| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| Asphalt/fiberglass shingle installation | 10/8/2008 |
Q: I believe that shingles require the heat from the sun to activate the adhesive that 'glues' each ...
A: Fred, You are right regarding sun activation of the adhesive self-sealing strip on the shingles. ...
|
| tile roof attic insulation | 10/7/2008 |
Q: Ron, we have a brick home built in 1919 with a clay tile roof. Our attic is not insulated. There ...
A: Allen, The solid foam, if sprayed in place, as opposed to a foam board is likely quoted at an ...
|
| low pitch back dormer roof | 10/2/2008 |
Q: Need re-roofing in mid Oct 08 and got 3 quotes for my cape cod house in Fairfield, Connecticut. The ...
A: Sue, To give you a quick, simple answer based on my experience and the typical situation (without ...
|
| Asphalt Shingles | 9/25/2008 |
Q: We live in Idaho and are getting ready to hire someone to do the roof on our new house. We have ...
A: Kristi, Quality is in part determined by the type of shingle you select, meaning either the standard ...
|
| flat pitched roof on cabin | 9/24/2008 |
Q: I have a cabin in Northern Minnesota not far from International Falls (often the coldest city in the ...
A: Susan, Overlaying the old roofing is not a bad idea if the old roof does not have wet materials ...
|
| Blown-in Attic Insulation / Spanish Tile Roof | 9/22/2008 |
Q: I am planning on having insulation blown-in to my attic in my 90 year-old home in Southwestern ...
A: John, I'd tell you if you have no condensation issues now, 75% of the time you'll be OK after adding ...
|
| roofing | 8/6/2008 |
Q: We have covered patio with a rubber roof. Our second story master bedroom has doors to walk out on ...
A: Paula, If you have enough step down clearance at the door and the deck can support the extra weight, ...
|
| Newly install comp roofing | 8/5/2008 |
Q: I had my shake roof removed in March 2008 and a local contractor sheeted over the skip lap with 3/8" ...
A: Chuck, By 40 year comp I assume you are referring to 40 yr composition shingles (i.e., heavy ...
|
| roof replacement | 8/4/2008 |
Q: I'm educating myself on roofing. How much time should I expect a contractor to spend laying a square ...
A: Chuck, Not as easy of a question to answer as it might seem because a contractor is not laying just ...
|
| which kind of roof get | 7/31/2008 |
Q: I am needing to replace my roof,I am on a budget and wondered which kind of roof might be less ...
A: Lori, As for initial cost of installation, standard three-tab shingles will be the least expensive ...
|
| chimney hight and roo | 7/28/2008 |
Q: We need to replace our roof and are thinking of giving it a higher (considerably) pitch. I ...
A: Lisa, A good general contractor should know the Residential Building Code requirements related to ...
|
| 3rd layer | 7/23/2008 |
Q: when adding a third layer of three tab shingles do U need to paper also
A: Paul, Per building codes, a 3rd layer of shingles in prohibited. So, legally you can't install three ...
|
| hot mop tar and gravel v. blowtorch | 7/10/2008 |
Q: A tall Monterey Pine fell on my 92-yr old friend's house; she had a heart attack when it hit and I'm ...
A: Bryan My suggestion would be to use a modified bitumen roof system. This system incorporates (or ...
|
| nearly flat composition shingle roof leak | 7/9/2008 |
Q: I have a low slope (nearly flat) roof over my dining room. It had a bad leak for a long time and ...
A: Tim, If you have a nearly flat roof you really need to install a flat roof system, like a modified ...
|
| Replacing Dimensional Shingles | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I live in Hockessin, DE. My home is a Cape Cod but is only 18 years old and I am now in need of a ...
A: Jay, I'll try to address in the order you list except I'll start by telling you that GAF Timberline ...
|
| Owen Corning Duration vs. Duration Premium | 7/2/2008 |
Q: Any thoughts on Owen Corning Duration or Duration Premium Shingles? We plan to stay in our home for ...
A: Kris, The primary difference is the thickness of the shingle which allows it to theoretically last ...
|
| Ridge vents and neoprene boots | 7/1/2008 |
Q: My home had Cobra II ridge vents installed in 2001 and I have a real problem with the leaves in y ...
A: Barbara, Unfortunately the roof boots and vents do not come with a warranty to protect against the ...
|
| Pookie | 6/20/2008 |
Q: What's pookie?
A: Robin, I'm guessing you've had a roofer out to look at a repair or problem (??) and he told you that ...
|
| clogged valleys tile residential in Olympia WA | 6/19/2008 |
Q: Our concrete tile roofed house is "nestled in the woods" so gets a lot of maple seeds clogging the ...
A: Bob, Sorry about some of the typos, etc. Sometimes the mind runs faster than the fingers on the ...
|
| roof | 6/18/2008 |
Q: can i put plywood over shingles?
A: Richard, I'm guessing you are asking this question because you might have some bad decking ...
|
| laminate shingles | 6/17/2008 |
Q: I live in TN. are there any shingle manufactors that make a 20yr laminate shingle?
A: James, I don't believe you'll find a 20-year laminate shingle --- they'll be warrranteed for a ...
|
| roof tear off | 6/16/2008 |
Q: I have a question regarding a roof tear off with previous cedar roofing. One estimate told me they ...
A: Gina, I can't really answer this one positively without seeing the conditions but I will try to ...
|
| roof repair or full replacement | 6/12/2008 |
Q: My location is Kinnelon, NJ (north Jersey) and the house has a hot tar with white stone roof. It had ...
A: Carmen, Yes, the areas of rotted deck can be cut out, new deck nailed in place and 2 or 3 plies of ...
|
| flat roof application | 6/11/2008 |
Q: We recently purchased a home where there was an extension attached to the home. My inspector looked ...
A: Stay away from the roofer who wants to torch the membrane over the shingles. I would strongly ...
|
| Roof replacement | 6/10/2008 |
Q: How can we tell if our roof is needing replacement? The shingles are about 18 years old and looking ...
A: Angie, There are 2 or 3 key indicators that you are approaching the end of a relatively trouble free ...
|
| roof repair or full replacement | 6/9/2008 |
Q: My location is Kinnelon, NJ (north Jersey) and the house has a hot tar with white stone roof. It had ...
A: Carmen, If the soft spots are indeed areas of rottig wood deck, depending on the size of the roof ...
|
| Flat Roof Re-Roof | 6/6/2008 |
Q: I live in eastern Kansas. I have an add-on room over my one-car garage, probably built in the ...
A: Michelle, It sounds like both roofers are offering to install a modified bitumen roof, which can ...
|
| metal roof | 5/29/2008 |
Q: I have a 12x12 low pitch roof on a 3-season porch with what I believe to be a black "tar paper". I ...
A: Russ, All quality metal roofs have some sort of raised seam or corrugation. A flat metal sheet with ...
|
| roof felt | 5/28/2008 |
Q: I live in north Texas and am needing a new roof after a hail storm. A roofer that I spoke with ...
A: Susan, The existing felt underlayment rather easily comes off with the shingles. As a matter of ...
|
| Shed roof | 5/27/2008 |
Q: I have a storage building made of PVC panels. The roof is also PVC panels. The roof leaks, ...
A: Joe, I think I'm familiar with the type of storage building you are referring to - 8x8, 10 or 12 ...
|
| Biological growth on asphalt roof shingles | 5/22/2008 |
Q: What is the best way to remove biological growth that is occurring on asphalt roof shingles. Is ...
A: Bill, First of all, the mildew on shingles in not really harmful to the shingles. It is just ugly. ...
|
| re-roof modified bitumen over spray polyurethane foam | 5/14/2008 |
Q: I have a 60 year old home in the southwest with a 15 year old spray polyurethane foam roof that is ...
A: Sarah, The first step would be to determine if the existing foam roof contains any entrapped water, ...
|
| Archetectual Shingles . | 5/8/2008 |
Q: Spacing ? I have installed conventional 3 tab shingles but when looking at Archetectual shingles ...
A: Mickey, With architectural shingles, without the cut-outs between tabs like a tabbed shingle to help ...
|
| Painting over or recoating tar roof | 5/7/2008 |
Q: we have a flat, black tar covered roof over our screened in sunroom/porch, it gets so hot in the ...
A: Charity, You can get some minor relief by applying a white elastomeric roof coating over a cleaned, ...
|
| replacing tar and rock roof with shingle roof | 4/30/2008 |
Q: What alternatives are available instead of reroofing with rock and tar for an older home ( 50 years ...
A: Steve, As for low-slope roof replacement option, you could remove the gravel surface roof (or just ...
|
| Leaking from pipes going to the roof | 4/29/2008 |
Q: We are having a leak from our roof, and it appears to be coming down some of the vent pipes and out ...
A: Myke, If the vent pipe flashing is faulty, rainwater will run down the outside wall of the pipe and ...
|
| Furring between roof deck for ventilation | 4/17/2008 |
Q: I have a 115 y.o victorian with a huge cathedral ceiling 3rd. floor that was finished w/ insulation ...
A: Nat, You're heading in the right direction. The furring is intended primarily as a spacer so if ...
|
| edpm and insulation | 4/16/2008 |
Q: What insulation products are avalible to install on top of a tin roof before applying edpm roofing. ...
A: Rick, The most common type of insulation used with EPDM is rigid board polyisocyanurate with an aged ...
|
| trouble finding source of leaks | 4/11/2008 |
Q: We are having a terrible time finding the source of two leaks in our home. We live in the Kansas ...
A: Stacey, Without seeing your situation firsthand this is a little hard to address. Since you only ...
|
| Class Action Lawsuit | 4/9/2008 |
Q: Should I be deterred by the class action lawsuit against Owens Corning for their roofing products? ...
A: Joanna, I'm not readily familiar with the OC MiraVista synthetic shake/slate issues other than to ...
|
| roof type? | 3/31/2008 |
Q: We have a roof that needs to be replaced. It is a hotel and it’s in the White Mountains of New ...
A: Randy, Many may disagree with me but with a 2% slope (1/4-inch in 12 inches) in snow/ice country I ...
|
| different thicknesses for 30# felt | 3/28/2008 |
Q: I have bought 30# felt in a thick (older style?) and thin, which seems more like 15#. The lumber ...
A: Phil, It may be that your "thinner" #30 felt underlayment is fiberglass reinforced as opposed to a ...
|
| No soffit vents | 3/25/2008 |
Q: My house is a 30 year old colonial in No. VA. This model did not have soffit vents under the eaves ...
A: Bernie, Regarding whether or not you have enough ventilation, I can't really answer that without ...
|
| low slope porch rehab. | 3/21/2008 |
Q: I am rehabing an 'L' shaped porch on an old Victorian. The corner of the 'L' has a bumped out ...
A: Mike, To answer your questions: 1) The use of peel & stick is not a bad idea. I assume the rubber ...
|
| Tar and Gravel roof | 3/20/2008 |
Q: I have a shopping center in North Tx that has a flat roof with tar and gravel.The roof is only ...
A: Kelly, Assuming the roof is actually a typical built-up roof of layers of asphalt, roofing felts, ...
|
| leaking addition | 3/12/2008 |
Q: We have the new tin roof with the ridges,this summer we put on an addition for a bedroom, I could ...
A: Michael, Unfortunately, 1-2 inch lap is not enough even on a steeply sloped roof. I'm assuming at ...
|
| shingles on unvented space | 3/11/2008 |
Q: I'm having the shingles replaced on my house. I want to use architectural shingles. The contractor ...
A: Mark, The contractor is partially correct. You can obtain the standard shingle warranty from Elk or ...
|
| Hydroseal roofing | 3/10/2008 |
Q: We are in a town house condo. Flat roofs, 63 buildings,wood frame, roughly 4000 sq ft each. Now have ...
A: Chuck, The coatings are typically a fast application, low cost roof installation. They can be good ...
|
| Tar & Gravel flat roof | 3/5/2008 |
Q: A 2000 sq ft flat roof on an apartment. On my flat tar & gravel roof I notice water is ponding ...
A: Don, The rule of thumb is water should be drained from the roof within 48 hours after the water ...
|
| ice and water installation | 3/4/2008 |
Q: I have installed ice and water horizontally and vertically the question i have is when installing ...
A: Bill, The only liner that needs to be peeled off is on the underside of the ice & water shield ...
|
| Copper Flashing @ Chimney | 2/19/2008 |
Q: I prefer to use copper flashing around the chimney. I couldn't find more details in any roofing ...
A: Sean, I'd suggest you start by reviewing the p. 351-352 of the Steep Roofing Manual from the ...
|
| Leak at vent pipe | 2/15/2008 |
Q: Ron, I know I have a leak at a vent pipe. The seal is split and water runs down the wall of the ...
A: Dave, This has become a fairly common question that we've answered a few times in the past. There ...
|
| Ice and water shield | 2/14/2008 |
Q: Ron, HELP. I have a building that is real bad with ice damming. It has no overhang. In one ...
A: Joe, I'm assuming we are talking about a steep slope roof here. I'm no lawyer but in my opinion the ...
|
| Leaking Vent pipe | 1/31/2008 |
Q: When we get rain (usually heavier rain) water drips into the laundry room from the venting pipe that ...
A: Nella, Any vent through the roof other than a plumbing/sanitary vent pipe should have a rain hood ...
|
| Shingles over modified bitumen roof | 1/10/2008 |
Q: I had a torch down roof installed on an addition to my house in NJ. I wasn't the best job. Certain ...
A: The shingles would be for improved finished/surface appearance only. They would not provide the ...
|
| Reroofing with architectural shingles | 1/9/2008 |
Q: I am replacing the shingles on my roof this spring. It will be my first time roofing with ...
A: Zach, The installation of architectural shingles is very similar to 3-tab shingle installation with ...
|
| Shingles over modified bitumen roof | 1/8/2008 |
Q: I had a torch down roof installed on an addition to my house in NJ. I wasn't the best job. Certain ...
A: Rich, First you need to be sure the roof slope is appropriate for shingles so that other problems ...
|
| ice damming | 12/13/2007 |
Q: We recently replaced our cedar shake roof with a 40 year dimensional shingle and added many sofit ...
A: Laura, You are correct in that ridge vents will not work when covered with snow. And, reducing the ...
|
| Leak | 12/12/2007 |
Q: We have a leak along the wall where our main roof changes slope onto an enclosed Florida room. Both ...
A: John, The shingles may be cracking or splitting at the slope transition and allowing water to get ...
|
| 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: Katie, I am sorry to hear of your problem. First, if you've not already done so, check with your ...
|
| Installation of roof | 12/4/2007 |
Q: I live near Hartford, CT On November 21, 2007, a roofer showed up to install one third of the front ...
A: Martha, The concern will be the moisture that might be trapped between the plywood sheathing and the ...
|
| roof leak | 12/3/2007 |
Q: I'll do my best to describe the problem. My home was built 2.5 years ago. The roof over my master ...
A: Mike, I'm not sure I have an exact mental picture of the layout you describe, but I do think I have ...
|
| Modified Bit Roof | 11/7/2007 |
Q: For our low pitch roof on our home, we are trying to choose between a self-adhered 3-ply ...
A: Julia, The self-adhered mod bit products are a newer technology and a little less proven, although ...
|
| Repair or replace - mildly warped plywood | 11/6/2007 |
Q: Asphalt shingle roof - 3 years old - near Nashville Tennessee. For whatever reason, two pieces of ...
A: The best approach to resecure the plywood is shingle removal to expose the plywood, renail and patch ...
|
| popping noise (like hail) on roof | 11/5/2007 |
Q: Ron: I am a Board member for our homeowner's association, and I got this report from a lady in our ...
A: Paul, The 50-year Presidential shingle is heavier than a standard 3-tab shingle. So, depending on ...
|
| Nails through shingles | 11/1/2007 |
Q: I have a couple of shingles where the nail has punched up through the single. What is the best way ...
A: Marcus, There are various repairs you could employ but my suggestion for east of repair and ...
|
| Torch Down Installation | 10/18/2007 |
Q: I live in the Mountains of California and I have built a covered patio on the back of my house. I ...
A: Joshua, Torch application of modified bitumen roofing requires care for obvious reasons. Before ...
|
| Low Slope Roofing | 10/15/2007 |
Q: I've had 3 different answers to this question from various roofing professionals. What is the best ...
A: Eileen, If the roof is less than 2:12 slope (i.e., 2 inch rise in 12 inch horizontal run), shingles ...
|
| Upper roof draining onto lower roof | 10/10/2007 |
Q: We are in Colorado(arid climate, with a few significant rainstorms every year, and snow) have a ...
A: Mark, A pretty picture on paper (architectural) does not always make for the most functional and ...
|
| Low Slope 2/12 Ventilation | 10/9/2007 |
Q: (Originally Brad's question/post but cannot reply as message says he's not accepting new questions ...
A: Scott, Sorry to hear of such problems. The primary cause of the roof leakage is likely not ...
|
| elastomeric roofing systems | 10/4/2007 |
Q: I have a gabled roof with a low slope (12 by 6-ish). I recently had a contractor roll on a ...
A: Hal, It is near impossible to remove all rock from a built-up roof to allow for a smooth surface for ...
|
| Old comp roof shingles | 10/3/2007 |
Q: Are there any manufactures of the old style, early 1920s asphalt shingle patterns? Specifically, ...
A: Chris, Specialty shingles account for only 2% or so of the overall shingle market. Therefore, ...
|
| Prep work | 10/2/2007 |
Q: I live in Flat Rock, MI (southeastern part of MI) and have a steep roof which is in need of ...
A: Paula, The existing roofing should be torn off down to the wood deck, the deck inspected for any rot ...
|
| metal roof flashing around chimney | 9/28/2007 |
Q: We are installing metal roofing, and wondered about flashing around the 10 inch diameter insulated ...
A: Depending on how well the chimney flue is insulated the 275 degree boot may do, but without being ...
|
| asbesto shingles on roof | 9/27/2007 |
Q: I have been renting an older house for 2 yrs and the roof has been leaking in my sons room for the ...
A: Pamela, The is very, very, very little chance the in-place asbestos shingles are causing any ...
|
| Attic Vents | 9/25/2007 |
Q: I am building a southwestern type house and i have a low-sloped (2/12) rubber roof with parapet ...
A: Billy, Typically with low-slope roofs there is no venting of "attic" space because for all intents ...
|
| too many layers | 9/24/2007 |
Q: I'm a painting contractor and while painting a customer's (and friend's) house, I realized that ...
A: Tim, It's hard to answer this question without more information, but I'll give it a shot. As for ...
|
| Asphalt Shingles | 9/13/2007 |
Q: How do 30 year New Horizon Dimensional shingles from Certainteed compare with 30 year Heritage ...
A: Mark, From a quality standpoint, I'd consider the shingles essentially the same. The appearance of ...
|
| vent flashing for metalroof | 9/12/2007 |
Q: how woulI flash around a vent pipe when installing a metal roof on a 4-12 pitch roof>d
A: Jim, My suggestion would be to use a rubberized boot from Dektite or similar: ...
|
| weight of old flat roof | 9/11/2007 |
Q: I am located in Fairfield, NJ. I am ignorant when it comes to building/roof construction, but I need ...
A: Moses, Without gravel surfacing on the roof you can safely assume about 2 pounds per square foot, or ...
|
| Water under cement tiles | 9/5/2007 |
Q: I bought a brand new home in the Southern California desert. During the first rain I noticed that ...
A: Joshua, Proper tile installation with proper flashing prevents water from getting under the tile to ...
|
| Tying in a metal roof to an asphalt shingle roof | 9/4/2007 |
Q: My wife and I are planning on enclosing our deck and turning it into a screen porch. We are forced ...
A: Matt, You'll have to remove some of existing shingles to make the tie-in watertight and then ...
|
| Ridge Vent | 8/31/2007 |
Q: Im planning to replace my old wood shingle to 50 years elk shingles. Im a bit confused about ...
A: Dwight, I'm not sure I understand the term "simpson" vent. In any case, it is recommended that you ...
|
| roofing | 8/30/2007 |
Q: We are selling our home built in the 50's there was a add on this house before we bought it. The ...
A: Lori, To answer your question, no, the siding is not a code violation. The building code at the ...
|
| How many shingles?? | 8/28/2007 |
Q: I ordered a new shed, and it is to be build at my home. They will be more than happy to use the ...
A: Diane, There are typically 24 to 26 shingles in a bundle and typically 3 bundles cover 100 SF of ...
|
| rolled roof repair | 8/15/2007 |
Q: I am a homeowner with a rolled roof problem. The roof is a sloped roof (although slight) rolled ...
A: Leticia, YOUr bet bet may be to upgrade the type of elastomeric coating to be used. My suggestion ...
|
| Hip roof repair | 8/14/2007 |
Q: I have an old garage that was built in the late 20s that has a hip roof. I love the style of this ...
A: DP, If the damaged boards are in the framing of the roof structure you may have to temporarily ...
|
| Attic Ventilation w/ fan and no soffits | 8/9/2007 |
Q: I live in a 1920's brick Tudor whose roof line is incredibly steep. The house is located in Niagara ...
A: Michael, Ideally you need soffit air intakes. However, if you can't create soffit intakes, you can ...
|
| Ice/Water Shield | 6/6/2007 |
Q: I'm replacing a roof soon and I have used the Ice/Water shield in the past but want to make sure ...
A: Paul, The Ice/Water Shield peel and stick type of underlayments can be installed either atop felt ...
|
| Aluminum vs. copper flashing, ridge cap | 6/5/2007 |
Q: I collecting estimates for repairing a slate roof on a house built in 1870 in Massachusetts. The ...
A: Warren, Copper is the recommended and more durable material, and of course more expensive. It is ...
|
| comp shingle on low slope roof | 6/4/2007 |
Q: is there an mfr of comp shingles that will allow and guaranty a roof at 1.5:12 slope?
A: Kal, I don't believe you'll find anyone who will warranty at less than 2:12 slope. However, if you ...
|
| Insurance cancelled because of roof age | 5/31/2007 |
Q: I have a 16 year old architectural shingle roof. I've just been informed that my homeowner ...
A: Fred, Gotta love insurance! What a stinking racket! Apparently, some/many insurers in Florida have ...
|
| Leaking pipe through roof | 5/30/2007 |
Q: I have 4 vent pipes through my roof that are leaking. My contractor says the pipe boots need to be ...
A: Gary, This has become a common question. Yes, there is something else you can do that is very ...
|
| Replacing 3 tab singles with new style shingles? | 5/25/2007 |
Q: Our house is in Virginia. I am adding an addition to our house and will be tieing into the existing ...
A: Tim, If you are going to overlay the old roof with the new shingles, brand mixing does not matter. ...
|
| Replacing 3 tab singles with new style shingles? | 5/24/2007 |
Q: Our house is in Virginia. I am adding an addition to our house and will be tieing into the existing ...
A: Tim, If you do not want to remove the old shingles, you can install the new shingles directly over ...
|
| Cor-A-Vent X-5 Ridge Vent | 5/18/2007 |
Q: I am considering putting on the subject ridge vent because I live in an area with much high wind and ...
A: Steve, I have no firsthand experience with this vent. I can see where, over time, the vent flap ...
|
| Decra roofing | 5/15/2007 |
Q: My husband and I have a 9 yr. old cape in northern maine and have had problems with our roof for the ...
A: Trisha, I'm based in the SE US so I'm not familiar with the prominence of Decra products in the NE. ...
|
| tar roofs | 4/24/2007 |
Q: There is a silver paint on the tar roof on our condo. I was told it helps to deflect the sun's ray ...
A: David, The silver paint you see is most likely an aluminized coating applied to the roof surface to ...
|
| Torch down vs other paint on sealants | 4/23/2007 |
Q: Ron, as part of a project to put a pool in our yard , we are tearing out elevated deck.....the new ...
A: Rick, If you have a waterproofing coating system applied (i.e., Sealoflex or HydroStop) make sure ...
|
| "Cotswald" type wavy roof with asphalt shingles | 4/17/2007 |
Q: How is the wave put into the sheathing to imitate a wavy roof with asphalt shingles. Does this wave ...
A: Dan, I'm not sure I fully understand your question but I'll take a stab at it. I assume the wave ...
|
| room pitch for addition | 4/12/2007 |
Q: We want to add on to an 84' x 27' ranch style house built in the mid-60s that runs east/west and has ...
A: Cindi, Oh boy. You can install a higher pitch on the master suite end with no problem. I would ...
|
| extention of my roof | 4/3/2007 |
Q: how do extend a roof on my work shed and pitch so i get drainage instead of having a flat add-on
A: Charles, The answer to your questions depends in part on the configuration of your existing work ...
|
| Improving wind resistance | 3/30/2007 |
Q: I live in Florida panhandle, you know hurricanes and all. My roof is a walkable slope. Is there ...
A: Jacob, Because properly nailing the the primary factor in wind resistance, hopefully your shingles ...
|
| Rain on roof | 3/29/2007 |
Q: Does a shingle wear out on a lower roof faster with additional water from an upper roof dumping onto ...
A: Dan, The wear and tear on an asphalt shingle from rainwater flow is minimal compared to the effects ...
|
| Leaking Aluminum Sunroon roof | 3/28/2007 |
Q: My sunroom is leaking, and the roofing contractor says the only thing he can do is caulk the seams. ...
A: Audrey, An aluminum panel roof may not support a lot of weight, depending on its span and how it is ...
|
| Ridge Vent-Cobra | 3/27/2007 |
Q: I wanted to get ridge vent installed? I was going to use Ridge Vent II. Is that the most practical? ...
A: Joe. Cobra Ridge Vent II is a fine ridge vent meeting all my recommendations for a proper ridge ...
|
| A lining a doublewide | 3/26/2007 |
Q: Hey guys..I was searching far and wide on the internet for some answers to questions and you guys ...
A: Jules, The structural strength of the roof and wall support system of the doublewide is the big ...
|
| roofing | 3/23/2007 |
Q: I am about to put on a low slope porch with a 1/4 inch pitch per foot and would like to use epdm. ...
A: Fred, Asphalt and EPDM are not readily compatible. There could be some long-term effects that ...
|
| Architectural shingles | 3/22/2007 |
Q: We have a two story home that needs a new roof. The current roof is standard shingles, I belive ...
A: Leslie, This question comes up regularly, and here is my opinion. There are advangages to ...
|
| drip edge for shingle roof | 3/21/2007 |
Q: I'm trying to save some money. My roofer wants to install drip edge around the perimeter of my ...
A: Jack, The drip edge is a good idea but since you already have aluminum clad fascia, drip edge is ...
|
| Geodesic Dome Roof | 3/20/2007 |
Q: Can I use the non-vented method to re-roof my 45' dia. 3/8's dome? I used 2x6 framing with 1/2" ...
A: Phil, Some roof constructions do not accommodate venting and aren't intended to be vented, and yours ...
|
| NEW FLAT ROOF | 3/16/2007 |
Q: I am about to buy a 4000 sqft (50' x 80') warehouse with a flat roof. My plan is to re-roof ...
A: Simon, I'm not going to be much help on pricing the roof. Today, prices are all over the board and ...
|
| Fiberglass roof | 3/13/2007 |
Q: I have just bought a house in St Petersburg, Fl and the roof is a low pitch with made from ...
A: Russ, The cracking sounds you are hearing are most likely from the heating and cooling of the roof ...
|
| Question on Quality surveys | 3/12/2007 |
Q: Im looking for information on Quality surveys about ridge vents (Power vents, turbines etc) Id like ...
A: Enrique, I'm not aware of any independent, comprehensive comparative ridge vent surveys or studies. ...
|
| Timberline shingles | 3/9/2007 |
Q: What's your opinion of Timberline shingles. Good, bad? We need to reroof our house and are looking ...
A: Sandy, I like GAF's Timberline shingles. I've installed the 30-year Timberline on my home in the ...
|
| Low Pitch re-roof and ventilation concerns | 2/28/2007 |
Q: My roof is divided into 2 sections - one with a 2/12 pitch and the other with a 3/12 pitch. ...
A: Bryan, There is a lot that can be discussed here but I'll try to keep it as short as I can. ...
|
| Roof leaks | 2/26/2007 |
Q: Our has a flat roof but it has sufficient slope. the problems arise due to walls on one side of the ...
A: Uday, Your contractor appears to be taking a proper approach to direct the water away from the wall. ...
|
| frost build up in my attic | 2/20/2007 |
Q: I just had my roof replaced in September. The contractor put down roofing paper (not sure of the ...
A: Mark, It's as though the problem is related to attic ventilation. Does the house have a ridge vent ...
|
| Flat roof replacement | 2/15/2007 |
Q: We need to replace a flat roof due to the age of the roof, problems w/ leaks and pooling areas. The ...
A: Becky, For your situation, I would suggest the modified bitumen roof. There is an outstandingdoes ...
|
| Ventilation of flat roof | 2/14/2007 |
Q: I've got a flat roof addition that ties into the lower end of a sloped roof on my house. Do I have ...
A: Code requires ventilation of all residential roofs. And, this requires air movement from low point ...
|
| Leaking roof | 2/12/2007 |
Q: We replaced our shingle roof about 10 years ago. Every time it rains, the ceiling gets wet where ...
A: Gary, I've had a similar question once or twice in the past. My initial thoughts would be that the ...
|
| Ridge vent | 2/12/2007 |
Q: We recently purchased ranch style house in Georgia we need to replace the roof. There isn't a lot of ...
A: Jane, I would suggest having the ridge vent installed to work in conjunction with the soffit vents. ...
|
| Best Ridge Vent? | 2/8/2007 |
Q: What's the best type of ridge vent - a rolled on vent, metal vent or plastic?
A: Mark, The roll vent product and a molded polyethylene (plastic)vent are both shingled over with ...
|
| proper way to lay felt for shingles | 1/25/2007 |
Q: Whats the proper way to lay the felt under the shingles on a house?
A: Steve, I'm going to cheat and just cut and paste an answer from a similar some time ago. On the ...
|
| Roofing | 1/25/2007 |
Q: I have a 50+ year old office with aleakig old ruuber roof, what is the best economic solution for ...
A: Bob, The lowest initial cost alternative is typically going to be a new EPDM (black rubber) roof, ...
|
| new roof | 1/24/2007 |
Q: I live in New Jersey. The temp here is below freezing and most days are very windy. Is it wise to ...
A: Gary, I'm going to assume you are referring to an asphalt single roof. If not, let me know and I'll ...
|
| plywood decking | 1/22/2007 |
Q: We were called back out to look into and fix what appeared to be wrinkled felt. When we pulled the ...
A: Joseph, The roof deck sheathing should be installed with approximately 1/8 gap to allow for ...
|
| roof supplies | 1/20/2007 |
Q: i would like to know how to determine how much roofing supplies (shingles, felt, nails, ect.) i ...
A: Karen, Yes, you use sq footage, with a common roofing term being "squares" of roofing. One square ...
|
| Installing drip edge on inside corner | 1/18/2007 |
Q: I recently added a patio cover and tied the roof into the breakfast bay's existing roof thats ...
A: Greg, You're taking the right approach with the "ice blocker" material but let me suggest you go to ...
|
| roof leak | 1/17/2007 |
Q: Sorry, I'm new to this. Our ceiling in the living room started showing a few brown circles by the ...
A: James, The leak is most likely in the valley area of the roof. If the valley was formed by ...
|
| Attic ventiation | 1/4/2007 |
Q: I live in a house that has a gable vents on both sides of the house and has a (approx.) 8x8 roof ...
A: Erik, Gable vents in conjunction with roof vents at the gables should be eliminated. This could ...
|
| roofing temperatures | 1/3/2007 |
Q: My inlaws house in Ohio needs a new roof. What would be the minimum temperature to put asphalt ...
A: Jay, If not in a dire situation, it would be best to wait until Spring to install the new roof ...
|
| really low slope roof | 1/1/2007 |
Q: garage roof 20' x 40' slopes left to right 8" in 20' has concrete block walls about 2 courses high ...
A: Larry, I'd suggest a modified bitumen roof. The material looks similar to roll roofing but it is ...
|
| Changing roof | 12/17/2006 |
Q: I am purchasing a home that is approximately 25 years old. Tha roofs are both needing to be ...
A: You can change the roof pitch by building over the existing but you do have to tie into the ...
|
| T-lock shingles | 11/27/2006 |
Q: I live in Rapid City, SD. My residential neighborhood consists almost entirely of houses whose ...
A: Ben, Check with IKO (Armour Lock shingle)at: ...
|
| torch on roof- layers needed | 11/21/2006 |
Q: I have had one roofer here in Vancouver say I would need 2 layers at least of torch on roofing... ...
A: Rob, For long-term durability and service I recommend a minimum of 2 layers. The first being a ...
|
| Roof Insulation | 11/20/2006 |
Q: This has been extremelly helpful, and I have two more questions to complete my install. I am ...
A: Michael, The reflective property of the Reflextix is intended to reflect heat in desired direction. ...
|
| Working on metal roofs | 11/20/2006 |
Q: I have a question about working safely on metal roofs. I have a 6/12 pitched roof that I need to ...
A: Mike, Ideally, you want/need to tie off with rope and harness. Admittedly, that is sometimes ...
|
| architectural roofing pattern/low slope ? | 11/17/2006 |
Q: Is there any pattern for laying Timberline 30's, or is it random? Also, I have a cape cod with a ...
A: Alan, The layout and detailed application instructionts for the Timberline shingle can be found on ...
|
| Uneven (and leaking) roof | 11/16/2006 |
Q: Unfortunately, the house is not new (about 20 years old actually) and the man that built it is long ...
A: Diane, Rafters should be not more than 24 inches on center and sheathing should be marked (rated) ...
|
| Uneven (and leaking) roof | 11/16/2006 |
Q: The man that built my house did a horrible job on the roof--it has a very slight pitch and it is NOT ...
A: Diane, I am really sorry to hear of your roof problem. Hopefully, the rest of the house was build ...
|
| Stove pipe through a metal roof. | 11/15/2006 |
Q: I'm installing a wood burning stove in my work shop. Can a double wall insulated stove pipe (Super ...
A: Richard, If you want to use a rubber boot, you'll need a high temperature boot and you'll need to ...
|
| Underlayment | 11/15/2006 |
Q: We are reroofing and are looking to see where we can save money and still have a good roof. Is ...
A: Martha, While some will promote that underlayment is not necessary and that shingles can be applied ...
|
| Shingle Roof Repair | 11/13/2006 |
Q: My parents have an old three tab shingle roof that is leaking at a transition to a lower slope porch ...
A: Steve, The roof may be aging out and in need of replacement; however, I realize that is not the ...
|
| metal roof | 11/9/2006 |
Q: Do you need to strip the old roofing off to install metal roofing? and Do you just put down the ...
A: Anita, Assuming you are speaking of either installing a new metal roof over an asphalt shingle roof ...
|
| Paper under shingles | 11/9/2006 |
Q: What type of paper and # of paper should be used under shingles for a 3:12 pitch roof. I was told I ...
A: Jeff, For a 3:12 slope you should have two layers of underlayment felt installed or one layer of ...
|
| selecting roofing for low pitch - most cost effective | 11/8/2006 |
Q: I have a low pitch (2:12, 3:12) roof in MN (snow/ice). To tear off and replace with shingles or ...
A: Heidi, First shingles really aren't recommended for a roof slope of 3:12 or less, though they are ...
|
| Roof Insulation | 11/8/2006 |
Q: I have an existing barn, that I am converting to a workshop. It has a metal roof with 2x6 ...
A: You would have to create an insulation cavity with an air space for free air flow from eave to peak, ...
|
| Tile Roof | 11/7/2006 |
Q: For proper installation,do tile roofs need a special type of tar/felt paper? If so why?
A: Sarah, Tile roofs can have varying underlayments placed on the wood deck prior to the roof tile ...
|
| bitumen roofing | 11/7/2006 |
Q: Is it still safe to have a bitumen roof installed during the next few days here in Peoria, IL. I ...
A: Maria, The temperature of the asphalt at the time of application is a key to the proper application ...
|
| Tile roof installation | 11/6/2006 |
Q: I live in the desert southwest where I am building a new home with a 6/12 cement tile pitched roof. ...
A: You're fine. There are several acceptable methods of underlayment under the tile. #30 felt and ...
|
| Cobra Roll Ridge Vent Install | 11/3/2006 |
Q: I am about to install Cobra Roll Ridge Vent on my home and have a few qestions. The package ...
A: Ethan, I would recommend starting the vent slot in the plywood sheathing for your ridge vent 3'-4' ...
|
| roofing ventilation | 11/2/2006 |
Q: Ron, I think I gave you wrong information in my first answer. We have not intermittent perforated ...
A: Marina, You only need to clear the path at the soffit vents to allow air from the soffit vents into ...
|
| roofing ventilation | 11/1/2006 |
Q: We had soffits with perforations (not continues) and 6 regular vents on roof of our house in ...
A: Marina, You do need a clear air flow path through the soffits and to the ridge vent for proper ...
|
| eyebrow window/dormer roofing solutions | 10/31/2006 |
Q: I have 3 eyebrow windows and looking for solutions to replace old copper. New copper is too ...
A: Tony, It would be best to roof a curved eyebrow with metal or a sheet material. However, you could ...
|
| roofing | 10/31/2006 |
Q: I'm getting a roof done on an old Victorian in N.J. I wanted just the sloped roof done,( poorly done ...
A: Ideally, it would be best to replace the flat roof with the sloped roof if the flat roof ties into ...
|
| Pipe through roof | 10/30/2006 |
Q: I have a pipe through my roof that is leaking. It runs through a black plastic base that is supposed ...
A: Jerry, This is a fairly common question. There is a simple repair for a torn seal at the pipe, as ...
|
| Repair a Hole in Shingle | 10/27/2006 |
Q: What is the best way to repair a hole in a shingle? The roof is in good shape. When I was cleaning ...
A: Taylor, You can repair holes by shooting sealant or roof cement down into the hole. Then slide a ...
|
| Shingle Nails | 10/27/2006 |
Q: We just had our house reroofed and the shingle nails stick out of the underside of the plywood in ...
A: Mitch, I've had a similar question before. Yes, per Building Code, the nails should be long enough ...
|
| rubber roof tear off | 10/26/2006 |
Q: I live in a 6 story 10 unit condo building in Boston. The roof is a flat slightly sloped EPDM rubber ...
A: Alan, Well as you know you have two differing opinions, and now you will get something in between. ...
|
| Valleys | 10/25/2006 |
Q: I am planning to replace my 3-tab roof with a new timberline roof due to a recent hailstorm. Some ...
A: Gary, Either method can work well, but personally I generally prefer the closed valley where the ...
|
| roof leak | 10/25/2006 |
Q: I have a home that is only 2 years old but unfortunately the home warranty expired. I noticed a ...
A: Jacky, If there is a turbine vent or other air exhaust type of vent near a gable louver vent, it is ...
|
| Mansard roof, ventilation and ridge vent | 10/24/2006 |
Q: I looking for improving my mansard roof's ventilation. I am not sure if the soffit have a clear ...
A: The mansard should have a clear path into the attic where the framing runs to a header; however, I ...
|
| Moss on a flat tar and gravel roof | 10/23/2006 |
Q: I have moss in some areas on a flat tar and gravel roof. It is difficult to remove manually and I do ...
A: You could put down a light spray of vegetation killer, spraying the moss surface only and not trying ...
|
| small attic space | 10/23/2006 |
Q: i live in new orleans, a very hot humid climate. i am in the process of designing my post katrina ...
A: Tim, It appears you are planning for a 3:12 slope which is OK for asphalt shingles and other steep ...
|
| Roof replacement | 10/19/2006 |
Q: I am considering replacing my cedar shake roof with something else. Is there a roofing system that ...
A: Dennis, The 1x4's are probably set for the shake installation based on slope, size of shake, and ...
|
| leak near chimney | 10/18/2006 |
Q: You have been helping me with my leaking roof but I can't seem to follow up on our previous ...
A: The leaves may have dammed water and caused the leakage and now that the leaves are gone, the leak ...
|
| reroof around vents | 10/18/2006 |
Q: When reroofing a second layer do you cover or not cover the bottom of the roof vents. They where ...
A: Jim, The vent boot flange on the downslope side is typically not covered with singles. The flange ...
|
| drip edge | 10/17/2006 |
Q: My husband built an addition onto our house. He hired some friends of our neighbor to put the ...
A: Angela, Not sure I picture this correctly but I'll try. If I do understand correctly, you think ...
|
| Walking on Corrugated Metal Roofs | 10/17/2006 |
Q: I plan to build a small house with a corrugated metal roof ata slope of approximately 3/12. i am ...
A: You should select minimum 24 gauge steel or 0.032-inch aluminum material for the roof panels. These ...
|
| water heater vent cap removal | 10/16/2006 |
Q: I'm putting a second layer of shingles on my home and need to remove the water heater vent cap in ...
A: Gordon, I'm not going to be much definitive help here. All I can tell you is look for tab or ...
|
| leak near chimney | 10/16/2006 |
Q: What type of person would be qualified to performe this work? I am assuming a roofer? Also, does ...
A: Unfortunately, the answer to this one is not easy. Roofers should know roofing but not necessarily ...
|
| leak near chimney | 10/13/2006 |
Q: We noticed last night that their is a leak near our chimney during a rain storm. What first caught ...
A: Jamey, The problem could be the sheet metal flashing at the chimney, deteriorated sealant on the ...
|
| Standard shingles vs. architectural shingles | 10/13/2006 |
Q: What are the advantages of architectural shingles? Are they worth the extra cost on a typical home? ...
A: Fred, Relatively common question so I'll refer to a previous answer. There are advangages to ...
|
| when and what it better: tear-off or reroof old shingles | 10/12/2006 |
Q: when and what it better: tear-off or reroof old shingles I have a roof of about 15 years old, some ...
A: You can install new shingles over existing but you miss out on a few things: 1) opportunity to ...
|
| Slate roofs | 10/10/2006 |
Q: I'm looking for some general information on slate roofs. I'm considering replacing my current slate ...
A: Peter, For starters you can review the slate roof section of the National Roofing Contractors Assoc ...
|
| Nailing shingles | 10/10/2006 |
Q: I'm having my shingles replaced with GAF timberline 30. I've noticed the nails are in the top half ...
A: Mike, The shingles are not being nailed properly. Grab a shingle wrapper and show your contractor ...
|
| Underlayment exposure | 10/2/2006 |
Q: One of the locak sub-divisions has had several buildings with felt and batts installed (for ...
A: Ralph, Different underlayment materials can be used under concrete tile. Sometimes the underlayment ...
|
| C-Profile Roof Edge Flashing for Low Slope Roof | 10/2/2006 |
Q: I have a six degree slope modified bitumen roof that is faced with 1 X 6 fascia boards. The top of ...
A: Kevin, This C-profile flashing is not a shelf item. It is a custom sheet metal shop fabrication ...
|
| Shingle Selection | 9/27/2006 |
Q: I have narrowed the shingle selection for my new roof to GAF Timberline and Elk Raised Profile. ...
A: To make sure we are on the same playing field, I'll assume you are speaking of the 30-year ...
|
| Chimney Leaking | 9/22/2006 |
Q: Water comes in my chimney. I have a chimney cap. What gives?
A: Tom, If the chimney cap is in place and you get water showing up inside the fireplace with no water ...
|
| asphalt roof | 9/20/2006 |
Q: When reroofing a house with asphalt shingles without removing the existing roof, is it necessary to ...
A: Mike, The answer is sort of 'yes'. That inverted shingle is intended to serve as a starter strip ...
|
| venting | 9/19/2006 |
Q: I have a roof that is almost 10 square witha low pitch 2/12. I have 2 pop up vents, one gable and 1 ...
A: Power vents can pull air through the gable vent you do have. Not an ideal situation but it will ...
|
| venting | 9/19/2006 |
Q: I have a roof that is almost 10 square witha low pitch 2/12. I have 2 pop up vents, one gable and 1 ...
A: Jim, This is not as simple of an answer and many folks want ti to be. You should have a balance of ...
|
| Ridge Line Vents | 9/18/2006 |
Q: Ron, Are Ridge Line vents a better alternative to the conventional vents builders put on homes. I ...
A: Derek, There are several adequate venting options: continuous ridge, power ventilators, individual ...
|
| Sky Light | 9/17/2006 |
Q: We have a 40 year old Sky light that the flat fiberglass panels are deteriorating,(25' x 6'). There ...
A: Bill, There are clear coat sealers for fiberglass skylights. The best thing to do would be check ...
|
| Roofing Felt: 15W or 30W | 9/17/2006 |
Q: I am getting ready to replace the asphalt shingles on my home. I will be using architectural ...
A: Jon, I'd recommend #30 felt underlayment in the field of the roof and the peel & stick shingle ...
|
| IKO Skyline shingle crackingq | 9/16/2006 |
Q: I have an 18 year old house that had to have BP shingles replaced after 10 years due to excessive ...
A: Shawn, I'm going to guess you are in Canada or the upper US, an area classified as a cold region. ...
|
| Flat roof repair | 9/16/2006 |
Q: I have a flat roof on the back half of my old brick house and 4 years ago I had a new roof with ...
A: Christina, In the layman's world there is not difference between hot asphalt and tar. The terms are ...
|
| Roofs | 9/15/2006 |
Q: I am doing environmental inspections for HUD residental housing. I am confused on the basic ...
A: Patty, For discussion purposes, I'll assume all your inspections involve asphalt shingle roofs. The ...
|
| Shingles falling off the roof | 9/15/2006 |
Q: I had my house built 2.5 years ago. We put on asphalt 3-tab shingles. The roof pitch is 12 x 12. ...
A: Jeramy, Sounds as though the roofing installer didn't install the shingles properly and per building ...
|
| ridge vents vs. electric vents | 9/14/2006 |
Q: I am having my roof replaced on my one level 1500 sq. foot home. My house is located near Charlotte, ...
A: Veronica, You could really go either way. I personally prefer the passive venting of the plastic ...
|
| roofing | 9/13/2006 |
Q: Do you need to prime the roofing material before torching it down to the structure?
A: Randy, Torch grade modified bitumen material is made so that the bottom side bitumen on the roll ...
|
| Felt roof | 9/10/2006 |
Q: i was wondering if you could help me out, basically i have a flat felt roof which is about 6 years ...
A: Barry, After only 6 years I doubt the roof problem is wear and tear. It is more likely subpar work. ...
|
| Roof Venting | 9/9/2006 |
Q: I have a 1958 colonial house in Michigan with a relatively low pitch roof. The upstairs has vaulted ...
A: Mark, If the space between the interior ceiling and the underside of the roof deck (i.e., the space ...
|
| preperation for new roof | 9/8/2006 |
Q: First of all thankyou for your time, I am doing my own roof for lack of funds to pay a roofing ...
A: Bill, Your 3:12 ptich is the borderline condition for applying shingles. Clean the deck as much as ...
|
| roofing | 9/8/2006 |
Q: im jack. I tried to repair my roof in miami with cold process roof cement but it doesn't work ...
A: Jack, The hot black stuff is heated asphalt. You need a small kettle to heat it to around 500 F ...
|
| drip edge on roll roof | 9/7/2006 |
Q: The contractor installed the drip edge on the top of the roll roofing,sealed and nailed it to the ...
A: At the drainage edge of a roof (eave), the drip edge metal should be installed under the roll ...
|
| roofing | 9/7/2006 |
Q: next question I have looked on the net(nrca) for what type of paper and # of paper for a 3:12 pitch ...
A: For a 3:12 slope you should have two layers of underlayment felt installed or one layer of peel and ...
|
| Ice Daming | 9/6/2006 |
Q: Can Ice Daming cause water to come in around replacement windows or windows that are built with ...
A: Jim, Ice daming could cause water damage to show at window heads and from there it may lead down the ...
|
| Roofing Shingles | 9/6/2006 |
Q: Which roofing manufacturer would you recommend for the 30 year architectural style shingle: Elk, ...
A: In general I'm a fan of Elk Prestique and GAF Timberline series architectural shingles. Tamko, ...
|
| Roof shingle color | 9/5/2006 |
Q: I think I already know the answer, but my daughter & son-in-law just had their house reroofed (they ...
A: Paul, Just like paint, the installed color of the roof will typically be more pronounced than the ...
|
| roofing | 9/4/2006 |
Q: I have been under contract for a reroof since dec of 05. the roof has tar paper,1/4 shingle which ...
A: Michael, I'm not really the one to answer your contract related questions, but to strengthen your ...
|
| Pipe vent flashing | 9/1/2006 |
Q: The seal on my pipe vent flashing is torn. I repaired it with sealant but it is leaking again. Can ...
A: Steve, Buy a new $5 flashing boot with a metal base at your local big box home impromvement store. ...
|
| Tin vs. Shingles | 9/1/2006 |
Q: Ron, We are buying an 1895 Victorian. It currently has shingles on the roof, but needs a new one. ...
A: Chris, In referring to a tin roof, I'm going to assume that means a V-crimp in which a raise "V" ...
|
| Metal Roofing | 8/31/2006 |
Q: Cost comparison: Which is the most difficult to install and most expensive, standing seam metal roof ...
A: John, The answer depends in part on the type of metal roof panel you want to install. A panel that ...
|
| overlay job - anything under the new shingles? | 8/31/2006 |
Q: I'm overlaying my 3 tab roof with new asphalt shingles (architectural type). Should I put anything ...
A: If you have no leaks in valley or roof to vertical surface intersection areas, then no need for ...
|
| adding a Sunroom to a L shaped house with hip roof | 8/30/2006 |
Q: My husband wants to add a sunroom to our house. We have a L-shaped hip roof home with the sunroom ...
A: Lesa, Your options are the lean-to or a flat roof. I would choose the lean-to. If the slope is ...
|
| 2nd Story Deck over Living area | 8/30/2006 |
Q: We are in the middle of a two story room addition in Southern Arizona (read HOT). This addition is ...
A: Lexa, Unfortunately you are dealing with a difficult situation, even if initially waterproofed. ...
|
| re-roofing 12x16' | 8/29/2006 |
Q: Ron, I have no experience roofing and my 13 yr old son has helped at a community service project ...
A: Mike, You and your son are to be commended for trying to do the roof 100% the right way. However, ...
|
| Roof Felt | 8/29/2006 |
Q: What are the advantages/disadvantages of using fiberglass felt instead of traditional felt under ...
A: Johnny, The preference is to use a coated felt (coated with asphalt) whether a fiberglass felt or an ...
|
| Proper roofing underlayment placement | 8/28/2006 |
Q: My roofer put down ice and water barrier along the eaves and rakes. Then he covered the rest of the ...
A: Joe, Sorry, but I do not see your email address unless you include in the question so I can only ...
|
| Replacing a metal roof | 8/28/2006 |
Q: Ron, What is the best way to replace a commercial metal roof, use a rubber sealer or replace metal ...
A: "Best" depends on the type and condition of the existing roof and the budget for doing the job. If ...
|
| Poor Quality roofing installation from Home Depot at Home Service | 8/27/2006 |
Q: When do you just give up on your contractor? After 11 months of nothing but troubles from the Home ...
A: Mr. Wenzel, I am really sorry you are having these troubles. You are not the first. I have heard ...
|
| roofs in florida | 8/25/2006 |
Q: Mr.Haynes, We live in a small condo (just 2 buildings)16 uintes. our building is 24yrs. old with ...
A: Patricia, Let me just provide some basic information and you take it from there. It is my ...
|
| Shingles - composite vs aspsalt fiberglass | 8/23/2006 |
Q: Our home was built in 1987 and have what I call the composite shingles. I want them replaced and was ...
A: Joanne, The Tamko Heritage architectural/laminated shingle is a fine shingle but there is nothing ...
|
| Metal roof severe ice daming | 8/22/2006 |
Q: 175500 sq ft commercial metal roof building has severe ice dams and leaks on North, and South sides. ...
A: Laurra, Ice daming is actually causef by a melting of snow over warmer or heated areas of the ...
|
| Bubbles in Mod Bitumen | 8/22/2006 |
Q: Ron:I'm a condo President of a 11 unit two story buliding with a 5 year old Modified Bitumen ...
A: The blisters, or voids, in the modified bitumen roof should not be "normal", but may be common for ...
|
| roof re-coating | 8/21/2006 |
Q: A month ago I had my roof re-coated with elastomeric roof coating. We've had alot of rain in the ...
A: Coating effectiveness relies on proper surface preparation. Any dirt, dust and loose materails ...
|
| ridge vent | 8/19/2006 |
Q: I would like to know which ridge vent you believe is better. The GAF Cobra or the old style auminum ...
A: Derek, Cobra has a roll vent product and a molded polyethylene vent, both of which are shingled over ...
|
| plywood over shiplap | 8/18/2006 |
Q: we have an older home,(hip roof with duroid shingles) built in the 40's, and have been told we need ...
A: Dan, If you have shingles on the plank deck now, shingles can be installed again. The primary ...
|
| roof valleys | 8/16/2006 |
Q: I have read that the ice and water shield deteriorates in the sun. In your recommended solution ...
A: Yes, the ice & watershield is covered by the finished work, either by shingles or by the valley ...
|
| valleys | 8/15/2006 |
Q: What is a better valley underlyment? The aluminum valley or the ice and water shield? Thank you.
A: For the typical home, I prefer the ice & watershield underlayment and a woven/laced shingle valley. ...
|
| 45 degree roof valley | 8/14/2006 |
Q: Ron, I have two roofs joined at a 45 degree angle, both coming off the front of the house. One roof ...
A: Dirk, I'm not sure I have a very clear picture of what you are describing, but let me try to help ...
|
| flat roof ventilation | 8/12/2006 |
Q: do i have to ventilate my flat roof at the soffit or can i include the cavity ventilation as enough ...
A: Gary, Code requires ventilation of all roofs. And, this requires air movement from low point ...
|
| Re-roofing a Flat Roof | 8/11/2006 |
Q: We are planning to re-roof a flat (low-slope) roof due to the age of the roof, problems w/ leaks and ...
A: Kim, For your situation, I would suggest the modified bitumen roof. There is an outstandingdoes the ...
|
| roofing ice/water shield | 8/9/2006 |
Q: I'm in the investigation stage of a roofing project. Some of the estimates I have received include ...
A: Ice & watershield is used in cold climates to combat the potential water build-up behind an ice dam ...
|
| Roofing felt damage due to rain | 8/7/2006 |
Q: My contractor took out the old shingles and put the new Roofing Felt on the plywood on Friday. He ...
A: The rain likely did not hurt the felt. However, the contractor should look for tears from any winds ...
|
| Peel and Stick under Tile | 8/5/2006 |
Q: I had a couple follow up questions. The tile situation right now can result in waits of up to 6 ...
A: If you're certain the tile availability is some time out, the mopped 90# may be the best option. ...
|
| Peel and Stick under Tile | 8/4/2006 |
Q: I live in South Florida and am getting a new roof due to damage from hurricane Wilma. We are ...
A: In my opinion, either method of underlayment is fine from a performance standpoint if installed ...
|
| Triplex tear-off cost & warranty transfer | 8/3/2006 |
Q: I have a 3 Family built in 1910 with a steep slope and hip roof. It needs a tear off of damp cedar ...
A: Larry, Regarding the warranty, it depends on the shingle manufacturer and what your contractor is ...
|
| tar paper on a shed | 8/2/2006 |
Q: I had a 10' L - 12' W by 10' high country manor style shed installed should the installer have used ...
A: David, It is always best to install tar paper underlayment before installing shingles because it ...
|
| Repairing Holes | 7/31/2006 |
Q: I recently had a directv satellite installed. Unfortunately, the installer decided to mount it to ...
A: First, buy the dish installer "Installing DirectTV Dishes for Dummies". The holes through the roof ...
|
| Metal Roofing (aluminum) | 7/31/2006 |
Q: I have a commercial building in Florida that has aluminum roofing. There are a couple of thousand ...
A: It is best to replace the screw with the new neoprene or EPDM rubber washer already on the screw. ...
|
| reroof installation | 7/26/2006 |
Q: I had 30 year shingles installed recently and a roof ridge put on, the work was completed in the ...
A: Jill, By 30-year shingle, I'm going to assume this is an architectural shingle as opposed to a ...
|
| Recomend skylight/flashing for low pitch roof | 7/26/2006 |
Q: A follow-up. You mentioned the use of a two-ply modified bitumen flashing. What is this and can you ...
A: Chris, The modified bitumen material is not available at the big box home improvement stores. The ...
|
| replace new roof or put 2nd roof on? | 7/25/2006 |
Q: My house/roof is less than 2 years old. It received hail damage this spring. Should I do a complete ...
A: Chuck, Boy, I'd sure check my homeowners insurance to see if the insurance is responsible for the ...
|
| Recomend skylight/flashing for low pitch roof | 7/25/2006 |
Q: I am remodeling my masterbath. Since it is small, I want to install a square skylight (Velux fcm ...
A: Chris, Ideally, the curb for the skylight should be built to a minimum 8 inches finished height ...
|
| felt on roof | 7/23/2006 |
Q: I live in Rio Rancho NM with high temperatures and high gusting winds. I am replacing my roof with ...
A: Terry, On the more common roof slopes of 4 inches per foot and more, the felt underlayment should be ...
|
| Peel and stick versus Torch down | 7/21/2006 |
Q: I have a flat tar and gravel roof with a little bit of slope. It is covering 1500 sq. ft. and the ...
A: Ian, Sounds like the existing roof did really well, 50 yr old!! There are peel & stick and torch ...
|
| valley shingling a 45 degree... | 7/21/2006 |
Q: I've been weaving the valleys that are 90 degrees to eachother just fine...but now I've run into a ...
A: If not starting at the valley eave in laying up the shingles and then working outward from the ...
|
| Bowed roof | 7/20/2006 |
Q: Last year my husband and I bought a "fixer-upper." When we had our inspector take a look at the ...
A: Hard to know exactly what the problem is without seeing. However, assuming the support joists were ...
|
| Metal roofing | 7/20/2006 |
Q: I am needing a new roof on a low-slope. I plan to go with the metal roofing, however I have two ...
A: If the shingles are going to remain in place, I would suggest elevating the metal on sleepers, or ...
|
| RE ROOFING | 7/19/2006 |
Q: I AM A REALTOR TRYING TO ADVISE MY CLIENT. THE HOME INSPECTOR SAYS IT IS AGAINST IBC SECTION 1510.3 ...
A: Rebecca, The home inspector is correct on this one. IBC 1510.3 (typically referenced for ...
|
| Flashing and patch job | 7/17/2006 |
Q: I had a new roof put on 13 months ago and the work was sub standard to say the least. The following ...
A: I'm really sorry to hear of your problems. Unfortunately there are too many bad roofers who also ...
|
| wide ridge vent | 7/10/2006 |
Q: approximately 3 years ago I built a house with a cathedrial ceiling. A double laminated beam was ...
A: Dan, I don't know that I have a really good answer for you because standard ridge vents are not made ...
|
| Nails | 6/21/2006 |
Q: We had another roof put on and the nails go through to the attic. This was not so with our other ...
A: Maria, Yes, per Building Code, the nails should be long enough to penetrate minimum 3/4-inch into ...
|
| Older roof | 6/21/2006 |
Q: My neighbor has a steep hip type roof that is approx. 18 years old and the shingles are looking a ...
A: Depending on the climate, ventilation, roof slope and degree of sun exposure, shingle roofs will ...
|
| Repairing EPDM membrane roof | 6/21/2006 |
Q: Last September we bought a house with a low slope roof (it is totally horizontal in a small ...
A: Pablo, You are correct in that you have an EPDM roof. The material under the roof membrane is an ...
|
| slight slope roof leak | 6/14/2006 |
Q: I have a build on room at the back of my house with roll roof material. Just today I noticed the ...
A: Jim, The bigger question is where is the roof leaking? At its tie-in to the original roof or wall ...
|
| stain on asphalt shingles | 6/12/2006 |
Q: The grey asphalt shingles on my roof and several neighbors have developed an unsightly black ...
A: The staining is likely mildew staining. It can be cleaned with light pressure wash and a roof ...
|
| refoofing flat roof choices | 6/2/2006 |
Q: Recently I obtained five bids to reroof a flat roof of 2600 sq feet area. The existing roof is tar ...
A: Albert, You were wise to get several bids. But you may also need to ask a few more questions of the ...
|
| Ventolation of attic | 5/31/2006 |
Q: Will an attic fan ventilate the space between the roof and the drywall after I finish this space, or ...
A: Ralph, I'll assume you are referring to a thermostatically controlled roof mounted fan as the attic ...
|
| Ridge Vent | 5/26/2006 |
Q: My mom had a company do a tear off re roof to her house 8 months ago.Its had many problems since.We ...
A: Under the following conditions I would suggest the ridge vent be properly installed so it can vent; ...
|
| Felt/Tar Paper | 5/25/2006 |
Q: I am having a new home built and they covered the OSB roof sheathing with the felt/tar paper about ...
A: The felt underlayment serves as secondary protection to water intrusion after the shingles are ...
|
| underlayment | 5/24/2006 |
Q: Our neighborhood was hit hard by Hurricane Wilma, many of our rooves are being replaced. Different ...
A: Mopping in fet with hot asphalt would be the most effective but extremely messy, smelly and smell ...
|
| Chronic Leak | 5/22/2006 |
Q: We replaced a shake roof with asphalt shingles 10 years ago. Every time it rains, the ceiling ...
A: My initial thoughts would be that the flashing at the 1st story roof to wall intersection was not ...
|
| Ondura roofing | 5/20/2006 |
Q: would the ondura roofing be a good roof material for a home roof?
A: This question really depends on the look you want to achieve and the layout of your home's roof. ...
|
| shingling steep part of gambrel roof | 5/20/2006 |
Q: I have to shingle a steep section of a gambrel roof and the pitch for 12 foot of roof slopes in less ...
A: Old fart or young buck, don't compromise safety trying to prove a point. Ladder jacks and pump ...
|
| Terminology | 5/19/2006 |
Q: What is the proper term for an decorative applied rake or eave? For example continuing a roof line ...
A: I'm taking another wild stab at understanding the question. I would agree with the "eyebrow" ...
|
| Terminology | 5/19/2006 |
Q: What is the proper term for an decorative applied rake or eave? For example continuing a roof line ...
A: I'm not sure I understand your question, but I'll take a stab. If you are referring to continuing ...
|
| What is the best time to place tiles? | 5/18/2006 |
Q: We are building a house in Florida. Our builder ia planning to go ahead with the interior of the ...
A: To minimize the potential for damage to finishes from movements, it is best to install the roof tile ...
|
| Is Underlayment Required for Shingles | 5/18/2006 |
Q: Is a felt underlayment necessary under asphalt shingles?
A: Steve, While some will promote that underlayment is not necessary and that shingles can be applied ...
|
| Felt Paper | 5/17/2006 |
Q: What is the difference between 15# felt & 30# felt?
A: Peter, For roofing purposes, #30 felt is a little more durable and does not tear as easy, simply ...
|
| hail damage | 5/17/2006 |
Q: My home recently went througha hail strom in Texas. There was a quite a bit of granules that came ...
A: Mike, First, if you have damage and you have replacement value insurance policy, I would think ...
|
| Gutters | 5/16/2006 |
Q: I have lived in my row home for 42 years. My next door neighbor has always had a large tree and ...
A: Ms. Mott, Placing covers on the gutters (various types available) will reduce the "whirlybird" ...
|
| Rolled Roofing Alternatives For curved Roofs | 5/16/2006 |
Q: Our club has a four aircraft hangar with a curved (no peak)roof that needs either repair or ...
A: There are alternatives to rolled roofing materials but they are more expensive. Generally in ...
|
| Roof Installation in Rain | 5/15/2006 |
Q: I really appreciate the quick and comprehensive reply to my question. We actually did get three ...
A: Sharon, The fascia board and gutter can be installed after the shingles. Actually it is better to ...
|
| Roof Installation in Rain | 5/15/2006 |
Q: Does it compromise a roof job if, about two-thirds of the way through the job, when all of the ...
A: Sharon, Installing the shingles on wet underlayment is not a big concern. The bigger concern is did ...
|
| 30# felt | 5/14/2006 |
Q: In 2005 the roofing contractor installed 30# felt as a vapor barrier on mansards on a 4 unit ...
A: My suggestion would be to replace the felt if it is heavily wrinkled or torn from wind or nails. ...
|
| Rolled roofing pitch | 5/14/2006 |
Q: What is the roof pitch required for rolled roofing to be used?
A: Standard roll roofing may be applied on slopes as low as 2 inches per foot (17%) slope when applied ...
|
| Re-sealing Shingles | 5/11/2006 |
Q: I had about 60-75% of the shingles on my southern slope of a ranch residential home torn off in an ...
A: Corey, Don't get me started on insurance. Obviously insurance companies are in the business to ...
|
| Roofing & Gutters | 5/11/2006 |
Q: What's the litmus test for when you need to replace a roof, other than if it leaks? My roof is about ...
A: Don, There are 2 or 3 key indicators that you are approaching the end of a relatively trouble free ...
|
| Shingles meet metal | 5/10/2006 |
Q: I am installing a metal roof over a flat(low slope) roof that is attached to one entire side of my ...
A: Andrew, For the shingle to metal roof area, the metal roof will require a sheet metal transition of ...
|
| ridge vents vs whirly birds and ice and water shields | 5/10/2006 |
Q: Is a ridge vent better than whirlybirds? What about blowing rain, will water get under the ridge ...
A: Greg, There are a variety of venting options including the ridge vent, whirly bird, low profile ...
|
| Tar/Felt paper buckles the shingles | 5/9/2006 |
Q: My contract with the builder (middle Ontario-Canada) states that he WILL install #15 lbs. tar paper ...
A: Wilson, Sorry I am not familiar with the Canadian code. However there is no good reason to ...
|
| Elastomeric Roof Coating | 5/8/2006 |
Q: I saw this Elastomeric Roof Coating at the local home improvement centre: ...
A: Radu, I'm sorry but I have no firsthand experience with this coating. I would encourage a very ...
|
| Pipe Penetration Repair | 5/7/2006 |
Q: I have a leak in my attic that I noticed is at a pipe through the roof. Can this be repaired, and ...
A: Tom, Individual pipe penetration flashing boots can be replaced. However replacing the boot does ...
|
| Valley options | 5/7/2006 |
Q: I am planning to replace my 3-tab roof with a new timberline roof due to a recent hailstorm. Some ...
A: Brian, Either method can work well, but personally I generally prefer the closed valley where the ...
|
| Shingles | 5/6/2006 |
Q: Are there any real advantages of architectural shingles over standard shingles, other than ...
A: Stan, Yes there are advangages to installing architectural shingles as opposed to standard three-tab ...
|
| Rubber Roof Maintenance | 5/4/2006 |
Q: Ron, We recently purchased our first home which has a worn rubber roof over the porch area. It does ...
A: Krista, I would guess that your rubber roof is an EPDM roof membrane material, especially if it is ...
|
| do it myself reroof | 5/2/2006 |
Q: I have an small, old farmhouse that needs reshingling. No dips or valley just a straight across ...
A: Yes, you can nail 2x4's over the existing shingles and install the corrugated metal panels. ...
|
| Leaking Flat tarred and shingled roof | 5/2/2006 |
Q: I have owned an office building for 30 years, part of the roof is flat with hot tar and rolled ...
A: Bob, Not knowing the exact layout of your roof I'm not sure what might be best suited for ...
|
| Hurricane Resistant RIdge Vents? | 5/1/2006 |
Q: ,, i live in Cent Fla,, two years ago i suffered damage from Ridge vent leaking during hurricanes,, ...
A: Mike, You are right in that you would void any shingle warranty you might have if you seal off your ...
|
| shingling a slope under 4:12 | 4/30/2006 |
Q: I heard that when shingling a slope under 4:12 you have to overlap your shingles another 2 to 3 ...
A: I'm going to assume your question is in reference to asphalt shingles. If you are asking about wood ...
|
