: Brad, I've read, elsewhere, that ridge vents may not be appropriate for steep hip roofs. 1. What ...
  A: It depends on the size of the vents. A 12'x12" vent has 4 times the area as a 6"x6" vent. There is ...
Crickets9/20/2009
  Q: Almost every roof in the neighborhood has a "cricket" behind their chimney on the upslope of the ...
  A: Crickets are used to keep water from getting stuck behind objects. Smaller objects are not a concern ...
Whirlybirds vs. Other Venting9/19/2009
  Q: We are about to have our roof re-shingled with asphalt roofing. The house currently has a ...
  A: What problems are in the "Future" with whirlybirds that we don't know about today? And what problems ...
ridge vents/steep hip roofs9/19/2009
  Q: Brad, I've read, elsewhere, that ridge vents may not be appropriate for steep hip roofs. 1. What ...
  A: I never heard that vent are not appropriate for steep roofs. For a cathedral ceiling you have to ...
new roof9/19/2009
  Q: I need a new roof and am overwhelmed with information. I live in Michigan and the home was built in ...
  A: Being a Master Elite with GAF does not mean much. It just means he applied and they feel he is OK. ...
new roof9/17/2009
  Q: I need a new roof and am overwhelmed with information. I live in Michigan and the home was built in ...
  A: Most all roofers use ridge vents so you'd have to go against the standard and say they are all ...
Repair of bad roofing job9/17/2009
  Q: My reroofing job was not done correctly. Specifically, and most importantly nails that held down the ...
  A: It is not normal procedure because it is not normal to leave a roof this way. I can't say I've come ...
new roof9/17/2009
  Q: I need a new roof and am overwhelmed with information. I live in Michigan and the home was built in ...
  A: You can't vent the bathroom into the attic. Twenty vents on your roof? What does that look like? I ...
Repair of bad roofing job9/16/2009
  Q: My reroofing job was not done correctly. Specifically, and most importantly nails that held down the ...
  A: Nails sticking up will eventually pop through the shingles and cause leaks. They need to be removed. ...
Roof Vents9/14/2009
  Q: I think it's great to be able to ask an expert a question and I look forward to your answer. We'll ...
  A: There are all kinds of vents but since a shingle roof is a visual roof you try to use vents that ...
unvented cathedral ceiling9/13/2009
  Q: We are located on the western slope of Colorado. The climate here is quite dry. This past spring we ...
  A: Lines of water are leaks so you'd have to find them in the roof. Spots of water can be leaks or ...
Chimney Flashing9/13/2009
  Q: I'm, putting a new shingle roof on my house. It's a tear-off. It's a simple, fairly low-slope roof ...
  A: When flashing is done properly no sealant is used. You want a 25 year roof yet sealants don't last ...
Ice and Water Shield over 1st Roof9/10/2009
  Q: Brad, I plan to roof over an existing roof with one layer of asphalt shingles. Is it appropriate ...
  A: The ice and water protection is placed on the wood. The water gets stopped under the original roof. ...
Elk Shingles w/rust spots9/9/2009
  Q: I have a 5 year old roof with the Elk Prestique High Definition shingles. In inspecting for hail ...
  A: I don't know about Pyrites but staining of shingles (from algae) has been a major problem for years. ...
installing a curb for a skylight9/8/2009
  Q: i have a low pitched roof with the two bubble skylights. the lights are flush mounted and are ...
  A: The curb can be build out of any 2x lumber - usually 2x6. The waterproofing material is the roof ...
cellophane over sealing strip?9/6/2009
  Q: Should the cellophane be removed from the sealing strip before installation? I watched GAF video on ...
  A: No, you do not have to remove it. It is just for shipping so the shingles don't get stuck together ...
architectural shingles on a low slope dormer roof?9/5/2009
  Q: Ready to roof. Out of several roofers I've spoken with, only 1 has said architectural shingles are ...
  A: You can go to any manufacturer's website too look at guarantees. They guarantee their product will ...
architectural shingles on a low slope dormer roof?9/4/2009
  Q: Ready to roof. Out of several roofers I've spoken with, only 1 has said architectural shingles are ...
  A: Whether they are achitectural shingles or 3-tab shingles, either one will leak when installed on low ...
dip in roof9/4/2009
  Q: My husband and I have a contract on a home and noticed a slight bow/dip in the roof that the ...
  A: It is possible to have a piece of wood that is not straight but is strong. You can be looking at a ...
Modified roofing9/4/2009
  Q: I have a 3000 sq. ft. modified smooth roof that is cracked and starting to buckle. Pitch is less ...
  A: An aluminum coated will help. Hopefully you're talking about the small cracks that we call ...
Asphalt over shake9/3/2009
  Q: I am looking at buying a house and I had a home inspector come out and look at the house. He told ...
  A: You don't know if the home inspector knows his stuff. Usually they are basically a "handyman". You ...
cobra ridge vent9/2/2009
  Q: I'm getting a new roof put on and my roofer says that cobra ridge vents are great, but I hear there ...
  A: I believe the Cobra vent is the foam type and you shingle over it. The problem is it does not have ...
Dimensional Shingles9/1/2009
  Q: Two years ago I had a new roof installed with dimensional shingles on my rental property. It did ...
  A: They are uniform ROWS going from eaves to peak but the cuts on the individual shingles are random. ...
DOME ROOF9/1/2009
  Q: I BUILT A GEODESIC DOME HOME AND HAVE HAD 2 SHINGLE ROOFS INSTALLED AND HAVE NOT HAD BEEN ABLE TO ...
  A: I've never worked with TPO but I'm sure your leaks have nothing to do with the material used. If you ...
Purchasing house with flat tile roof9/1/2009
  Q: and one of my biggest fears is the roof being in a bad condition. I am a auto technician and i know ...
  A: Tiles last a very long time. Most all roof problems are due to poor installation by someone that ...
repairing a low sloped rolled asphalt roof8/31/2009
  Q: Brad, I have been researching how to repair a low sloped rolled asphalt roof. Below is a general ...
  A: Most roofers do not call it mastic. They call it cement. Also, what goes side-by-side with cement is ...
replacing flat roof8/30/2009
  Q: Could you please tell if i need to replace the existing felt on my leaking flat roof and how many ...
  A: Felt paper is an old type of roofing. Torch-down is not felt. It is "modified" and it only is put ...
reroofing questions8/30/2009
  Q: 1. I want to use pancake-head screws (Swan Secure F10T200PTQ) instead of nails for better fastening. ...
  A: Screws in anything always hold better than nails. The shingles get done half way up the pipe and ...
Gable vs Soffit Vents8/29/2009
  Q: I actually have two questions, if you dont' mind. Both are regarding my 1945 single-story located in ...
  A: Nothing will work on the top of the roof unless you have something at the bottom of the roof - ...
replacing flat roof8/29/2009
  Q: Could you please tell if i need to replace the existing felt on my leaking flat roof and how many ...
  A: What do you mean by "felt"? You replace the roof when the old one is all cracked up and can't be ...
Replace or Re-roof my Flat Roof?8/27/2009
  Q: I have a flat roof of built up tar and asphalt. I'm not sure how old the roof is, but it is at least ...
  A: Roofing weighs about 1 lb per sq-ft so 4 layers is 4 lbs per sq ft. Where a worker stands is then ...
leak where roof potch meets vertical exterior wall8/26/2009
  Q: Half of our home is a vaulted one story, and where this roof line of this area meets up with the ...
  A: Yes, the warranty would cover it but.....not when you drill holes right through your roof. WHY IS ...
Insulating flat roof8/26/2009
  Q: I want to replace the existing flat, tar & gravel roof with a new one containing a 2" IKO rigid ...
  A: Insulation is a barrier between you and the outside world. If you vent under it then the insulation ...
Insulating flat roof8/25/2009
  Q: I want to replace the existing flat, tar & gravel roof with a new one containing a 2" IKO rigid ...
  A: You seem to have answered your own question. You want to know if the vents need to go through the ...
Orlando City Building Code8/24/2009
  Q: Do you know what the minimum slope is for a residence in Orlando, FL? ANSWER: The minimum slope is ...
  A: I don't know what the minimum slope is for a specific city in Florida. I'm in PA but I'd be ...
energy efficient roofing8/23/2009
  Q: We are replacing our roof and are considering the GAF-Elk energy efficient shingles. Their website ...
  A: It is a stretch to get shingles to be energy efficient to fit into the government's program. There ...
hail damage: re-roof vs. over old room8/23/2009
  Q: According to our insurance adjustor, our house, shed, and new addition need a new roof due to hail ...
  A: They don't make a 15 year shingle. Is the insurance adjust a public adjuster and trying to sell a ...
Asphalt v cedar8/23/2009
  Q: I have a 200 year old colonial with a cedar roof in need of replacing. I would ideally like to ...
  A: The dark color will produce more heat. Then the material can transfer heat indoors. All material can ...
Roof Valley8/22/2009
  Q: I have a roof leak - a roofing contractor says that the entire 85 foot of current "valley must be ...
  A: The "California Valley" is a valley that gets done sometimes but it is not really an acceptable ...
Roofing8/21/2009
  Q: What is the truss size for a 12 foot span covered by a rolled roof? Background: My friend wants to ...
  A: 2x6s, 2x10s or 2x8s are not trusses. You make trusses out of them and they can be infinitely ...
Fascia Board8/19/2009
  Q: I recently appraised a bungalow built in 1950s with a shingle roof. The underwriter is requesting ...
  A: Fascia boards usually have to do with the design of the house. Sometimes the more expensive houses ...
Fiberglass roof deck8/17/2009
  Q: Brad, I have a fiberglass roof deck over the entire house. It has not had any noticeable leaks or ...
  A: It depends on what you mean by fiberglass. The pipe is moving independently of the roof and causing ...
Flat Roof8/17/2009
  Q: I have a flat roof that was replaced 3yrs ago. This roof has been leaking ever since. My main ...
  A: It doesn't matter what the rubber was put on. The water can't get through the rubber unless there ...
Shingles flying off8/16/2009
  Q: We have a roof w/ EMCO Mosaic fiberglass shingles installed 6 years ago. Every year, we have some ...
  A: I never heard of EMCO so it must be a small company. Several possibilities: 1. Shingles installed ...
replacing my valleys have some ?'s please8/14/2009
  Q: I just got laid off from work so i'm gonna attempt to fix my roof problems in the valley. I have a ...
  A: A 12/12 valley is steep so it is hard for it to leak from ice and snow when done properly. You can ...
Roofing materials and felt weight8/13/2009
  Q: My son is buying his first home and seller is putting a new roof on before closing - we have offered ...
  A: 15# paper is fine. By having the seller get the work done you run the risk of them finding the ...
vaulted ceiling insulation and roof8/11/2009
  Q: I have a vaulted ceiling in a bedroom that has 2 inch insulation within the rafters with about 4 ...
  A: The radiant barrier is not mandatory. It's just one of the ways top stop heat. Adding it helps. Heat ...
Wicking through ridge vent8/11/2009
  Q: Is it possible to get wicking of water into your house through the ridge vent? In 2008 my house was ...
  A: You keep using the word "wicking". Why do you think it "wicked"? If you had water come in wouldn't ...
Flashing/Gutter system8/10/2009
  Q: I have been trying to complete a home remodel that has suffered significant setbacks over the years ...
  A: Basically, if wood is covered then you don't have to paint it. But in this case water can splash ...
vaulted ceiling insulation and roof8/9/2009
  Q: I have a vaulted ceiling in a bedroom that has 2 inch insulation within the rafters with about 4 ...
  A: A ridge vent will do nothing if you don't also have soffit vents. Cool air comes in the bottom, ...
Building8/7/2009
  Q: I recently began building an enclosed porch/sunroom off of the side of my house. There was ...
  A: There is no image at that link. Are you sure the roof is that heavy? That's the weight of several ...
Roof venting (more info)8/6/2009
  Q: My house was built in '96. A room over the garage has a vaulted ceiling and when built (96) had a ...
  A: Where did you read that ridge vents don't work with vaulted ceilings? Yes the two should be ...
Roof venting8/5/2009
  Q: My house was built in '96. A room over the garage has a vaulted ceiling and when built (96) had a ...
  A: Ridge vent does not work if there is no soffit vent or if the soffit vent is clogged. If the system ...
epdm8/5/2009
  Q: I recently saw and handled a piece of black, rubber-like material described as EPDM. It was as ...
  A: If he said that EPDM will seal around nails don't you hire him. He obviously don't know much. Dump ...
low-pitched roof ( Less than 2:12)8/5/2009
  Q: My house needs a new roof as I have leaks in four different rooms (room in back, two towards middle ...
  A: The reason alternatives don't work is because they are not meant for low slope roofs and will leak ...
Building "Shed" Roof on New Sunroom8/5/2009
  Q: I recently began building an enclosed porch/sunroom off of the side of my house. There was ...
  A: Yes, you can put the sheetrock on the rafters and have a sloped ceiling. You need horizontal beams ...
Tar & gravel roof8/4/2009
  Q: My parents have a tar & gravel roof. It has some slope to it although I don't know what it is in ...
  A: It depends what kind of detail you're looking for. You strip the roof, put on ice and water shield ...
Low slope/pitch roofing8/2/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitch roof on a 2 car garage. It is 14 1/2 feet from peak to edge of the ...
  A: You're not shingling the ground so any reference to the ground is irrelevant. If I had a building on ...
Using Drip Edge at Rake Edge8/1/2009
  Q: Just purchased materials for replacement roof 40Sq due to 3' soffits. I was told to use (by Lowe's ...
  A: Rake edge pieces are the same as drip edge pieces. There is no difference. It depends on what you're ...
adhesive glue on torchdown8/1/2009
  Q: I had roofers put tourchdown on my flat roof deck and I want to cover the roof with carpet turf. ...
  A: As if there is any. You're not supposed to live on the roof as they are fragile. I'll tell you one ...
Low slope/pitch roofing8/1/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitch roof on a 2 car garage. It is 14 1/2 feet from peak to edge of the ...
  A: Maybe shingles could be used but you used the term "very low slope". You gave me too many ...
Low slope/pitch roofing8/1/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitch roof on a 2 car garage. It is 14 1/2 feet from peak to edge of the ...
  A: With all these measurements you gave me it seems like the roof is just 14.5 feet x 18.5 feet x 2 ...
Roof insulation7/31/2009
  Q: I am buying a house in Pomona, CA for which I need to replace the original composition low slop ...
  A: Shingles are for one kind of roof and hot mopping is for another you don't have a roof that can take ...
Torch Down or New Re-Frame with Shingles7/29/2009
  Q: I currently have a leak on my roof which is made up of tar and gravel. I have been told that if I ...
  A: The shingles will last longer but the cost of redesigning your roof and then doing shingles will ...
valleys7/29/2009
  Q: I have an open valley installation on a MN home with a lot of debris from large oak trees. they laid ...
  A: You describe it and then call it the California Valley so I guess you know it has a name and I'll go ...
my mother's tile roof in Florida7/27/2009
  Q: My 84 yr old mother in Fort Myers had a leak in her garage. The roofing guy talked her into filing ...
  A: You generally have 3 days to cancel a contract like that. Other than that she went and made a deal. ...
reroof,insulate,overhang replcement7/23/2009
  Q: I am planning to replace my roof on a 50year old cabin.In Minn.With a catherdal tpye ceiling.There ...
  A: I'm not familiar with the underlying structure as I do roofing but shingles need a slope of at least ...
3 tab not sticking down7/22/2009
  Q: I replaced the 3 tab asphalt shingles recently and now have a bit of a problem. (on a 12x14 shed) I ...
  A: They will seal in the heat. That heat can be like 60 degrees in the sun or 80 degrees without sun ...
How to seal conduit thru roof7/22/2009
  Q: I am installing solar panels on a steep roof (60 degrees). I need to bring a 1 inch conduit ...
  A: You would use a pipe collar. I think they go down to 1.5 inches so you might have to use a bigger ...
Architectural roofing shingles7/19/2009
  Q: I have one roof on my home now that is 15 years old, 3 in 1 shingles. I want to put new ...
  A: Everyone that sells shingles will have a biased opinion because that's what they sell. They sit ...
fireplace condensation7/17/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitched roof with rubber membrane roof. The house is made out of SIP panels so ...
  A: No,I do not know what SIPs are but I assume it is some decking. It sounds like the pipe was ...
fireplace condensation7/16/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitched roof with rubber membrane roof. The house is made out of SIP panels so ...
  A: How can a roof at 0 degrees come in contact with the inside at 78? Isn't there insulation between? ...
Multiple Roofing Questions7/16/2009
  Q: I'm getting a new roof because of hail damage. I live in a 1998 built ranch home - don't know the ...
  A: No, it is not true about the 15 vs 30. The special underlayments are better than regular felt. In ...
fireplace condensation7/16/2009
  Q: I have a very low pitched roof with rubber membrane roof. The house is made out of SIP panels so ...
  A: The temperature of the pipe depends on what kind of pipe it is. Usually you can't have any ...
roof shingles7/16/2009
  Q: I would like to know the thickness of 25yr., 30yr. & 40. yr. shingles? I am getting my roof ...
  A: It doesn't go by thickness. It goes by years. One manufacturer might be able to pull off 30 years ...
moblehome roof venting7/15/2009
  Q: I have a 1985 doublewide. Three years ago the original air conditioner went out and we replaced it. ...
  A: It sounds like you have an A/C unit too small your your situation. Venting out the attic can make a ...
Re-roofing from cedar shakes to asphalt7/14/2009
  Q: I'm purchasing a home and the seller has agreed to replaced the original cedar shake roof. The ...
  A: I don't know what "Skip" sheathing is but I know that sheathing IS plywood so why is he taking off ...
Re-roof "cricket"??7/14/2009
  Q: I had a re-roof done. Removed cedar shake and replaced with asphalt shingles. Dissatisfied with ...
  A: Sometimes that needs to be done when the center area is not sloped enough for shingles. I'd need to ...
Potential pitfalls of having roofing done separately from gutters, etc7/13/2009
  Q: I live in a ranch house in NE Ohio. In the winter ice and snow are a concern and the summers can be ...
  A: Is there a reason you're not using the roofer to do the gutters? Gutters is roofing. Drip edge ...
venting in roof7/10/2009
  Q: we recently had a new 50year roof installed. The roofer suggested venting on the ridge and on the ...
  A: I have never seen anything like that before. It looks like he put some kind of foam in there between ...
snow and ice guard; flashing7/8/2009
  Q: How much added protection does snow guard give? Do you you like this product? It is for an angle ...
  A: Ice and Water Shield is for roofs that get snow. If you don't get snow it's not needed. The lower ...
GAF Timbertex ridge cap on horizontal (flat) ridge.7/7/2009
  Q: This GAF cap has 3 layers, the top one being 4" wide... It seems to me, if they are installed on a ...
  A: Water will run downhill. If you have 50 layers and they all point downhill the water will just drip ...
evaluating ridge vent installation7/5/2009
  Q: How can I, a homeowner, recognize from looking at the underside of an attic ridge vent installation ...
  A: I don't now. I just thought of it. If you could find some smoke gadget you could watch the way the ...
gable vent fan or roof vent fan???7/3/2009
  Q: i have a small cape on long island and it's crazy hot upstairs. i would like to lower my air ...
  A: Both can work well but neither will work well if you don't have input vents (soffit vents). You ...
Flashing a roof next to vinyl-sided sidewall6/30/2009
  Q: If I get rubber, running it up the sidewall sheathing 18” (as roofer recommends) would keep the ...
  A: Run the rubber up the wall about 12". Then start your siding about 4" or more into the rubber. Yes, ...
Roof Structure6/30/2009
  Q: I was recently in my attic and noticed that some of the boards that are between the rafters have ...
  A: First you said they don't fit between between the rafters which means they are too short. Now you ...
Replacing residential roof6/30/2009
  Q: I have gotten 23+ years out of 20 year 3 tab asphalt Johns Manville shingles on our home in north ...
  A: 1. There are not many 20 year shingles around. Most roofers use 25 year. They are about $15-20 a ...
nail set question re 30 year shingle6/29/2009
  Q: My son is in the process of installing (for his first time) a 30 year, architectural grade shingle ...
  A: 2/12 is the absolute minimum for shingles and even then it takes special procedures to keep it from ...
Seeking advice on repairing a flat black tar roof6/27/2009
  Q: I recently bought a 1930 rowhome in Baltimore that has one section of flat black tar roof (probably ...
  A: Aluminum coatings come fibered and non-fibered. The fibered ones are better. Aluminum coatings are ...
Low Pitch Roof (12/2)6/27/2009
  Q: I'm planning to dormer the back of my cape and want to raise the roof as much as possible. It looks ...
  A: You probably mean a 2/12 roof and not a 12/2 roof. If it is 2/12 you can't use shingles or they will ...
Calculating space of attic floor and net free area ratio6/26/2009
  Q: I am presently taking bids on a new roof for a ranch house. I asked one contractor what is the ...
  A: All attic space is important. It all produces heat and you want to get rid of as much heat as you ...
Calculating space of attic floor and net free area ratio6/26/2009
  Q: I am presently taking bids on a new roof for a ranch house. I asked one contractor what is the ...
  A: If you asked for the square footage of the attic floor then you are asking him for the area that is ...
insulation on top of roof deck6/24/2009
  Q: I have a cottage with a 8/12 pitch with ashphalt shingles.It is a cathedral ceiling with 2x6 t&g ...
  A: You can leave the shingles but to me it's like leaving your trash in the roof. R20-25 is usually low ...
Bowing roof6/24/2009
  Q: I had an inspection done on our roof and it was found that there were "MISSING H-CLIPS TO SECURE THE ...
  A: The H-clips are used to keep a small space between the sheets of plywood. Everything in the world ...
T-lock shingles mixed with 3-Tab6/23/2009
  Q: My house is only 5 years old but it has the dreaded T-lock shingles on it. They are still in very ...
  A: The only way you'd be able to weave the two roofs together is if they both advance at the same rate. ...
felt underlay6/22/2009
  Q: Why is asphalt underlayment put between the plywood and the composition shingles? ANSWER: Shingles ...
  A: It might stop water. If water got through the shingles it might stop it but the underlayment is full ...
"felt" underlayment6/22/2009
  Q: Why is asphalt underlayment put between the plywood and the composition shingles?
  A: Shingles are not sealed and humid air or moisture can get up the shingles to the wood. The ...
Wet interior wall6/21/2009
  Q: We have a roof that is four year old and a part of our inside wall is damp. We just noticed it this ...
  A: It shouldn't be odd that it just started. Everything that breaks or fails in the world worked the ...
Bitumen roof6/20/2009
  Q: I recently had a bitumen roof installed to replace one that had blown loose. The roofer put the ...
  A: He should have used a piece of "capping" on the side which has a lip to catch the water. On the ...
Barn style Shed Roof6/20/2009
  Q: I recently had the house reroofed professionally with Architectural shingles. I plan to reroof my ...
  A: When there's a change in angle the shingles need to stop and then a transition piece of metal goes ...
Low pitch roof6/19/2009
  Q: Brad, I have den/family room on the back of my house. The pitch is extremely low; ie 2:12/3:12. ...
  A: 2/12 is the absolute minimum for shingles so you better make sure you have the right slope. If you ...
buckled/warped shingles6/19/2009
  Q: First let me share that I know next to nothing about roofing, so forgive me if my question is either ...
  A: 8' just happens to be the length of a piece of plywood so you might have wood popping up. Or it ...
70's flat tar roof6/17/2009
  Q: We have a 70s home we are going to put on the market, but the roof leaks. (It is the original roof ...
  A: You can try tearing it off yourself but the roofing part would have to be a roofer. Anyone else ...
new roof6/15/2009
  Q: We just had our roof redone with asphalt shingles. Some of the shingles seem to have spacing between ...
  A: It depends where the spaces are. If they are at the bottom of the shingle, that should settle. If he ...
leaking tongue and groove ceiling6/15/2009
  Q: We recently build a new home, our builder took off on us before the project was complete, sooo no ...
  A: It depends on what the source of the humidity is. If the source is from the inside of the house and ...
leaking tongue and groove ceiling6/10/2009
  Q: We recently build a new home, our builder took off on us before the project was complete, sooo no ...
  A: Condensation happens when humid air hits a cold surface. Two things you can do is cut down on the ...
Flat Roof Repair or Replace ... with what system?6/10/2009
  Q: New Mexico that was built in the early 1990's. I purchased the home 6 years ago. The roof is the ...
  A: The torch-down modified roof is better than a BUR roof (tar and gravel) but Brai is not a good brand ...
Ridge vent vs. Power vent6/9/2009
  Q: I am presently getting bids from roofers to replace my roof. So far three contractors have bid on ...
  A: Power consumption could be one factor. If you have one big vent it will tend to pull all the air ...
Ridge vent vs. Power vent6/8/2009
  Q: I am presently getting bids from roofers to replace my roof. So far three contractors have bid on ...
  A: The ideal thing is venting that is widespread so it covers all areas. Soffit vents should take care ...
Multicolored Architectural Roofing6/6/2009
  Q: Brad: I am building a replica 1920 storybook house in Spokane, WA. Roof pitch is 18/12. I want to ...
  A: No one would manufacture such a thing because they'd only sell 2 a year. Also, if you sell 10 ...
metal vs asphalt shingles on a hot roof system6/3/2009
  Q: Zacharia: We have a hot roof system on an old log home which was moved and re-erected on a new ...
  A: Condensation happens when you get humid air and cool it down. If no air can get under the roof there ...
Procedure on roofing where the porch meets the house5/31/2009
  Q: I had my roof redone about 10-12 years ago. And it's holding up great. But I recently applied for ...
  A: No, there is no written procedure for such a thing. The metal alone tells me you have something ...
Procedure on roofing where the porch meets the house5/31/2009
  Q: I had my roof redone about 10-12 years ago. And it's holding up great. But I recently applied for ...
  A: There is no procedure in writing since every house is different. But even if I gave you a procedure ...
improperly installed drip edge flashing5/27/2009
  Q: My friend Carol has a home in League City Texas. According to her roofer, the drip markings on the ...
  A: The shingles "done wrong" is the reason that water goes behind the gutter. The drip edge in front of ...
improperly installed drip edge flashing5/27/2009
  Q: My friend Carol has a home in League City Texas. According to her roofer, the drip markings on the ...
  A: You asked, "Wouldn't the proper installation of the drip edge in front of the gutter allow the water ...
improperly installed drip edge flashing5/27/2009
  Q: My friend Carol has a home in League City Texas. According to her roofer, the drip markings on the ...
  A: Assuming you have a shingle roof, the water is going behind the gutter because the water is dripping ...
removing old #15 Felt5/25/2009
  Q: Which is actually better when replacing a 20 year old roof; to remove the felt or apply new #15 felt ...
  A: If you put new felt paper over old then you will actually have twice as much felt paper which is not ...
New Roof job5/25/2009
  Q: I'm in the process of getting some bids on a new roof. I've done some roofs before myself, but I'd ...
  A: No, you do not use metal in closed valleys. If the valleys work you don't need anything under it but ...
cricket ventelation5/24/2009
  Q: I had an addition to the back of my house 6'x18'wide ,witch creates a dead vally.so they built a ...
  A: Your story is so poorly written that you're not able to communicate effectively with another person. ...
peel and stick roofing5/23/2009
  Q: I have a patio to roof and have purchase peel and stick do u have to use any kind of starter strip? ...
  A: Starter strips go with shingle roofs and not with what you have. If you nail your roofing you just ...
1 1/2 storey attic venting5/22/2009
  Q: I have an older 1 1/2 story home with clear ventilation from soffit to peak. I had 2 whirly vents ...
  A: How do you know the whirlies will have a negative pressure, and what if it did? They will all work ...
Shingle weight selection5/21/2009
  Q: We live in a suburb just south of Houston, TX. Our home incurred minor roof damage back in Sept when ...
  A: It's not just the weight that makes them last longer. They are made differently and also have to be ...
Roofing and venting5/21/2009
  Q: Do you have any experience with GAF/Timberline and CertainTeed products? Are they pretty ...
  A: They are both big companies in the roofing business and both will be comparable. I have never heard ...
Roof Ventilation and other questions5/20/2009
  Q: We are in the process of gathering estimates for a roof replacement on a 2400 sq ft colonial home. ...
  A: The steeper the slope the less important it is for Ice and Water Shield. Regular felt will do fine ...
Sagging carport roof5/20/2009
  Q: I have a rancher with an attached carport and the 3 posts that support it on the open side are ...
  A: I don't know. It depends on how loose everything is. Try moving it and if you don't hear anything ...
foam spray or new roof5/19/2009
  Q: We have a garage that has a metal roof that has considerable about of ice build up in the winter. ...
  A: The reason the roof leaks is because of holes in your roof. You saying it is because of ice is like ...
Roof Ventilation and other questions5/19/2009
  Q: We are in the process of gathering estimates for a roof replacement on a 2400 sq ft colonial home. ...
  A: The more vents the cooler it will be under the roof. Whatever you do the top vents should match the ...
foam spray or new roof5/19/2009
  Q: We have a garage that has a metal roof that has considerable about of ice build up in the winter. ...
  A: And I will say again, you're barking up the wrong tree. All houses have heat loss. If there was no ...
foam spray or new roof5/18/2009
  Q: We have a garage that has a metal roof that has considerable about of ice build up in the winter. ...
  A: You say that you understand the problem is heat loss. How is heat loss a problem? Don't all houses ...
Flat roof issues5/18/2009
  Q: I live in a two story brick single family house build in 2003 in Chicago. The house has a flat roof ...
  A: First you said there is a crawl space and then you said there is duct work up there. If there is no ...
roofing valleys5/17/2009
  Q: How do I lay shingles in a valley that has one roof slope at 3:12 and the other at 6:12? do you use ...
  A: There is no difference. You never use sealant on a shingle roof. What happens when the sealant dries ...
Wood roof5/16/2009
  Q: My mother lives in Van Nuys and has a very old wood shake roof and wood siding. She was told by ...
  A: Every town has their own code and law so start with your township and see what they want and why. ...
new home exposed cantilever5/16/2009
  Q: we moved into our new home in mid march 2009. We are in Canada and there was still snow on the roof ...
  A: If there is no covering on the wood it should be leaking badly. I don't understand how you don't ...
roofing5/16/2009
  Q: why are most metal roofs on homes put on over plywood instead of nailers ? It seems like nailers ...
  A: Forget about the metal roof parts. Plywood gives the roof strength vertically and also from sideward ...
Shingles overlap at drip edge5/15/2009
  Q: Brad I read your answer about the amount of overlap shingles should be at the gutters. When you say ...
  A: The drip edge has little thickness so and inch in front of the edge is the same if you're talking ...
leaking valley5/13/2009
  Q: I am going to use the method in the paragraph below to try to stop my patio from leaking... Another ...
  A: Problems: 1. I don't see how you're going to get that apart and get the nails out. 2. There ...
Heat barrier under shingles?5/13/2009
  Q: My name is Michael and I am getting ready to get quotes from some roofers to have my roof replaced ...
  A: I'm not that familiar with heat barriers but here is a link for info from The US Dept of Energy ...
Low Slope Roof5/12/2009
  Q: A contactor recently re-roofed a very low slope roof for me. The section of roof, approx 10' x 20', ...
  A: Absolutely not! What an idiot! These shingles should leak like a sieve already. You can't do ...
reroofing a cricket5/10/2009
  Q: I am putting all new shingles over the old. When I reroof the cricket next to the chimney, should I ...
  A: Usually the front and back of the chimney flashing can stay but the sides are step flashing and they ...
Shingles overlapping gutter5/3/2009
  Q: I just had a new roof installed. When it rains hard the water overshoots the gutter at every ...
  A: The shingles should overlap the gutters about 1". I guess 1.5" is not that much more but does make ...
replacing shingles w/aluminum siding on mansard roof4/30/2009
  Q: Brad, When changing mansard shingles to aluminum siding on the vertical part of the design, should ...
  A: You could leave the shingles but to me it's like leaving your trash in the roof. You also have to ...
How dry does the deck need to be?4/30/2009
  Q: Our home lost nearly half its asphalt shingles during Hurricane Ike. Wet insulation created the ...
  A: You could use a string line from one end to the other to see if anything is higher or lower but as ...
How dry does the deck need to be?4/29/2009
  Q: Our home lost nearly half its asphalt shingles during Hurricane Ike. Wet insulation created the ...
  A: The wood should dry quickly after the air hits it. It might be warped already but it will dry ...
New roof-which brand???4/29/2009
  Q: I've seen so much information on-line about shingle companies, roofing companies, etc., that I'm ...
  A: Keep in mind that all these long guarantees are promises from the manufacturer IF AND ONLY IF the ...
Re-roofing sheathing damge.4/28/2009
  Q: My house is about twenty years old and is being re-rofed for the second time. A lot of particle ...
  A: If it's crushed around the nails it sounds like the nail gun pressure was too high. What else could ...
Garage door roof4/28/2009
  Q: I would like to build a roof like overhang over the garage doors. I would like to have it extend out ...
  A: As you said, cantilever is the name of such a design but you said you can't do that because of the ...
Ridge vent vs. box vents4/28/2009
  Q: Brad, I am replacing the roof on our home. I have contacted many contractors for estimates and ...
  A: Ridge vents work better because they are evenly distributed across the roof and they are at the ...
Cricket above stone chimney4/27/2009
  Q: I am in the process of purchasing an old house (1942) with a large stone chimney at the front of the ...
  A: A cricket is a structure to push water in a certain direction that might otherwise sit stranded with ...
Builder left a small gap between Fascia and Plywood roof deck4/25/2009
  Q: We are in the northern suburbs of Atlanta and getting roofing quotes for a new roof (original has ...
  A: Whenever you build anything you must leave space for expansion and contraction so all sheets of wood ...
Gaf/Elk Timberline 30yr vs 50 yr & Gaf Warranties4/24/2009
  Q: I recently received a quote to replace a 30+ year old asphalt 3tab shingles with the Gaf/Elk ...
  A: I don't know why he won't do the 50 year shingle with the System Plus warranty. It looks like the ...
roof repair4/24/2009
  Q: what the company said they wrote they would do they did not do. We were notified from a previous ...
  A: How can you ask GAF to fix something they did not do? Why would they do that? GAF guarantees their ...
Gaf/Elk Timberline 30yr vs 50 yr & Gaf Warranties4/23/2009
  Q: I recently received a quote to replace a 30+ year old asphalt 3tab shingles with the Gaf/Elk ...
  A: Go to the GAF website (GAF.com) and read all the Warranties. There's a lot to read. Go to roofing ...
Verticle ripples along roof4/23/2009
  Q: I have verticle ripples along my roof. The house is two years old. I have been told that this is a ...
  A: I've seen roofers store the shingles over the peak which will put a bend in the shingles. If it's ...
Replacing Roof4/23/2009
  Q: I am about to purchase my first home and the seller (my brother) is replacing the roof before we ...
  A: Architectural shingles are the 3 dimensional shingle that have been around about 30 years. They give ...
remove or reroof4/23/2009
  Q: I'm a carpenter who has done few roofs due to back problems. However my Mom's house now needs a ...
  A: You can go up to 2 roofs and then they have to be torn off. You usually have to remove the skylights ...
got roof quote4/22/2009
  Q: We got estimate today for our single story asphalt shingle roof from a bigger roof company that I ...
  A: First, felt paper is not really for shingles. They do make shingle underlayment material. Once felt ...
Mobile home with low pitch - Rolled Roof4/21/2009
  Q: I am at my wits end with local roofers. We have a 30 year old double wide mobile with comp. roof. I ...
  A: If they all know shingles should not be on your roof why are they quoting prices? Don't they know it ...
Mobile home with low pitch - Rolled Roof4/21/2009
  Q: I am at my wits end with local roofers. We have a 30 year old double wide mobile with comp. roof. I ...
  A: I don't now what you mean by composition as the word just means things put together and that applies ...
roofing question4/21/2009
  Q: Recently, I had the existing roof on my house removed and installed new felt and a 30 year GAF ...
  A: It's OK to see light behind the gutter. You don't seal the gutters to the wall. You can open a ...
3-12 pitch4/21/2009
  Q: My 3-12 pitch roof leaks on the edges not into my house but thru the 3ft overhange. Can i just ...
  A: A 3/12 roof is a low slope for shingles and should have ice and water shield on the entire roof. ...
Ridge Vent4/21/2009
  Q: My house is a 2-story colonial with a peak that runs North to South about 40 feet, and a peak that ...
  A: When you cool your house you open a window. You know that the more windows you open the better it ...
IKO Cambridge Shingles4/20/2009
  Q: My shingles have been flying off my roof since it was built in 2003. I've had the loose ones hand ...
  A: You can sue anyone. The problem is the shingles are usually guaranteed for the cost of the shingles ...
roofing question4/20/2009
  Q: Recently, I had the existing roof on my house removed and installed new felt and a 30 year GAF ...
  A: All you have to do is go up in one spot when it's raining and see why. Most likely he didn't extend ...
Long roof cricket4/18/2009
  Q: I am constructing and addition to my house where the addition shares two walls with the existing ...
  A: A cricket is a triangle to keep water flowing in a certain direction. Always think in terms of a ...
roof condensation4/18/2009
  Q: I'm building a house in rural china and one of the back not yet insulated north walls of the first ...
  A: You didn't say what the climate is there. Condensation will only occur if the humidity reaches 100. ...
Roofing Underlays available4/17/2009
  Q: I am replacing my Cedar shake roof with Asphalt/Fiberglass shingles later this year and was ...
  A: Felt underlayment was not made for shingles. Roofers just use it because it is so cheap. They do ...
weather for reroofing4/16/2009
  Q: Is there an ideal time of year to have roof replaced? It seems in summer heat that it would be easy ...
  A: The best time is spring and fall. In the winter they are fragile and can crack. In the summer they ...
Low pitch roof4/15/2009
  Q: We have a low pitched roof that currently has tab shingles we are going to replace it with rolled ...
  A: I guess technically your could but I would never do that. 1. Weight - are you sure it can take the ...
Life span of laminate shingles4/15/2009
  Q: I was wondering how reliable the rating systems are for laminate, architectural shingles are. We are ...
  A: I think they are generally reliable. I wouldn't say that a 40 year shingle will last AT LEAST 40 ...
Flashing in valleys when re-roofing4/14/2009
  Q: We live in Tx, near Gulf Coast, and are just getting around to having our roof fixed from "Ike". ...
  A: There are 3 ways to do a valley. 1. Exposed metal with the shingles cut on both sides. 2. Closed ...
3 tabs thicker than laminates4/14/2009
  Q: I measured the thinest portion of some BP harmony 35yr laminate shingles at .100". Since this is all ...
  A: If I give you copper it is even thinner yet it lasts a lot longer than your shingles. In other ...
new roof4/14/2009
  Q: When replacing asphalt shingles on a roof, do the contractors remove air conditioning units and ...
  A: There's no set answer on anything. If you take your car to the mechanic some mechanics can rebuild ...
reasonable alternatives when replacing a cedar shake roof4/13/2009
  Q: Our home has a 15+ year old cedar shake roof that is deteriorating quickly because the pitch of the ...
  A: I don't now much about the designer shingles but there are a lot out there to choose from. Look at ...
low slope roof and curled shingles4/11/2009
  Q: The shingles on the south side of my house are curling. This side of the home has a vaulted ...
  A: What do you call "low slope"? If the slope is too low you can't use shingles. Other than curled ...
Roof leak around fireplace pipe4/10/2009
  Q: Last night during a rainstorm noticed a leak around the fireplace pipe where it goes through the ...
  A: You didn't say what kind of roof you have. You can't seal it from the inside as that would still ...
Partially Exposed Nails4/8/2009
  Q: I recently had a new roof installed, and there are a three or four places where I can see part of a ...
  A: You took the picture upward so am I looking at a nail under the shingle or will this nail get wet? ...
gable vent4/8/2009
  Q: recently a squirrel has chewed up the outside of my gable vent and is seeking shelter in my attic. I ...
  A: I've seen them do a lot to get in - or is it to get out. I don't know why. Do they have babies ...
roof color/organic shingles4/7/2009
  Q: I live in New Brunswick Canada which borders Maine. Need to get our roof redone. I was hoping to go ...
  A: If the roofer says that color makes no difference I'd find another roofer as that one didn't go far ...
asphalt shingles flap in high winds4/6/2009
  Q: Have a roof made of (composite) asphalt shingles on a single family home (northern Virginia area). ...
  A: Your shingles are not sealed. There is a glue strip that heats up on the first warm day and seals ...
soffits4/6/2009
  Q: I am looking to buy a cape cod style house, the home inspector is concerned because the home has no ...
  A: Nothing is ever a deal breaker. Instead it is a negotiating point. I would gladly take a house with ...
Ice Storm Repairs4/5/2009
  Q: Brad: Now that the snow has (somewhat) melted here in the woods of NH, we need to make the permanent ...
  A: I'm not sure what you're doing. It sounds like you want to use plastic to finish off your roof. You ...
roof/gutter overflow issue4/3/2009
  Q: I have a problem area around my house. I have attached 2 pix. At the front corner of my house I ...
  A: Water should not be hitting the top of the gutter where that diverter is. The only reason water ...
mis match pattern on archatectural shingles4/3/2009
  Q: I recently had my roof done with owens corning oakridge pro 30 ar in onxy black. The pattern of the ...
  A: When shingles are manufactured a whole batch is made from one mix of color. They all get a color ...
roof/gutter overflow issue4/3/2009
  Q: I have a problem area around my house. I have attached 2 pix. At the front corner of my house I ...
  A: Only one picture came through. I think you can only attach one with this service. When you say "it ...
New roof installation4/3/2009
  Q: I just had a new roof installed, and I'm not real happy with the way it looks. The shingles are ...
  A: Many warehouses store the shingles outside anyway. IF they shoveled the snow off and then shingled ...
Reinforcing Roof4/2/2009
  Q: I need to reinforce a half-gable roof with 3/12 pitch to carry a localized load of 750 pounds, that ...
  A: 2x4s, 24 centers spanning 14 feet sounds awfully weak to me. You'd have to brace it up. But it's a ...
tin roofing4/1/2009
  Q: here at are little school we have a tar and pebble roof over are lunch room its not excatly flat but ...
  A: When you say "at your school" do you mean school as in a place of learning. What you wrote is ...
Resealing Asphalt Shingles3/31/2009
  Q: Is resealing aspahlt shingles that are windlifted an accepted and appropriate repair? My roof ...
  A: Two things can happen from the wind. One is that the tabs lift up due to the glue not holding or not ...
code3/30/2009
  Q: What are the applicable building codes that apply to roof vents and pipe boots.
  A: What is a "code"? There are many organizations that write up ways that they think things should be ...
roofing paper3/30/2009
  Q: is roofing paper waterproof? i have put down a layer of roofing paper and don't have time to put ...
  A: It depends on what you call "roofing paper". Felt paper is somewhat waterproof and is used a lot to ...
Roof Ventilation3/30/2009
  Q: I am shopping for a replacement roof, and one of my bidders tells me you should never have both ...
  A: Use all the vents that you want. The hot air at the bottom will rise as it heats up especially if ...
building higher pitched roof over existing3/29/2009
  Q: Our house has around 2/12 pitch shingled poorly insulated roof (leaking around chimneys and ...
  A: Making the pitch higher would allow for more insulation but that has nothing to do with ice damming ...
building higher pitched roof over existing3/29/2009
  Q: Our house has around 2/12 pitch shingled poorly insulated roof (leaking around chimneys and ...
  A: It makes no sense to me. Shingles cannot be put on low slopes or they will leak. They are not a ...
roofing3/29/2009
  Q: I have a 40 year old home in Washington state. The roof has been probably re-shingled twice since ...
  A: You need wood to nail the shingles to. If the 1x6s have lots of space between them then a lot of the ...
Diverter question3/27/2009
  Q: I recently had rain diverters installed on the edges of my roof to direct water away from an area ...
  A: I guess you could say that snow will back up there when it might not on other parts of the roof. It ...
replacing shingle3/26/2009
  Q: Can I replace a asphalt shingle without removing nails? Some have already ripped off and some are ...
  A: The nails would be sticking up where the shingle pulled out around it. So if you just shoved a ...
Tax rebate on roofing3/24/2009
  Q: Is the $1500 tax rebate only on the roofing material and must it be energy star approved? I was told ...
  A: It is only good on the roofing material itself and it is "up to" $1500. You can't spend $100 on ...
Torch down roof3/24/2009
  Q: On a torch down flat roof, does the membrane get torched down to the drip edge. or should it be ...
  A: Most all roofers put the rubber down first, then they nail a drip edge down and then seal it with ...
Flat Roof Respiration requiremt?3/23/2009
  Q: I had a new modified rubber roof installed in 2008 on a flat roof building that was build in 1928. ...
  A: I don't know what "respiration vents" are but it sounds redundant. Vents are not "required" but ...
Attic Ventilation3/21/2009
  Q: I'm wondering if anyone might have any advice for an attic ventilation challenge I have. I'm in ...
  A: You can add all the vents you want. The booster vent you mentioned says it is not to be used as a ...
Cobra rigid vent 23/21/2009
  Q: I had a cobra rigid vent 2 installed 3 yrs ago the contractor never installed shingles over it ...
  A: I dont know about cobra vent being in the sun because no one would ever leave it in the sun if you ...
Mold on Roof3/20/2009
  Q: The roof at our house has some green mold and a little black mold. What can we use to remove it? ...
  A: There is a Clorox solution to clean these but I don't know the formula. Check with roofing ...
Flat Roof Ventilation3/20/2009
  Q: My home "office" is a fixed up garden shack (about 10' x 15'), with a flat (slightly)sloping roof. ...
  A: Houses are usually built with two structures at the top. One is the roof and the other is the ...
3 tab warranties3/19/2009
  Q: I have always understood that wind warranty of 60 mph on the packaging means that the material is ...
  A: 1. If installed properly the shingles should have held and therefore the manufacturer would be to ...
flashing around chimney3/16/2009
  Q: Brad, i'm having a new roof put on now and my contractor never said anything about doing the ...
  A: Was he blind when he looked at the job? Flashing is usually ALWAYS replaced when a roof is done so ...
Replacing roof3/15/2009
  Q: My roof is 25 years old and I am having it taken off down to the plywood. In one area, I have ...
  A: The wood already looks pretty bad. You need to get something behind the wood to bring the water back ...
Ice & Water shield3/15/2009
  Q: My contractor ran out of the adhesive type on the garage and returned with a roll without the ...
  A: They certainly aren't the same. Ice and water shield is more expensive for a reason. I have no idea ...
Venting shingle roof3/14/2009
  Q: I have a new certenteed 30 yr roof with new ridge vent. I am now adding insulation in attic. The ...
  A: The ridge vents do the same thing but without electricity and the ridge vents will do it more ...
Attic insulation and venting3/14/2009
  Q: I have two questions. I have a house with a hip roof. I have a ridge vent and triangle gable vents ...
  A: It doesn't matter if you insulate the area with no soffit vents. The idea is to build an envelope ...
new shingle blow off3/13/2009
  Q: We recently had a new home built. The roof was shingled in August. We had shingles blow off in ...
  A: The roofer is ultimately responsible. Even if something is wrong with the shingles, the roofer ...
Roof blew off 2 months after installation3/12/2009
  Q: My roof was severely damaged last September of 08. I contracted a reputable company to replace it. ...
  A: All shingles are stored in the cold weather. They don't heat the warehouse and many distributors ...
roofing3/10/2009
  Q: Yesterday a spot in your kitchen celing started dripping. So I went up in the attic and look for a ...
  A: The humidity can be high in the attic from steamy showers, steamy cooking, leaky ductwork in the ...
raising roof on rancher3/10/2009
  Q: I am doing a complete remodel on a 1979 one-story rancher. It is 120 feet wide with an 8 foot ...
  A: The only way to find that out would be to bring in a builder (or carpenter) and come up with a price ...
rebate3/9/2009
  Q: I've noticed Obama signed legislation for a $1500 tax credit for using among others,GAF's Timberline ...
  A: Obama just fine tuned what was in effect before. You do not get $1500 for using the cool shingles. ...
cost differnce with ice and water shield and how far should it go3/9/2009
  Q: Is there a significant cost differnce betwen 30 lb. felt and an ice & water shield? Can an ice and ...
  A: Ice and Water shield is much more expensive than 30 lb paper but it also performs a different task. ...
attaching 4/12 pitch patio roof to 10/12 pitch house3/8/2009
  Q: I am planning on building a patio cover on the back of my house. The house is "L" shaped with a ...
  A: I don't know what you mean by "allowable". Anything is allowable. The objective is to take what you ...
Leaking tongue & groove ceiling3/8/2009
  Q: Our addition is 16 yrs old. About 3yrs after completion of new addition our tongue and groove ...
  A: You have to narrow down the pattern. Does it leak during snow? Does it leak during melting snow? ...
modified bitumen roof with silver coat3/5/2009
  Q: We live in an old graystone in Chicago. We have a low slope roof with a "modified bitumen with ...
  A: If you have a leak then you have a hole. You have to find where the hole is. It is possible that you ...
modified bitumen roof with silver coat3/4/2009
  Q: We live in an old graystone in Chicago. We have a low slope roof with a "modified bitumen with ...
  A: You replace it when the roof has a lot of cracking in it. The depth of the cracking is something ...
moisture between roof and ceiling drywall3/3/2009
  Q: I am having some repairs done to a ceiling in our family room. They just scraped off the texture and ...
  A: There was a visible wet spot (that's what you saw). You could have a minor leak where only a little ...
moisture between roof and ceiling drywall3/3/2009
  Q: I am having some repairs done to a ceiling in our family room. They just scraped off the texture and ...
  A: The only two sources of water would be from rain or from condensation. You'd have to decide if the ...
flat cooncrete roof, leak3/2/2009
  Q: House on the beach in Puerto Rico, flat concrete roof, built maybe 40 years ago maybe using ...
  A: When you say flat roof if you mean low slope then you shouldn't have tiles on there in the first ...
roof vents3/1/2009
  Q: My one story house has a 20yr old roof, with high wind damage. I also have two asphalt layers. I ...
  A: They all serve different purposes. The turbine vents are basically ugly and not used on shingle ...
Buckling felt paper2/28/2009
  Q: I have experienced on rare occasions felt paper buckling at the seams of the plywood. This problem ...
  A: There is no specific name or brand. All manufacturers make it and they are all better than just ...
Buckling felt paper2/28/2009
  Q: I have experienced on rare occasions felt paper buckling at the seams of the plywood. This problem ...
  A: They have different purposes. Regular felt is used as an underlayment for shingles to stop moisture ...
Buckling felt paper2/28/2009
  Q: I have experienced on rare occasions felt paper buckling at the seams of the plywood. This problem ...
  A: I never heard of that. Felt paper will buckle once wet but that only happens when the paper is left ...
hot mopping in residencial Newport Beach, CA2/27/2009
  Q: I am a co-owner of a residence in Newport Beach, California. Yesterday I was told that my co-owners ...
  A: Is this legal? I don't know what you're trying to say. Someone is working on the house. Why would ...
Roofing2/27/2009
  Q: Well-built 50s house in Ottawa Canada.Roof is low pitch, about 4ft/15 feet. Soffiting is ventialted ...
  A: You don't seem to have a problem. Ice damming is a fact of life on roofs. If the roof is done ...
roofing2/26/2009
  Q: Yesterday a spot in your kitchen celing started dripping. So I went up in the attic and look for a ...
  A: How is it "MY" attic. I don't get the tense of the question. If it leaks during rain then I have a ...
discontinued shingles2/26/2009
  Q: We are putting an addition on and are having trouble matching the existing shingles, as they have ...
  A: Even if you could find the old shingles they still wouldn't match since your shingles are now ...
ROOFING2/26/2009
  Q: I had a roofer come and tear off old shingles and apply new ones after a hail storm. our sun room is ...
  A: You can't put shingles on low slopes or they will leak. Shingles are not a sealed kind of roof. Yes, ...
roof replacement2/24/2009
  Q: I need my roof replaced. Do you have an opinion on which type of architectural shingle is ...
  A: Most people get a hammer and think they are experts. Most homes built today (most people would ...
Re-roofing2/24/2009
  Q: We live outside Phila, PA. We've received a price to lay a second layer of 30 yr timberland shingles ...
  A: It is standard practice to install up to 2 layers. After that they must be ripped off. You only have ...
New Roof2/23/2009
  Q: I just had a new roof installed and they did not caulk/seal the area where the roof is lapped over ...
  A: You have to think in terms of a drop of water. Can a drop of water get in there? You can open a ...
New Roof2/23/2009
  Q: I just had a new roof installed and they did not caulk/seal the area where the roof is lapped over ...
  A: Shingles last 20-50 years depending on the shingle. That means that if you installed a 25 year roof ...
ventilation in bungalow attic space2/21/2009
  Q: are you able to answer questions about improving ventilation in attic crawl space (outside of knee ...
  A: I warm air intrusion into the attic is the cause then the first step is to stop that leak of house ...
roof replacement2/21/2009
  Q: I need my roof replaced. Do you have an opinion on which type of architectural shingle is ...
  A: All brands you listed are good and are major players in the roofing market. Ice and water shield is ...
ventilation2/20/2009
  Q: I have a gable roof, house built in 1977. In 1997 I had the roof replaced. The roofer installed 6 ...
  A: Get all the venting you can. There is no such thing as too much venting or one vent working against ...
ventilation2/19/2009
  Q: I have a gable roof, house built in 1977. In 1997 I had the roof replaced. The roofer installed 6 ...
  A: Condensation is caused by highly humid air being cooled down. Humid air could be in the attic ...
Ice dams and leaks2/18/2009
  Q: Question Our 1974 home has cathedral ceilings, finished with pine ceiling in the main living area ...
  A: I don't know what the right direction is as you have not supplied enough information. I asked for ...
lightning rod2/13/2009
  Q: I am removing a tree next to my house and, as a result, there will be no nearby trees. Do I need to ...
  A: You're asking an electrical question. It is extremely rare for a house to have a lightning rod. The ...
roof new/repair2/13/2009
  Q: My roof was leaking, back bedroom. I've received two estimates so far. I'm planning on getting two ...
  A: There is no limit on the number of roofs for a flat roof. Modified Bitumen is a what many people ...
Asbestos slate roofing2/13/2009
  Q: We have had severe damage to our asbestos slate roof and have been denied a roof by our insurance ...
  A: What you need is a roofer to tell you what needs to be done. I don't know what more an engineer can ...
Best weather for a new roof2/13/2009
  Q: We are putting a new roof on our house. The weather this coming week is Saturday afternoon and all ...
  A: You mentioned 5 days and only one of them is no rain so that would be an easy decision. Then you say ...
ice dams2/13/2009
  Q: I had a new shingle roof put on my house in 2006.The company used ice and water shield which is ...
  A: So much for the guarantee. Maybe the roof slope is too low for the type of roof that you have. Maybe ...
cold asphalt shingle applications2/12/2009
  Q: I helped my son roof his new garage. It has a 4'-12' pitch. Last night the wind was horrible and it ...
  A: Shingles will not seal against wind until a warm day in the spring. That's the risk you take ...
Attic Frost2/11/2009
  Q: Good Day, We live in northwest Wisconsin where we had temperatures below 32F from the end of Dec. to ...
  A: If you're getting moisture on the windows then it sounds like you have bad windows. I don't know ...
gambrel roof2/8/2009
  Q: I'm planning on building a 12x20 cabin and I'm wanting to put a gambrel roof on this. Do I have to ...
  A: Roofs are made out of rafters and not joists so I don't know what you're trying to do. What do you ...
repair to low slope roof2/8/2009
  Q: I have two questions. One is technical and the other refers to general practices. I would ...
  A: The rubber goes up the steep slope about a foot. THEN you can start shingling. The shingles cannot ...
repair to low slope roof2/8/2009
  Q: I have two questions. One is technical and the other refers to general practices. I would ...
  A: Low slope roofs cannot have shingles on them or they will leak so you need to find out the actual ...
Tear-Off Old Roof?2/6/2009
  Q: I have a 2:12 BUR that sustained hurricane damage from Gustav. My BUR has a silver coating painted ...
  A: Most BUR roofs are done over the old ones. You only rip up if it is too lumpy or water logged to ...
Attic Frost2/5/2009
  Q: Good Day, We live in northwest Wisconsin where we had temperatures below 32F from the end of Dec. to ...
  A: Frost is usually humid air that is getting into the attic. It can be from the house or from the ...
Roofing2/4/2009
  Q: I just recently purchased a house and I want to finish the attic. There is an attic fan that I want ...
  A: You need both. Air can not go out on vent unless it comes in somewhere else. The idea is to bring in ...
Desperate - Losing Sleep2/3/2009
  Q: This is a long story and I hope you bear with me. In Dec 07 I had a "reputable" company install a ...
  A: You can't get ice damming on a mansard roof so I don't know what you have. Exposed nails are leaks ...
installation conditions - weather2/3/2009
  Q: I have a contractor that is proposing to re-do our roof with Timberline 30 year shingles. What ...
  A: The best time is spring and fall. In the winter the shingles are brittle and if bent will crack. In ...
ice damning2/1/2009
  Q: I have a three year old end townhouse unit. We moved in during the winter (in Toronto, Canada). ...
  A: You cannot stop ice damming. Ice and Water Shield material does well in stopping leaks caused by ice ...
Re-Roofing our low slope roof2/1/2009
  Q: We purchased a home with a low slope over 1 year ago. The roof at the time was old but our ...
  A: The picture you showed me looks completely flat - flatter than 2:12 or 3:12. 2:12 is the absolute ...
creating a woodshop above my garage1/31/2009
  Q: I would like to know if it is possible to create a wood workshop above our 2 car garage. It is 20' ...
  A: The trusses are a way to make structures with small pieces of wood. If you cut any of the pieces it ...
Reroofing materials for Flat Roof1/30/2009
  Q: We live in the Northeast and have a flat roofed home. There are two questions I have. How can we ...
  A: It will be hard to describe. An expert would just look at it. Over time the roof will crack. It can ...
Refoofing a flat roof1/29/2009
  Q: I have a split level home built in the 40's. It has 4 roofs. The front roof is flat, the middle roof ...
  A: Old roofing material does not usually have to be removed first but sometimes it's like leaving your ...
Roof leak or not?1/29/2009
  Q: On the ends of my house (not the front or back, but the two sides of the house), I'm having small ...
  A: You have a humidity problem. Get a humidity gauge and see what the humidity is in the house and in ...
reroofing/flashing1/28/2009
  Q: I'm looking to replace the 15 year old shingled roof on our (15 year old) cottage in the next year ...
  A: If you do not use new step flashing you will definitely have a leak. There is no doubt about it. It ...
estimates and conflicting information1/28/2009
  Q: My house is 20 years old. We are not experiencing any leaks or problems that I know of at this ...
  A: 15lb Felt vs fiberglass felt. Neither is made for shingles. Most use 15 lb felt. Fiberglass felt is ...
torment1/26/2009
  Q: My roof is 10 years old. It is leaking in attic. My friend can't figure out why. Looks like no ...
  A: But before you said your leak was at the bottom??? If you have water it can be a leak or humidity. ...
torment1/25/2009
  Q: My roof is 10 years old. It is leaking in attic. My friend can't figure out why. Looks like no ...
  A: The transition line between the shingles and the flat roof is a common source of leaks because it is ...
flat roof replacement1/24/2009
  Q: "We bought our house 5 years ago, it has a flat roof. At that time the real estate agent said we ...
  A: A flat roof (if installed correctly) last 10-15 years. Some people can push 20 years. As far as if ...
Snow sliding off off gently sloped (flat) rubber roof1/23/2009
  Q: What is the best way to prevent snow from sliding off of flat rubber roofs? I have a shed dormer ...
  A: If you "install" anything on the roof you'll be making holes and then you will have leaks. You don't ...
renovation the roof1/22/2009
  Q: The roof:50 yeras old, flat, 1,500 sq.ft. It includes (from bottom to above): celling (drywall), ...
  A: What is playwood? With all the half sentences and misspellings it's hard to tell what you're ...
Ridge Cap Repair1/22/2009
  Q: The house and roof are 1-1/2 yrs old and the roof is concrete tiles in Florida. The concrete they ...
  A: Concrete tiles are not common. I've never worked with them. I do know that if they are cracking ...
polar ply sheating1/22/2009
  Q: My husband wants to use a product called Polar Ply for the sheathing underneath our new comp roof. ...
  A: Polar Ply is a brand of radiant barrier. Polar Ply has it in sheets and paper. Radiant barriers are ...
Metal Roofing on a Low Slope Roof1/21/2009
  Q: I have a 1:12 mixed with a 2:12 pitched roof. I would like to put on a metal roof but am getting ...
  A: Don't Do It! You might get lucky and it not leak. If you rely on the stormguard to stop leaks it ...
re-roofing and adding insulation1/21/2009
  Q: Brad, I'm planning on re-roofing my house. It is mostly cathedral ceiling with partial attic space ...
  A: You do not need another air space. You did not need the first air space. The idea with the air ...
mold in the attic after new roof1/21/2009
  Q: i manage an apartment community. It is 25 years old. I had 9 buildings re roofed 3 at a time. The ...
  A: One thing we know for sure - condensation does not happen until the humidity reaches 100%. It will ...
mold in the attic after new roof1/20/2009
  Q: i manage an apartment community. It is 25 years old. I had 9 buildings re roofed 3 at a time. The ...
  A: The winter tends to have days of lower humidity. I think I'm missing a lot of information here to ...
mold in the attic after new roof1/20/2009
  Q: i manage an apartment community. It is 25 years old. I had 9 buildings re roofed 3 at a time. The ...
  A: Condensation happens when you take humid air and cool it down to its dew point. This is what happens ...
mold on ceiling1/19/2009
  Q: I had a new roof installed in 2006 (BP Harmony asphalt shingles)and just recently noticed small ...
  A: It depends on the pattern of your moisture. If the pattern is widespread (especially on the nails) ...
mold on ceiling1/18/2009
  Q: I had a new roof installed in 2006 (BP Harmony asphalt shingles)and just recently noticed small ...
  A: If it is sunny out and the plywood is wet then you can't blame the shingles or the installation of ...
mold on ceiling1/18/2009
  Q: I had a new roof installed in 2006 (BP Harmony asphalt shingles)and just recently noticed small ...
  A: If there was something wrong with the shingles then you'd have specific leaks. If you have wide area ...
ridge cap1/17/2009
  Q: I built a house in northern b.c. 3 years ago with no ridge cap. This year installed vented ridge cap ...
  A: I assume you mean ridge vent. If you have ridge vent you will have heat escape through there. The ...
Reroof1/15/2009
  Q: Brad, I am doing a reroofing job (asphalt shingles) and I have been given two options. Option one ...
  A: If the deck is now cedar and is workable there is no reason to rip it up. Sometimes in old buildings ...
Increasing existing roof pitch1/15/2009
  Q: I would like to know if there would be any problem's with adding trusses over an existing shingled ...
  A: The roof might have a load of 30 PSF but that a distributed load. The trusses would have all their ...
Hot Mop Roof Repair1/14/2009
  Q: We had a new shingle & hot mop roof put on our home when we bought it 12 years ago. The hot mop has ...
  A: An asphalt roof last 10-15 years if you take care of it. Some roofs can get 20 years. The entire ...
Reroof1/13/2009
  Q: Brad, I am doing a reroofing job (asphalt shingles) and I have been given two options. Option one ...
  A: I can't see how you can do a shingle roof over a cedar roof since the cedar has thick edges. Yet I ...
roofing/how many eyebrow vents1/10/2009
  Q: My house is 35 yrs old 1800 square feet. Ranch style single story. Will be replacing the roof with ...
  A: Each vent should have a rating as far as the quantity of air it can move. It would depend on the ...
roofing/how many eyebrow vents1/10/2009
  Q: My house is 35 yrs old 1800 square feet. Ranch style single story. Will be replacing the roof with ...
  A: What is 5 inch plywood? It sounds like you will have a ventilation system that will not be ...
Torchdown Roofing1/9/2009
  Q: Is there a video available (free or the purchase) on how to install torchdown roofing?
  A: I guess someone might have made one but I never heard of any. Roofing is kind of an "expertise" that ...
Flat roof drain1/6/2009
  Q: We had a replacement flat roof Torchon membrane done in fall 2007 because of age of the previous ...
  A: If water comes in then you have holes. If there are no holes then the ice and water is just trapped ...
burndown roofing1/5/2009
  Q: IS THERE ANY TEMPERATURE AT WHICH BURNDOWN ROOFING SHOULD NOT BE APPLIED AND SHOULD THERE BE A ...
  A: I don't know what a low temperature would be for torch-down roofing. I know I have done them as low ...
low pitch roof1/1/2009
  Q: Brad--I am a remodeling contractor in st cloud mn. I am looking at repairing a garage roof for my ...
  A: The type of roof you're doing sounds like what I'd call a "handyman" roof. A roofer would not do ...
Plywood sheating bulging12/31/2008
  Q: We have a similar situation to the homeowner in ...
  A: Codes are individual rules accepted by each township or county. They each pick what they want. What ...
torch down re-roofing question12/31/2008
  Q: I just had the last estimate for a roof repair/replacement on a fairly new (3 years old) low-pitch ...
  A: Standard gutters are 5" and anything else will be difficult to find or special order unless you go ...
torch down re-roofing question12/31/2008
  Q: I just had the last estimate for a roof repair/replacement on a fairly new (3 years old) low-pitch ...
  A: Ice and water shield is for under shingles because shingle are not sealed and will get water in ...
constructing a lean-to port12/30/2008
  Q: I am researching how to construct a lean-to port to erect to the side of my house to provide some ...
  A: 1. Flashing generally goes with shingles. If you're doing modified it can be flashing or not. It is ...
stovepipe penetration through rubber roof12/29/2008
  Q: We would like to install a woodstove in an enclosed porch, that has a rubber roof that is slightly ...
  A: Cut a hole for the pipe. The hole must be significantly larger than the pipe as no flammable ...
Flat Tar Roof Repairs12/29/2008
  Q: I am interested in applying a rubber roof to my home but wanted to know what is the best application ...
  A: I never worked with glue. I like the torch-down as it makes the rubber nice and soft to work with ...
roof leak?12/29/2008
  Q: Water has wetted my bedroom wall for the past four years. I've had numerous roofers come over and ...
  A: Why does it have to be the roof? You're saying it comes in around the window so why can't it be the ...
Plywood sheating bulging12/29/2008
  Q: We have a similar situation to the homeowner in ...
  A: I'm not sure what you have but it sounds like you need to attach a 2x4 to the side of the truss and ...
parapet walls - new construction12/28/2008
  Q: We are building a new house. The house has parapet walls on both ends that feature two chimneys ...
  A: You didn't tell me what the website is. I'd need to see pictures of that area. It sounds like you ...
Missing Shingle & Snow12/25/2008
  Q: I live near Chicago. Two weeks ago, I lost a shingle in a storm (see attached image). Given the ...
  A: If only the exposed part of the shingle broke off then the only thing it leaves is an exposed nail ...
Shingling a Townhouse with Continuous Run12/25/2008
  Q: I have a Townhouse where the neighbors roof is the same height as mine and the shingles are a ...
  A: There would be a high risk of leak the way you want to do it. Rain can easily travel 4" sideways as ...
tar and gravel roof replacement12/25/2008
  Q: we just purchased this house and it has a very low pitch roof 2/12 along with approx. 4 ft eaves. ...
  A: First of all, ice damming is not a problem in the first place so you do not need to do anything. Ice ...
Shingling a Townhouse with Continuous Run12/25/2008
  Q: I have a Townhouse where the neighbors roof is the same height as mine and the shingles are a ...
  A: The proper way is to interweave the new shingles with your neighbor's shingles. Any other method ...
Snow in bonus room12/22/2008
  Q: We had a new house built in Minnesota. There is an unfinished bonus room above the garage. I've ...
  A: That's a good one. Can you imagine everyone that lives in a house has to climb up on their roof each ...
Frost inside roof, with continuous ridge vent and continuous soffit vents12/22/2008
  Q: For the last couple of years, I've been getting frost in my attic. The house is 20 years old, and ...
  A: I don't know. If the humidity is 38 inside the house and that air is cooled down inside the attic ...
Frost inside roof, with continuous ridge vent and continuous soffit vents12/21/2008
  Q: For the last couple of years, I've been getting frost in my attic. The house is 20 years old, and ...
  A: You have too much humidity in the house AND you have a major air leak from the house into the attic. ...
Need a referee on my porch roof12/20/2008
  Q: My house is getting completely re-roofed (30 year shingles)and I'm getting different proposed ...
  A: The price per sq ft goes up as the size goes down. If I charge $2 per sq ft on a house and I go to a ...
Roof Nail Size12/18/2008
  Q: I recently had a new 1/2" sheathing roof put over the original 3/8" sheathing. I had lifetime ...
  A: Now I get it. If the short nails were used to nail the shingles to the old plywood and the nails ...
Bathroom fan dripping water and bubbles in paint12/17/2008
  Q: The bathroom fan in our upstairs bathroom is dripping water and bubbles are forming in the paint ...
  A: If it is condensation in the bathroom then that's what the fan is for in the first place. You need ...
Roof Nail Size12/17/2008
  Q: I recently had a new 1/2" sheathing roof put over the original 3/8" sheathing. I had lifetime ...
  A: The part of the nail that protrude though the plywood does nothing. But if they don't come through ...
gutter drip edge installation12/16/2008
  Q: We recently added a porch cover. My roofer installed the drip edge, of course under the shingle ...
  A: I was assuming that the entire board behind the gutter was covered with metal so even if some water ...
gutter drip edge installation12/16/2008
  Q: We recently added a porch cover. My roofer installed the drip edge, of course under the shingle ...
  A: It depends on the purpose of the drip edge. If the drip edge is to protect the wood then you want ...
had a new roof installed12/14/2008
  Q: I recently had a new roof installed due to hurricane Ike. When the roofer removed the existing roof ...
  A: The flashing should have been replaced but even if they reuse the old they finish it off with a few ...
Roof layers allowed by Law12/13/2008
  Q: Brad, I am a roofer in N.J. I can not get a straight answer from anyone with reguards to layers or ...
  A: There are no standards on the number of flat roofs you can have. Each town or county has their own ...
damp plywood12/12/2008
  Q: Looking for the cause of a leak in the frame of a window, I checked my attic and saw that the ...
  A: How could having wet wood be normal? Your moisture could be because of a leak in the roof or ...
insulation12/10/2008
  Q: Brad, I have a cape cod in NJ. The 2nd floor is finished with 2 bedrooms. The are no soffits. The ...
  A: When you say "insulate the crawl space" do you mean the roof, floor or walls of the crawl space? ...
roof insulation12/9/2008
  Q: we have an old cabin built in 1913 with no roof insulation. The upstairs attic was finished years ...
  A: The problem with rigid insulation is that it will never fit exactly and any space will just let the ...
Ice/Water Shield12/8/2008
  Q: I had a contractor install what I believe is an ice/water shield type material to seal my box ...
  A: Yes, you cannot leave it exposed to the sun. It's in the directions with each package. As far as ...
pros and cons about owens corning shingles12/7/2008
  Q: i understand there has been some problem with the Owens corning shingles getting some kind of dark ...
  A: What you describe happens to many shingles and not just Ownes. It is caused by algae running down ...
New Roof Replacment12/7/2008
  Q: I need some help with my roofer. He installed Cobra ExhaustVent on the ridge and I think he over ...
  A: Before you said "over nailing it" Now you say don't "over drive" the nails. Overdriving a nail means ...
Roofing in IL.12/7/2008
  Q: iS it ok to have a roof replaced this time of year (DEC.) IF NOT WHAT IS A GOOD TEMP?
  A: You do what you have to do. What's wrong with December...in Florida or anywhere along the southern ...
Owens Corning 40 yr Oakridge12/2/2008
  Q: We replaced our roof 2.75 yrs ago with OC 40y Oakridge, however during Hurricane Ike we lost a few ...
  A: I don't know of any recalls but it boils down to the roofer that installed the shingles with the ...
Flat roof12/1/2008
  Q: I currently have a sloped roof on my town home. My wife and I were considering putting a room in ...
  A: You will basically be taking off the roof and starting new. You would have to call in a carpenter to ...
Warped Roof11/28/2008
  Q: What would a warped iron roof mean?? Does it mean the roof would need replacing??
  A: What is an iron roof? Anything that is warped just takes on a different shape but doesn't mean it ...
roof leak11/27/2008
  Q: I have a manufactured home, 7 yrs. old. Last winter I had water coming in the kitchen under the ...
  A: I'd have to see pictures. If you have a leak then you have a hole and you have to find the hole. ...
New roofing materials?11/25/2008
  Q: I have seen a new open house on the market with virtually no slope to the roof, in an area of long, ...
  A: There are many, many gimmicky materials that come and go over the years. I have no idea what this ...
replace flat roof with sloped roof11/25/2008
  Q: I am looking at purchasing an 'old' church for use as a primary residence. (built 1956). It's small ...
  A: Yes, you can put a sloped roof on but of course you're redesigning the building. It is best to ...
Three Re-Roof questions11/24/2008
  Q: will be re-roofing my home after Thanksgiving plan to use GAF/Elk 30 yr Prestique HD Architectural ...
  A: Shingles are nailed through the original flashing so they now have holes in it. There is no way that ...
New construction roof material11/24/2008
  Q: We are getting ready to have a house built. The house will have natural stone and stucco or natural ...
  A: Everything in roofing has gone up in price significantly but still the price of the shingles was a ...
Three Re-Roof questions11/23/2008
  Q: will be re-roofing my home after Thanksgiving plan to use GAF/Elk 30 yr Prestique HD Architectural ...
  A: You cannot reuse any flashing including step flashing as it will be full of nail holes. The ...
Rolled Roofing11/22/2008
  Q: How do you get lumps out of newly installed rolled roofing?
  A: You can't. If something is lumpy it means there is too much material between 2 points or possibly ...
Three Re-Roof questions11/22/2008
  Q: will be re-roofing my home after Thanksgiving plan to use GAF/Elk 30 yr Prestique HD Architectural ...
  A: I like the plastic vents figuring they will be more rigid and hold their shape better. The foam ones ...
rolled roofing11/22/2008
  Q: We had rolled roofing installed yesterday on our backyard structure. This was recommended by the ...
  A: There are different kinds of roll roofing. I can't give you an all encompassing class on roofing in ...
rolled roofing11/22/2008
  Q: We had rolled roofing installed yesterday on our backyard structure. This was recommended by the ...
  A: There is no such thing as "rolled shingle roofing". A professional rolled roof would be like ...
Ice dams / powered gable venting11/21/2008
  Q: Our 2 year old home was built with complete soffit venting and required number of roof vents placed ...
  A: You cannot stop ice damming. The objective is to not have damage from ice damming and that's what ...
ROLL ROOF11/21/2008
  Q: What is meant by ROLL ROOF? ANSWER: Anything that comes in rolls is called rolled roofing. All flat ...
  A: No, standing seam is a 3 dimensional product and cannot be rolled up. You technically could have a ...
Low Slope Roof Replacement11/20/2008
  Q: I just bought my house 2 years ago,and am finding out that I need a new roof. I currently have ...
  A: 2/12 is the absolute minimum for shingles so you'd be taking a chance trying to do it with shingles. ...
ice & water, intake venting, iso vs. structa11/17/2008
  Q: I'm trying to choose between two roofers. One says I need Ice & Water on the gable ends; the other ...
  A: Manufacturers suggest Ice and Water Shield in many more places than necessary - I feel to sell the ...
connecting a trellis to a new roof11/14/2008
  Q: My brother recently installed a new roof with asphalt shingles. We are now building a trellis that ...
  A: I don't know what glue you could use that would not damage the shingles. As far as strength I'd have ...
tie in metal roof to asphalt11/12/2008
  Q: Help!!! I have a screened in porch with a very low pitch that was an add-on to the main roof (not ...
  A: If you have a very low slope then you shouldn't have had shingles on there in the first place. Low ...
Chimney leak where a flat roof meets a sloped roof11/10/2008
  Q: I have a dormer with a flat roof (rubber) and where it meets the shingle pitched roof a chimney ...
  A: I would need more pictures but a few things. I see the bottom of the shingles are cemented. You ...
Dried in wrinkles11/10/2008
  Q: Brad, while putting on a bedroom addition, the contractor had the old (existing roof) torn off, some ...
  A: Tar paper will wrinkle once wet. He could have used a shingle underlayment that would not have done ...
Composition Roof Warranties11/9/2008
  Q: I have received multiple roof bids. Some say...in order for my roof to qualify for Certainteed's ...
  A: I'm not sure what all those ratings are about. As far as I'm concerned it's all a bunch of gimmicks. ...
Applying new felt over the top of existing felt11/9/2008
  Q: Brad: I have a two-story house in central Kentucky that is being re-roofed (7 1/2 - 9 1/2 slope). ...
  A: Leaving the old felt paper will not hurt. It can only help. It would be like having one layer of 30 ...
Felt used for underlayment on roofs11/7/2008
  Q: I am about to install a new roof on a new shed I built. I saw a rationale on the use of felt that ...
  A: Felt is a moisture barrier between the wood and the outside. Shingles are not sealed and moist air ...
Tying new shingles into old shingles over cedar shake.11/7/2008
  Q: I appreciate any advice you can give me with this issue. I live in a townhouse in the West Village ...
  A: I don't know what HOA is. I've never seen 4 layers of shingles on a house. You are required to rip ...
rubber roofing one sheet?11/7/2008
  Q: I have a flat roof on a seasonal room that I have converted into an extra family room. I have ...
  A: EPDM is a commercial product that comes in large rolls but it can not be mixed with asphalt ...
Soffit vents....none11/6/2008
  Q: I live in Novato, CA. in an area that gets quite warm in the summer months. (I just moved here from ...
  A: The way it's supposed to work is that cool air comes in vents at the bottom. The air rises as it ...
Ceiling Cracks after/during New Roof11/5/2008
  Q: Brad, My wife and I recently had a new roof installed on our home(about 15 years old). During the ...
  A: That's a tough one. If he dropped bundles on the roof he certainly put more stress on the structure ...
ice and water shield11/5/2008
  Q: mr.zacharia,what i mainly wanted to know was, how many years does ice and water shield last? i have ...
  A: I don't know if Ice & Water Shield has a certain number of years that it last. It's not supposed to ...
roofing11/4/2008
  Q: sir, i have 2 questions.my first is this, afamily member is looking to have his roof reshingled. we ...
  A: I don't understand how snow can melt faster on black shingles. If the roof is covered with snow then ...
Bizarre Drip Edge11/2/2008
  Q: Brad - I am set to re-roofing my ranch 1200 sq ft ranch this coming week with 30yr asphalt ...
  A: I have never seen that but sometimes the bottom of the roof loses its slope when multiple roofs are ...
gutter installation problem10/31/2008
  Q: the contractor who is redoing our water-damaged stucco pulled off our recently installed new ...
  A: You can't solder aluminum. You can solder Galvanized or copper. Copper is very expensive. Galvanized ...
Reroofing low-slope BUR-gravel roof10/31/2008
  Q: I live in a single-story house in a broad California valley: never snow, ice or hail; plenty of ...
  A: I can't picture exactly what you have but on the insulation board you can hot mop in the finished ...
rigid roof insulation10/31/2008
  Q: If you put rigid insulation on top of a low slope roof deck and had blown in insulation on the ...
  A: Water vapors or condensation happen when moist trapped air is cooled down. If there is no trapped ...
Vallleys and Underlayment Materials10/30/2008
  Q: I live in Augusta GA. Getting ready to have my home reroofed with CertainTeed 25 year three-tab ...
  A: Of course the valleys leak. You can't make valleys out of paper. The paper will deteriorate. Valleys ...
Shrinkage of Membrane on Flat Roof10/30/2008
  Q: Out HOA had to replace roofs in 2004-05 due to hurricane damages. We were given Specs of Tamko ...
  A: I never heard of material shrinking and causing problems. The stuff is not "plan". It's "Awaplan". ...
ice and water shield10/30/2008
  Q: I am having a new roof installed this week - what does an ice and water shield do? My slope is ...
  A: It is for low slopes since they will have a tendency to leak in snows. If the roof is too low a ...
water leak in house10/28/2008
  Q: We own a cape cod with front dormer. House is about 60 years old. As you enter the front door there ...
  A: How do you know it has anything to do with the roof at all? There is a lot more than the roof that ...
replacing roof10/28/2008
  Q: Brad. I am a widow with an extremely limited budget. My house was built in 1913 and has its old ...
  A: The manufacturers will not guarantee those roofs. They did not install them and will not stand ...
Dimensional shingle cupping or winging10/26/2008
  Q: I am a property claims field adjuster working Hurricane Ike claims in Texas. The insurance company I ...
  A: A hump in the middle of the leading edge of the shingle is usually a "nail pop". That is a nail that ...
Temperature to adhere sealing strip on Tamko shingles10/24/2008
  Q: What temperature, a round about, does it need to be to activate the self adhering strip on the 3 tab ...
  A: It's not just the temperature but the sun too. A roof that is on a cloudy day at 70 degrees will be ...
step flashing10/21/2008
  Q: I have a newly constructed garage with a room on top. The roof is a gambrel style with a shed ...
  A: When water runs along a wall you use step flashing. When water runs away from a wall you use ...
flat roof10/20/2008
  Q: I have a flat tar and gravel flat roof on an addition to my house (about 600 sq ft). the rest of the ...
  A: Shingles must be installed only on slopes or they will leak. If the shingles come down onto the flat ...
Shingles10/20/2008
  Q: We just had new shingles(Timberline) installed. I took a couple of pictures which when developed the ...
  A: You said in that in the pictures they look light but what do they look like in person. It will be ...
caulking worn shingles10/19/2008
  Q: I've been told that my asphalt single roof in Chicago should be good for 5 years or more. It has ...
  A: To replace shingles you have to interweave them with the old shingles. If your roof only has 5 years ...
General Roof Specs10/16/2008
  Q: Brad, I am trying to determine some average specs for residential roofs for an average house. I ...
  A: Material is wood - usually pine. Roof is asphalt and fiberglass if we're talking shingles. I do not ...
reworking roof10/16/2008
  Q: I have a 25 year old home in southern Tennessee needing new roofing. I had it built with trusses ...
  A: You can put another layer on top and it will be stronger than if you just had one layer. You will ...
Plywood on roof is bulging up10/15/2008
  Q: I was researching why my roof is bumpy and I read this article which didn't answer ...
  A: That's all in the shape of the plywood which means the plywood is loose. Either a lot of the nails ...
Cedar Shake Roof Repair10/14/2008
  Q: I'm re-sending this, first one had my email wrong. I live in the Colorado mountains where we often ...
  A: Ice and Water Shield is not a cure-all for leaks. It is pretty good at sealing up around nails where ...
Cedar Shake Roof Repair10/14/2008
  Q: Brad I live in the Colorado mountains where we often have long stretches of dry weather then a few ...
  A: Ice and Water Shield is not a cure-all for leaks. It is pretty good at sealing up around nails where ...
Small Cantilever or overhang roof10/13/2008
  Q: We are getting a metal roof installed which will cause the snow to slide off directly onto the heat ...
  A: If you "cantilever" something then there are no supports. That's what a "cantilever" is. Any ...
My "wavy" roof10/12/2008
  Q: My house is not even 2 years old. I live in Louisiana and our area was affected by Hurricane Gustav ...
  A: If the waves are between the rafters then the plywood is sagging. If the wave is across the roof ...
Shingles10/8/2008
  Q: Brad, A few questions about shingles: 1. We have a 15 yr old roof with composit shingles that has ...
  A: Any product you buy is guaranteed to be made well. If you buy a refrigerator the guarantee promised ...
roof problems10/7/2008
  Q: We had a new roof installed last fall (10-19-07). Since that time the shingles have never flattened ...
  A: It's difficult to cover with a tarp when it involves the chimney as you can't cover the chimney. ...
roof repair products10/7/2008
  Q: I have received estimates to repair a flat roof. One contractor has offered to seal the entire roof ...
  A: Henry's fiber coating can be asphalt or aluminum coating but Henry's is the stuff Home Depot sells ...
cedar roof close valley10/5/2008
  Q: how do I install ( make ) a close valley on a cedar roof? If you have the answer can you also send ...
  A: You can't do a closed valley on a cedar roof because you can't bend the cedar to go up the other ...
Roof defect and Hurricane Ike10/5/2008
  Q: We live in a small development (137 homes) in Pearland, TX where half were built by one builder (X) ...
  A: One builder might have used a different shingle from the other builder. Different shingles have ...
roof / wall leak10/3/2008
  Q: my brother has a house in which the porch area was covered up and converted to a parlor. it has ...
  A: The only way you could do it from the inside is to take out the wall, build a complete wall out in ...
steep roof shingle recommendation10/1/2008
  Q: I appreciate any help that you can give me. I live in Louisiana and we are experiencing about one ...
  A: They have different wind ratings for different shingles. You might have bought a low wind rating. Or ...
flat rubber roofs9/30/2008
  Q: I have an old roll asphalt flat roof on a row house. My roof is connected on both sides to a ...
  A: There are 2 types of roof: Hot asphalt Built Up Roof (BUR) Modified Asphalt commonly called rubber. ...
low slope roofing9/27/2008
  Q: how long does a shingle roof last on a 3/12 pitch and a 4/12 pitch with regular 3 tab 25 year ...
  A: A 25 year shingle is supposed to last 25 years and it does pretty good at that. Sometimes it can ...
To tarp or not to tarp9/27/2008
  Q: We recently had a garage built. The building supply store sent the wrong shingles. Unfortunately, ...
  A: Tar paper is a VERY short term solution. It easily tears. It buckles once wet and must be replaced. ...
Nail Guns & Roofs9/27/2008
  Q: We just went through hurricane Ike. Our subdivision in Pearland TX was particularly hard hit with ...
  A: Obviously the labor is different. If you place the nails too high it is more prone to blow-off. The ...
Roof repair versus new roof9/26/2008
  Q: I live in South Florida and have a two story house with a pitched shingle roof (~ 1300 square feet, ...
  A: The shingles can't be 20-30 years. They are either 20 or they are 30. One is 50% more than the ...
Trying to Repair Leaking Roof on SW Style Building9/26/2008
  Q: I have a 20x20 storage building which is a SW style (flat roof) which leaks in the winter when there ...
  A: I don't know what an SW style roof is. South West? First you ask about repairing the roof and then ...
ventilation9/24/2008
  Q: I am replacing a cedar roof and with ashphalt shingles and am getting various opinions on ...
  A: There are 2 reason for ventilation. 1. Cut down on humidity that can damage wood. 2. Cut down on ...
shingles on damp plywood?9/22/2008
  Q: We are having the roof over our farmer's porch stripped and redone with new shingles. After the ...
  A: Air does not flow there so there will be trapped air. It will take a long time to dry but it ...
GACO deck kit a a roof9/22/2008
  Q: Would you ever recommend using GACO deck kit for a deck that doubles as a roof above a living space.
  A: I don't think it doubles as a roof. It appears to be a waterproofing material and would be like ...
material usage9/22/2008
  Q: i have a client that would like to use the timberline deck armor instead of felt paper. Was ...
  A: Felt paper is a cheap paper and was never really designed for shingles but most all roofers use it. ...
Neighborhood wide shingle failure from IKE9/22/2008
  Q: My entire neighborhood (In Pearland Texas), including my own home had severe Shingle loss during ...
  A: Up to a few years ago you could not identify shingles. Now some manufacturers put their name on the ...
ridge vent9/21/2008
  Q: I want to have a ridge vent installed in my house in Ft Walton Fla 1 mile off the coast but am ...
  A: Most shingles are the same but I'd prefer GAF. Some ridge vents are tested up to over 100 MPH but I ...
preventing roof drips in winter9/20/2008
  Q: Due to ice dams in winter, i have installed heating cables zig zagged along the roof edge. ...
  A: You cannot stop ice damming - usually. The idea is to prevent the ice dam from casuing damage by ...
low pitch roof (porch)9/20/2008
  Q: If my porch roof doesn't have much of a slope, two inches down in front from where it is attached to ...
  A: There is no point in using felt paper as your finished roof is just that only thicker. Most all flat ...
Elk Shingles Loosing Grit From Venting9/20/2008
  Q: I live in Wisconsin, my house is 19 years old and my roof is about 6 years old. It was installed by ...
  A: Every town has their own rules as to how to build a house. Years ago when I was a kid no one was ...
Elk Shingles Loosing Grit From Venting9/19/2008
  Q: I live in Wisconsin, my house is 19 years old and my roof is about 6 years old. It was installed by ...
  A: The guy is either lying or he doesn’t know much about roofing. You’ll have to figure that one out. ...
valley on roof9/19/2008
  Q: how do i start putting the flashing and do i put the shingles over the flashing what kind of ...
  A: What flashing? There is no flashing in the valleys. What sealant? Sealant is not used on a shingle ...
Neighborhood wide shingle failure from IKE9/18/2008
  Q: My entire neighborhood (In Pearland Texas), including my own home had severe Shingle loss during ...
  A: All shingles come with a plastic strip that keeps the shingles from sticking together during ...
white paint on black roof9/18/2008
  Q: My home is less than a year old and has white paint that drifted when the painter painted the eaves. ...
  A: The painter would be responsible for the damage they did to your roof - whether that's cosmetic or ...
low slope new roof advice9/18/2008
  Q: im located in san diego. just built a 10x12' outside study. its got a very low pitch roof. the ...
  A: You should get a sealed roof like Hot Asphalt or Modified Asphalt. But both need professional skills ...
Hurricane Ike damage-Repairs to shingles9/17/2008
  Q: I have a shallow slope at the center of my roof and it drops to a steep pitch as it goes out in each ...
  A: If you bend the shingle over the edge it will crack there. The two options are the way he did it - ...
attic humidity9/17/2008
  Q: We have a mold problem in our attic. The ridge vent was apparently not enough, so we installed ...
  A: No, you need to go lower. Try 50. But if the fans never stop trying to get it to go down to 85 then ...
deck armor and ice and water shield9/16/2008
  Q: I have competing opinions about what to put under shingles. One roofer says to use DECK ARMOR for ...
  A: First, I don't buy what GAF says Deck Armor can do. How can it "breathe" if the shingles are ...
New roof, warped decking9/16/2008
  Q: Brad, I just had a new roof put on Timberline 30 year dimentional shingles, after installation I ...
  A: I don't know if you want to blame the roofer for not noticing it. These things can usually only be ...
lifting shingles and rubber vent collar9/16/2008
  Q: I have some shingles that are lifting and am afraid they will weather and break off. Most of these ...
  A: You can't put a new collar on top of an old one. Nothing on a shingle roof gets "sealed" if it's ...
Ridge Vents9/16/2008
  Q: I own a custom home that was built four years ago. It is on a lake, so we wanted ridge vents for ...
  A: All vents allow weather into the beginning part of the vent but the opening should be so deep that ...
Ridge Vents9/15/2008
  Q: I own a custom home that was built four years ago. It is on a lake, so we wanted ridge vents for ...
  A: The opening can be a problem. Snow will blow up them and then come back down the outside. If the ...
Roof Shingles9/15/2008
  Q: We just had roof damage from Hurricane Ike. I collected some of our shingles that fell or flew off ...
  A: The plastic strip is used to keep shingles from sticking together during shipment. When the shingles ...
New roof, warped decking9/15/2008
  Q: Brad, I just had a new roof put on Timberline 30 year dimentional shingles, after installation I ...
  A: Most people don't stare at their roof until they pay big money to get a new roof. So the sag might ...
Plywood on roof is soaked9/15/2008
  Q: My house is currently being built. They have put all of the plywood on the roof. Today is Sunday, ...
  A: It's not the temperature that does the drying. It is the lack of humidity in the air. If the air is ...
roofing/tar paper9/13/2008
  Q: I had my roof reshingled, and upon inspecting the attic space, I noticed that the tar paper stops ...
  A: If lack of paper helps with ventilation then why not leave the paper off the entire roof. Buy that ...
water diverter for a valley9/12/2008
  Q: I have a roof with a valley directly over a doorway. This ices up very badly in the winter. I am ...
  A: If you're worried about ice then we can't be talking about water. If you want to catch the water ...
Storage Loads on roof trusses in garage9/12/2008
  Q: I have installed plywood sheets on top of the bottom chords of the trusses of garage. I believe the ...
  A: That's a question for someone that designs trusses but I'd assume you can add some weight since the ...
Switching from wood to impact resistant shingles9/12/2008
  Q: 1) Are UL Class IV shingles fairly comparable between brands ( Malarkey, GAF, Certainteed etc.)? If ...
  A: Class IV is a hail rating and if two different shingles have the same rating they should stand up ...
Flat Roof Edge9/11/2008
  Q: Zacharia; I'm an architect and I'm working on the detail at the edge of a "flat", torch-applied ...
  A: When I do an edge I bend the rubber over the edge so there is no seam to seal or to open. But most ...
low slope shingle roof9/10/2008
  Q: i live in western massachusetts and am considering architectual asphalt shingles on a shed dormer ...
  A: You went in the wrong direction. You can't do shingles on slopes that low or it will leak. These ...
ridge vents + dust, small attic +big roof9/10/2008
  Q: I have two for you, but first a brief description of the house & roof: it is a two story with a ...
  A: Turbine vents are never used on shingle roofs because they are UGLY. You use them where it can't be ...
power vent - no soffits9/10/2008
  Q: We are replacing a hail-damaged roof on a brick house with no soffits. Under the circumstances, will ...
  A: If you were going to do a new roof then get some venting in at the bottom of the roof. I can't tell ...
How should new flat roof look?9/10/2008
  Q: Just before Christmas of 2007, we had a new flat roof installed. It measures roughly 30 feet by 12 ...
  A: Yes, you can add another sheet to put on top. The do sell the granules to fix spots but it's not for ...
Defective roofing due to plastic strips falling off9/10/2008
  Q: My home is four years old with an asphalt fiberglass shingle seal tab roof. Winds from feeder bands ...
  A: As I said before, the manufacturer isn't going to tell anyone to remove the plastic strip because ...
Contractor scarred new roof9/8/2008
  Q: We just had a new roof installed and the contractor walked on the hot roof ruining a good number of ...
  A: Summer is not a good time to do a shingle roof as it gets so hot and soft that you will leave foot ...
Defective roofing due to plastic strips falling off9/8/2008
  Q: My home is four years old with an asphalt fiberglass shingle seal tab roof. Winds from feeder bands ...
  A: Yes, the plastic strips MAY be exposed from tearing off the shingle tabs but what are they doing ...
How should new flat roof look?9/7/2008
  Q: Just before Christmas of 2007, we had a new flat roof installed. It measures roughly 30 feet by 12 ...
  A: "I called the roofer and he said only the top layer had lifted and this sometimes happens with ...
Defective roofing due to plastic strips falling off9/6/2008
  Q: My home is four years old with an asphalt fiberglass shingle seal tab roof. Winds from feeder bands ...
  A: The plastic strip is used to keep the shingles from sticking together in the package. Once installed ...
water diverter for a valley9/6/2008
  Q: I have a roof with a valley directly over a doorway. This ices up very badly in the winter. I am ...
  A: You can't mess with the valley. It's a very vulnerable place and carries more water than any other ...
Winter gaurd membrane9/5/2008
  Q: I am doing a reroof on a 4/12 with hip all the way around. The overhang is 6' at the eaves. Would ...
  A: Yes, the winter guard MUST be installed from the eaves all the up slope past the exterior wall and ...
Roof venting, 1950's California ranch house9/5/2008
  Q: I have a just bought a fixer-upper. It's a 1950's California ranch style house (single story, ~1500 ...
  A: I'm not sure what you mean by eyebrow vents but any venting is better than no venting. The higher up ...
gutter overhang9/5/2008
  Q: We had our roof re-shingled. Water has been seeping behind the gutters. The contractor (Sears) ...
  A: Sear got out of the home remodeling business due to too many headaches and complaints so I don't ...
Bay Window Shingle9/5/2008
  Q: This is a bit of a hybrid question involving flashing, roofing and aluminum siding I have a bay ...
  A: Your "eave protection material" is probably Ice and Water Shield. It is not "leak proof". It is ...
Elastomeric on rolled roof9/3/2008
  Q: I have a flat torch bond roof in fairly good shape no leaks or visibly bad seems. The roof does have ...
  A: Yes you can. But if you have ponding that last more than a few days it is not good for the roof and ...
built up roofs9/3/2008
  Q: I am in the process of buying a house with a built up roof which my husband does not like. He says ...
  A: The home inspector will be basically a handyman and will know some things about the house but can't ...
venting in low slope roof attic9/3/2008
  Q: I have a bungalow with a 2.5:12 roof line. I am re-roofing the house with asphalt 3 tab shingles ...
  A: I would need to see pictures to know what you have. The description is too complicated to figure it ...
Ridge vent opening and ventilation options9/2/2008
  Q: I just had a my roof re-tile(over the one original layer)and requested a ridge vent. I had ice ...
  A: Add as much venting as you want. Extra will not hurt but they all need to be complimented with ...
shingle company question9/2/2008
  Q: I just asked you a question last night but thought of another. In the quotes for a new roof I have ...
  A: They are all big companies in the shingle business. All are good shingles and all have had their ...
built up roofs9/2/2008
  Q: I am in the process of buying a house with a built up roof which my husband does not like. He says ...
  A: There are two types of roofs for flat residential roofs 1. Built-up Roof (BUR) 2. Modified asphalt. ...
replacing shingles questions9/2/2008
  Q: I have been getting quotes to replace my shingled roof. I am looking at 30 yr dimensional shingles. ...
  A: Most roofers use felt paper because it is the cheapest. If it is left out in the rain it will buckle ...
roofing--caulking9/1/2008
  Q: We have a newly installed shingle roof on our porch. We live in the northeast ... the porch roof ...
  A: Do you want a caulk roof or a shingle roof? Caulking should not be used on any part of the roof. It ...
Surface Water on Flat Roof9/1/2008
  Q: I have recently had a garage roof refelted by a local and reputable contractor, who seemed to be ...
  A: If it dries up in a couple of days then it's OK. Water that is left for a long period of time can ...
Using Roll Roofing9/1/2008
  Q: I own a home in Northwest Ohio that has a very simple rectangular sloped roof, currently shingled. ...
  A: A homeowner cannot do roll roofing without nails. If it was a roofer doing it they could torch down ...
very uneasy about new roof job9/1/2008
  Q: I just had my roof shingles torn off (2 layers) and have 3/4 inch boards (no sheathing). They did ...
  A: The nails should come through the wood. You must grab the wood as much as possible to make sure the ...
replacing a flat roof8/31/2008
  Q: We are replacing our flat roof with a pitched one. It has big puddles on the top, but no obvious ...
  A: You should take off the old roof for several reasons: 1. Weight 2. I never liked the idea of keeping ...
Roof Quote GAF8/31/2008
  Q: I in need of a new roof. 22 square House & Garage. Was given quote of 500.00 per square. Single tear ...
  A: You would have to give me a hundred more pieces of information. Steep slope as opposed to low slope ...
Roof and gutters8/31/2008
  Q: My wife and I recently hired a local contractor to do some work on our home.We have a ranch style ...
  A: Picture 2 & 3 show a normal gutter installation. I don't know why picture 1 looked like some kind of ...
Roof and gutters8/31/2008
  Q: My wife and I recently hired a local contractor to do some work on our home.We have a ranch style ...
  A: From your picture something is weird as to how the gutter meets the house and the shingles end ...
flat rubber roof8/30/2008
  Q: There is an small outdoor balcony above my interior living area. I had a flat, torch-down rubber ...
  A: Certainly it should have a pitch to flow water off. If the water sits there it will rot the roofing. ...
Roof bubble8/30/2008
  Q: I had a new roof installed 18 months ago and recently noticed some bubbles have appeared. New ...
  A: If you had new plywood installed and it is popping up then it's not nailed down. Simple as that. The ...
Timberline shingles8/29/2008
  Q: We have found cracking in our Timberline shingles that are 10 yrs into the 30 yr. warranty. I have ...
  A: I have heard of different lawsuits on shingles but I'm not familiar with specific ones. If there was ...
gutters8/29/2008
  Q: How do you attach gutters to a roof with a sloped fascia? The fascia is sloped because is it ...
  A: Those types of roofs generally use half-round gutters which use brackets that hang from under the ...
Flat Roof Issues8/29/2008
  Q: I am looking at a home with a flat roof. The ad says a new modified bitumen roof in 2007. I am ...
  A: Roofs don't leak when done correctly. The problem with flat roofs is that "IF" there is a leak the ...
starter shingles8/29/2008
  Q: We just had 30 yr Gaf/Elk architectural shingles installed. I noticed the starter row is overlapped. ...
  A: They did it incorrectly and I'll bet they did other things wrong with the starter strip too such as ...
Tar Paper8/28/2008
  Q: We recently had our home inspected for a new buyer. We found out that our builder did not use tar ...
  A: You do not have to do anything. It depends on how badly you want to keep the buyers. The roofer ...
tar and gravel roof8/27/2008
  Q: My mom has a low slope flat roof (2/12) that's giving her nightmares. farmer's won't pay stating ...
  A: The insurance company doesn't pay and shouldn't pay if it's old. If your car gets too old and wears ...
installing a tile roof8/27/2008
  Q: We are in the MIDDLE of installing a new tile roof: 1)the roofers placed one layer of 30# felt on ...
  A: There are better materials to use under the tiles. Ice And Water Shield is one. I am not familiar ...
New roof on urban row home8/27/2008
  Q: I have a row house in urban Philadelphia built in circa 1907. The original roof was tin on wood ...
  A: Take off everything down to the wood then install plywood on top of the old wood and then a modified ...
installing a tile roof8/26/2008
  Q: We are in the MIDDLE of installing a new tile roof: 1)the roofers placed one layer of 30# felt on ...
  A: Many roofer just use 15# so 30# is a step up. How can he place 30# and tiles on flat parts. You ...
to raise the ceiling higth of a rafter roof8/26/2008
  Q: I have just bought a house with a garage that has a 7' ceiling. I want to convert the garage into a ...
  A: If you raise the roof you will have to build the walls higher. This would make a new and weak joint ...
connect two buildings with a hallway8/26/2008
  Q: I want an inexpensive way to connect a 16x24 apartment to my existing house. I thought of a 4x6 ...
  A: There are probably a number of different ways to do that but not seeing it makes it difficult to ...
Flat roof gutter dam8/25/2008
  Q: Brad, I have an old low slope roof with a gutter inset into it. The wood that formed the downslope ...
  A: I would need picture to know what you really have. It sounds like you have a "pole gutter". The ...
Roof and shingle repair8/24/2008
  Q: I'm removing an old chimney. My shingles are only 2 years old. What's the best way to patch and ...
  A: Fit wood into it and then shingle. All the cut shingles have to be removed and then full shingles ...
Ventilation,etc.8/23/2008
  Q: We're having a new roof installed at the same time as several of our neighbors. The roofer started ...
  A: Your roofer has it all wrong which would make we wonder if he knows anything else about roofing. ...
new deck on top of the new roof8/22/2008
  Q: i want to put a new layer of roof on top of the old flat roof. And then i want to put a wooden deck ...
  A: Most people damage their roofs when putting as deck on. Most leaks are from punctures so it doesn't ...
Flat tar roof8/22/2008
  Q: I am having to repair/replace part of my flat roof. The roof is 50+ years old and consists of ...
  A: I have never heard of wood that thick but that would be a question for a carpenter or a lumber yard. ...
Mansard Roof- Aluminum Siding or Shingles?8/22/2008
  Q: I am planning to hire a roofing contractor to re-shingle our roof in the next couple of months. We ...
  A: Mansard roofs are steep roofs and many times do not go well with shingles. Gravity just wants to rip ...
Drip edge with seamless gutters8/20/2008
  Q: I just had a new roof installed. The drip edge was installed along all edges prior to installing the ...
  A: You usually need to do the gutter last or you destroy it while trying to do the new roof. If you do ...
Failed weather protection on unfinished roof8/20/2008
  Q: After reading some of your other articles I figured what could it hurt to ask... I'm 3/4 through ...
  A: The underlayment is a moisture barrier between the moist outside air and the wood. It protects the ...
Failed weather protection on unfinished roof8/19/2008
  Q: After reading some of your other articles I figured what could it hurt to ask... I'm 3/4 through ...
  A: There is nothing you can do. Water would have run under the new roof. It will basically drain over ...
roof ventilation8/18/2008
  Q: I have a friend in Anchorage Alaska with a 4/12 shingle roof. They are having severe problems with ...
  A: I guess you could build something to raise the ridge vent. You could try to inject heat into the ...
ondura roofing8/17/2008
  Q: I am looking at ondura roofing as a replacemnt roof, but I find lots of people saying not to use it ...
  A: Ondura is a corrugated roof material - probably plastic, although I'm not familiar with Ondura. ...
roof ventilation8/17/2008
  Q: I have a friend in Anchorage Alaska with a 4/12 shingle roof. They are having severe problems with ...
  A: For such slopes they should have installed Ice and Water Shield under the shingles. Do you know if ...
using iso on a flat roof that is also used as a porch deck8/16/2008
  Q: i have a flat roof that was leaking and needed to be replaced it also doubles as a porch deck. the ...
  A: You'd have to look into the specs on Iso board and see how much pressure they can take per square ...
using iso on a flat roof that is also used as a porch deck8/15/2008
  Q: i have a flat roof that was leaking and needed to be replaced it also doubles as a porch deck. the ...
  A: Iso board is used to insulate and reslope roofs. It is not solid like wood. Even with wood you have ...
roof warranties8/12/2008
  Q: Our house was built less than 5 years ago. Most of the roof is covered with clay tile, and we have ...
  A: Yes, a roof should be guaranteed at least 10 years. But, it depends on what guarantee he gave.. What ...
Old 1.5 storey home w/hip roof - needs ventilation?8/12/2008
  Q: Last year I purchased a 1.5-storey home, probably built in the 20s, 30s or 40s. I live in Atlantic ...
  A: You always want to bring cool air in the bottom of the roof (soffit vents) and let the hot air go ...
TORCH DOWN8/11/2008
  Q: I NEED TO REPLACE A SCUPPER.OLD SCUPPER RUSTED OUT UP TO THE FLANGE.FLANGE IS STILL UNDER THE TORCH ...
  A: You would have to use cement and fabric but it will never be as good as torching the rubber right ...
Elderly parent out of state with siginifcant roofing issues8/10/2008
  Q: My parent recently had a "handy man" reroof the house. It is a one story house (approximately 1800 ...
  A: A home inspector is basically a handyman unless you can find one with engineering credentials. Other ...
New roof is buckled in spots8/10/2008
  Q: We just had a 30yr timberline prestique asphalt shingle by Gaff/Elk installed. 65 degrees on date of ...
  A: If the paper did not get wet I don't see how the paper could be installed "poorly". All they had to ...
New roof is buckled in spots8/9/2008
  Q: We just had a 30yr timberline prestique asphalt shingle by Gaff/Elk installed. 65 degrees on date of ...
  A: If the shingles were put on a flat surface then it is the shingles only that are up. That will go ...
30 lb tar paper vs 15 lb tar paper8/9/2008
  Q: We're in the process of putting a new roof on our 1950's cape in Vermont and being quoted on the ...
  A: Most roofers use 15 # paper. Any tar paper will buckle if it gets wet so make sure it is not left in ...
low slope roof replacement8/4/2008
  Q: I'm looking to buy a split-level with a low slope roof (below 3/12). The owner installed shingles 6 ...
  A: You can do shingles down to slopes of 2/12 but between 2/12 and up to 4/12 is still a bit low and ...
Roofing/ Gutters8/3/2008
  Q: Brad I own a four bedroom garrison in New Hampshire and had a new roof installed two years ago. The ...
  A: Gutters will freeze and will be the last thing to melt as they are out in the cold and the roof has ...
torch down roof coating8/3/2008
  Q: You helped me with advice when I had a leak on my porch that has a torch down roof. I know you ...
  A: If he coated it with something black then he must have used a cold black asphalt coating. Roofers ...
low slope roof attatched to Cedar Siding8/3/2008
  Q: I have a cedar siding home and I may have leaks where the previous owner connected a sunroom to the ...
  A: First of all, you can't put shingles on low slopes or they will leak. That might be a problem you ...
torch down roof coating8/2/2008
  Q: You helped me with advice when I had a leak on my porch that has a torch down roof. I know you ...
  A: I never said I don't like torch-down. In fact, my entire business is based on torch-down. That's the ...
Flashing a low slope roof8/1/2008
  Q: I would appreciate an opinion as to what would be the best method of flashing to use. I'm replacing ...
  A: Just take your final roofing material and go up the brick wall at least 4" and then seal that with ...
Sagging roof7/31/2008
  Q: I am currently going through the project replacing my old tile roof with shingles. After the old ...
  A: There is nothing you can do about it now without starting over. There are several reasons why you ...
streaks of mold on roof7/31/2008
  Q: We had Owens Corning #225 fiberglass self-sealing shingles installed on our roof in 1987. Things ...
  A: Mold streaks on roofs are very common. I never heard of it being from wood. Mold happens when ...
How do you know there is damage?7/29/2008
  Q: Brad, we had a bad hail (golf ball size) storm in the K.C. area this month. We were out of town and ...
  A: Keep in mind that many people do things to benefit themselves. You should get opinions from people ...
re-roofing a flat roof7/29/2008
  Q: I am having some wood gutter replaced with aluminum and as a consequence, I have had to tear off the ...
  A: You can't put shingles on slopes under 2/12 or they will leak. Even above 2/12 they need special ...
roof mositure problem7/28/2008
  Q: We have a relatively new shingle roof. It does not leak when it rains. However, in the winter ...
  A: If the condensation is only on the inside then you have the humidity too high from steamy cooking, ...
Applying roll roof over insulation7/26/2008
  Q: We have a low slope roof that has an inch of insulation (kinda looks like particle board or a ...
  A: I don't now what kind of roll roofing you're talking about. All roofing for flat roofs is roll ...
what to do with old flat roof with 5-10 layers?7/26/2008
  Q: currently have an old mineral paper roof that's prob original to this 90 yr old house, at least 5 ...
  A: It depends on what your definition of "layer" is. A single 4 ply roof is 4 layers of paper and 5 ...
Comparing Warranties7/26/2008
  Q: Brad, I'm getting bids to put a new roof on my house. Owens Corning offers several different ...
  A: The roofs will last what they say they will - a few years. If a roofer is not willing to talk about ...
Comparing Warranties7/26/2008
  Q: Brad, I'm getting bids to put a new roof on my house. Owens Corning offers several different ...
  A: Two 30 year roofs will cost more than a 50 year roof but you get 10 more years out of it. How long ...
Radiant Barrier7/25/2008
  Q: I requested LP Tech Shield on my house anticipating the builders would put in the attic only (in ...
  A: Most contractors don't know how to do anything well so if you ask me what most builders would do is ...
Adhesive strip showing7/24/2008
  Q: I am buying a home; the roof is about 7 years old. The home inspector noticed that there are two ...
  A: There are two problems when the glue strip is exposed. 1. The shingles are not sealed in that area ...
low slope conundrum7/24/2008
  Q: I am in the interior of BC where it get very hot in the summer. Our roof is a simple cottage style ...
  A: The absolute minimum slope for shingles is 2/12. And even from 2/12 up to 4/12 you still have to be ...
solid sheathing7/24/2008
  Q: The 2003 and 2006 IRC refers to solid sheathing for roof decking on asphalt shingles, but solid ...
  A: Your deck is OK. A deck that is not solid is when you have slates or tiles. They sometimes run slats ...
cost to replace shingles7/22/2008
  Q: I have about 25-30 shingles that have blown off from a recent storm here in Texas. My insurance ...
  A: Your insurance adjuster is not a roofer so he'd have to guess what the market price is. The market ...
Roofing material7/21/2008
  Q: We are about to replace our 20 year old shingles. I have heard from someone that the new "3D" ...
  A: The second layer of shingle that falls off is due to the fact that there is no nail it. The reason ...
Avoiding roof sheething rot7/21/2008
  Q: We had our flat roof deck over our downstairs removed to the plywood sheething as there had been a ...
  A: There is also the matter of the new roof sticking to the plywood. If it was wet it certainly won't ...
Shingle thickness7/19/2008
  Q: Is 3/8" better than 1/2" thickness better. Also, have you heard about a 20 year non-prorated ...
  A: There's no such thing as 3/8" shingles or 1/2" shingles. They are rated by years and if one company ...
Preventing Ice Dams7/17/2008
  Q: I purchased a house in October of this past year. I live in Maine and we had quite a bit of snow ...
  A: I have never heard of or seen the metal snow panels on the sides of a roof. The dormer might not be ...
Southern exposure--tricky issue7/17/2008
  Q: I'm in southeastern Michigan and have a two-story house with an attached garage in front. Our house ...
  A: I have never heard of the second layer wearing faster than a first layer. It is irrelevant how long ...
Southern exposure--tricky issue7/16/2008
  Q: I'm in southeastern Michigan and have a two-story house with an attached garage in front. Our house ...
  A: The roof will wear more on the side of the prevailing winds. Sun will also contribute to ...
Attic Venting7/16/2008
  Q: I have a two story colonial and I am having it re-roofed. Currently, there are soffet vents, box ...
  A: Put all the vents in you want. Extra venting will not hurt. The power vent will suck any air from ...
Preventing Ice Dams7/15/2008
  Q: I purchased a house in October of this past year. I live in Maine and we had quite a bit of snow ...
  A: What are "snow slides"? Dormer roofs tend to be flat. If you have a sealed roof water can't get in. ...
Attic Fans and Roof7/15/2008
  Q: We have a 2 story, 1600 square foot house in Cleveland, Ohio. We have full A/C and an unfinished ...
  A: Yes, it is possible to install window fans. I wouldn't know what kind as that has nothing to do with ...
Attic Fans and Roof7/14/2008
  Q: We have a 2 story, 1600 square foot house in Cleveland, Ohio. We have full A/C and an unfinished ...
  A: You don't seem to have much in the way of ventilation. You never mentioned soffit vents for cool air ...
Flintlastic vs. shingles7/14/2008
  Q: I have 2 estimates, they both are putting down Ice & water shield on my almost flat parts of my ...
  A: You can't put shingles on a flat roof or it will leak. I don't know the exact slope but when you say ...
modified bitumen overhang7/13/2008
  Q: Should there be an overhang over the drip cap as in shingle installation? If so, how much? ANSWER: ...
  A: The way most roofers do the edge is to put the rubber down. Then they nail a drip edge metal on the ...
Falling Shingles7/12/2008
  Q: Brad - I bought this house in Southaven, MS 3 years ago. It was built in 2000 and has some steep ...
  A: It sounds like the adhesive strip is not working or the shingles were not put down correctly. The ...
12 inch drop almost flat roof7/12/2008
  Q: We have a large attached garage that attaches below the roof line up to the house. It has about a ...
  A: You could go over top of everything put if that springs a leak it will leave a long trail for the ...
ridge caps and vent concern7/11/2008
  Q: I just finished roofing my home with GAF Timberline 30 shingles. It was a little different, since I ...
  A: Did the glue strip have time to seal? It will take a couple of days in hot weather. You're also ...
shingles rolling up7/11/2008
  Q: Let me start with we bought this house in Michigan last summer unseen from a family member. We ...
  A: You can't put shingles on low slopes or they will leak. You said you have a very low slope so how ...
Modified Bitumen Roof mainenance7/10/2008
  Q: What kind of regular maintenance is considered reasonable for a modified bitumen roof? ANSWER: You ...
  A: I thought that would be obvious. Debris can clog drains. Debris can have all sorts of chemicals in ...
attic ventilation7/10/2008
  Q: In the process of getting estimates for a gable asphalt shingle tearoff/reroof. As I work thru my ...
  A: The way ventilation works is that cool air comes in the bottom of the roof, it heats up and rises, ...
attic ventilation7/10/2008
  Q: In the process of getting estimates for a gable asphalt shingle tearoff/reroof. As I work thru my ...
  A: No ventilation system will work well without soffit vents. There are many different kinds of vents. ...
modified bitumen overhang7/8/2008
  Q: Should there be an overhang over the drip cap as in shingle installation? If so, how much?
  A: I don't know what you mean by "drip cap". You ask about a roof and say "as in shingle installation" ...
20+ year old roof7/7/2008
  Q: im in the process of buying a home and prior to inspection the seller did tell me that he really ...
  A: The phrase "certify" means nothing. It means that someone is stating an opinion. There is no ...
replacing woodshake shingles with asphalt shingles on an a-frame home7/7/2008
  Q: we are currently trying to replace our old roof with asphalt shingles, and have run into a bit of ...
  A: You can't nail to the 1x4s. You'd have to screw to them. If you remove the 1x4s the rafters are too ...
Hail Damage7/7/2008
  Q: I live in NC and we have recently had severe storms here with hail and high winds. I started seeing ...
  A: If you asked for him to look at the roof and he said there was "roof damage from hail" then it all ...
Hail Damage7/6/2008
  Q: I live in NC and we have recently had severe storms here with hail and high winds. I started seeing ...
  A: It depends what you asked of him. If you asked him for an estimate for a new roof and that's what he ...
replacing woodshake shingles with asphalt shingles on an a-frame home7/6/2008
  Q: we are currently trying to replace our old roof with asphalt shingles, and have run into a bit of ...
  A: If you have a warped deck and you put a roof on it then you will have a warped roof. That would be a ...
IKO shigles7/4/2008
  Q: What experience have you had with IKO Manufacturing Co. Shingles? I had a roof put on 9 years ago ...
  A: I have never used Iko shingles so maybe I never ran across the problems. You can do a Google search ...
Adhesive Stripping7/4/2008
  Q: We just had a new house built and have been losing shingles with high winds. We noticed that the ...
  A: The paper on the adhesive strip is not supposed to be there. It will prevent the shingles from ...
new roof/moldy house6/30/2008
  Q: We had a new roof installed after a hurricane. The new roof had to be up to the new code, so the ...
  A: Maybe the roof was working better before to get rid of the high humidity but I'd still ask why you ...
new roof/moldy house6/29/2008
  Q: We had a new roof installed after a hurricane. The new roof had to be up to the new code, so the ...
  A: Your house is too humid. It has nothing to do with your roof. The inside of your house has too much ...
Wierd metal piece sticking through roof ridge6/27/2008
  Q: We're preparing our home for sale, and the buyer's inspector found something odd on our roof that I ...
  A: My guess is that it's some kind of bracket where something was mounted at some point. Any leak would ...
soffits vents needed or not with attic fan & attic vents6/25/2008
  Q: Brad, How are you? I read some of your answers and found very informative. I'm buying a house. Home ...
  A: Good ventilation will help move out the moist humid air and bring in dryer air. Also, what is the ...
wet roofing6/25/2008
  Q: He put down 15# felt, then the shingles were delivered and put in a few piles on top of the roof. He ...
  A: It's a tricky one. Again, you have to get into his head which will be difficult. Why didn't he know ...
Presidential shingles and low slope roof6/24/2008
  Q: I am being advised by a local roofer that the Presidential shingle roof I had installed seven years ...
  A: I don't know what 300s and 400s mean. They are not slopes. Shingles cannot be put on low slopes or ...
Barn Roof6/24/2008
  Q: We recently had a new shed built with a "Barn" or Gambrel style roof. My question is the where the ...
  A: They're yanking your chain! There are many codes and each town decides what they want to go with or ...
tapping into existng roof6/24/2008
  Q: To paint a picture the existing roof slopes down along where the patio cover will attach. The patio ...
  A: I'd have to see much more details on what you're doing. If you rest the patio roof on a part of the ...
Hail Damage - Spot Replace?6/23/2008
  Q: Last year we replaced our shingles with GAF architectural. We recently had a hail storm with ...
  A: The granules give the shingles their color so losing granules will not cause a leak. It's only ...
Class A roofs6/23/2008
  Q: We're going to be building in a hillside area in Los Angeles. The building department requires us to ...
  A: If you go to any of the manufacturer's website you can get information on low slope roofing ...
Class A roofs6/23/2008
  Q: We're going to be building in a hillside area in Los Angeles. The building department requires us to ...
  A: You have a low slope roof which generally gets a Built Up Roof (BUR) or a Modified roof (usually ...
tear off6/21/2008
  Q: I'm in northern Ohio and am 15yrs into a 20yr roof. West side shingles are worn looking. it's a 1 ...
  A: You can put on up to 2 roofs so you can re-roof over the old shingles. The more venting the better ...
which roof to choose6/19/2008
  Q: I have an old flat top roof that has soft spots and needs replacing. The home is very hot in the ...
  A: I don't know anything about foam roofs as they are very rare and I've only seen 2 in my lifetime. ...
rubber over tin6/16/2008
  Q: I have an old house with a standing seam tin roof and a large extension with rolled roofing. The ...
  A: Cement and fabric should last for awhile unless you mean it is splitting which means there is a ...
Certainteed Landmark Dimensional6/16/2008
  Q: Not familiar with this brand and noticed some problems with out Certainteed products...Any ...
  A: Your sentences are little garbled so I'm not sure what you're asking. Most shingles are the same. ...
rubber over tin6/13/2008
  Q: I have an old house with a standing seam tin roof and a large extension with rolled roofing. The ...
  A: Rubber is put down with glue, hot asphalt or torch-down. You can't do the hot asphalt so that leaves ...
Steel Roofs6/12/2008
  Q: I have an older home with some settling so like the idea of lighter weight steel. However, I have ...
  A: Steel on residential roofs is rare so I am not familiar with the steel roofing industry. Steel will ...
Need new singles and scared to make decision!6/12/2008
  Q: We have recently had wind damage to our old singles of our mobile home. I have contaced local ...
  A: Shingles are not 3-ply. They are 3-tab meaning there are 3 blocks to one shingles. Architectural ...
Warranty6/12/2008
  Q: I live in central Maine and need to replace my 15-year old three tab asphalt shingle roof. I have ...
  A: It is standard practice that you can go up to 2 roofs before you must strip it. If you have one roof ...
Roofer issues6/11/2008
  Q: I have had a roofer doing a complete tear off on my roof for three weeks now. I have a few of ...
  A: Regular felt paper will buckle once it gets wet and should be replaced before the shingles go on or ...
low slope roof6/10/2008
  Q: I am in the process of recovering a 16'X 42' patio. It has a 1-12 pitch, and I have chosen to use ...
  A: That's crazy. If the plywood moves then it is too thin to hold itself in place but you're using 3/4" ...
dura ridge6/9/2008
  Q: I was on the internet looking for any information on the Dura Ridge company and I ran across your ...
  A: Is Dura Ridge a shingle company or a ridge vent company? I don't know what Dura Ridge is. It sounds ...
truss subport6/8/2008
  Q: I have a storage building that i would like to put a loft in the building is 10x16 i would like to ...
  A: the support youre trying to put in would be the same ones your taking out a truss is designed for ...
flat roof eave extansions6/8/2008
  Q: Brad, we recently purchased a 1904 craftsman bungalow in the California Central Valley that has an ...
  A: There is no "proper" length. You don't need an overhang to protect the wall. That's what a gutter ...
roof panels/ventilation6/6/2008
  Q: I am building a new home and using asphalt shingles. Part of the home will be timber framed and that ...
  A: I don't know what "EPS" is. Most warranties will insist you vent a roof out but might not hold you ...
Architecural Roofing Shinlges for residential homes6/5/2008
  Q: We have to reshingle our roof, but know nothing about shingles. We've been told to buy 30 year ...
  A: Most shingles are the same. Just buy what you like. BY FAR, THE MOST IMPORTANT thing on a shingle ...
roofing shingle question6/5/2008
  Q: This is a bit similar to another shingle match question you'd been asked. We had shingle damage to ...
  A: Without pictures I don't know what either of your definitions are as to "a close match". Obviously ...
Roofing Ventilation6/5/2008
  Q: I am in the process of hiring a roofer to install architectural 30yr. There are vent hood on the ...
  A: Venting is an entire system. Ridge vent won't work if you don't have soffit vents too for incoming ...
sheathing6/5/2008
  Q: I have a quick question. I recently went up in the attic to inspect the sheathing for leaks. I ...
  A: On 24" centers I would have used 5/8 plywood but many builders today skimp and use 7/16. Two things: ...
Roof rot from condensation6/4/2008
  Q: The ridge of my roof has condensation rot down to a point about 8' on each side of the ridge. The ...
  A: It doesn’t matter what kind of insulation you have. I don't see why you couldn’t replace just some ...
ice and water failure6/4/2008
  Q: I have a new house with ice and water shield on the entire roof including the valleys and this past ...
  A: That's a good slope. On slopes like that you don't even need Ice & Water Shield so if water still ...
HUMISTAT ROOF VENT6/4/2008
  Q: I LIVE IN MICHIGAN, I NOTICED IN SOME THE ANSWERS ON THIS WEB SITE SAID YOU CAN USE A POWER VENT ...
  A: I guess it could be possible but here's my take on that. The rain is much more dense than the air so ...
Roofing Felt6/3/2008
  Q: Roofers just left. Half the house has new shingles installed. The other half is covered only with ...
  A: It might work but he should have used a tarp instead. 1. The roofing felt is attached with staples ...
EPDM Rubber Roof Leak6/2/2008
  Q: We had a new roof put on our house in July, 2006 by a reputable company that does a lot of roofing ...
  A: It's probably that the nails were sticking up in old wood. They should have been removed and fresh ...
Roof deck, Step Flashing and Closed Cut valley6/2/2008
  Q: My questions: 1. The roof deck is made of wood in rows, 3/4 thick and 7" wide each with spacing in ...
  A: But did you have to move the nails so much that they are now nailed in the wrong place? It probably ...
Heat problem6/2/2008
  Q: I have a little cabin in wisconsin and in the front of the house I have a framed in porch with storm ...
  A: It took me a while to answer this one. I put it off on the side to re-read it. The writing was bad ...
EPDM Rubber Roof Leak6/2/2008
  Q: We had a new roof put on our house in July, 2006 by a reputable company that does a lot of roofing ...
  A: Why are there nails under the EPDM? If the holes are from nails or screws then it would be the ...
vent in valley5/31/2008
  Q: I have asked you a question regarding this problem before, and you were very helpful, but now I have ...
  A: The pipe has to be moved. If you leave it you can try roofing cement around it but that is a ...
roof5/31/2008
  Q: My late husband had it scraped & retarred & gravelled a few years ago.In the last 2 years dark ...
  A: I know they are there all the time but if you make them go away with paint under what conditions ...
Ice dams on low slope roof5/31/2008
  Q: Our roof does not have an attic. It's made of 2x12's on a 3 or 4-12 pitch (haven't checked) on edge ...
  A: Ice damming is a normal thing on a roof so trying to get rid of it can be futile. Ice damming occurs ...
roof powered fan w/ non powered vents5/30/2008
  Q: In responce to a previous question you answered.... I plan on adding 1-2 powered fans near the top ...
  A: I know about the other theories but the majority is not always right. Most roofers do a starter ...
Torch down roofing5/29/2008
  Q: How much heat from the torch is needed to insure a successful melt of the roof material at seams. I ...
  A: When both sides turn to liquid you can put the two together. Some should ooze out the seam. You are ...
installing flashing on a flat rubber roof5/27/2008
  Q: My contractor neglected to install flashing around the perimeter (and also around the vents and ...
  A: Aluminum pipe collars are for shingle roofs and not flat roofs. On rubber roofs you don't install ...
Torch-down rubber firestone5/27/2008
  Q: I have a firestone torchdown rubber roof (no glue) as I was on the roof occassionally when the ...
  A: If he stapled the base sheet you have two problems. First, you don't staple roofing (unless it's ...
Replace felt paper5/27/2008
  Q: My roof is about 2.5 years old. I recently had hail damage and the insurance company determined I ...
  A: You could leave the felt paper but it would take more work than it's worth to try to rip off the old ...
flat roof leaks quite oddly5/25/2008
  Q: I have a SFH which has a porch converted into a Florida room. There are two a/c ducts in the ...
  A: It can be coming in from anywhere. Water can travel sideways as it goes vertically. If you have ...
Torch-down rubber firestone5/25/2008
  Q: I have a firestone torchdown rubber roof (no glue) as I was on the roof occassionally when the ...
  A: Bubbles are from the roofing material not being attached to the deck. It depends how he applied the ...
Plywood bowing problem5/24/2008
  Q: I was up on my roof yesterday, blowing the pine needles off, and I noticed a spot where the shingles ...
  A: It sounds like you have a sheet of plywood that was not screwed or nailed down. The only way to fix ...
tar and gravel roofs5/24/2008
  Q: hey brad this is camron i live in the cold and wet state of idaho. I have a bunch of questions ...
  A: 15-20 degrees is not a low slope. It is a steep slope for a tar and gravel roof. Once you get to ...
cedar shingle hip5/23/2008
  Q: I built a gazebo and put cedar shingles on it. The eight "triangles" are done, except for the hip ...
  A: The hip shingles will be higher than the rest of the roof just as they would be on a shingle roof. ...
Rake-edge to Hip transition - Laminated Shingles5/22/2008
  Q: I’m planning on roofing with laminated shingles (BP – Mirage) on a 4:12 slope roof in Canada. I have ...
  A: I'm lost on some of your questions and can't picture it. You can start in the middle of a roof but ...
hip roof5/18/2008
  Q: I need to insulate a hip roof.Ihave been told that I have to remove the new shingles on my roof, ...
  A: Ventilation is nice to have but can be skipped. Your house won't fall down if you don't have ...
Modifying 'M' type trusses5/16/2008
  Q: I have a 1 storey house , its about 2 yr old they used 'M' type struss , i was wondering if the 45 ...
  A: I know you're not talking about removing the entire truss. I said that the only way to make room in ...
Modifying 'M' type trusses5/16/2008
  Q: I have a 1 storey house , its about 2 yr old they used 'M' type struss , i was wondering if the 45 ...
  A: Absolute not! Each piece of a truss was designed to take up a certain force at a certain angle. It ...
Brand Comparisons5/16/2008
  Q: Need to re-roof two story 15-yar old Ryan/Ryland built home, with fairly steep slopes, in ...
  A: Probably no one rates them because they're all pretty much the same. When shingles say they will ...
deck for entertaing on roof top5/15/2008
  Q: We have a flat roof in Tucson AZ. We would like to get better city views from our home by adding a ...
  A: You can't make a roof suitable for living on. Roofs are fragile and people damage them when they try ...
slightly sloped torch down roof repair5/15/2008
  Q: my contractor did a terrible job installing a torch-down rubber roof in Brooklyn NY. As he had one ...
  A: Tar is just a layman’s term for anything in roofing so based on that term I have no idea what he ...
sheathing5/14/2008
  Q: 35year old shake roof has had it. Is installed over what seems to be called 'skip sheathing'(1x4's ...
  A: Strips of wood are much weaker then sheets of wood. You would also have a lot of seams so nails ...
Porch roof repair5/8/2008
  Q: I have an open front porch. The roof doubles as the floor for the uncovered porch above. It has a ...
  A: Roofs are fragile and people that try to live on then inevitably destroy them. You need to put ...
low slope mid century modern5/8/2008
  Q: I plan to reroof my 1956 low slope 1 1/2 :12 (not visible side) 2:12 partial view from street. The ...
  A: You said your last roofer did shingles without even doing an ice shield. You can't do shingles under ...
Metal roofing on log home with no attic5/7/2008
  Q: We have a log home with cathedral ceilings (i.e. no attic) and wish to replace our shingled roof ...
  A: Insulation does not require any airspace. Airspace is used to try to get heat out by having heated ...
low slope mid century modern5/7/2008
  Q: I plan to reroof my 1956 low slope 1 1/2 :12 (not visible side) 2:12 partial view from street. The ...
  A: I went to ibroofs.com and all I got was a plain page that said "coming soon". I don't know if it is ...
LENGTH OF RIDGE VENT5/7/2008
  Q: I recently had my 21 year old roof stripped and reshingled (I live in New England). Everyone else in ...
  A: It seems like you did get shorted. In my area many roofers stop short of each end by about a foot ...
Low slope roof5/6/2008
  Q: I have received three estimates for my low-slope roof (approx 3/12). Two estimates called for ...
  A: Shingles can be installed in the normal way when above 4/12 slope. Between 2/12 up to 4/12 takes ...
Low slope5/4/2008
  Q: What is the minimum slope that you would apply Owens Corning Duration Series shingles to. Most of ...
  A: I can assure you that it WILL leak. Shingles can only go down to 2:12 slope and even then you need ...
low pitch roof5/3/2008
  Q: Brad, Are there products available to get a shingled look on a low pitch roof(below 2/12)? Is it ...
  A: The basic instructions for shingles are on every package of shingles. No package will say you can do ...
low pitch roof5/3/2008
  Q: Brad, Are there products available to get a shingled look on a low pitch roof(below 2/12)? Is it ...
  A: What would be the point of a "leak protection barrier" if you're only going to nail through it with ...
Roof Certification5/2/2008
  Q: I hired a roofing company to come out and fix a few leaky places in my roof, they told me it would ...
  A: If you knew that they repaired it 7 times for no extra charge then you can assume that number 8 ...
Reroofing5/1/2008
  Q: I have a house built in 1955 that has a 6 in 12 slope vaulted ceiling. The rafters are 2x6 on 24" ...
  A: If the ceiling is an open beam ceiling there is nothing you can do on the inside. If it is a closed ...
walk out roof4/30/2008
  Q: I have a walk out deck roof above the garage. The home is only 4 years old and this roof leaks. It ...
  A: I don't know what the paint/sand thing is but obviously it did not work out too well. Many times no ...
Shingle Re-roofing4/29/2008
  Q: I need to know how much to charge a friend to re-roof their ranch and gambrel style roof on their ...
  A: If I were doing it I'd probably charge about $15-20K. Less material would be less about less $2500. ...
sagging roof ridge4/28/2008
  Q: We had a home inspection performed on a brick Georgian built in 1927 (the inspection period ends ...
  A: What do you mean that the inspection period expires? How does an inspection expire? Someone does an ...
tear-off or re-shingle on hail damaged shingles4/27/2008
  Q: I am interested in learning how to determine whether or not a tear-off is necessary, or if shingling ...
  A: **Is a new roof required for hail damage? No **Is a tear-off required for hail damage? No **Is a ...
Shingle Re-roofing4/26/2008
  Q: I need to know how much to charge a friend to re-roof their ranch and gambrel style roof on their ...
  A: There are a hundred factors that go into pricing a roof. I charge double what other roofers charge ...
replacing a flat roof4/26/2008
  Q: My sun room’s a flat roof of 320 sq. ft. needs to be replaced. I have two quotes listed below. The ...
  A: Quote 1: Nailing down base sheet is not as good as a fully adhered base sheet. It can still blow ...
white/reflective elastomeric coatings4/25/2008
  Q: I have an older house with a flat roof. The roof was redone about ten years ago, in a black ...
  A: I don't know what you mean by "composite" material. Composite means made up of several items and ...
Replacing 30-Year Cedar Shake Roof4/25/2008
  Q: Am wondering about alternatives. Specifically, either the fake shake... or something else (metal?). ...
  A: Real cedar will change it look over time. It look great when done but will fade over time. It also ...
roof replacement4/25/2008
  Q: We need to replace both a shingle roof and flat rubber roof. Our home was built in 1929, and we ...
  A: Your only question is copper or aluminum????? The rest of everything you said is a mess. It sounds ...
Rubber Roof4/22/2008
  Q: Do you recommend putting a new rubber roof over top of a hot roof or ripping up the original and ...
  A: You can do the rubber roof on top of the old asphalt roof as long as the old roof is not too lumpy ...
Roof Leak4/22/2008
  Q: I have a two-story home located in Ohio(flat, high-wind prone area. The roof line is technically ...
  A: It took me a while to answer your question because there was so much to read. I kept putting it off ...
Venting an existing flat roof?4/21/2008
  Q: We are about to have a 25 year old flat roof replaced. Some have suggested that to reduce the ...
  A: No, do not vent it out. Your insulation barrier is on the roof trying to keep you warm in the ...
wind damage4/21/2008
  Q: we are working a storm in jackson ms. damages were caused by high winds from several tornados. many ...
  A: The asphalt strip probably won't reseal after all this time but all you have to do is put a dab of ...
shingle rating4/20/2008
  Q: How do I rate a shingle? Is there a rating? I only find a "years of life" rating. Is it by weight? ...
  A: They do not use weight anymore. The years would be the only thing people would care about. If a ...
re-roof with furring to ventilate4/17/2008
  Q: I have a 115 y.o victorian with a huge cathedral ceiling in 3rd. floor that was finished w/ ...
  A: I have been unable to find anything on the venting plywood but I have seen it in magazines. It is a ...
re-roof with furring to ventilate4/17/2008
  Q: I have a 115 y.o victorian with a huge cathedral ceiling in 3rd. floor that was finished w/ ...
  A: It should work but screw everything together instead of nailing it. They do make boards you can lay ...
Roof Inspections4/16/2008
  Q: I have a building in Arizona with part concrete tile (5/12 pitch) and part flat with a foam ...
  A: There is no checklist for roofs. Inspections depend on your situation. I have customers that pay me ...
Tar and gravel DIY?4/16/2008
  Q: I live in Central California where the summer temps get up to over 80 degrees and winter temps ...
  A: If it's alligatored badly it might just be time for a new roof. Silver Dollar is junk so don't ...
Multiple roof leaks/ridge vents4/16/2008
  Q: I had a new roof installed in Oct 07 from a subcontractor that was recommended by the builder I work ...
  A: If the leaks are from poor ventilation then why did he replace flashing? He's lying. Poor ...
Low pitched roof metal roof application and insulation4/13/2008
  Q: I have a low pitched (I believe 2:12 slope) rolled roof that is directly above a beautiful wood ...
  A: I don't know much about metal roofs. A 2/12 slope is a low slope and basically faces the sky so you ...
roof repair questions4/13/2008
  Q: I have a low slope area on a garage roof (just 2/12), it currently has ice guard, drip edge, and 30 ...
  A: Modified can be put down torch-down, glue-down, mop-down or the new peel and stick. I prefer ...
ridge vent and power vent together4/13/2008
  Q: I am re-roofing my 14 year old home... I have a ridge vent on it at present, 2 neighbors and a ...
  A: One might negate the other but it does not hurt. Negating one just leaves the other. It does not ...
roof repair questions4/12/2008
  Q: I have a low slope area on a garage roof (just 2/12), it currently has ice guard, drip edge, and 30 ...
  A: Shingles will leak if done on low slopes. Shingles cannot be installed below slopes of 2/12. And ...
Owens-Corning Duration asphalt roof shingle4/11/2008
  Q: Explain how a good bond is achieved in the "surenail" bonding area when the clear strip labeled ...
  A: They do not recommend removing the strip because the strip is not supposed to be a problem. It is ...
Unvented cathedral ceiling4/11/2008
  Q: I sure hope you can help us. Every roofer we have out seems to have a different idea on how to ...
  A: I guess you could get air flow under the metal roof. Condensation forms when you have moist air and ...
Owens-Corning Duration asphalt roof shingle4/10/2008
  Q: Explain how a good bond is achieved in the "surenail" bonding area when the clear strip labeled ...
  A: Oh, shingles! In normal shingles you have the glue strip at the nail line. When the shingles are ...
Unvented cathedral ceiling4/10/2008
  Q: I sure hope you can help us. Every roofer we have out seems to have a different idea on how to ...
  A: If you had a leak then you have a hole in the roof. The lack of ventilation did not cause the leak. ...
Torch down failure4/9/2008
  Q: The contract refers to it as "20 year modified Bitumen torch-down system/25 lb glass base sheet ...
  A: No manufacturer guarantees their roofing material for 20 years so you were had from the beginning. ...
Low slope-Patio Cover-Roofing options4/8/2008
  Q: I am planning a covered patio that, considering the distance out from the house (14 feet), will ...
  A: A minimum slope is 1/8" per foot so for 14 feet that's a drop of 1.75". For low slopes you need a ...
roof "radiant barrier"4/8/2008
  Q: One roofer I talked to recommended LP TechShield Radiant Barrier. It costs about $600 for my small ...
  A: Hear's a link to a website on Radiant heat and barriers from the US Dept of Energy. ...
ridge vent, stupid question4/6/2008
  Q: we have an aluminum ridge vent that seems to be leaking in several places. we've sealed the edge, ...
  A: Yes, all the holes should be open. I have not had experience in such things because I have not come ...
hot mopping vs. poly stick4/6/2008
  Q: would you please give me your professional opinion of the benefits or lack of... with both the use ...
  A: Tiles would go on a sloped roof. I don't see how you're going to hot mop on a slope. Everything will ...
ridge vent, stupid question4/5/2008
  Q: we have an aluminum ridge vent that seems to be leaking in several places. we've sealed the edge, ...
  A: The holes are to let the water drain out. If the vent is leaking then it is installed improperly. ...
Roofing Felt4/3/2008
  Q: Are there different specific uses for 15# and 30# felt? Is one better for low slope / flat roofs? ...
  A: 15# and 30 # paper was made for BUR (Built Up Roofs) with hot asphalt on flat roofs. It is not for ...
Dura Roof Tile4/2/2008
  Q: I work for a roofing contractor and recently a claim was submitted to the insurance company to ...
  A: Is the manufacturer still in business but just not making the tile or is the entire company out of ...
new roof, loosing shingles4/2/2008
  Q: This past October I had my roof redone. It was a shake roof with a layer of asphalt on top, all of ...
  A: I don't understand how you can put a shingle roof on a deck that is not fully there. With shakes, ...
ballasted vs non ballasted flat roof4/2/2008
  Q: I am getting bids on replacing a flat roof at my rental building, I have some proposals for going ...
  A: A ballasted system is cheaper and faster to do but if you ever have a problem it is impossible to ...
No tar paper under roof4/2/2008
  Q: We live in Southern Illinois, and our area has just been delared a disaster area because of the ...
  A: You need a new roof inspector and some new roofers bidding on the job. Lack of tar paper cannot ...
creaking roof/attic3/31/2008
  Q: I see that you have had this question before, however I must ask of clarification; Would adding roof ...
  A: Everything that breaks in the world worked the day before. You keep saying the roof was done 6 years ...
creaking roof/attic3/31/2008
  Q: I see that you have had this question before, however I must ask of clarification; Would adding roof ...
  A: Creaking is from things moving that are not attached securely such as two pieces of wood that were ...
rolled roofing for small homemade shed3/30/2008
  Q: Mr Z. I made a little clubhouse for my daughter in our backyard- nothing great- But it turned out ...
  A: You must have a completely sealed roof on a low slope. The only thing a homeowner can do is buy ...
reroof3/29/2008
  Q: I have a low slope roof with Brai modified bitumen. Part of this was torched on wood and part hot ...
  A: If they had a coating that held up as well as a roof then no one would ever do a roof - you'd just ...
Dormer repair swindle3/29/2008
  Q: I have just had a roofing contractor do repair work on 3 dormers. The original estimate for the ...
  A: A verbal contract is perfectly legal. It is just harder to prove. But it's also harder for him to ...
rolled roofing for small homemade shed3/29/2008
  Q: Mr Z. I made a little clubhouse for my daughter in our backyard- nothing great- But it turned out ...
  A: I don't know what your slope is but you said it was "very slight". You can't put shingles on low ...
roofing ventilation3/28/2008
  Q: I am getting ready to have a 30 year GAF Timberline roof installed. Included in this installation ...
  A: You could use electricity to force more air through the attic then would otherwise go. You can put ...
water protection during construction3/28/2008
  Q: I am in the process of completely reroofing my house, from the joists up, and it is taking me much ...
  A: Tar paper will buckle after being wet so if you go that route rip it all off and do fresh paper ...
Roof Materials decision3/26/2008
  Q: We are a Condominium consisting of 8 buildings total, all ranging in various sizes. I am a board ...
  A: I never heard of HydroStop but I guess it means "WaterStop". Named products can be very localized so ...
Shingle roof slopes3/24/2008
  Q: I am considering raising the roof over a storage room above my garage. The simplest roof framing ...
  A: For that slope use Ice and Water Shield material on the entire roof without any tar paper. Special ...
Low sloped roof3/23/2008
  Q: I have a low sloped roof, just over 3/12. I was going to use 3tab shingles with a 4inch exposure and ...
  A: A 3/12 slope is low for shingles. You must use Ice and Water Shield on the entire roof instead of ...
COLD ROOF OVER EXISTING ROOF3/21/2008
  Q: I AM LOOKING AT ADDING A COLD ROOF OVER THE TOP OF AN EXISTING ROOF. I LIVE IN WYOMING AND AM ALSO ...
  A: You don't have to rip off shingles before adding more but the lumber you're adding might be the big ...
Screen Porch Roof3/21/2008
  Q: We are having a screen porch built on the back of our home. The roof is a gable roof with standard ...
  A: If anything the insulation would cut down on moisture that could be caused by air leaking from the ...
Install rubber roofing3/20/2008
  Q: Brad -- I'm a remodeling contractor and I'm building a screened-in porch with a low slope (<1/12). ...
  A: I don't even know what kind of roof you're thinking about. For a low slope I'd use a modified roof. ...
Told that direction of valley installation was incorrect on second-layer of shingles--REALLY?3/20/2008
  Q: We are selling our home, and from the buyers' inspection we were told that the shingles in the ...
  A: Having experience for 4 years and doing 3 other roofs does not make a roofer. Many roofers do this ...
Flat roof over porch3/19/2008
  Q: Do you know of some online resources regarding how to design a flat roof (low angle) that drains ...
  A: Oh, I thought you were "designing" starting with the lumber. You can't slope with layers of roofing ...
Finishing a Shed type roof3/18/2008
  Q: A lady ask you How to finish a Shed style roof. You told her to use a ridge cap. Is a ridge cap like ...
  A: If it's a single angled shed type roof then how can you have two angles - high on one side and low ...
venting a flat roof3/18/2008
  Q: I am insulating a room with a flat roof from the inside. I will have about 4" of space between the ...
  A: You could try to put one vent in the center of the top of the roof and then cut notches underneath ...
Adding ventilation to a low slope roof3/18/2008
  Q: I have a 2/12 sloped roof with tar and gravel, and it has no exhaust ventilation. Is it a difficult ...
  A: It sounds like a stretch to make it work. Venting will do nothing if you just add a vent to the ...
Building patio cover off of shingled roof3/18/2008
  Q: I had a similar question to Tommy from: ...
  A: I would rip up the shingles and wood and get the new rafters nailed right to the house rafters but ...
Flashing a flat roof3/17/2008
  Q: What is the best way to flash a flat roof to the side of a house. We just purchased a small two ...
  A: For EPDM they usually use "termination bar" that is anchored into the wall and then they caulk the ...
Flat roof over porch3/16/2008
  Q: Do you know of some online resources regarding how to design a flat roof (low angle) that drains ...
  A: I don't think anyone would write about it in a book as it would be a simple task for anyone that is ...
Dirt Roofs3/16/2008
  Q: I am building a 10' x 8' small DIRT ROOF cabin on a hillside in the mountains of the NW for a ...
  A: I have no idea what LVLs are or hurricane clips are. I can't see how coating plywood would ...
Low sloped porch roof and ventilation3/15/2008
  Q: Brad-I have a wrap around front porch with a 2 to 3/12 sloped,shingled roof with 8 skylights and a ...
  A: Below 2/12 slopes you can't even use shingles or they'll leak. Between 2/12 and 4/12 you can use ...
Reshingling a roof3/13/2008
  Q: I live in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. WE get a fair amount of now and freezing rain. I currently have ...
  A: If you put tar paper on one spot on the roof it must be there for a purpose (such as protecting the ...
condensation3/13/2008
  Q: My sister-in-law had her 60 year old house re-roofed last fall. There was no ventilation, so the ...
  A: Yes it can be condensation but condensation happens at other times other than rains and snows. If ...
Composition roof3/12/2008
  Q: I'm building a new house near Leander, TX (north of Austin). I noticed the tar paper did not come ...
  A: Building codes are different for each agency. It might be township, county, state or none. There is ...
unvented soffits with hot roof design?3/12/2008
  Q: We recently bought a 100 year old house that was mid-renovation. The previous owner had turned the ...
  A: You said, " but the roofer must have allowed for that???" Yeah, and I have a bridge to sell you too. ...
Rolled Roof - Repair, Replace, or Redesign?3/10/2008
  Q: We're looking at buying a 3,000 sq ft L-shaped unit that is 1/2 owner-operator residence, 1/2 ...
  A: I never heard of a rolled metal roof so I don't know what that is. Metal roofs are more for ...
unvented soffits with hot roof design?3/10/2008
  Q: We recently bought a 100 year old house that was mid-renovation. The previous owner had turned the ...
  A: You said, "We were concerned that our roof didn't have any ventilation, but he insisted that it was ...
composition shingles3/10/2008
  Q: New construction roof: Elk 40yr. still being installed and there numerous areas where the edges ...
  A: When you say "edges" do you mean the edges of the shingles or the edge of the roof? The edges of the ...
Roofing a low sloped roof3/9/2008
  Q: I recently purchased a house that had a new roof installed approximately 4 months before I moved in. ...
  A: It is not that shingles are not "common" on such slopes. They are NEVER used on such slopes or they ...
roofing / tar paper3/9/2008
  Q: Brad We're building a new house and our contractor put the roof up approximately 3-4 weeks ago and ...
  A: Tar paper curls once it is wet and can leave lumps under the finished roof. Rip it all off and start ...
roof buckling & wood creaking noises3/8/2008
  Q: Have a year plus 5 months old roof installation - Elk reflective tile ($14,000 for 1600 sq ft liv. ...
  A: If the plywood is set up against each other the wood will buckle. You can usually tell from ...
ice down condensation on asphalt shingles3/7/2008
  Q: We live in sw Missouri in the past month we have had two ice storms that occurred two weeks from ...
  A: "owens corning asphalt shingle company said that much saturation and slow ice down melting and 70 ...
Roof and ceiling edge leaks3/7/2008
  Q: This summer, we had the roof on the addition to our colonial house (1970s) replaced. It was replaced ...
  A: All your symptoms could be from walls and ceiling moving due to settling of the house. It is ...
Low Slope front porch roof3/7/2008
  Q: I have a rather old house. My front porch has almost no slope and currently has shingles on it. ...
  A: Yes, you can't put shingles on low slopes or they will leak. Low slopes tend to face the sky and are ...
ridge vents3/7/2008
  Q: I just read your answer on winter venting with a ridge vent and I'm complelled to respond. Just had ...
  A: Venting does two things. It vents the heat out in the summer so it is not as hot in the attic and so ...
new roof on old adobe3/7/2008
  Q: I have an old adobe house built in 1946 that currently has a hip roof with 4/12 and 5/12 pitches. ...
  A: Whether the roof (or walls) can take the extra load all depends on what's in those walls. Someone ...
ice down condensation on asphalt shingles3/6/2008
  Q: We live in sw Missouri in the past month we have had two ice storms that occurred two weeks from ...
  A: What you wrote is difficult to read. But after struggling with it I figure you're asking if ice can ...
Roof Install/Ventilation3/6/2008
  Q: I am in the process of receiving quotes for a new roof. My current situation is that I have gable ...
  A: There is no right answer as it depends on how much of each system you have. I don't the power of the ...
tar paper3/6/2008
  Q: my house is heated by hot water heating system,, a pipe busted and the whole house was steamed ...
  A: Steam is hotter than 212. 212 is the lowest temperature steam can exist at sea level. But as soon as ...
Roof Install/Ventilation3/5/2008
  Q: I am in the process of receiving quotes for a new roof. My current situation is that I have gable ...
  A: It is true that a ridge vent should not be used without a soffit vent. BUT adding any and all vents ...
warped roof3/5/2008
  Q: Perhaps you can help direct me. My house is 37 years old and thereis a warp in the roof over an area ...
  A: There's no way of knowing if the movement or bending has stopped or you're looking at a mid-stage ...
ROLLED ROOFING3/5/2008
  Q: We live in hot AZ with a low slope dining room addition. Currently has shingles. We are re-roofing ...
  A: It depends what you mean by "low" slope. Low slopes cannot have shingles on them or they will leak. ...
Flat Roof Scraper3/5/2008
  Q: We are installing several Solatube Daylighting Systems on an existing flat/tar & gravel roof. We ...
  A: To scrape slag (gravel) we use a roof scraper you can get at a roofing supply. Slag roofs are form ...
estimates3/4/2008
  Q: This is the first time I will be pricing and roofing a home. My house is an older house and the ...
  A: Code says you can only go up to two roofs so if you already have two roofs then you must strip it ...
facia board3/4/2008
  Q: Morning, I live in Florida and was wondering the best wood for facia boards (Spruce or Pine?) and ...
  A: I don't know that much about types of wood as I do roofing but if I needed a piece of wood for ...
new shingle roof3/3/2008
  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 ...
Hurricane resistance with 3 tab vs dimensional shingles3/3/2008
  Q: Hurricane resistance with 3 tab (flat) vs dimensional shingles I thought I asked my contractor to ...
  A: If something is lifted by wind the wind does not have to get "under" it. When wind passes over an ...
new roof3/2/2008
  Q: Am I required to get a building permit to put a new roof on my home?
  A: Every town is different. Some towns don't even do licensing for contractors and others do. In my ...
can I shovel snow from an asphalt flat roof?3/1/2008
  Q: My Wife owns a bar and her building is extremely old with a flat (very slight slope to one end) wore ...
  A: Technically, the material will be more fragile in winter than summer but it's not so fragile that ...
Felt paper under asphalt shingles2/29/2008
  Q: Our roofing contractor recently installed felt paper vertically (perpendicular to the eave)on a 6/12 ...
  A: There is no such thing as running it another direction because of winds. The winds should never make ...
3 12 pitch cathedral ceiling throughout2/28/2008
  Q: Bras, I Have a hot roof. I live in upstate NY. My home is a ranch, with cathedral ceilings running ...
  A: 3/12 slope is kinda low for shingles. In those slopes you must put Ice and Water Shield under the ...
Roof Jack Options for Plumbing Vent Pipe2/27/2008
  Q: I'm looking for advice on what type of roof jack to use for a new penetration in my roof. The ...
  A: I'm lost. You keep asking about roof jacks but then you talk about collars. A roof jack is a bracket ...
low slope roof to replace2/26/2008
  Q: I need to hear from an expert on what I can and should replace my 'old' roof and soon to be addition ...
  A: You wouldn't rebuild the slope with trusses. You would just do the correct type of roof for the ...
3 12 pitch cathedral ceiling throughout2/26/2008
  Q: Bras, I Have a hot roof. I live in upstate NY. My home is a ranch, with cathedral ceilings running ...
  A: Ice dams are something that occurs on roofs and should not be a problem unless you have a problem ...
Attic Condensation2/26/2008
  Q: My house 1950's built with a simple gable roof with 700sqft attic. Recently I had heavy condensation ...
  A: The attic should be the same temperature as the outside. Since you have vents all over it is open to ...
Flat Roof Repair Question2/26/2008
  Q: Brad, I have a question on a roof repair that was done on 12/20/07 to my flat roof on an addition ...
  A: I've heard one or two people mention this before but it is rare. I've never smelled anything after ...
Attic Condensation2/23/2008
  Q: My house 1950's built with a simple gable roof with 700sqft attic. Recently I had heavy condensation ...
  A: Put the humidity gauge in the attic and see if the humidity is really high there. Keep in mind that ...
Attic Condensation2/23/2008
  Q: My house 1950's built with a simple gable roof with 700sqft attic. Recently I had heavy condensation ...
  A: You have too much humidity in the house. The humid air is escaping into the attic and hitting the ...
interio drywall leak due to roof?2/23/2008
  Q: I have some wetness showing through the interior drywall of the exterior wall in the master bedroom. ...
  A: I don't see how you can rule anything out. Just because one pipe doesn't leak doesn't mean the other ...
Bitumen roof vs shingles2/22/2008
  Q: I had a bitumen roof installed recently on my roof with a slight slope. The roofer initially quoted ...
  A: Oh, "drywall" as in one word which is a nickname for sheetrock. If the roof was put down with a ...
Bitumen roof vs shingles2/22/2008
  Q: I had a bitumen roof installed recently on my roof with a slight slope. The roofer initially quoted ...
  A: You said they were going to do plywood and sheathing. Sheathing is plywood. I don't know what a dry ...
New Roof2/22/2008
  Q: Hey Brad. I am a new home owner. Recently I decided to put an addition on my home. It is 20' x 23' ...
  A: The rate a roofer makes working for a roofing company and a rate that a roofer makes for himself is ...
vent pipe in middle of valley2/22/2008
  Q: I have a serious problem. I plan to re-shingle my roof this summer. Since I have former experience ...
  A: Having a pipe in the middle of the valley is a disaster waiting to happen. There is nothing you can ...
Roof Ventilation2/21/2008
  Q: I need a new roof. Currently I have one motor powered vent fan that's it. I received two estimates ...
  A: The more vents the better. It's like airing out your house. You just open all the windows. The more ...
Copper sheet2/19/2008
  Q: 1. How do I know how much of copper sheet I will need with a chimney's measurement with 59" long x ...
  A: Just add the area of each side of the chimney you want to do. I don't know how high you need to go ...
Flat to low slope connection leaks2/18/2008
  Q: I have had my low slope roof shingled in the summer with a flat roof ajoined to it and during the ...
  A: 1.75/12 is too low a slope for shingles. That's why it's leaking. It should never have been shingled ...
Flat to low slope connection leaks2/17/2008
  Q: I have had my low slope roof shingled in the summer with a flat roof ajoined to it and during the ...
  A: The plastic strip does not get removed. The key may be that you said it was a low slope roof. You ...
GAF System2/17/2008
  Q: We are re-roofing our home and have decided on the GAF Timberline 30-year shingle. To our ...
  A: There's a lot to read under the 3 different warranties. I do not see anything mentioned about ...
GAF System2/17/2008
  Q: We are re-roofing our home and have decided on the GAF Timberline 30-year shingle. To our ...
  A: A 30 year shingle has a 30 year warranty...prorated. Where did you get the 15 or 5 from? Any roof ...
water leaking through light fixture2/17/2008
  Q: about 5 am, i went downstairs and one side of my counter and the floor was completely soaked with ...
  A: You never asked about the light fixture. Your only question was if the melting snow can be the cause ...
Copper Flashing @ Chimney2/16/2008
  Q: I prefer to use copper flashing around the chimney. I couldn't find more details in any roofing ...
  A: You couldn't find more details because you don't seal anything on a roof with caulking or any kind ...
exposed butt seams2/15/2008
  Q: I have had a new shingle roof installed about 18 months ago, and when I was up on it this winter, I ...
  A: I guess you have dimensional shingles where one lays up against the other. If you covered the joints ...
Ice damming and roofing leaks2/15/2008
  Q: I recently read an informative reply to someones question regarding ice damming and roof leaks from ...
  A: "If a home passes the necessary inspections, apparently the builder has met the requirement." NOT ...
Roof Replacement2/13/2008
  Q: Brad; I chose a local roofing contractor from 3 bids they were neither the most expensive nor the ...
  A: Finding more work after a job is started is a common scam so make sure this is for real. Were they ...
Thin Tile Roofing Materials OK for Hail areas?2/12/2008
  Q: HOA does not allow asphalt shingles as a replacement for wood shingles/ shakes which are now not ...
  A: I have no idea what HOA is. Metal roofing would dent from hail. What are "thin tiles"? There is a ...
Shingles2/8/2008
  Q: Brad, I have received several estimates for replacing my roof and have finally decided on a ...
  A: Architectural shingles cost only slightly more to buy than 3-tab shingles. The roofer is not ...
lean-to roof2/8/2008
  Q: I'm currently adding an addition to my kitchen that is covered by a lean-to roof with about 2.5/12 ...
  A: Wouldn't that be a "lean-away from" roof? If I was going to give it a name it would have to be that ...
Garage Roof2/7/2008
  Q: We are in the process of designing a 20 x 20 stand alone garage. We are designing the plans with the ...
  A: Torch-down modified comes smooth black or with granules in colors. The smooth can be aluminum coated ...
Roofing ventilation2/6/2008
  Q: I e-mailed you earlier. I have still another opinion that appears to make sense however I'll see if ...
  A: For any ventilation system to work you must have soffit vents. Having just vents at the top of the ...
bad roofing job2/6/2008
  Q: Okay here we go my situation is this. I bought a home from Ball Homes of KY which was my first ...
  A: You can't put roof paper on the wrong way. You can nail the shingles in the wrong places. They do ...
Roofing2/6/2008
  Q: I live in Delaware. I need a new roof and keep getting conflicting proposals. With regards to ...
  A: Nails usually pop up because they were not properly put in. I see no reason that loose nails can't ...
tar paper floor?2/4/2008
  Q: We have a 7'x 5' "airing porch" (for lack of a better term) on our second floor that stands directly ...
  A: A good roof would be a modified roof but roofing material is not made to live on. When you do that ...
Flat Roof2/3/2008
  Q: I am building a house at the North Carolina coast.This is a Charleston style neighborhood. I have 3 ...
  A: You can do 2 things. One is to let the water go through the deck and catch it underneath and the ...
Newbie homeowner, 8 yr old home2/2/2008
  Q: I'm the original owner of an 8 yr old home and this is my first home ever bought. Never had a roof ...
  A: Vent pipes do not get caulked so that already means he does not know how to do a roof. When you do a ...
low slope roofing2/1/2008
  Q: I have a 12/3 slope roof without any valleys. Currently it is covered with rolled roofing, but it ...
  A: A 12:3 slope is quite steep so I will assume you mean 3:12. Shingles cannot be installed below ...
re-roofing parapet roof2/1/2008
  Q: I found your answers that you gave to the other person very helpful..I am hoping you can help me as ...
  A: The roofer’s first problem is that he did not do the walls when he originally said he would. It’s ...
Ridge Vent1/31/2008
  Q: It appears as though snow is coming into the ridge vent in my attic. I am not certain if it is the ...
  A: If you saw no light and there was no air gap then there would be no point in having a vent. The word ...
low slope roof1/31/2008
  Q: We need a new roof as the one which is on now is shingles that someone put on OVER tar and gravel ...
  A: 2:12 slope is the absolute minimum for shingles and even then it requires special procedures until ...
Roofing - warranty?1/30/2008
  Q: We purchased our home in February 2006. The previous owners had a new roof (shingles) put on in May ...
  A: The original roof came with a guarantee. What is that guarantee? Did you get that guarantee when you ...
Tar paper1/30/2008
  Q: Our neighbor is getting a new roof, and as the old shingles are coming off, we are not seeing any ...
  A: The tar paper acts as a moisture barrier since shingles are not sealed air tight. There are some ...
wind damage to shingle roof1/30/2008
  Q: We had 50 mile an hour winds last night. Several shingles blow off our roof. Also you could hear the ...
  A: If you replace the ones that blew off what about the ones that are flapping around? They're just ...
Minimum temperature to lay shingles1/29/2008
  Q: We have a fairly new home (4 years olds - built in 2003) - 2 storey in which we have now discovered ...
  A: If you have leaks in doors, windows and walls are you sure the leak is coming from the roof? -3 to ...
Ridge vent Low Slope Roof1/28/2008
  Q: Brad, I have a condensation issue with my Dormer, it is a low slope roof which mates up with a ...
  A: I'm not sure what you're trying to do. I don't see how you can have a ridge vent where a low slope ...
low-slope roof and leaky ridge vent1/28/2008
  Q: We bought a home last summer built in 1957 with a low-slope (approx. 2:12) roof. The roof was ...
  A: 2:12 roof is the absolute minimum slope you can do shingles on and even then it's tricky until you ...
Cathedral ceiling ventilation1/28/2008
  Q: I have a cathedral ceiling in one room only, a 3 year old additon. One side of the catheral ceiling ...
  A: Ventilation is a good idea but is not some cure-all for problems. Condensation can also be a problem ...
Cobra Vent issue1/28/2008
  Q: About 4 years ago my shingles were pulled off by a tornado/shear winds. The roof was completely ...
  A: Ice damming is a normal thing for roofs so you really don't have any problem. If you don't have ice ...
water damage1/27/2008
  Q: having trouble with water damage. new roof 2003. room under flat roof water damage to wall and ...
  A: if you have leaks in walls then you have to have leaks in attic. leaks can't get to walls without ...
Moisture in Attic1/26/2008
  Q: I have recently had a new roof put on. I have noticed frost in the attic on the plywood and on the ...
  A: A heater with a humidifier puts out hot and humid air. By the time it is disperses in a room it ...
Moisture in Attic1/26/2008
  Q: I have recently had a new roof put on. I have noticed frost in the attic on the plywood and on the ...
  A: Your humidity is too high in the house. What is the humidity there? It should not be higher than 50. ...
concrete roof design1/25/2008
  Q: I have contracted the construction of a block retaining wall and integrated building, using the ...
  A: No contractor would have a good grasp of it. Your asking contractors about engineering. There are ...
semi-flat sunroom roof1/23/2008
  Q: I had a sunroom added on to my home about 3 years ago, the contractor had to "re-do" the roof due to ...
  A: A modified roof is what most people call a "rubber" roof. Modified (rubber) and tar roofs go on flat ...
Roof(flat) is leaking. All work is under warranty, but contractors make excuses.1/23/2008
  Q: I have both a flat roof and a mansard roof which are under warranty. The roof is now leaking within ...
  A: If the leak is at the joint between the two roofs then I'd say it is probably the fault of the last ...
Roof replacement shake versus shingle1/22/2008
  Q: I am a board member and we are in the process of replacing a roof on a >100 year old farm house. The ...
  A: No building is (or at least shouldn't be) built so that a few more pounds causes it to collapse. If ...
semi-flat sunroom roof1/22/2008
  Q: I had a sunroom added on to my home about 3 years ago, the contractor had to "re-do" the roof due to ...
  A: A combination. There is usually no need to rip off the old roof unless it is lumpy or water logged. ...
Cathedral ceiling insulation / venting / roofing1/22/2008
  Q: Due to recent storm damage, I need to replace my current roof. Note: I live in the northern San ...
  A: Just add some insulation on top of the old insulation but leave space to air out under the roof. You ...
roof repair1/21/2008
  Q: We have a flat/low slope roof over our patio. Some of the fascia boards are rotting and falling out. ...
  A: You can carefully inspect the wood from above. Anything weak or rotted would need to be replaced. If ...
Installation environment for torch on roofing1/18/2008
  Q: Our 30-year tar & gravel roof is leaking due to the melting of snow in Calgary, Canada. Both ...
  A: The asphalt is torched to 500F degrees so whether it's 70 out or 10 out does not make too much of a ...
Modified Mansard Roof1/18/2008
  Q: I have a modified Mansard roof--flat top and sloping sides. I've had both built-up roofing (tar and ...
  A: You could reslope the top but it sounds like you have bad roofers working on your house. Coatings do ...
roofing1/18/2008
  Q: Brad, I would like to thank you in advance for your forthcoming response. I have added a room and ...
  A: You must remove the shingles where the valley will go, place the valley in and then shingle back ...
Roofing Materials...Certain Teed VS. Elk1/17/2008
  Q: Brad, Thank you for taking the time to answer this question. I live in Houston and I will be ...
  A: Certainteed has been around longer but both are good. As far as resisting staining, shingles can get ...
Chimney Flashing Continues1/16/2008
  Q: I still like to ask you couple more questions. I've decided to go with copper instead of stainless ...
  A: I've never actually worked with copper so I don't know the thicknesses but any thickness should be ...
low slop roof replacement1/16/2008
  Q: I just purchased a contemporary style home in Mobile, AL The roof is a simple design, only a top ...
  A: You can't put shingles on such a low slope or they'll leak. That's your first problem. You have the ...
"Algae-Relief" Shingles1/15/2008
  Q: We will be roofing shortly with asphalt shingles, replacing the existing cedar shake, and live in ...
  A: All manufacturers now make an algae resistant shingle. Algae has become a big problem that leaves ...
roll roofing over existing roll roofing1/15/2008
  Q: before hot mopping roll roofing over aluminum paint what shoul i do.
  A: If it's an asphalt based aluminum coating then you don't have to do anything. If it's just some ...
Chimney Flashing1/14/2008
  Q: The chimney I'm dealing with isn't a typical chimney with its front base on a flat surface. The ...
  A: "Maxed out" probably means my limit for the day. I have it set to a max of 5 questions a day. Brad
Chimney Flashing1/13/2008
  Q: The chimney I'm dealing with isn't a typical chimney with its front base on a flat surface. The ...
  A: If someone make "piece" that implies you have more than on piece. If you put two pieces together ...
Chimney Flashing1/12/2008
  Q: The chimney I'm dealing with isn't a typical chimney with its front base on a flat surface. The ...
  A: Chimneys in the middle of valleys are horror stories to work with. They are very difficult to do. On ...
replacing cedar shakes on a mansard roof1/11/2008
  Q: I'm thinking of replacing and adding cedar shakes to an older mansard roof. How are they nailed so ...
  A: I never worked on a shake roof but it would probably be the same as slate. You don't want to nail on ...
Defective 3 tab shingle1/10/2008
  Q: Brad, I purchased a new back in 2000, which I had the contractor upgrade the roof from a standard 3 ...
  A: Premature failure is rare and I don't know of any widespread issues. Some manufacturers are putting ...
Roof just blew off1/9/2008
  Q: We had our roof "re-roofed" with 30 year architectural shingles. They put another layer on top of ...
  A: How can you lose EVERY shingle? I’ve seen pictures of areas hit by hurricanes and they still have ...
Determining how to proceed with Roofing Proposals1/9/2008
  Q: To make a long story short...Just moved into a house 2 weeks ago and I need roof repairs. I have ...
  A: You said they are taking up the tile ONLY to replace the underlayment and then IF they see broken ...
Determining how to proceed with Roofing Proposals1/8/2008
  Q: To make a long story short...Just moved into a house 2 weeks ago and I need roof repairs. I have ...
  A: Are they taking up the tiles just to replace the underlayment or are they taking up the tile to redo ...
ridge vents for attic ventilation1/7/2008
  Q: I recently had a continuous ridge vent installed and now read that I need soffit vents instead of ...
  A: The idea is that cool air enters the bottom of the roof, heats up as it rises and goes out the top ...
Determining how to proceed with Roofing Proposals1/7/2008
  Q: To make a long story short...Just moved into a house 2 weeks ago and I need roof repairs. I have ...
  A: The felt does not stop leaks. If it did you wouldn't need the tiles. You'd just do the roof in felt. ...
attic ventilation1/7/2008
  Q: Is there a formula that can be used to determine the ventilation requirements (both inflow and ...
  A: I guess technically if you put screening over a vent it will reduce air flow so you can just add ...
low slope roofing and heavy snow accumulation1/5/2008
  Q: We have a gable-roofed cape with high quality shingles and venting, and heavy snow accumulation (up ...
  A: The reason you can't put shingles on there has nothing to do with thermal expansion. Shingles cannot ...
leaky roof1/5/2008
  Q: We purchased our log home 2 years ago. The home is approximately 10 years old. We have very high ...
  A: What is the slope of your roof? Lower slopes are more prone to leaks and need special procedures ...
flat roof leaking1/2/2008
  Q: I have been having a lot of problems with my flat roof leaking. I have the rolled roofing that is ...
  A: There is nothing you can spread on the roof. If there was a magic coating that prevented leaks then ...
condensation on roof1/2/2008
  Q: I had a complete new roof installed, sheathing and all, about 2 months ago. I am now getting ...
  A: You probably had too much humidity in the house and it is making its way to the attic. It probably ...
condensation on roof1/2/2008
  Q: I had a complete new roof installed, sheathing and all, about 2 months ago. I am now getting ...
  A: If you never had condensation before then what has changed? You said it might not be properly ...
condensation on roof1/1/2008
  Q: I had a complete new roof installed, sheathing and all, about 2 months ago. I am now getting ...
  A: When you say condensation "ON" roof that means outside but many night produce dew or fog which is ...
Watermark on the ceiling12/29/2007
  Q: It is raining season on the west coast. My roof was/is leaking. So I got some watermark on the ...
  A: You should pull out wet insulation and replace it. The rest will dry out. Re-roofing can be done any ...
Which valley method is the best to prevent leaks?12/24/2007
  Q: I have 4/12 slope. Which valley method is better, Open Valley or Closed Valley? Open valley has ...
  A: Don't use any felt. Cover the entire deck with Ice and Water Shield. The problem with using two ...
venting a porch roof12/24/2007
  Q: is it necessary to use soffit vents and a ridge vent -- or any venting at all--on the roof of an ...
  A: The theory with venting is that humid air can get trapped in the closed spaces during the day and ...
Which valley method is the best to prevent leaks?12/23/2007
  Q: I have 4/12 slope. Which valley method is better, Open Valley or Closed Valley? Open valley has ...
  A: Closed valleys would be more waterproof. All 3 types of valleys (1 open and 2 closed) are ...
Leaking in Inaccessible attic space12/20/2007
  Q: We purchased a 30-yr-old home with a new roof (installed week before we bought). About a year later, ...
  A: You have to get on the roof above that area to find the leak. You have holes where water is coming ...
7/16" sheathing, bad?12/18/2007
  Q: My contractor was told to use 1/2" osb sheathing on a roof with the rafters @ 24" o.c. The roof has ...
  A: Even 1/2" board is a little thin for 24" centers. I would have used 5/8 but most roofers would use ...
Attic Ventalation12/17/2007
  Q: I presently live in a 100 year old home with a steep pitch roof. The roof was redone 7 years ago ...
  A: You probably only feel the air movement if you stand between the gable vent and the ridge vent as ...
How to use my heat cable system12/17/2007
  Q: I have self-regulating heating cables (1,000 linear ft. of Raychem Wintergard.) Operation of the ...
  A: If there's no snow on your roof and it hasn't snowed in a week and it won't snow soon then leaving ...
How to use my heat cable system12/16/2007
  Q: I have self-regulating heating cables (1,000 linear ft. of Raychem Wintergard.) Operation of the ...
  A: I would turn them on when you want to melt snow or ice. I would turn them on as soon as it starts ...
Roof Ice Damning12/16/2007
  Q: I live in Wisconsin and we had a ice storm and 12" of snow over the last three weeks. Now I have ...
  A: Ice Shield is good but not perfect but if you have multiple leaks then something's wrong. Do you ...
roof stand pipe seals leaking12/14/2007
  Q: We have gable roof with shingles. There are 4 plumbing pcv vent pipes. These are enclosed in metal ...
  A: Yes there's a better way. Find a more reasonable roofer. I don't know what the metal brackets are ...
Rafter Tails, and/or maybe eave-rolling?12/13/2007
  Q: Here's a snapshot of our roof detail: http://www.mechworksdesign.com/house.htm The framing ...
  A: First, you're asking a roofer about carpentry but I'll give it a try. The blueprint just shows a ...
Re-roofing of flat roof12/12/2007
  Q: My townhome in Houston is connected to my neighbors with firewall on both sides. I have a flat roof ...
  A: I have no good reasons against TPO. I came across it once and it was hard and cracked when I bent ...
Roofing dispute12/11/2007
  Q: Last spring I had the hail-damaged roof on my home replaced with standard three tab shingles. The ...
  A: You can place blame all over the place for this one. Obviously the house was not built right before ...
Felt Paper/tar paper12/11/2007
  Q: Short story...I have a 3 year old home in O'Fallon, MO that has started leaking in 3 bedrooms after ...
  A: I would imagine that underlayment would be a requirement by manufacturers. The instructions are on ...
flat roof question12/10/2007
  Q: I recently came across a flat roof that appeared to be made up of fairly thin (30 lb) fiberglass ...
  A: A home inspector's job is to tell you what you have. He can also state if something is not to his ...
Cost of 30 year roof versus 50 year versus cedar shingles12/10/2007
  Q: We had a roof replaced from cedar shakes to a 50 year architectural roof. The quote came in so high. ...
  A: There's no way of telling without seeing it. Give me a plain roof at $10,000 and I can get there ...
Organic shingles12/10/2007
  Q: Is it possible to repair a roof that has a 10 year old organic shingle? Are organic shingles still ...
  A: I think there are a few companies that still make asphalt shingles but I wouldn't be surprised if no ...
flat roof12/9/2007
  Q: i have a 20,000 sqft flat asphalt build up that is at its life cycle, i want to use tpo or white ...
  A: If you have something that does not drain well and you add 1/2 inch or 1 mile it still has the same ...
life span of felt paper12/9/2007
  Q: I have a concrete tile roof. I don't know what kind of paper was used for underlayment. What is the ...
  A: You hope that they used an underlayment that will last the life of the roof because once it's on ...
flat roof question12/7/2007
  Q: I recently came across a flat roof that appeared to be made up of fairly thin (30 lb) fiberglass ...
  A: I have seen many odd things and I usually just figure we have beginners or "handymen" trying to do ...
design flaw? in roof12/6/2007
  Q: We have a 20+ year old south facing back split detached house with the front being brick and the ...
  A: You said the area has been "properly sealed"...but apparently not. You said they used "sealer". ...
Re-roofing of flat roof12/5/2007
  Q: My townhome in Houston is connected to my neighbors with firewall on both sides. I have a flat roof ...
  A: The "coatings in a can" will not do much so throw them out. The TPO is a newer thing but I'm not ...
roof drainage12/5/2007
  Q: we just had our roof re-roofed, they finished the day before Thanksgiving. My problem is, we ...
  A: If gutters were a bad thing then who would buy them. The idea of gutters is to take the water from ...
COLOR OF ROOFS IN FLORIDA12/4/2007
  Q: IN FLORIDA ARE LIGHT COLORED SHINGLES COOLER THAN DARK COLOR AND DO LIGHT OR DARK LAST LONGER AND IS ...
  A: Not just Florida but anywhere in the universe light colored shingles are cooler than dark colored ...
Closing soffit vents12/2/2007
  Q: I have an attached garage and porch which has soffit vents. Their is no gable or ridge vent for ...
  A: Insulation does not stop things from freezing. It slows down the rate at which it will freeze. Turn ...
colonial gambrel roof shingle style12/1/2007
  Q: We have a williamsburg style gambrel roof and I need to find a shingle that would match that ...
  A: I don't know what a Williamsburg style Gambrel is. You would need to talk to a designer or architect ...
Leaking tar and gravel roof11/29/2007
  Q: Our tar and gravel roof, about 12 years old, has leaked now into an area of the ceiling above our ...
  A: Generally the leak in the roof is above your problem in the house. Go to that spot on the roof and ...
rubber?11/29/2007
  Q: Brad, I own Joe's Paint & Electric in Santa Fe, NM. Yes...I said Santa Fe, where building techniques ...
  A: Rubber is pretty much a generic word. It means different things to different types of roofs. For ...
pay rates11/28/2007
  Q: Yes Brad, I've been out of the roofing business for about 10 yrs. and I am now going to help a ...
  A: Now you've changed the whole picture. You never said anything before about plywood which is a MAJOR ...
porch roof venting?11/27/2007
  Q: I'm re-building an unenclosed 3 level porch. I've rebuilt the level 2 and 3 decks: EPDM membranes ...
  A: If you seal it up tight then the air should not change or circulate in there. Some theories: 1. In a ...
Damp plywood11/26/2007
  Q: On one side of our house(the side w/out the sun) in the attic the plywood is wet on the inside. The ...
  A: If it is a small area then you have a leak. If it is a large area then you have too much humidity in ...
Roof frost & snow in attick11/26/2007
  Q: I have two problems. Last winter I experienced frost on approx 1/2 of the interior roof. I have 3 ...
  A: You can't just dump the bathroom exhaust into the attic. You're supposed to be getting rid of the ...
Roofing11/25/2007
  Q: I installed ruftex vinyl roofing over my deck. I have leaks at most of the screw holes. I used the ...
  A: I don't know what Ruftex is. Even a Google search showed no results. If it is a congregated material ...
Fascia Board / Deck roofing gap11/24/2007
  Q: New house. Cleaning gutters and notice 1.5" gap between roof deck and fascia board. The worst part ...
  A: Yeah, it can probably be covered with metal but I'd had to see pictures of exactly what you're ...
Roofing contract11/24/2007
  Q: Brad what kind of wording should I get from contractor for "re-roof", such as guarantees on ...
  A: Different areas have different guarantees but I'd look for at least a 10 year guarantee from the ...
Ice Shield Problem11/23/2007
  Q: My mom had a new roof installed in 2004. Since then she has had a problem with water leaking between ...
  A: What is the slope of the roof? The lower the slope the more likely to have ice damming problem. It ...
Leak from vent pipe...11/21/2007
  Q: A wet spot appeared in the main floor bathroom...I cut out the portion of ceiling to find water ...
  A: The pipe could be clogged down below and water is building upward over the joint. Also, a lot of ...
Tiling a Flat Roof11/21/2007
  Q: We are a single family residential builder. There has been many occasions where we have a flat roof ...
  A: You don't have to raise the door. You can use a shorter door so the bottom comes up but the top does ...
Ice Shield Problem11/21/2007
  Q: My mom had a new roof installed in 2004. Since then she has had a problem with water leaking between ...
  A: Forget his double talk. It's simple! Roof leaks. Roofer has a problem. It's his roof. Ice and ...
Flat roof venting11/21/2007
  Q: I am building a room under my cottage deck (12x32 feet) which is flat deck with a new torch on roof ...
  A: No it won't work. It will work a little but what's going to push air from the far end of the roof to ...
ROOF VENTILATION11/20/2007
  Q: Brad, I live in PA in a house built in 1943 and my gas bills in the winter are crazy. I decided to ...
  A: First, you insulated the wrong part of the attic. You should have insulated the floor of the attic ...
Tiling a Flat Roof11/20/2007
  Q: We are a single family residential builder. There has been many occasions where we have a flat roof ...
  A: You said that by the time you're done you only have 2 to 2.5 inches to the bottom of the door and ...
squirrels chewing wood shake shingles11/20/2007
  Q: Squirrels have chewed on or removed about 75 wood shake shingles at the edges of our roof. We'll be ...
  A: The squirrels have found a nice warm spot by finding a hole. I don't know why they have chewed so ...
Reroofing11/19/2007
  Q: I live in western Washington, you know the rainy place. I am thinking about getting a new roof put ...
  A: If you're talking shingles then they will form better in the warmer weather but summer it gets too ...
asphalt roll roofing11/19/2007
  Q: Brad, how much does a roll of mineral roll roofing weigh? Thanks.
  A: In the old days the numbers referred to its wight so if you bought a roll of 60 it was 60 lb per 100 ...
repairing chimney hole in roof11/15/2007
  Q: We have just replaced an existing zero clearance fireplace with a new one, but because it is a newer ...
  A: You said you have a low slope roof with shingles but you can't put shingles on a low slope or ...
black residue11/13/2007
  Q: We have electric radiant heat - in our ceilings. the house was built in the 60's. my mom owned the ...
  A: I don't see how any of it can be related to the roof. The attic should be sealed from the house so ...
Exposed nail heads on new asphalt shingle roof11/11/2007
  Q: I live in Utah and just had my roof redone 2 weeks ago. The contractor (or his workers, rather) did ...
  A: You've got it exactly! Every exposed nail is a future leak. Each nail is a hole and if it's exposed ...
Modified Bit for Low-Slope Roof11/11/2007
  Q: After months of interviewing roofers and talking to manufacturers, we are trying to come up with ...
  A: If you don't have an attic then you have a different situation. Warm air from the house will be ...
Modified Bit for Low-Slope Roof11/10/2007
  Q: After months of interviewing roofers and talking to manufacturers, we are trying to come up with ...
  A: Here is an article if you can make head or tails out of it. ...
Building a second story11/9/2007
  Q: we are looking to purchase a loft apartment that has rights to build an addition onto the roof which ...
  A: As long as the roof can support it you should build on top of the roof. If you puncture it with ...
Roof Condensation11/8/2007
  Q: I have been dealing with an attic condensation problem for several years. The problem is most acute ...
  A: I guess an HVAC person but he might just say that since he can't prove it's the HVAC then he can't ...
Flat roof question11/8/2007
  Q: For a flat roof, what is the difference between a "hot tar asphalt roof" and a "3-ply hot tar system ...
  A: Tar is not used in roofing. It is asphalt. A 3-ply hot asphalt roof is a finished roof. Some roofers ...
nail through roofing in new home11/8/2007
  Q: we are mocing into a new home next week, and during the walk-thru yesterday, we saw a 2x4 nailed ...
  A: Yeah, they should replace the shingles that now have nail holes through them. They could lift up the ...
Ridge Vent in roof11/8/2007
  Q: I just had a new roof installed with ridge venting and the shingles do not extend to the end of the ...
  A: If there aren't shingles on the end of the roof then what's there- exposed plywood???? Some roofers ...
Roof Condensation11/7/2007
  Q: I have been dealing with an attic condensation problem for several years. The problem is most acute ...
  A: The humidity is too high in the attic. It's probably coming from your house but let's work through ...
Extending a roof11/7/2007
  Q: I'm adding an extension to my house. This PDF shows a CAD rendering of the before and after: ...
  A: I don't see how you could match the slope of the addition to the house. The run would be too long so ...
Low pitched roof11/6/2007
  Q: I have a patio porch that is 2/12 pitched. It is covered with rolled tar paper. It is only about 5 ...
  A: You're probably doing a "Handyman" type of roof so don't expect too much out of it but a leak means ...
Drip edge vent versus smart vent11/6/2007
  Q: I need a new roof and I plan to use the 2 reputable roofers in my area even though their estimates ...
  A: I had seen that website. In theory it is fine. I never worked with it so I don't have hands-on ...
Drip edge vent versus smart vent11/6/2007
  Q: I need a new roof and I plan to use the 2 reputable roofers in my area even though their estimates ...
  A: I have never used Smart Vent for the intake. The main thing is the area of opening and both will ...
Drip edge vent versus smart vent11/5/2007
  Q: I need a new roof and I plan to use the 2 reputable roofers in my area even though their estimates ...
  A: For venting to work, cool air must come in the bottom, it heats up on its way up the roof and exists ...
Overlay vs. removal11/5/2007
  Q: I have found a bit of conflicting information on whether or not to recover or remove a roof. We ...
  A: The reason you did not get your answer is because I received the following question, "Residential ...
Shingles11/4/2007
  Q: Took off roof on rear side and noticed the previous owner had two felts on for 30 years. Surprised ...
  A: Yes, that's good enough. Many roofers just staple the paper to the wood. AS I said, you're only ...
repair of slightly sloped asphalt roof11/3/2007
  Q: This roof is over an add-on room that is currently used for storage. Last winter it had a leak in ...
  A: Why would a roofer point you to do your own roof? Any liquid you apply will not stop leaks. If you ...
Roofing Engineers11/3/2007
  Q: I just read an answer that you provided in 2006 to a person that had written asking, among other ...
  A: It depends on your definition of "engineer". To me an Engineer is someone that went to college for 4 ...
Shingles11/3/2007
  Q: Took off roof on rear side and noticed the previous owner had two felts on for 30 years. Surprised ...
  A: One layer of felt is enough. What do you mean 1-1/4 for felt and 1-1/2 for shingles? How can you ...
Shingle roof nail pops and craked shingles11/2/2007
  Q: I live in Central Florida.i moved in to a new home I build in 2/28/07 I have had roof likes starting ...
  A: nail pops are nails that are either moving up or nails that were not nailed in all the way the ...
Roof venting11/2/2007
  Q: I have a 12/12 pitched roof built with 2X12's. It's a log home with a gable dormer the width of the ...
  A: Leaks from ice damming on a 12/12 roof is not likely so I'd wonder what else is going on. Are there ...
Mismatched shingles on a new house11/1/2007
  Q: My daughter and son-in-law are buying a newly constructed house. I noticed, and brought to the ...
  A: If the prior shingles are only 2 months old then they haven't had time to change color so you ...
Pipe Roof Flashing on a flat roof10/31/2007
  Q: I have a flat rubber roof. At the vent pipes, is there a special type of flashing you should use ...
  A: It's still a "patch". A patch never last as long as the original material but will hold up for a ...
Needing new roof10/30/2007
  Q: I purchased my home 3 1/2 years ago and was told that I have 3-5 years remaining on the root. Being ...
  A: 2/12 roof is the absolute minimum for shingles. Between 2/12 and 4/12 you can do shingles but ...
1:12 pitch patio cover10/29/2007
  Q: I currently am taking off the old plastic/sun baked rippled cover off my patio because of leaks and ...
  A: Why are you using T111? It has ridges on it so that's not good for roofing. Unless you turn it ...
Holes in roofing felt on a new roof10/29/2007
  Q: I was hoping you can inform me on a roofing issue I have so I can make sure my house is completed ...
  A: I guess someone cut the wood at the ridge for a ridge vent but never did the vent. You can leave it ...
Felt and Mineral Surface Roofing for Low-slope Shed10/29/2007
  Q: I am building a 10' by 30' storage shed in Northern California with a 2 in 12 mono-slope roof. The ...
  A: Tarah's website specifies an underlayment for shingles. They do not specify and underlayment for ...
Felt and Mineral Surface Roofing for Low-slope Shed10/29/2007
  Q: I am building a 10' by 30' storage shed in Northern California with a 2 in 12 mono-slope roof. The ...
  A: You don't put felt paper under the finished roof. There's no purpose to it. You put the roof down by ...
Ridge vents10/28/2007
  Q: I am having a new roof put on my 3 story 1938 vintage home in MI and am confused re: venting (we ...
  A: You talk about ice damming and then venting but never relate the two so I am assuming you think that ...
Leaky Roof10/27/2007
  Q: We live in a townhome in Lynchburg, VA and we just received about 3-4 straight days of rain. I ...
  A: It depends on your definition of "pro". Apparently a roofer already did the roof and he wasn't a pro ...
Shingles10/26/2007
  Q: I had a roof done with Shingles last month. The slope is really steep(14/12 - 2 sides) when you ...
  A: It depends. If the shingles are up on their own then they will soften up in the heat and settle ...
Valley Flashing & Ridge Venting & Waterproof Underlayment10/26/2007
  Q: For Pennsylvania What's the best method (Long-lasting, dependable) for valley flashing..Open, Woven ...
  A: I personally like the open valley. It's a matter of choice. If you have a low slope then you'd be ...
We had roof redone and now it leaks10/25/2007
  Q: A week ago we had our roof reshingled. The old shingles were removed, new plywood put down and new ...
  A: It sounds like a common flashing leak or lack of flashing at all. YES! It's his fault! There was no ...
New winter guard?10/24/2007
  Q: We are having a wrap-around porch built on the front of our house, with a pretty low pitch around ...
  A: The basic instructions are on every package of shingles. You have to cover the entire roof with ...
re-roofing10/24/2007
  Q: Our townhomes were recently re-roofed. Nails are coming through the eaves etc. It looks terrible. ...
  A: This is the way most companies operate. Not that it's right but most companies don't know what ...
leak between existing roof and new addition roof10/24/2007
  Q: how can i resolve the leaks between the old existing roof and the newly added screen room roof? ...
  A: You might be a lay person but you just gave me more information then you did before. You could also ...
Drainage on Modified Bitumen Rolled Roof10/24/2007
  Q: I live in San Antonio, Texas. Currently, I am having a new roof put on my house. There is a wooden ...
  A: I don't know of any sites. You might try some of the manufacturers' website such as GAF, Firestone, ...
New winter guard?10/24/2007
  Q: We are having a wrap-around porch built on the front of our house, with a pretty low pitch around ...
  A: The old weather guard is now full of holes. You'll have to put a new layer down but you can do it on ...
addition10/23/2007
  Q: My current roof is 9 years old, a T lock type, I *think* owens corning. We are adding a small ...
  A: I don't know where to get them. I think I might have seen them sold somewhere. The use for them ...
Drainage on Modified Bitumen Rolled Roof10/23/2007
  Q: I live in San Antonio, Texas. Currently, I am having a new roof put on my house. There is a wooden ...
  A: If the material is inside the gravel guard then the roof was not completely done. You have a space ...
questions about step flashing / drip edge10/22/2007
  Q: I am hearing two different things from two different local contractors and I am hoping you can ...
  A: Yes, you can fix it as you described. The idea is to get the water to go into the gutter and anyway ...
second layer on rolled roofing10/22/2007
  Q: I have a less than 12/4 pitch on a garage attached to my house with rolled roofing. We are having ...
  A: When you describe the slope of the roof the second number is always 12 so I don't know what you ...
apparent fishmouthing shingles on a new construction roof10/21/2007
  Q: I have what looks like (in pictures I saw online) fishmouthing shingles. However this is on a new ...
  A: Next step. Each one that is lifted, is it the middle tab of a 3 tab shingle. You would have to find ...
apparent fishmouthing shingles on a new construction roof10/21/2007
  Q: I have what looks like (in pictures I saw online) fishmouthing shingles. However this is on a new ...
  A: Does it have a pattern of every 3 feet or every third tab? That would be caused by storing the ...
apparent fishmouthing shingles on a new construction roof10/21/2007
  Q: I have what looks like (in pictures I saw online) fishmouthing shingles. However this is on a new ...
  A: If they are bowed in the middle that's a "nail pop" or a nail that was not nailed all the way in. It ...
new roof10/21/2007
  Q: I am getting ready to replace a wood shingle with a asphalt single, 30 year. I have a 12 pitch ...
  A: 50% down is WAY TOO MUCH. Give them 10% then pieces along the way. With 50% down they have no reason ...
flat roof question10/20/2007
  Q: I recently purchased a home with an addition on the back. It's a cape cod with the back of the ...
  A: If you have seams opened, then yes, you should be concerned about leaks. Leaks come in through ...
residental Tamko 30yr shingle10/19/2007
  Q: I just paid over 4000 bucks for a new roof and it seems alot of the shingles are cupped on one side ...
  A: They may and they may not. It depends how much bending is in it. This can happen when they store the ...
Asphalt and Gravel (BUR)10/18/2007
  Q: I have a flat roof which needs to be replaced. I live in Canada. I have got a couple of estimations ...
  A: I'm actually going to call them and follow up on this. I went to their website and they show the ...
roof for cash?10/18/2007
  Q: Looking to replace our roof, it is unanimous that it is in need. We got 4 estimate, $7300, $8900, ...
  A: I would be shocked if you DIDN'T find a guy who wanted money under the table. There is a very large ...
Asphalt and Gravel (BUR)10/17/2007
  Q: I have a flat roof which needs to be replaced. I live in Canada. I have got a couple of estimations ...
  A: They are not putting a 5-ply roof on. They are using a material with a brand name of Ply V or ...
frequent cracking sound in attic10/17/2007
  Q: Brad, We recently purchased a 1950s brick facade timber frame house in Seattle. The footprint is ...
  A: The carpentry issue would not be obvious to an inspector...unless something is really out of place. ...
frequent cracking sound in attic10/17/2007
  Q: Brad, We recently purchased a 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 home10/16/2007
  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 ...
roofing10/15/2007
  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 Ventilation10/12/2007
  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 flashing10/10/2007
  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 through10/10/2007
  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 Ventilation10/9/2007
  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 problem10/9/2007
  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 down10/8/2007
  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 ...
new roof10/8/2007
  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 roof10/5/2007
  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 roof10/3/2007
  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 roof10/3/2007
  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 roof10/2/2007
  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 roof10/1/2007
  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 dams9/29/2007
  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 estimate9/29/2007
  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 flat9/26/2007
  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 roof9/25/2007
  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 vents9/24/2007
  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 roof9/24/2007
  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 ...
Estimates9/24/2007
  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 roofing9/23/2007
  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 failure9/22/2007
  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 leak9/21/2007
  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 Damage9/20/2007
  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 roofing9/19/2007
  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 damming9/18/2007
  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 shingle9/18/2007
  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 pitch9/18/2007
  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 roofing9/15/2007
  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 damming9/12/2007
  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 roofing9/11/2007
  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 overhang9/11/2007
  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 roof9/10/2007
  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 slope9/7/2007
  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 color9/7/2007
  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 replacement9/7/2007
  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 insulation9/7/2007
  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 Value9/6/2007
  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 replacement9/6/2007
  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 insulation9/6/2007
  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 Vent9/6/2007
  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 ...
Ridge Vent9/4/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
roofing an old house9/4/2007
  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 ...
Removing roof vent9/3/2007
  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 ...
My new roof9/3/2007
  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 ...
attic ventilation9/2/2007
  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 ...
Comparison of Different Shingles8/31/2007
  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 ...
flat/low slope roofing8/31/2007
  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 ...
Skylight Replacement8/31/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
Roof8/29/2007
  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 ...
roof buckling8/28/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
rolled roofing8/25/2007
  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 ...
Roof8/24/2007
  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. ...
rolled roofing8/24/2007
  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 ...
Flat Roof Options8/23/2007
  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 ...
Roofing claim on house that is for sale8/22/2007
  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 ...
GAF Horror Story8/22/2007
  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. ...
Air Pockets in Hot Mopped roof8/20/2007
  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 ...
Underlayment8/19/2007
  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 ...
Water shields, pipe flashings and ridge vent system8/16/2007
  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 ...
rain during roofing8/16/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
excessive run-off in valleys8/13/2007
  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 ...
roofing estimate8/12/2007
  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 ...
deck off house over room8/12/2007
  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 ...
roof problem8/8/2007
  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 ...
roof problem8/8/2007
  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 ...
roof brand8/7/2007
  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 ...
difference between contractor & Lowes8/6/2007
  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 ...
CURVED PORCH ROOF8/6/2007
  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 ...
Asphalt Shingles8/5/2007
  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 ...
flat roof8/5/2007
  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 ...
installing a cold roof / no ridge ventilation8/2/2007
  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. ...
Gutter rerouting8/2/2007
  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 ...
modified bitumen roof installations7/31/2007
  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 ...
attaching deck trellis directly to roof7/30/2007
  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 ...
Tile roof leaking7/30/2007
  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 ...
Attic insulation and ventalation7/29/2007
  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 ...
Attic/Roof Venting7/28/2007
  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. ...
repair of patio roof7/28/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
low pitch roof7/27/2007
  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 ...
Dura-Ridge7/27/2007
  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 ...
Low Slople Flat roof & ventilation7/27/2007
  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 ...
Missing Felt Paper7/27/2007
  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 ...
EPDM7/26/2007
  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 ...
blocked ridge vent7/26/2007
  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 ...
stay flat or add gable7/26/2007
  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 ...
TORCH DOWN MODIFIED ROOFING7/25/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
tar paper7/24/2007
  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 ...
how to install aluminum strip rain diverters for asphalt shingled roof7/24/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
MODIFIED OR EPDM7/23/2007
  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 ...
rubber roof, animals7/22/2007
  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 ...
Drip Edge7/22/2007
  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 ...
Mansard design7/18/2007
  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 ...
Low Pitch Roof7/18/2007
  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 ...
Merging new porch roof to existing roof7/16/2007
  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 ...
Merging new porch roof to existing roof7/16/2007
  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 ...
Wet Tar Paper7/14/2007
  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 shingle7/12/2007
  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 ...
underlayment and ice/water shield7/12/2007
  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 ...
proper way to insulate roof7/11/2007
  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 ...
New Low Slope Roof Failure7/9/2007
  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 ...
life expectancy on shingle roof7/9/2007
  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. ...
Cedar Shake Installation Cost7/8/2007
  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 ...
Cedar Shake Installation Cost7/8/2007
  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 ...
applied acrylic roof patch over valleys7/7/2007
  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 ...
New roof needed7/3/2007
  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 ...
Asphault Odor7/2/2007
  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 ...
burning bitumen6/30/2007
  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 question6/28/2007
  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 ...
hotmop roof6/27/2007
  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 ...
New roof needed6/27/2007
  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 ...
Rolled roofing over asphalt shingles6/26/2007
  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 ...
Bid includes refund for advertising6/26/2007
  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 ...
Shingle Warranty6/25/2007
  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 ...
rolled roofing over low slope garage roof6/25/2007
  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 ...
new roof6/24/2007
  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 ...
two different pitched roofs6/24/2007
  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 ...
Remove wood shake, install 50 yr Elk shingle6/23/2007
  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 ...
flat roof resheathing6/22/2007
  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 ...
flat roof resheathing6/22/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
Rafters bowing, pulling away from ridge board6/20/2007
  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 ...
ventilation6/19/2007
  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 seal6/16/2007
  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 ...
Flat roof Spray seal6/15/2007
  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 replaced6/14/2007
  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 question6/13/2007
  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 ...
Black Roof Shingles6/13/2007
  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 Roof6/13/2007
  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. ...
Roof repairs and insurance6/12/2007
  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 needed6/12/2007
  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 roof6/12/2007
  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 ...
sealing vent pipes on roof6/11/2007
  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 ...
Venting Net area6/11/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
roofing a front wrap-a -round porch6/9/2007
  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 roofing6/8/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
flat roof6/7/2007
  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, ...
flat portion of roof6/5/2007
  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 ...
Flat roof leaks6/4/2007
  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 ...
creaking/popping rafters6/3/2007
  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 ...
creaking/popping rafters6/3/2007
  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 ...
ventillation and roofing6/2/2007
  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 ...
Drip edge on High slope roof6/1/2007
  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 ...
adding living space6/1/2007
  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 ...
RE-Roofing Over Bur6/1/2007
  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 ...
RE-Roofing Over Bur5/31/2007
  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 ...
flat roof ventilation/r.b. foil5/30/2007
  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 ...
squirrel damage to lead pipe vents5/29/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
Flat Roof Replacement5/27/2007
  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 ...
Roof vents on new roof5/25/2007
  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 ...
Replacement of 19 year old roof5/25/2007
  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 ...
Heat cables for roof5/24/2007
  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 ...
Problems with roof above a cathedral ceiling5/20/2007
  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 ...
hail damaged 3 tab shingles5/20/2007
  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 ...
Problems with roof above a cathedral ceiling5/19/2007
  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 ...
Ridge vents5/19/2007
  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 ...
no drip edge at front eave5/17/2007
  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. ...
Popping noise5/16/2007
  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 ...
Roof Drip Guad5/15/2007
  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 ...
Modified Bitumen flat roof5/14/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
Henry low slope self-adhesive roll roofing5/12/2007
  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 ...
roof, Flashing missing, building felt not to teh edge5/11/2007
  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 ...
Asphalt shingles5/11/2007
  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 ...
Code on wood shake & ice/water shield5/10/2007
  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 ...
Asphalt shingles5/10/2007
  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 ...
porch roof5/9/2007
  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 ...
Asphalt roofing5/9/2007
  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 ...
attic ventilation/ridge vent5/8/2007
  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 ...
shingles buckling5/8/2007
  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 ...
Granular Spray Roof Coating Over Asphalt5/7/2007
  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 ...
tile roof5/7/2007
  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 ...
shingles buckling5/5/2007
  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 ...
moisture lap5/4/2007
  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 ...
raising a flat roof5/4/2007
  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' ...
venting low sloped cathedral ceiling5/4/2007
  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 ...
Slate Look-alike5/3/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Concerned about new roof installation quailty5/2/2007
  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 ...
sheathing delamination5/1/2007
  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 ...
Unsupported roof overhang4/30/2007
  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 ...
GAF Liberty system vs rubber roof4/28/2007
  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 ...
roof and house ventilation4/28/2007
  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 ...
leaking roof4/27/2007
  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 ...
Competing quotes4/27/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
A deck on a roof4/26/2007
  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 ...
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. ...
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 ...
A deck on a roof4/24/2007
  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 ...
torch applied bitumen vs elt & modified rubberized4/24/2007
  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 ...
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 ...
torch down vs paint on waterproofing4/23/2007
  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 ...
Dead flat roof addition4/20/2007
  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 ...
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, ...
No vents4/18/2007
  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 ...
replacing a rolled roof4/18/2007
  Q: I live in South Florida and have replaced portions of my