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