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Roofing/Questions Answered by Expert Dan Merrill
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Will a metal roof increase interior heat? | 1/21/2012 |
| Q: I am building a new house and an in the process of selecting a roof system. I like metal roofs, ... A: In general, metal roofs reflect away much more of the Sun's energy than any other common roofing ... | |
| elastomeric coatings | 1/6/2012 |
| Q: I have an older roof 3-12 pitch. the shingles are still pliable but some are curling at the edge. ... A: It is my opinion that trying to extend the life of an asphalt roof with a coating material is a ... | |
| Metal Roof Help | 10/17/2011 |
| Q: My house needs a new roof asap. Originally I thought about getting a metal roof & then I changed ... A: At your price point you will have to go with an asphalt roof. It is my opinion that the Owens ... | |
| e-shield radiant barrier - is it worth it? | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: I am planning to have my attic insulation upgraded this Fall. My home is a 1-level rectangular ... A: For blown in insulation, cellulose is far better than fiberglass. Fiberglass has to be in an ... | |
| spray foam insulation with a slate roof | 7/24/2011 |
| Q: Dan, I have just purchased an older home in the Mid-Atlantic area, very hot and humid in the summer. ... A: That really isn't a great use for a radiant barrier, it doesn't solve all the problems. The problem ... | |
| 2011 Michigan Roofing Code for Ice & Water Shields | 7/23/2011 |
| Q: I am in the process of getting quotes from roofing contractors to replace my current roof. One ... A: The present/previous IRC Code requires that you measure 24" INSIDE the home from the INSIDE of ... | |
| insulation under low pitched roof | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: existing home is cinder block in central texas - pitched roof has 2 tar and gravel topped with ... A: You have a lot of Mass up there, a doubled Tar & Gravel roof is extremely heavy. I know of no Codes ... | |
| ridgevents | 7/13/2011 |
| Q: Is a continuous ridge vent the same as a roof vent and how would I know if the roofer truly ... A: Sorry about the slow response, we were without power for a few days. For most Ridge Vents you can ... | |
| energy efficient roof | 7/8/2011 |
| Q: .i am in the market for an energy efficient roof. metal looks good but is probably very loud when it ... A: Sorry for the slow response, we were without power for a few days due to storm activity. We have ... | |
| Propanel Roof on Kid play house | 6/24/2011 |
| Q: My husband just put a propanel roof on our kids play house. Now I am very concerned about my kids ... A: That is a problem with this type of metal roofing, it has a lot of raw metal edges. Many ... | |
| Ice and water shield over shingles | 5/26/2011 |
| Q: I got a quote that stated 3 feet of I&w barrier will be ok over existing shingles. I have about 20% ... A: You are absolutely correct to question that. I know of no building Code anywhere that would allow a ... | |
| Metal roof coating damage due to hail | 5/18/2011 |
| Q: We have sustained severe hail storm damage, and we have a Mueller AP panel roof with galvalume ... A: You are absolutely correct. Contact the manufacturer and they should back you up without any ... | |
| drip edge repair | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a metal roof that has many rust-throughs along the drip edge and some even extend 3 to 4 ... A: You would want to make sure that the roofing metal overlaps the new Drip Edge metal by at least 4 ... | |
| re-roof old house in Southern Illinois | 4/5/2011 |
| Q: We need to re-roof our 1890's farm house that has 15 yr. old black asphalt shingles. The attic was ... A: This is going to be a long, complicated answer. Please send me an email from our website ... | |
| New shingles over old shingles | 4/5/2011 |
| Q: What is your opinion of installing new shingles over one layer of old shingles if old shingles don't ... A: Installing new shingles over old will always void the warranty of the new shingles. Statistically it ... | |
| Estimating Sheathing aging of watermarks on | 4/1/2011 |
| Q: I hope that you can help me. I have a slate roof. I have routine maintenance performed on my slate ... A: There are a couple issues here. First I must say that you are doing an excellent job of keeping up ... | |
| Solar Attic Fans versus Whirlybirds | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: Home is down south where temps rise to 100 degrees or beter during the summer. Constructed 1999. I ... A: Sorry about the slow response, I was out of State and forgot to set my AllExperts calendar as "on ... | |
| Wet Roof - Tar and Gravel | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: A "storm-chasing" roofer mainly experienced with shingle roofs recently installed new tar-and-gravel ... A: Sorry for the slow response, I was out of State and forgot to update my vacation status. You have a ... | |
| cedar shake roof doesn't stop snow blowing in attic | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: I have an interesting yet stressful situation with a cedar shake roof on a barn. When it snows ... A: Sorry, there are no ways I can think of that would seal off the air flow but still allow the ... | |
| icephobic coatings | 2/20/2011 |
| Q: Can I use an "icephobic" industrial coating over my eaves to help prevent ice dams on my metal roof? ... A: We have no experience with this kind of coating. All the metal roofing products we sell and install ... | |
| power vent noise | 1/17/2011 |
| Q: What would you do to reduce or eliminate the noise that one gets from a power vent? It can be heard ... A: Attic fans like you have are notorious for being loud. They get louder as they age. Plus they are ... | |
| attic venting | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: We are in the process of purchasing a 70 yr old Colonial outside Milwaukee, WI. During the ... A: You have a couple options. 1) You could cut holes in your soffit and install soffit venting. It ... | |
| Geodesic Dome Roofing | 1/5/2011 |
| Q: I have a comment, more than a question. With all the shapes and types of metal roofs now on the ... A: Years ago I saw a photo of a geodesic dome with a "flat panel" roof. It was all hand seamed copper, ... | |
| I want my old skylight back! | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: My skylight was recently replaced when I had the roof done. The roofers built a 6 inch tall box that ... A: What you have is called a curb mounted skylight. In my opinion it is the best design. It allows you ... | |
| Roof Roll History | 12/27/2010 |
| Q: I won't be able to go to sleep tonight until I can solve this little mystery; What was the slang ... A: I know what you are talking about, but I have not been able to recall the name you are referring to. ... | |
| roof ventilation | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: My wife and I are building a new house. We have hired a general contractor to handle most of the ... A: We use the standard combination of soffit vents and ridge vents and it has proven to be the best ... | |
| metal roofing with gutter | 10/5/2010 |
| Q: We are thinking about replacing our roof to a metal roof. During the process of getting bids, ... A: You would never want to fasten a metal roof to your gutter system. These systems need to be ... | |
| allmet metal roofing | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: We are having an allmet metal roof installed. The contractor has started to install the metal roof ... A: You can call your local Building dept. It is the office where you apply for Building permits. Most ... | |
| allmet metal roofing | 9/25/2010 |
| Q: We are having an allmet metal roof installed. The contractor has started to install the metal roof ... A: This is text copied from the AllMet installation manual. Underlayment is generally required by most ... | |
| euroshake roofing | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: I was curious about the cost per sq ft including installation on euroshake or euroshield roofing, ... A: Costs vary obviously, it varies a lot with where you are located and how complicated the roof is. ... | |
| metal roof ratings | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: I'm looking at metal roofing by Classic Metal Roofing Systems. They are MCA certified. The roofing ... A: The Kynar resin used in the paint process, the way I understand it is owned/controlled by one ... | |
| Leaking Gable Vents Nightmare! | 9/11/2010 |
| Q: I am getting really desperate. We have been in our new home for a year now (new construction) and ... A: The best way to ventilate an attic space is with a combination of Soffit venting and Ridge venting. ... | |
| Leaking Gable Vents Nightmare! | 9/6/2010 |
| Q: I am getting really desperate. We have been in our new home for a year now (new construction) and ... A: These kinds of wooden Gable vents are notorious for leaking. Wind driven rain easily gets past the ... | |
| 100% materials warranties for 50 years | 8/25/2010 |
| Q: I am about to re-roof my house and was initially very excited to discover Certainteed's Symphony ... A: Many synthetic/composite roofing products have long warranties but they have not been on the market ... | |
| new roof shingles on top of rotten facia boards | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: Is it normal business procedure for a roofing contractor to leave rotten facia boards on a new roof ... A: Most roofing contractors would most likely not replace the rotten wood Fascia. Most customers just ... | |
| Elastomeric Roof Coating | 8/5/2010 |
| Q: Can I apply an elastomeric roof coating over an existing asphalt shingle roof? Have you heard of ... A: Some coating companies say you can do this but I have never seen it work. Coatings work well on ... | |
| roof shingle color not matching | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: I had the house built in 1999 roofing contractor used 40 year dimensional black Celotex shingles, ... A: You have no recourse with Celotex, their responsibility is over. You now have 11 years on a ... | |
| noisy metal room in add-on room | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: Last year I purchased a 15 year old park model mobile home with an add-on room. It isn't insulated, ... A: The best product to deaden noise is spray foam. We like to use "foam-it-green" from spray foam ... | |
| sweating of metal roof | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: we are enclosing a screened porch will it sweat or do we need to put OSB and felt under metal if ... A: Condensation (sweating) happens when warm moist air comes in contact with a cooler surface. If the ... | |
| Bad Roofing Job | 7/22/2010 |
| Q: We recently had a roofing job done because of wind/hail damage. However, when they put the roof ... A: Did the roofers get a permit for the job? If so, maybe your Building Inspector can help you out. You ... | |
| ridge vent, cobra netting | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: Replacing roof 2000sq/ft. Can u approximate how many 'bundles' of composite shingles I will need? ... A: I would not recommend any kind or organic venting. There are some materials available that are made ... | |
| Using polyiso insulation in an attic | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: Dan, I saw your informative answers to other similar questions and I thought I would give it a try. ... A: One thing you must be careful with in Roofing and Siding is getting multiple layers of water proof ... | |
| ridge vent, cobra netting | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: Replacing roof 2000sq/ft. Can u approximate how many 'bundles' of composite shingles I will need? ... A: It depends on what type of shingles you are buying. If your roof is 2000 sq ft, that is 20 square. ... | |
| 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: Sorry about the slow response, I did not see the message. We like using the 3 pound spray foam on ... | |
| No soffit vents | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: I am getting new roof with a ridge vent. However, my home was built in 1962 and has gable end vents ... A: Air will always be drawn in from the closest source. If you combine Ridge vents and Gable vents, the ... | |
| venting | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: We need to vent the bird blocks in our open eave roof. Two general contractors have taken a look and ... A: What you are proposing sounds like it would work. There are a couple different kinds of small ... | |
| Owens Supreme AR shingles | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to locate a supplier for a discontinued Owens Supreme AR shingle, color: Canyon Red. I ... A: All asphalt based shingles have a limited shelf life. It would not be a good idea to try to find old ... | |
| adhesive | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: deck just covered with tourch down roofing .want to cover with out door carpet to spif it up. need ... A: It is not really a good idea to glue anything to an asphalt product like you are wanting to. If ... | |
| Solar Attic Fans | 5/10/2010 |
| Q: I am installing two solar attic fans and I have three gable vents. The manufacturer states that I ... A: If the Gable vents are left open, the fans will just suck in the air from them. The air flows from ... | |
| 1x4 perlin strips vs underlayment | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: Dan, I am about to have a metal roof put on my home. My light company finances this due to energy ... A: Metal roofing saves energy by reflecting away the suns heat. This benefit is increased by having air ... | |
| How to install roof jacks | 4/16/2010 |
| Q: I need to make repairs on my dormers and my roof has a 12/12 pitch. How do you install roof jacks on ... A: You can't install roof brackets on a finished roof without damaging the roof. The best way to do ... | |
| attic ventilation | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I live in central New England in a 20 year old Cape style house. The house has always been extremely ... A: Ridge venting is very important. There are many kinds of Ridge venting. Several manufacturers make ... | |
| Install metal over a metal roof on a trailer | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: Do I need a moisture barrier and insulation between the the old roof and the new and where do I put ... A: The sheet foam is intended to hold the heat in the living space in cold weather and prevent heat ... | |
| leaking roof | 4/2/2010 |
| Q: my roof was put on new in '96 and has been leaking on and off since then and the company would do ... A: Installing asphalt roofing on a 3/12 slope is allowed by most manufacturers and most building codes, ... | |
| insulating a flat roof under metal roof addition | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: We just had a home inspection done on what looks to be a flat, tar and gravel roof that had a ... A: The best overall solution I can think of is installing several inches of Closed Cell Polyurethane ... | |
| Install metat over a metal roof on a trailer | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: Do I need a moisture barrier and insulation between the the old roof and the new and where do I put ... A: Condensation happens when warm moist air contacts a cold surface. Assuming that the roof structure ... | |
| Ice Dams | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I live in Columbus, Oh. I just had a new roof installed August 2009. We were pounded with snow in ... A: 1) Ice and Water Shield can only be installed before the roofing material. It works by sealing the ... | |
| Ice Dams | 3/28/2010 |
| Q: I live in Columbus, Oh. I just had a new roof installed August 2009. We were pounded with snow in ... A: First you have to verify that your Ice %26 Water Shield was installed "to code". Ask your roofer how ... | |
| flat and 3/12 roof | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: What do you think of SPF roofing systems? A: For "flat" roofing, Spray Polyurethane foam just might be the perfect material in my opinion. You ... | |
| Roof Garden | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: I'm interested in installing a rooftop garden over my garage. The area is 14X14 . I'll need to place ... A: All of the Garden roofs I have seen have been installed over EPDM single-ply rubber membrane roofs ... | |
| eve moisture | 3/21/2010 |
| Q: I know I asked a question on this last week but not too detailed. Im interested in purchasing a ... A: There are so many things that can cause that type of wood rot. Lack of ventilation would definitely ... | |
| eve moisture | 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 under the eaves is rotten then there is a good chance that some of the roof deck and maybe even ... | |
| maintaining a cedar roof in an environmentally responsible manner. | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: I understand that you don't recommend wood roofing materials, however, we recently bought a home ... A: We do have a lot of Cedar roofing in our area. The roofs average lifespan is commonly from 10-18 ... | |
| metal roof and condensation | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: Yes I have an 80 by 100 metal building 8 years old, it is a gym with weight equipment in it, walls ... A: Condensation happens when warm moist air comes into contact with a cold surface. The cold surface ... | |
| arizona roofs | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: How does tile roof compare to shingle in Arizona? Cost of replacement and also life of roof? ... A: Sorry about the slow response, I was out of town and forgot to sign out for the week. Tile roofs ... | |
| Roof Installed in Dec 2008 | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I had a roof installed by a local contractor over a year and half ago. The GAF/ELK Weathered Wood ... A: It sounds to me that the ball is in your court, at least for now. The contractor is definitely at ... | |
| cedar shingles roofing | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: Our house was built in 1986 with cedar shingles roof and siding. The roof shingles are curling and ... A: Cedar shingle quality has gone down significantly in the past 20-30 years. 25 years ago a "heavy ... | |
| Roof Installed in Dec 2008 | 2/19/2010 |
| Q: I had a roof installed by a local contractor over a year and half ago. The GAF/ELK Weathered Wood ... A: It is really hard to say. First of all, the contractor had to pay for the original materials and ... | |
| roof | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: WE live on a marsh that leads to the ocean in Massachusetts. New construction house.Workers applied ... A: Absolutely! You paid for a new and properly installed roof. You did not get that. Asphalt roofs are ... | |
| Flat Roof | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: I live in Arizona and had my roof resealed about 5 1/2 years ago. My townhome is about 15 years ... A: The old coating needs to be cleaned somehow. The new coating will not stick to dirt, algae, etc. You ... | |
| artificial slate | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: I believe most artificial slate made from recycled plastics is warrantied for 50 years, but for how ... A: The slippery Slates are smooth surfaced and harder, more of a plastic composite as opposed to a ... | |
| artificial slate | 2/10/2010 |
| Q: I believe most artificial slate made from recycled plastics is warrantied for 50 years, but for how ... A: Davinci is the only composite Slate that uses a coating. They have had problems with coating ... | |
| artificial slate | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: I believe most artificial slate made from recycled plastics is warrantied for 50 years, but for how ... A: The plastic / rubber composite Slate made by EcoStar (USA) and Authentic 2000 (Canada) has been ... | |
| roof venting | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: I live in a less than 2 year old log home that has developed a leak in the cathedral ceiling. From ... A: What you have is a fairly common problem. “Minimum code” is no where good enough for this type of ... | |
| Metal Roof finishes | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I have a green standing seam metal roof. The finish is sluffing off. The side facing South, near ... A: Since the paint did not last long it will be one of the polyester or acrylic paints. The Kynar ... | |
| mansard roof | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: I just bought a home and it has a mansard roof. it starting leaking.. what is the best replacement ... A: There have been so many problems with asphalt roofing in the past 10-20 years, it is no longer a ... | |
| Duro-last roofing material and accessories | 1/28/2010 |
| Q: What would the average cost of the Durolast 40 mil 5 star energy rated single ply pvc roofing ... A: Duro-Last roofing has closed pricing. You have to be an approved installer for their products before ... | |
| Flat Roof | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: I live in Arizona and had my roof resealed about 5 1/2 years ago. My townhome is about 15 years ... A: It is totally dependant on what kind and brand of coating was used. The most common coatings are ... | |
| walls and ceilings seperating | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: I have a new house built in 2009. The inside walls and ceiling are cracking or separating from each ... A: It is not unusual for a new home to see a couple hair-line cracks as the home initially settles. The ... | |
| cathedral roof ridge vent | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: I have a tar and gravel low slope cathedral roof. I was told by a few contractors that I can not put ... A: We have completed several projects just like yours. You basically have 3 problems to address. ... | |
| stove pipe through metal roof | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: I would greatly appreciate the how to's of putting a triple walled stove pipe through our shop's ... A: You will need to follow the instructions from the manufacturer of the Flue pipe as far as what ... | |
| perforated soffits | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: Do you need perforated soffits between a first and second floor? We do have them between the second ... A: Sill areas, the ends of the framing in between floors, are notorious for bad leaks. Most people ... | |
| sweating barn metal roof | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: We put together a Noble horse barn stall kit with a feed room that is about 12 by 20 feet not ... A: The condensation happens when moist warmer air hits a colder surface. So anything that prevents the ... | |
| perforated soffits | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: Do you need perforated soffits between a first and second floor? We do have them between the second ... A: We see problems like this a lot when contractors do not really understand the "Building Envelope" as ... | |
| 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: It is quite irresponsible for a contractor to leave roof sheathing open to the weather for that ... | |
| tar paper | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: I have a customer specifying 55lb roofing paper/tar paper 216 ct 614 Does this make any sense to ... A: I have heard of 15, 30, 60 and 90 pound. The 60 %26 90# are usually used with the mop down BUR flat ... | |
| Leaking Metal Roof | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: I have never repaired a roof before but now find myself in the unique position of needing to fix a ... A: The key to doing patches is making sure the surfaces are very clean so your patch material can ... | |
| new roof | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: I currently have shingles on my house a contractor side because my roof is not sloped and I have a ... A: A low slope roof with asphalt shingles will not last long at all. With todays asphalt shingles you ... | |
| how long of a warranty last on a rubber roof | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: how long of a warranty are you supposed to get on a rubber roof A: Assuming that you are asking about EPDM rubber, the warranty varies with the thickness of the rubber ... | |
| nailed thru the roof | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: My husband nailed a 2x4 to the roof because someone told him it would help to keep from slipping off ... A: Nailing a 2x4 on the roof is helpful to keep you on the roof and safer, but as you know it does ... | |
| Aluminum Roofing Leak | 11/27/2009 |
| Q: What is the best product to use to patch old aluminum roofing? I have developed a leak around an ... A: We like a product called GacoRoof, it is a liquid silicone product that can be applied even at low ... | |
| Roof replacement | 11/13/2009 |
| Q: Dan I am looking at 5 apartment buildings of about 9 units each with hi pitched roofs. orginally ... A: Sorry about the slow response. The International Residential Code, which is the Building code that ... | |
| tar and gravel roof rplacement | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: We have leaks in our almost 40 year old flat tar and gravel roof. I have tried to fix them but have ... A: It sounds like you really got your money’s worth out of your old gravel roof, 40 years is a long ... | |
| Wood Stove Roof Vents | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I have a mountain cabin with a steep metal roof. I want to install a wood burning stove with a 6" ... A: That question is best asked of the stove manufacturer. The type of exhaust pipe depends a lot of how ... | |
| Slate roof and Insulation | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a 100 year old house with a slate roof. I have a slate roof question and a couple ... A: The closed-cell spray foam is the only material I know of that will do everything you need to do ... | |
| New Roof | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: I HAVE A BARN AND A HOUSE THAT NEEDS A NEW ROOF> I AM NOT SURE WHICH WAY TO GO_TO JUST PUT ... A: You can get your answers at metalroofing.com It is the website for the MRA or Metal Roofing ... | |
| Attic Ventallation | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I have an electric attic roof fan that when running appears to pull air out of the house. The house ... A: Yes, generally speaking, your attic would be heated and cooled as the rest of the home. Doing this ... | |
| Attic Ventallation | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: I have an electric attic roof fan that when running appears to pull air out of the house. The house ... A: If you are replacing your roof I would recommend products from DCI products or TrimLIne. They both ... | |
| ice and water shield | 10/9/2009 |
| Q: What is the cost of ice and water shield--material only? A: Ice %26 Water Shield varies widely in price. It is usually sold in 1 square (100 sq feet) rolls ... | |
| metal roof leak | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: we recently had a metal roof installed on our screened-in porch. When it rains a a certain angle we ... A: We have had good results with a product called EMSEAL AST. It is a compressible foam that is ... | |
| slate roof:closed cell vs open cell on rafters | 10/5/2009 |
| Q: homeowner : new construction :i am putting a brazilian slate roof and am not sure if i should spray ... A: Considerations: 1) Closed-cell spray foam is usually 2x to 3x the cost of open-cell foam. 2) ... | |
| Slate roof and Insulation | 10/4/2009 |
| Q: I recently bought a 100 year old house with a slate roof. I have a slate roof question and a couple ... A: Since you have a Slate roof it is important to find a Slate roof expert to do occasional maintenance ... | |
| heat coils | 10/2/2009 |
| Q: we get a wall of icicles on one side of house . which are best heat coils on the roof or heat coils ... A: Most often, ice damming and heavy ice formations are caused by poor insulation somewhere in the roof ... | |
| barn roof | 10/1/2009 |
| Q: we have a huge old (1925?)dairy barn with a slate roof that has several broken/missing pieces. It ... A: It totally depends on what kind of Slate is on the roof. Some Slate only lasts 50-75 years, some can ... | |
| LOG HOME ROOFING | 9/11/2009 |
| Q: AM BUILDING A CYPRESS LOG HOME AND WILL INSTALL A METAL ROOF. GETTING MIXED ADVISE ABOUT VAPOR ... A: Vapor barriers go to the warm side of the insulation. The foam panel insulation failures I have ... | |
| Standing Seam Roof | 9/1/2009 |
| Q: We were told that we should pressure wash our standing seam roof before we paint. The house was ... A: First, you have to make sure that the paint you want to use is compatible with your roofing material ... | |
| roofing | 8/31/2009 |
| Q: the water and ice shield product, can it be stuck or placed on the roof for several months before ... A: Standard Water & Ice shields can not be exposed to the elements longer than a couple weeks at most. ... | |
| Radiant Barrier in Mountain Climates? | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: Dan, We are replacing an old wood shake roof (cold roof- not attic) on a 25 yr old vacation home in ... A: Many roofing materials will have a shorter life if you install a radiant barrier. Asphalt for ... | |
| CONDENSATION UNDER METAL ROOF | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: THEY INSTALED A METAL ROOF WITH A GOOD PITCH{NORTHAN NH}OVER AN OLDER FLAT ROOF THEY USED 2X4 2X6 ... A: Powered attic fans will help. It would be best if you got a unit with automatic switching for heat ... | |
| FRT Plywood | 8/28/2009 |
| Q: My house is 30 yrs old and the roof needs to be completely removed and new plywood laid. A roofer ... A: You should call your local building department to see what installation variations they will allow. ... | |
| leaks | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: Had a new roof installed...did not stop it ... had bricks " re - motared?" still leaks ...only under ... A: There are 3 areas of chimneys that are prone to leaks. The chimney crown. This is the cement or ... | |
| Second roof | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: I want to put a new roof on my 23 yr old house. Does the original roof have to be taken off before ... A: Usually the only type of roof that can be installed over a layer of asphalt without voiding your ... | |
| roofing choice metal vs enviroshake | 8/24/2009 |
| Q: We want to replace our current shingles with either metal or eniroshake or another durable green ... A: EnviroShake is a great product, but you would be responsible for your own flashing design & ... | |
| Roof ice problem | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a older northern home which on front of 2nd floor roof has a metal ice slide. I am ... A: Ice & Water Shield is only for use as an Underlayment, it can not be exposed directly to the ... | |
| CONDENSATION UNDER METAL ROOF | 8/20/2009 |
| Q: THEY INSTALED A METAL ROOF WITH A GOOD PITCH{NORTHAN NH}OVER AN OLDER FLAT ROOF THEY USED 2X4 2X6 ... A: Heavy condensation like that means you are loosing a lot of warm humid air through your ceiling. It ... | |
| noisy roof turbines | 8/19/2009 |
| Q: Have 4 turbines on the roof of my quad villa in a condominium association in Boynton Beach Florida. ... A: Everything wears out eventually. If they got 35 years out of your present turbines they should not ... | |
| Ice and water shield over shakewood? | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: What is the code in Il. for puting Ice and watershild down? Can it be put down over lose shakewood ... A: There are a few requirements in the Building Code that apply to your question. 1)IRC Sec R905.2.1 ... | |
| Hot House | 8/7/2009 |
| Q: Ever since we got a new composition shingle roof on our house, it has gotten so much hotter during ... A: There are coatings available for your roof, but they do not usually look good. If your roof is a low ... | |
| Eve or eave replacement (2 x 6 x 11.5 Segment) | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: My home has a eve section, 2 x 6 x 11.5 with water damage. I would like to remove this moisture ... A: One problem is that if you have Eave damage, what caused the damage? Almost always the damaging ... | |
| ridge vents | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I have 2 estimates for a new roof on my colonial house in Massachusetts. The work and materials in ... A: They are both good products, both function well. The only issue with the fiber style cobra vents is ... | |
| Electric and Solar power vents vs Electric power vent and ridge vent | 7/17/2009 |
| Q: I live in NE Ohio. I am planning a complete tear down of my roof along with new gutters and soffit ... A: First, a couple side notes: 1) Installing a metal roof with a Kynar based "cool roof" pigment will ... | |
| Cedar Roofing | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: I am building a Gazebo and would like to install cedar roofing directly over 3/4 pine covered with ... A: One of the biggest issues with Cedar roofing is allowing it to properly breath/dry. If Cedar is ... | |
| installation | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: I am considering re reroofing with Enviroshake and heard that it is preferable to be installed over ... A: Because of the way the EnviroShake is manufactured, they are fairly consistent in color and aging ... | |
| metal clad polyiso | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: I am looking to replace my three-tab asphalt shingles with a metal roof. In particular, I'm looking ... A: We have not used these types of panels yet. But we have done several of the SIPs panel projects. ... | |
| metal clad polyiso | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: I am looking to replace my three-tab asphalt shingles with a metal roof. In particular, I'm looking ... A: The IRC code does not require a tear off of a single layer of Asphalt shingles if you are installing ... | |
| installation | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: I am considering re reroofing with Enviroshake and heard that it is preferable to be installed over ... A: Enviroshake is approved for installation of spaced board (roof lath) construction, it does not ... | |
| Enviroshake vs EcoStar et al | 6/28/2009 |
| Q: My current cedar shake roof needs to be replaced. I am investigating Enviroshake as a replacement ... A: The company has been around for at least 10 years in it's present form. It's founder developed the ... | |
| Euroslate rubber roof | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: I see that you've answered some questions before regarding EuroSlate(www.euroslate.ca) products. I ... A: 1) The color consistency was an issue with the early EuroShake and EuroSlate products. They have ... | |
| Metal Standing Seam - Oil Canning | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: I just had a new metal standing seam roof installed and it has ripples all over it. I recently ... A: Honestly, I expected you to say that the roof was a 29 or 26 gage steel or maybe a .020+/- Aluminum. ... | |
| rain diverters | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: We put up a metal roof on our home. Last winter the snow slid right off and created a pile of ice ... A: We install snow guards over doorways and garage doors. There are many types available. There are ... | |
| Energy efficient roof in hot climate | 6/11/2009 |
| Q: I plan to re-roof in Southern California. Southwest facing portion of house unbearably hot in ... A: A metal roof material with an EnergyStar rated kynar paint would make a significant difference in ... | |
| Metal Standing Seam - Oil Canning | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I just had a new metal standing seam roof installed and it has ripples all over it. I recently ... A: The thinner the gage, the more it will oil can. We use commercial 24 gage steel because of this. Do ... | |
| metal vs asphalt roof | 6/8/2009 |
| Q: We are considering replacing our current roof with a metal/if there is a green suggestion also, ... A: There are exposed fastener metal roof panels that can be installed for about the same cost as ... | |
| metal roof and round chimney pipe seal | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: WHat is the best and most aesthetic solution for installing a metal roof around an existing chimney ... A: The manufacturer of your metal roof of choice should offer a metal boot to seal around the chimney ... | |
| Solar vent vs. turbine | 5/26/2009 |
| Q: My question is simple I am going to install some solar vents to pull air out of my attic. two ... A: Generally speaking the less holes you have in your roof, the better. If you have vents in your ... | |
| Geodesic Roof Replacement | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: Can you tell me what is the best recommended roof replacement for a geodesic dome home. This is a ... A: There are not a lot of materials that would function well on a Geodesic Dome. All the different ... | |
| Sub roof material for older home | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: Dan, Thank you very much for the service that you provide. I recently purchased an 80 year old ... A: The 30 lb tar paper/builders felt is significantly weaker than peel & stick membranes, it should ... | |
| tile roof leaks | 5/5/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a rancher in Maryland which has stucco siding and a terracotta (Spanish) tile ... A: If the roof leaked before you purchased the home, the seller and real estate agents are required by ... | |
| Replace roof | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: I have a customer who is buying a 1300 square foot brick home with asphalt roof. It is a gentle ... A: In order to ensure your customers can get their Tax Credit you should install a product with an ... | |
| Tin roof on tudor house | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: Buying 1930 Tudor with 3 layers of asphalt roofing that will not pass certification. I think a tin ... A: Take a look at a product called Country Manor Shake by Classic Metal out of Piqua Ohio. That style ... | |
| type of shingle/color | 4/8/2009 |
| Q: I live in New Brunswick Canada which borders Maine, so Northeast cold harsh winters. Need to get our ... A: Color does make a difference in asphalt shingles, nut not a lot. The mass of asphalt shingles heats ... | |
| Roofing over an already wet roof | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: Tomorrow a roofer is expected to put another layer of roofing on my home. There is a blizzard ... A: I certainly would not roof over a wet roof, but I know roofers who do. Shingles have to warm so ... | |
| Sunroom roof is leaking | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: My aluminum sunroom roof is leaking. The roofing contractor says this is a common problem and roof ... A: A properly installed metal roof doesn't leak and doesn't rely on caulking to seal it. Most asphalt ... | |
| Rain Diverter on Flat Roof? | 3/15/2009 |
| Q: I have a flat roof (.25/12") and have a huge rainwater problem since there are no gutters (and I ... A: Sorry, when you said it was a torch-down roof, I assumed it was a Mod Bit (Modified Bitumen) roof, ... | |
| roofing | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: We added an room onto our trailer and we seem not to be able to get all the leaks stopped... Please ... A: The best roofing material I know of for mobile home roofs is EPDM rubber. It is installed in a ... | |
| Rain Diverter on Flat Roof? | 3/13/2009 |
| Q: I have a flat roof (.25/12") and have a huge rainwater problem since there are no gutters (and I ... A: Mod Bit roofs incorporate a "cant" at transitions to vertical walls. This Cant is like a wood 2x2 ... | |
| Roof Leak | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I had a roof cap installed last year and I believe it's leaking. Is it possible for the wind to blow ... A: If an improper ridge cap was installed, it sure can leak a lot. In snow areas snow can easily blow ... | |
| felt needed? | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I am building a new wooden barn. I am putting a metal roof on top of my 1x8 pine sheeting. Do I ... A: Yes you need some type of barrier to protect the wood from the condensation that can form under the ... | |
| Re-Sealing Sunroom Roof | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: Just purchased this home. Sunroom about 10 years old. Metal roof has 5 vertical seams with 4-5"wide ... A: If a metal roof is installed properly, it is almost impossible for them to leak. With the take and ... | |
| Double Dryer Roofing Vent | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: This is a condominium problem. Do they make a roofing receptacle that will handle two dryer vents ... A: I have never seen such a thing. I would assume that it would not pass code due to issues with ... | |
| Ceiling keeps sweating even after insulating | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I purchased a house older house in September of last year. Since we've moved in I've ... A: What you are describing is pretty common. Drafts blowing in through vents can move blown-in ... | |
| ROOFING A LOW PITCHED ROOF | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: I have A LOW PITCHED ROOF THAT I INHERITED WHEN I BOUGHT MY HOUSE. WHEN I BOUGHT THE HOUSE THE ROOF ... A: The lowest slope an asphalt roof should be installed on is 4L12 (4 in 12). It sounds like yours is ... | |
| water in attic | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: i have water in my attic that appears to be the elting of frost on the inside of the wood that makes ... A: There can be a couple contributing factors. 1) You need balanced ventilation, this means properly ... | |
| hog valley | 3/7/2009 |
| Q: We've just bought a house and whilst getting a gutter quote I was told I should reinstall my hog ... A: The most common terminology is a Dead Valley, these can cause a lot of problems if not dealt with ... | |
| Moisture in Attic when it snows, new Roof | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: I had a new roof put on a few weeks ago. When it snows there is moisture in the attic (no it is not ... A: This usually happens when you have a lot of escaping moist heat. If you look over your attic ... | |
| leaking flat roof | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: i have a flat roof 2 to 1 pitch i put shingles over it and have had nothing but leaks do to ice ... A: Patching materials will never seal long unless what is under them is a good foundation. You should ... | |
| Dormer Leak | 2/23/2009 |
| Q: About one year ago a man did his own roof.He's not a roofer and it's bean leaking around his ... A: Remove the material he installed, install proper Ice & Water Shield at the sides and upper valleys, ... | |
| Metal roof | 2/18/2009 |
| Q: We have an older two story home that we need to replace the roof. We are looking to metal. Do we ... A: Sorry about the terribly slow response, I have been down with the flu for awhile. Absolutely you ... | |
| roof leak from ice dam | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: My house is about 25 yrs ago. My great room has cathedral ceilings with no attic space above it. ... A: Sorry about the terribly slow response, I have been down with the flu for awhile. The melt from ice ... | |
| roof fade | 2/6/2009 |
| Q: Hey Dan, I put a Fiber-cement roof on my house about 4 yrs ago and the Charcoal color is fading ... A: I have no experience with painting fiber-cement roofing. But, most of the problems I have seen were ... | |
| cleaning tar off metal roof | 2/3/2009 |
| Q: What product can I use to remove tar off a kynar finish metal roof without making the metal dull or ... A: You should contact the manufacturer to ask what cleaners you can use on their paint without voiding ... | |
| roof leak from ice dam | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: My house is about 25 yrs ago. My great room has cathedral ceilings with no attic space above it. ... A: Sorry about the really slow response, we have a bit of the flu here. This is an article I wrote ... | |
| barn roof | 1/1/2009 |
| Q: We are restoring (starting with a new poured concrete foundation) our 100 year old 26' x 52' gambrel ... A: You might want to get some input from a structural Engineer to make sure everything is good for the ... | |
| 25 year Architectural Shingles | 12/29/2008 |
| Q: Are 25 year Architectural Shingles still avaliable? I have one person (Real Estate Agent / builder) ... A: We don't do anything with asphalt shingles besides throwing them away..... I have seen so called 30 ... | |
| pvc throu-roof vent pipe sheered off from snow sliding | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: I've got a steel metal roof with PVC thru-roof vent pipes for the plumbing. My Plumbing sub screwed ... A: The product you are looking for is called VentSaver. You can buy it at www.snojax.com or call them ... | |
| Roof | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: We are in the process of designing our new home (in Michigan). I have read that asphalt roofs are ... A: Sorry about the slow response, things are busy. We are doing a lot of the flat roofs with gardens ... | |
| Felt replacement under tile | 12/3/2008 |
| Q: Are there any new materials or methods to put under the tile on my roof that would last longer than ... A: If you have 1 visible area of felt failure, the rest is usually in about the same condition. Felt ... | |
| Re : Roof Leak | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: I live near Houston, TX in suburb called Pearland in a 2-story house and after Hurricane Ike, I have ... A: I would recommend that you have the insurance adjuster add the damage to your claim. It usually ... | |
| Layout 5v crimp | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: How do you establish the layout point of a hip roof for 5v crimp application. The metal manufacturer ... A: You are correct to be concerned. Many installers do not worry about lining anything up and the ... | |
| barrel clay tile vs concrete clay tile roof | 11/13/2008 |
| Q: I currently have a cement tile roof that needs to be replaced. Our association requires roof ... A: We do not do much with clay tile because of the maintenance issues and our bitter cold winters. ... | |
| Two questions. | 11/9/2008 |
| Q: Is it possible to raise the entire roof on a property to add ceiling height? The span on the second ... A: I am not exactly sure what you are asking. 1) It is possible to add another floor above a present ... | |
| eco-friendly roof | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: We are rebuilding (more than a simple renovation) a large split-level home and wish to use green ... A: There have been many manufacturers of synthetic Slates and Shake. Many of these companies do not ... | |
| Certainteed shingles | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: I am a Contractor, and I was not aware of the numerous class action suits against Certainteed. ... A: We do not work with asphalt shingles for many reasons, one of which is their short life. Since the ... | |
| Rodge Vent Usage | 10/26/2008 |
| Q: We have a finished attic. The roof is a hot roof system with insulation up against the sheathing. ... A: The only insulation I know of that is approved for under-deck contact is certain types of spray ... | |
| Roofing and Foam Insulation | 10/22/2008 |
| Q: I am currently getting some quotes to remove my slate roof and replace it with shingles or a cool ... A: The International Residential Code (IRC) section R806.4 allows for what is called "Conditioned Attic ... | |
| metal painted black roofing | 10/18/2008 |
| Q: We have a thirty year old northern Vermont house with metal roofing. If we painted the roof black ... A: Not all metal roofs can be painted, you should check with the manufacturer. The color Black (if it ... | |
| Ventilation in roof | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: Long story short - I have a mobile home where the bathroom ceiling has begun to crack down the seam. ... A: The hose from your bath fan must be vented directly to the outdoors. They can never vent to an attic ... | |
| Specifying a new standing seam metal roof | 10/7/2008 |
| Q: Dan, I have decided that I want to replace my 40 year shingle roof that was damaged in a hail storm ... A: Many of the manufacturers do not deal directly with the public, most go through distributors, but ... | |
| setting for attick exhaust fans | 10/3/2008 |
| Q: is there a setting for the summer months and one for the winter months. If so, what are these ... A: The settings depend on where you are located. Usually, the summertime settings are about 15 to 20 ... | |
| Specifying a new standing seam metal roof | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: Dan, I have decided that I want to replace my 40 year shingle roof that was damaged in a hail storm ... A: The best place to start looking for a metal roof is metalroofing.com it is the site for the Metal ... | |
| 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: By far, the roofing products that survive the highest wind tests are steel roofs. Most have wind ... | |
| 5-V ridge cap closure strips for ventilation + tolerances | 9/27/2008 |
| Q: will be installing wider (9in fr ctr) ridge cap on 3-1/2 in 12 as extra rain-blow guard on this ... A: There are compressible products that conform to the shape of the panels and there are die-cut fiber ... | |
| Kasselwood Roofing quote | 9/26/2008 |
| Q: I just received a quote for a Kasselwood metal shake roof at 9.50 per square foot or 950 per square. ... A: Prices vary a lot by region and contractor. For example, on installation labor here in the Chicago ... | |
| roof over garage door | 9/25/2008 |
| Q: If you are putting on a garage an overhang over the garage door and side entrance door for looks and ... A: The overhang you are referring to is usually called a Cornice, if it has a short section that goes ... | |
| Radiant Barrier / Underlayment | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: Are there any products currently available to go on the exterior of roof decking such as an ... A: Most painted metal roofing products use a Kynar paint that includes "cool roof" pigmenting that ... | |
| Roof ridge attic vent | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: I have been unable to find the actual term for this fan. (I bought the house 12 yrs ago with fan ... A: A whole house fan blows air from the living space to the attic. An attic fan blows air from the ... | |
| Roofing material selection | 9/19/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to figure out how a sheet metal and a hot mopped roof compare. My understanding is that ... A: An Aluminum or steel roof will cost more than a hot-mopped roof. The metal roof requires more ... | |
| Troch down roof | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: I forgot to ask my second question. The torch down roof is in a prefect location for solar panels. ... A: You really need to install all the solar panel hardware when the new roof is installed. There are ... | |
| torch down roof with rot in the fascia board | 9/15/2008 |
| Q: The roof on my house has a low slope torch down roof. The fascia board is rotted in several places ... A: It is tough to say. 15 years could be the end of most torch-down roofs, but there can be variables. ... | |
| replacing drip edge on Florida conctrete barrel tile roof | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a concrete barrel tile roof in Sarasota, FL. There are no gutters. The old drip edge is ... A: There are companies that make special retrofit flashings for clay tile roofs, I have seen them at ... | |
| Abestos tile | 8/21/2008 |
| Q: I work for a General contractor in Kansas City. I am a former adjuster and handle insurance claims ... A: I agree, the fiber cement roofing products I have seen are not worth buying or installing. As you ... | |
| Copper Flashing | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: Our Home Owner's Association has multiple bids for a new room. The current roofing is was laid over ... A: If the Copper flashings are thick enough for architectural use (12 ounce or heavier) and they were ... | |
| Metal Roof for a Camp | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: I have purchased a hunting camp that has a traditional rolled roof on it. I would like to protect ... A: A single layer of felt between the old asphalt roof and the new steel roof panels is fine. If you ... | |
| soffets and facia | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: The wood on my soffets and facia is in sad shape. I am going to replace and paint the entire house. ... A: There are many brands of fiber cement products, many are offered with baked on factory paints with ... | |
| cedar roof ridge cap | 8/11/2008 |
| Q: how do you place and nail cedar shingles when building a ridge cap ? A: There needs to be a functional ridge cap under the Cedar ridge pieces. Usually it is just an upside ... | |
| Metal Roof for a Camp | 8/11/2008 |
| Q: I have purchased a hunting camp that has a traditional rolled roof on it. I would like to protect ... A: The vapor barrier should be seamless, like a single sheet of poly sheeting, 6 mill works best, with ... | |
| Metal Roof for a Camp | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: I have purchased a hunting camp that has a traditional rolled roof on it. I would like to protect ... A: You should look at exposed fastener 5V panels. Most home or lumber stores can order this. They ... | |
| chooosing a metal roof | 8/4/2008 |
| Q: I would like to replace my asphalt shingles on my roof with metal and am unsure what type of ... A: As far as stone coated roofing goes, Gerard has a much better and longer warranty. Gerard & Decra ... | |
| Metal Roof Sweating in Heat | 8/1/2008 |
| Q: I have installed a metal roof in a residential home with a vaulted ceiling, no attic. There are ... A: You need a really good vapor barrier on the underside of the rafters. The moisture is getting past ... | |
| Attic ventilation | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: I have soffit vents plus 2 non functioning power roof vents and just recently added 28' of ridge ... A: In areas that have cold temps in the winter, it is important to have ventilation flow from the eaves ... | |
| Replacing New Roof | 7/27/2008 |
| Q: Due to the hail damage, the insurance company gave me the green light to replace the roof. One ... A: I am very sorry about the slow response, we were out of town and forgot to switch our account to "on ... | |
| roofing materials for a geodesic dome home | 7/24/2008 |
| Q: Can you roof or reroof a geodesic dome home with your materials...instead of it's present asphalt ... A: I have never thought about this before as we have never been requested to quote a roof for a ... | |
| stone coated steel roofs | 7/23/2008 |
| Q: What is your opinion about Gerard stone coated steel roofs? A: We have used them with good success. They have very good customer service, most do not. Their manuf ... | |
| stone coated steel roofs | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: What are the pros and cons regarding stone coated steel roofs? A: The stones have a nice matte finish. They have the highest ratings in wind, hail, fire and hail. ... | |
| Roof over Roof | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: Now since it's not "dimensional" shingle, I'll have to replace it with a "dimensional" single in ... A: I really can't answer your question about installing asphalt over asphalt, we do nothing with those ... | |
| Metal shingle over wood shake | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I am planning to place a steel shingle roof over a wood shake roof. I will add a 1 1/2 inch ... A: The spaced decking (instead of plywood) you have is intended to breath well. That should prevent the ... | |
| Metal shingle over wood shake | 7/18/2008 |
| Q: I am planning to place a steel shingle roof over a wood shake roof. I will add a 1 1/2 inch ... A: There are several companies that allow their products to be installed over an old shake roof, but we ... | |
| Rubber Roof Tiles/Shingles | 7/17/2008 |
| Q: I saw an ad for EuroSlate(www.euroslate.ca) slate style shingles made from recycled tires. They have ... A: We have used the EuroSlate/EuroShake products. You will want to check with their sales department, ... | |
| Insulating outside of the rafters | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: I'm adding a second floor to my house, which will include a walk-up attic with living space. I want ... A: The most important issue you have to deal with is any joint, gap or void in materials where moisture ... | |
| Copper roof over baywindow | 7/15/2008 |
| Q: Dan, the outside of my house has no curb appeal and one eye sore is the copper roof. It is a drab ... A: We have installed quite a bit of Copper. We have tried every professional product to clean old ... | |
| green roof and straw bale construction | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: I have a client who wants to build a straw bale house, and he wants to use straw for the roof ... A: I agree with you that a ceiling insulation must be moisture, rot and mold resistant. Personally, I ... | |
| ridge vent vs. turbine | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: I am replacing my roof.I live in Louisiana (south La) and it is HUMID and Hot several months in ... A: There are different approaches to dealing with attic heat. If you install a metal roof of some sort ... | |
| Insulating a combination timber frame/stick frame home | 7/12/2008 |
| Q: 18 years ago we built a part timber frame/part stick frame house. The problem is that we have 6 ... A: Pick an installer for your foam insulation, find out what company makes their foam chemicals, then ... | |
| Insulating a combination timber frame/stick frame home | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: 18 years ago we built a part timber frame/part stick frame house. The problem is that we have 6 ... A: Sorry about the slow response, we have been quite busy. The biggest issue in your situation is ... | |
| granular surface rolled roof | 7/5/2008 |
| Q: I have a semi-detached, about 90 years old, with a granular surface (asphalt) rolled roof. There ... A: Building codes allow you to install 1 layer of new roofing over 1 layer of old roofing. Anything ... | |
| metal roofs: aluminum or steel? | 6/30/2008 |
| Q: Dan, I currently have a shake roof and plan to tear off and put a roof, that truly can "last" 50 ... A: If a metal roof is installed against a wood deck, like plywood or OSB, it isn't really any louder ... | |
| tin roof | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: In regards to tin roofs, can you put a new tin roof over old asphalt? A: Yes, if the asphalt roof is flat, as in not curled up. You usually have to lay down a layer of ... | |
| Attic fan vs turbines | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: We live in Houston. 1) If a home has a ridge vent, but you would like to cool the attic more, which ... A: Turbines work well if you live in an area that has constant breezes during the hot months, which ... | |
| Attic fan vs turbines | 6/21/2008 |
| Q: We live in Houston. 1) If a home has a ridge vent, but you would like to cool the attic more, which ... A: If installed correctly, a radiant barrier can work well, but it doesn't retro-fit well. You could ... | |
| SS Metal roof and heat transfer | 6/18/2008 |
| Q: I currently have an asphalt roof in Phoenix. On a cooler day, 100 F, my attic space is 140 F and the ... A: If you remove your Asphalt roof and switch to any metal, your energy costs will go down because of ... | |
| Installing Reflectix | 6/11/2008 |
| Q: We live in Charlotte, NC, our two story frame house faces south so the sun shines on our roof most ... A: We know that asphalt shingles do radiate a lot of heat inward toward the living space. We also know ... | |
| Architectual shingles | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: Greetings Dan, I live in Southern Wisconsin. I plan to build a barn this summer and shingle it with ... A: The nails should extend through the shingles by at least 3/4". If you want a longer lasting ... | |
| solar powered attic fan | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: What is your opinion of putting in ridge venting and attic fans vs attic fans. We live in Florida ... A: I believe that it is more important to find a product that has a good local presence. Find a local ... | |
| Exterior insulation for open beam sealing | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: We're all set to re-roof our home (30 year old shake). It's got an open beam sealing almost ... A: For your situation, we like to use a foam sheet by Dow called tuff-r or super tuff-r. It is ... | |
| valleys | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: what is the best way to finish off a valley on a roof, metal flashing or a term I heard called the ... A: We are not the asphalt experts. We have seen a lot of the California weave, when installed ... | |
| Roof Addtion | 5/16/2008 |
| Q: We are currently putting on a small addition 18 x 26. I have 2 specific questions. 1. Is is bad for ... A: Great questions! I wish more consumers looked over their projects like you do. You should have to ... | |
| Insulating an Uninsulated roof | 5/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a summer home in northern Minnesota that has an open beam ceiling that I want to keep. I ... A: Your biggest issue will be preventing the buildup of moisture. Like you said, it is a good idea to ... | |
| Architectural shingles | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: Can you place architectural shingles over an existing layer of regular shingles? A: It is not recommended for the following reasons; 1) Architectural shingles are much heavier than ... | |
| 40 year comp. roofing | 4/29/2008 |
| Q: Dan, can you tell me if 40 year comp. is worth paying the extra money vs 30 year when it comes to ... A: We remove a lot of asphalt roofs that are rated at 30, 40 and even 50 years, when the roofs are 9 to ... | |
| Replacing 30-Year Cedar Shake Roof | 4/25/2008 |
| Q: Am wondering about alternatives. Specifically, either the fake shake... or something else (metal?). ... A: There are a few manufactures that are making synthetic shakes that look pretty good. RPM, ... | |
| shingle ratings | 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: The ratings of Asphalt shingles are very deceiving. You would think that a "40 year" shingle would ... | |
| peeling Kynar finish | 4/20/2008 |
| Q: Our 12-year old, 24 gauge metal roof with a Kynar finish is in very bad shape, with the finish ... A: I have never heard of or seen a Kynar paint peel off. You will have to do some research, but there ... | |
| re-roofing my 140+ year-old home | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: We're looking to get a new roof for our old house. I would like to go as green as possible, but my ... A: Can you send me a couple photos of your home and the Yankee gutters? ecowiseinc@sbcglobal.net ... | |
| copper roof and aluminum gutters | 4/15/2008 |
| Q: I have a porch and bay roof that we plan to replace with copper and because the trim is white below ... A: Whenever 2 dissimilar metals come in contact with each other, while in the presence of an ... | |
| copper eaves | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: Dan, We have two bay windows with copper eaves and I have noticed green liquid seeping down onto ... A: The problem is that the Copper lower edge detail is not a "drip edge". A drip edge would extend ... | |
| attic ventilation question | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: My home is a 1500 sq/ft 40 yo single story built on a crawlspace. Has 3 large gable vents, many ... A: You might want to try preventing the heat from entering the attic area first to reduce the heat ... | |
| Roofing | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a 17x43 roof I need to know how many bundles I will need or how many sq I have. A: Assuming the numbers you gave are "flat" to the roof surface, it would be 17' x 43' = 731 square ... | |
| copper eaves | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: Dan, We have two bay windows with copper eaves and I have noticed green liquid seeping down onto ... A: Sorry about the slow response, I was one of the lucky people stranded in Tulsa Oklahoma. Could you ... | |
| leaking gable vents | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: i have a round vinyl gable vent set in the brick on the north and south side of the house. everytime ... A: Sorry about the slow response, I was one of the lucky people stranded in Tulsa Oklahoma. It sounds ... | |
| Ridge, soffit and powered vent. | 3/31/2008 |
| Q: Dan, below is from a previous posting from another South Carolinian. I have the same question, I ... A: Sorry, I was out of state and the site would not allow me to log in on my laptop. You have solid ... | |
| drip edge flashing on tile roof has large holes. | 3/28/2008 |
| Q: I bought an older home. Although the roof is in great shape, the drip edge flashing was rusted and ... A: Sorry, I was out of state and the site would not allow me to log in on my laptop. It would be easy ... | |
| Installing a new roof over an existing one | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: My home is 17 years old and has the original builders grade shingle roof on it. We have a couple of ... A: The IRC (International Residential Code) does allow you to cover a single layer of asphalt with a ... | |
| FIREPLACE LEAK | 3/23/2008 |
| Q: WE JUST BOUGHT OUR DREAM HOME 3 MONTHS AGO AND ALREADY HAVING PROBLEMS. WE HAVE RECENTLY HAVE HAD ... A: If you do not have a rain cap on your chimney, you could be getting some water in that way, but ... | |
| solar roof paints | 3/2/2008 |
| Q: do you know anything about HY_TECH products. My sister lives in Fl. and when her roof was destroyed ... A: The type of product you are referring to is usually used on low-slope or flat roofing. They do ... | |
| Trailer Roof | 2/29/2008 |
| Q: I live in a trailer that has the flat roof. Ice builds up on the edges of the roof, and then creeps ... A: When you have the roof replaced, you need to make sure that a metal drip edge is installed. These ... | |
| metal roof | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: should the radiant barrier be under the entire roof or just the edges? would panels bubble and/or ... A: If you are using a radiant barrier, it should be under the entire roof surface. Scratches in a good ... | |
| When to replace a metal roof | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: Our home has a metal roof that we put on when we built our home 22 years ago. We are considering ... A: If your metal roof is in good structural shape and not rusted, there are coatings available for ... | |
| Building & Construction Student | 2/22/2008 |
| Q: Is the open valley method considered the most practical method of finishing off a valley?; And Is ... A: We are not the experts on mineral faced asphalt products. But we can give you generalized ... | |
| "Green" Asphalt Shingles? | 2/20/2008 |
| Q: Are there any asphalt roofing shingles that are greener than the others? Or does the basic ... A: An asphalt shingle is about as far away from being "green" as you can get. The manufacturing ... | |
| Longest lasting Northeast Roof | 2/18/2008 |
| Q: I am interested in the longest lasting roof for a LEDS platinum house. We are adding an addition and ... A: The best roof we have found to deal with ice dams is a metal roof; in low slope applications (less ... | |
| mobile home roof damage | 2/12/2008 |
| Q: I have an older 14' single wide mobile home with a large gaping hole in the curved flat metal roof ... A: Sheet metal alone would be ok if it is supported well and you are not in a snow zone. Snow would ... | |
| recycle cedar roof? | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: I know, a crazy question. After tearing of my cedar roof (and removing nails, etc.) can the cedar be ... A: It depends on where you are located, there may be a service that would shred it for you. Usually a ... | |
| repairing copper gutters | 2/6/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1930 home with a slate roof and copper gutters. A section of the gutters in the back of ... A: I would recommend finding a good craftsman to check it out before removing them. You may just have a ... | |
| mobile home roof damage | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: I have an older 14' single wide mobile home with a large gaping hole in the curved flat metal roof ... A: Any kind of EPDM, PVC or TPO will need a good solid foundation or else they will fail. That way the ... | |
| mobile home roof damage | 2/3/2008 |
| Q: I have an older 14' single wide mobile home with a large gaping hole in the curved flat metal roof ... A: No matter what kind of roof you get, it is important to to install a metal drip edge to all edges. ... | |
| New Cedar Shake | 2/2/2008 |
| Q: I am installing a new cedar shake roof for a friend who has to sell the house as they have moved to ... A: It looks like you have been doing a lot of homework, that is rare. 1) You may not get much of a ... | |
| Leaking vent pipe | 1/29/2008 |
| Q: When we get rain (usually heavier rain) water drips into the laundry room from the venting pipe that ... A: Water leaking in or around the exhaust vent will absolutely damage your water heater and/or your ... | |
| Mobile home roof | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: We have a 1968 20x40 mobile home, metal roof. It had a tar paper and gravel on it when we moved in. ... A: It sounds like your roofer did not install a proper drip-edge before installing your roof. Without ... | |
| asbestos slate roof | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: I have an asbestos slate roof-house built 1945. we have done minor repairs but this is the original ... A: There are still companies that do repair work on Asbestos roofing. They are usually the same guys ... | |
| mobile home roof | 1/19/2008 |
| Q: ok, i think i have a roof problem. i moved into a mobile home in the summer and all seemed ok, now ... A: Your problem is not uncommon for mobile homes. You will need to do several things to make your home ... | |
| Need a new roof | 1/16/2008 |
| Q: I need to replace my flat tar and gravel roof and want to know if I should get another tar and ... A: If you are looking for energy efficiency, a tar roof is not the way to go. If you are looking for ... | |
| ROOFING | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: CAN I ADD SHINGLES TO INCREASE THE OVERHANG TO A PROPER DISTANCE FOR THE GUTTERS. THE INSTALLER ... A: If the lower row of shingles and Ice & Water Shield are not "glued" down yet, you may be able to ... | |
| Kasselwood vs Interlock | 1/14/2008 |
| Q: We live about 600 feet from the pacific ocean and we are considering reroofing with either ... A: None of the roofing products with a galvanized steel material would be recommended for your use due ... | |
| stone coated steel roof tiles | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: We are looking at purchasing a home with stone-coated steel roof tiles. We don't care for it's ... A: Technically speaking, yes. Most stone coated panel manufacturers offer acrylic paint that is used on ... | |
| Low - pitch roof | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: I have an existing felted flat roof which needs replacing. The plywood deck is supported on 225 x 75 ... A: Yes, #3 is possible. You have to use an underlayment that is completely water-proof. A layer of EPDM ... | |
| New spray rubber roofing material | 12/6/2007 |
| Q: I have found a new product, that has been just introduced to the U.S.. It is a liquid applied,water ... A: Usually sprayed products are only used on large commercial projects. This is due to all the ... | |
| Mobile Home Awning/Roofing | 12/5/2007 |
| Q: We have two awnings on our mobile home which have rooms built under them. The awnings are channeled ... A: I have never heard of a foam product used in this manor. Usually, the only way to permanently keep ... | |
| Noisy Roof | 12/3/2007 |
| Q: I have a log cabin (cathedral ceiling) with a noisy roof. Initially, I thought it was the green ... A: Do you know how thick the roof is from the inside ceiling to the outside roof deck? Knowing that ... | |
| copper roof | 12/2/2007 |
| Q: We are remodeling our home and had the roof over our dormer windows replaced with copper. The ... A: If an experienced craftsman installed it, it would not be discolored in that way. But, we do see ... | |
| 5v galvanized sheets for storage building roof | 11/30/2007 |
| Q: I am building a 12x20 storage shed in my back yard and have almost decided on 5v galvanized roofing ... A: The 2x4 purlins are important if you live in an area with snow loads. I have seen 1x4 purlins used ... | |
| California Shakes | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I live near Los Angeles and have a Cal Shake roof, which is deteriorating. Part of the roof has ... A: It depends a lot on how much of a budget you have for the roof. I have no experience with the Fire ... | |
| 5v galvanized sheets for storage building roof | 11/29/2007 |
| Q: I am building a 12x20 storage shed in my back yard and have almost decided on 5v galvanized roofing ... A: 1) flat side down, ribs up. 2) An 18V drill or impact driver is more than enough. We use 12V and ... | |
| under eave vents | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: We have rebuilt, primed and painted the overhanging eaves on our one story home in Northern Va and ... A: Your best choices for vents are in new construction, because to can accommodate almost everything ... | |
| roofing comparisons | 11/27/2007 |
| Q: I currently have a cedar shake roof. I am considering reroofing with composite shakes,fiberglass or ... A: The pricing will depend a lot on how complex the roof is. Obviously, the more labor required, the ... | |
| new roof over cedar | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: He said the roof wasn't that bad so he just plywooded over and put new shingles on. He charged ... A: Hopefully your roofer got a permit for the job? If so, your building inspector should be able to ... | |
| Roof trusses | 11/25/2007 |
| Q: wood trusses are the norm in South Africa. I am told light galvanized steel is more cost effective ... A: It partially depends on where you live. If you live near salt water, the salt in the air causes ... | |
| Tiling a Flat Roof | 11/23/2007 |
| Q: We are a single family residential builder. There has been many occasions where we have a flat roof ... A: Yes, that is the article. Wow, $3 isn't a bad price. The Journal is a very good publication they ... | |
| flashing a chimney on metal roofing | 11/21/2007 |
| Q: I am helping a neighbor put metal roofing on his house.The roof is 4/12 with a large 3 flu chimney ... A: What kind of metal roof is it? Do you have a fax number? I could send you some sketches if you do. ... | |
| 5, 7, 12 inch cedar shake pattern | 11/20/2007 |
| Q: WOW, this is driving me nuts! For my 28x28 foot 1782 Carraige House I bought composite shake - and ... A: I know of no program available. When we install that type of roof, we break it down into smaller ... | |
| 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: Absolutely. Schluter Systems has a product called DITRA. It is recommended for the use you are ... | |
| Ondura roofing | 11/19/2007 |
| Q: We have a cabin in Tn. that has a metal roof now. It is beginning to rust. We saw a material that ... A: I have seen the Ondura product, but we have not used it. So I couldn't give you any first hand ... | |
| flat roof leaks | 11/14/2007 |
| Q: have you ever heard of installing arch shingles over existing flat roof area to stop the leaks??? ... A: By code, Asphalt shingles can not be installed on "low slope" roofs. Low slope roofs are 3 in 12 or ... | |
| replacing drip edge w/ tile roof | 11/13/2007 |
| Q: 1958 mason house, metal drip edge unknown age now rusting out and needs replacing. Clay tile roof ... A: You will most likely have to find a contractor who works with custom Architectural metalwork. An ... | |
| Nailing through Metal Roof Shingle | 11/10/2007 |
| Q: I am seriously considering having our 23 year old composition shingles replaced with a new metal ... A: I understand your concern and I agree with you. A panel with hidden fasteners would seem to be a ... | |
| Adding a 2nd layer of shingle on a new roof | 11/7/2007 |
| Q: My builder made a mistake and put black shingles but we asked him to replace with brown shingles as ... A: It just isn't that cut & dried. While the second layer can have a shorter life, it is mostly due to ... | |
| Adding a 2nd layer of shingle on a new roof | 11/6/2007 |
| Q: My builder made a mistake and put black shingles but we asked him to replace with brown shingles as ... A: By code, you are allowed to have up to 2 layers of asphalt shingles on your roof. So there isn't any ... | |
| Solar Panels over vents | 10/30/2007 |
| Q: They say that absolutely we can never ever put solar on a roof until we have a plumber redirect all ... A: Good building practice does not allow anything to be mounted near roof vents in areas of the country ... | |
| Roofing Layers | 10/29/2007 |
| Q: I am an Illinois attorney (don't hold it against me) representing a condo ass'n against a developer ... A: The International Building Code in the residential specs states that; R907.3 New roof coverings ... | |
| Flat Roof repair/change | 10/27/2007 |
| Q: I have a small portion of my house that is covered by a flat roof, the rest being shingle. I have ... A: The only problem with flat roof areas like you have is that few contractors know how to install them ... | |
| ROOF VENTILATION | 10/26/2007 |
| Q: Is there a problem with having both a ridge vent and a turtle vent installed? A: A roof venting system is designed to allow air to enter at the eave & exit at the ridge. As the air ... | |
| copper roofing | 10/25/2007 |
| Q: I am covering the roof of my bay window with copper. I am unable to locate red rosin paper in ... A: The granular faced Ice & Water shield would not be good for copper at all. Copper can get quite hot ... | |
| plumbing jack/kitchen leaking | 10/22/2007 |
| Q: I have a 1st floor kitchen ceiling leak that appears to be from the venting attatched to the second ... A: It could be lots of things. It could be a leaky pipe that is dripping on the vent stack and just ... | |
| Steel roofing and foamboard | 10/20/2007 |
| Q: Dan, I read your response to the person in Wisconsin planning a steel roof. I am in Wisconsin also ... A: If the rafters are accessible from the warm side, using 2 layers of 2" extruded foam (pink stuff) ... | |
| re-shingling roof | 10/19/2007 |
| Q: Is it wise to put new shingles over old layer. It seems it would add a lot of weight to roof. Some ... A: It is cheaper to shingle over old shingles obviously because of the labor savings and also because ... | |
| Roof replacement | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: I am doing a school project about replacing a traditional roof with a green one. The roof would be ... A: We live near Chicago. The Chicago city government is promoting "green" roofing on city buildings, ... | |
| copper roofing | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: My father in law is installing a copper roof and hidden copper gutters on his old house. He wanted ... A: The most common Copper installations use tar/asphalt paper, then a layer of Red Rosin paper like ... | |
| roof air vents | 10/15/2007 |
| Q: We live in a town home and it has a Cathedral ceiling. There are 4 roof vents and it appears that ... A: The square roof vents are used a lot because they are the least expensive way to go. But, as you ... | |
| ice water shield necessary in Arkansas? | 10/8/2007 |
| Q: I am about to get a new roof. I have decided on a CL4 impact resistant roof since the insurance ... A: Sorry about the slow response, I didn't see the question. If you ever get snow in your area, then ... | |
| ice water shield necessary in Arkansas? | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: I am about to get a new roof. I have decided on a CL4 impact resistant roof since the insurance ... A: The use of Ice & Water shield at the eaves and in the valleys is a code requirement in many areas of ... | |
| replace leaky skylight | 10/2/2007 |
| Q: We have a leaky 4'x4' skylight from 1988 that is attached to a curb. In order to replace it, I was ... A: Try looking at different brands of skylights. It would be best to find a close size to retrofit. ... | |
| replace leaky skylight | 9/29/2007 |
| Q: We have a leaky 4'x4' skylight from 1988 that is attached to a curb. In order to replace it, I was ... A: Normally, a curb is attached directly to the roof deck and the curb-mounted skylight just sits on ... | |
| 5V metal roof sheeting | 9/28/2007 |
| Q: I have an old single wide mobile home that had a 'metal roof over' nearly 20 years ago. This roof ... A: Perlins or a plywood deck are both common installation practices today. More than likely, the ... | |
| Leaks while getting a new stone coated steel roof | 9/26/2007 |
| Q: We are in the process of replacing our tile roof with a stone coated steel roof. Unfortunately, the ... A: When we install roofs, we use Synthetic Underlayments. These are guaranteed leak-proof for 6 months ... | |
| attic ventilation | 9/24/2007 |
| Q: I am trying to ventilate my attic space. The house has no overhang and a bonus room in the attic. ... A: There is a company , DCI Products that makes several special purpose vents that may help your ... | |
| drip edge | 9/20/2007 |
| Q: I have had a drip edge installed with the new roof. The shingles and drip edge are flush around the ... A: A drip edge is used to force the water to flow away from the fascia trim. Normally, the drip edge is ... | |
| Roof ventilation | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: We recently had our roof replaced and ridge vents were installed. The attic already had gable vents ... A: Most roofing materials have a lot of mass. Like asphalt, slate & tile. The sun's energy is absorbed ... | |
| Metal roof with insulation | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: I have a northern WI house with 45 degree roofing plus a small 20 degree roof porch. The house is ... A: Yes you can. Your metal roof will require a layer of sheathing, either plywood or OSB to attach to. ... | |
| Roof ventilation | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: We recently had our roof replaced and ridge vents were installed. The attic already had gable vents ... A: If you live in an area where you have cold / freezing winters, you want the flow to come up from the ... | |
| Radiant barrier in unvented roof assembly | 9/18/2007 |
| Q: I'm in the process of renovating an attic. The plan is to spray the underside of the roof with ... A: With the use of the Urethane foam, you usually do not have to use a radiant barrier, vapor barrier ... | |
| metal roof and facia | 9/13/2007 |
| Q: When I recieved a bid to replace my roof I was advised it would be $15,750. I was advised that this ... A: I have never heard of the idea that a Fascia is "part of" the roof. That doesn't make sense to me. ... | |
| longest lasting roof | 9/10/2007 |
| Q: I am considering having a new house built. What's the longest lasting roof and any tips on ... A: Generally speaking, any product with exposed fasteners will be the easiest (least-expensive) ... | |
| longest lasting roof | 9/8/2007 |
| Q: I am considering having a new house built. What's the longest lasting roof and any tips on ... A: Generally speaking, any of the investment grade roofing products should last for a couple lifetimes. ... | |
| roofing installation | 9/7/2007 |
| Q: I have an older freestanding garage with asphalt shingles. Have contracted to have it remodeled. The ... A: It really helps that you have used the roofing installer before, at least there is a good track ... | |
| Roof vents | 9/6/2007 |
| Q: Going to replace a roof in a house in the bay area, California. 1. Any advantage comparing eyebrow ... A: Ridge vents are full length of the ridge, so they usually allow for a more uniform ventilation, plus ... | |
| white/black GAF Timberline 30 tiles | 9/4/2007 |
| Q: We are installing a GAF Timberline 30 roof......... Our home is on the mid-Atlantic shore line, ... A: A lighter colored stone will lower your roofing temperature somewhat. But, asphalt shingles are a ... | |
| roofing installation | 9/3/2007 |
| Q: I have an older freestanding garage with asphalt shingles. Have contracted to have it remodeled. The ... A: You are doing a great job of educating yourself on this issue, that places you in the top 1 or 2% of ... | |
| roofing installation | 9/2/2007 |
| Q: I have an older freestanding garage with asphalt shingles. Have contracted to have it remodeled. The ... A: You definitely have a problem contractor. I hope you have a building permit? If so, the building ... | |
| Harnessing Energy from Heat Conduction | 8/28/2007 |
| Q: I'm researching whether it is feasible to harness the escaping heat from a ridge vent to provide ... A: The general idea in summertime is to keep the attic temperature as low as possible to reduce loads ... | |
| no $$ 4 roof | 8/24/2007 |
| Q: my parents past away and left me their home free & clear. Problem is its 3400sq.Ft. 20 yrs. old. ... A: Where do you live? Have you consulted an Attorney? There is some relief available in Bankruptcy ... | |
| ridge vent and hat vents on the same plane | 8/22/2007 |
| Q: I recently had a ridge vent installed the length of my house. They were supposed to cover my hat ... A: Sorry about the slow response, we had our hands full with local flooding. You are correct, you ... | |
| Mold on metal roof | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: Hey Dan, I own a log home that backs up to Lookout Mountain in NW Georgia. Most of the roofs that ... A: Metal roofing is the best overall roofing product in my opinion. Most of them exceed the highest UL ... | |
| metal roof add lean to | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: I am adding a lean to to an existing steel roof building. The pitch on the building is 18d and the ... A: I do not think that you are going to be able to seal that transition the way it is laid out. ... | |
| roof sag | 8/13/2007 |
| Q: Our living room is a large open area with the fireplace in the center of the house. The rafters ... A: A 40 year Architectural shingle should be well within the normal load range of a roof built to code ... | |
| attic ventilation | 8/8/2007 |
| Q: Last winter we noticed evenly spaced water spots form along our family room exterior wall. This ... A: There are many things that could be wrong with your new home. It is likely that your problem is the ... | |
| mobile home roofing systems | 8/6/2007 |
| Q: I have had trouble with leaking and can not seem to find the source. We used that white coating ... A: If you are considering installing it yourself, I would recommend an EPDM rubber material. It is most ... | |
| replacing a gently sloping roof, | 8/5/2007 |
| Q: my asphalt and pebble roof needs to be replaced. I have 1 quote for a duro last single ply roof, and ... A: In my opinion, the DuroLast roof is the superior product. 1) The lighter the color, the more of the ... | |
| Tile roof leaks | 8/4/2007 |
| Q: I really really need some help here. I built my home 12 years ago. I recently noticed my ceiling ... A: This is definitely a situation for your homeowners insurance to pay for. After you get a ... | |
| holes in new tile roof | 8/4/2007 |
| Q: My husband and I just bought a new house. When we had DirecTv come install their dish (not to the ... A: You may have some issues for your new home warranty & the sooner it is reported, the better. Even ... | |
| Roof Pitch | 8/1/2007 |
| Q: We are in the process of building a house. My husband and father-in-law are building it themselves. ... A: It would be strictly an aesthetic opinion. The roof slope will have a huge effect on the curb appeal ... | |
| Placing new roofing plywood on top of old roofing plywood | 7/29/2007 |
| Q: My daughter needs to replace her roofing shingles. The contractor looked the situation over and ... A: We do that a lot. All you do is stagger the seams and it makes the deck a lot stronger & flatter. ... | |
| Roof ventilation | 7/27/2007 |
| Q: I recently built a small 1st floor addition on the south side of my home in Michigan. The floor ... A: You definitely want to vent the roof on your new addition. Not venting will shorten the life of ... | |
| Icynene Insulation and Sealing Ridge Vents | 7/26/2007 |
| Q: I am having a home built and plan to have icynene foam insulation sprayed into the attic (exterior ... A: It should not pose a problem. The usage of conditioned attic space as you are building is fairly ... | |
| I WANT moss on my roof | 7/24/2007 |
| Q: I am an architect (believe it or not) designing a retirement house for my wife and myself. It will ... A: I have seen no reference to moss degrading TPO or PVC. Their sensitivities are UV, Industrial ... | |
| I WANT moss on my roof | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: I am an architect (believe it or not) designing a retirement house for my wife and myself. It will ... A: I had to think about this one for awhile. There are certainly more, but these are the issues I ... | |
| Question about roof truss? | 7/20/2007 |
| Q: I have an existing roof with a 2/12" slope and I would like to increase the slope. Is it possible to ... A: In this situation, usually the old roof and roof deck (usually plywood) are removed. A ridge beam is ... | |
| Mansard design roof | 7/18/2007 |
| Q: We own a 1890's Mansard that is 32x32, without the back addition. Our roof is 29x29 plus dormers. ... A: With the heavy snow-loads you see in Pennsylvania, a low-slope roof of any kind will fail rather ... | |
| New Metal Roof for "Green" Home | 7/17/2007 |
| Q: Dan, I live in the San Antonio, TX area and am planning on building a new home this Fall. I'm going ... A: The acrylic paints / adhesives that adhere the stones to metal roofing panels may cause you some ... | |
| ridge vent -vs- turbine vents | 7/14/2007 |
| Q: which vent system is better to keep attic cool ?? please reply, thank you. A: It depends. First of all, we have to assume that you have the proper inlet venting at the eaves. ... | |
| corregated deck roof | 7/8/2007 |
| Q: Our deck has a corrugated roof over it. There is no frame for this roof. One end sits in a track ... A: Try going to www.metalroofing.com that is the website of the Metal Roofing Alliance. You can access ... | |
| Euroslate Rubber Roofing | 7/3/2007 |
| Q: I just read your answer regarding Euroslate rubber roofing and found it helpful, however I would ... A: Good questions! The EuroShake/EuroSlate installation manual specifically says that you will void ... | |
| loft condensation | 7/2/2007 |
| Q: we have built on top of our bungalow.so we now have a new build on top of a old house.we have used a ... A: Can you send me a photo of the exterior of the addition? ecowiseinc@sbcglobal.net Where is your ... | |
| Moving Roof Stringers Up | 6/24/2007 |
| Q: My unfinished 900 sf, 1960's wood-frame/stucco garage has a hip roof, but only 8' of headroom below ... A: Yes it is possible. Since it is a 40 year old Hip roof, I am assuming it will be built with rafters ... | |
| Vents & Whirly Birds | 6/23/2007 |
| Q: Is it o.k. to have Vents & Whirly Birds( Both ) installed on a Ranch Style Home? We are hearing ... A: If the whirlybirds are installed next to the passive square vents, the air will just flow in the ... | |
| Vents & Whirly Birds | 6/22/2007 |
| Q: Is it o.k. to have Vents & Whirly Birds( Both ) installed on a Ranch Style Home? We are hearing ... A: What are you trying to achieve? If your summertime attic temperatures are elevated, it will cause ... | |
| down pipe air, water weep | 6/15/2007 |
| Q: We have a plastic type pipe on the roof approx 2" going through the loft down to the bathroom. The ... A: This definitely must be corrected from the roof surface. You will need a pipe "boot" installed & ... | |
| vent pipe leaks | 6/14/2007 |
| Q: I have had successive leaks in my first floor kitchn ceiling. There is nothing to be found at all in ... A: Leaks can be hard to diagnose. The steeper your roof is, the higher up the roof the leak may ... | |
| Combining ridge vents with power vent fans | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: Our house has a large amount of attic space and the builder only installed a ridge vent to keep ... A: Are you sure that the builder did not install soffit venting? A combination system of soffit (inlet) ... | |
| Roof Pitch for Metal Roofing | 6/12/2007 |
| Q: We are planning on getting an addition to our home that is 26' X 30'. The local inspector is saying ... A: Good question. We commonly install Standing Seam Steel and Aluminum roofing down to a 1/12 pitch. ... | |
| Roof vents | 6/11/2007 |
| Q: We will be re-roofing our home soon, and we are doing a complete tear off. When my husband was ... A: I agree with your husband in not wanting the typical mushroom shaped vents on your roof. Those ... | |
| Metal Roofing | 6/10/2007 |
| Q: My husband is looking to replace the shingle roof on our house. The roof is 23 years old. Our ... A: A good place to start your search is the website of the Metal Roofing Alliance, go to ... | |
| Metal Roofing | 6/9/2007 |
| Q: My husband is looking to replace the shingle roof on our house. The roof is 23 years old. Our ... A: Congratulations on upgrading to a metal roof! You must be happy to know you will never again have to ... | |
| INADEQUATE ROOF PITCH | 6/6/2007 |
| Q: I purchased an investment property that came w/ a host of 'hidden' problems. My most recent obstacle ... A: You do have options. We have done some almost flat roofs where we used tapered foam insulation to ... | |
| GAF Royal Sovereign Shingles Need Replacing after 8-9 years? | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: My mother had the GAF Royal Sovereign roof shingles installed in 1998. Recently the same roofing ... A: If you go to the manufacturers website, you should be able to get a complete copy of the warranty. ... | |
| odor from new asphalt roofing | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: We just had a new roof put on. We live in the South and it is now getting in the low 90's during ... A: It is not uncommon for an Asphalt roof to smell "bad" for awhile after installation. It is worse in ... | |
| Kasselwood | 6/2/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if you have had much experience with Kasselwood products? I see that they are a ... A: Kassel & Irons, the manufacturer of KasselWood was founded in 2005. It is a new division of a much ... | |
| roofs for cabins at a camp | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: I'm board president for an organization that runs an 80-year-old camp in Ohio. Our cabins are very ... A: If it were my project, I would recommend a metal roof with an EnergyStar rated Kynar paint. It ... | |
| flat re-roofing options{6200 sf strip store} | 5/26/2007 |
| Q: re. new roof .{current bitumen type 1993} extensive leaking cracking {10 repairs since ... A: What part of the country are you located in? Do you know how much detail work is involved in the ... | |
| slate roof repair of valley | 5/25/2007 |
| Q: My slate roof is leaking into the attic and has penetrated the ceiling in my house. I am told that ... A: No, this is not a proper repair for a Slate roof! For a slate roof, the only 2 proper flashing ... | |
| VALLEY HEIGHT SPECS? | 5/24/2007 |
| Q: IS THERE A WAY TO FIND OUT CODE ON THE CENTER RISE ON THE VALLEY? I THINK IT HAS TO BE A ONE INCH ... A: What you are referring to is a "W" valley, they are not normally required by building codes. You can ... | |
| Cedar shake vs. Euroshake | 5/19/2007 |
| Q: I'm considering replacing a cedar shake roof with Euroshake and the roofer doesn't seem to have any ... A: I have a rather strong opinion on this subject. Personally, I think that it is a waste to use cedar ... | |
| New Metal Roof and Increasing Ventilation | 5/19/2007 |
| Q: I am currently getting bids for installing a new metal roof on my home at 8,000 ft in Evergreen, CO. ... A: Your new Galvalume roof will be a lot cooler than an asphalt roof, not to mention a LOT longer life. ... | |
| Leaks around chimmney | 5/18/2007 |
| Q: We are thinking about getting medal roofing for our home and we have a concern about them putting it ... A: Absolutely! Just make sure that you get a standardized product and an experienced installer. Most ... | |
| Leaking corrugated aluminum roof | 5/15/2007 |
| Q: A tree recently damaged my 32 year-old corrugated aluminum roof. I now have 5 small holes in it ... A: You should patch it asap to prevent water & mold damage. There is a product called EternaBond that ... | |
| Synthetic cedar shakes | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: I am replacing a cedar shake roof with large overhangs that come down low, so upclose appearance is ... A: The synthetic cedar that I have seen that look good are Davinci, ecostar, enviroshake and GEM ... | |
| Tile roof and solar | 5/12/2007 |
| Q: 1) We are building an "Italian" style place in Northern California and expect to put a tile roof. ... A: Ideally, you would want something flat to make it easier to mount the panels. Also, you want ... | |
| 1st Q: vented skylight won't open after metal roofer accidentally treated it as non-venting | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: After struggling to repair several leaks/ventilation issues that occurred as a result of his ... A: Can you send me some photos of the problem area? e-mail ecowiseinc@sbcglobal.net What brand of metal ... | |
| velux window in flat roof | 5/4/2007 |
| Q: Id like to install a velux window in a flat roof: felt with shingle- Q Is this feasible? Thank you A: Absolutely, we do it all the time. You build a "curb" which is a basic box-frame made out of 2x10s ... | |
| Slate | 5/2/2007 |
| Q: Dan, I may be about to become a first-time installer of real slate shingles. I was just wondering ... A: The best information I have seen is available in "The Slate Roof Bible" By Joseph Jenkins. The book ... | |
| New replacement roof | 5/1/2007 |
| Q: Your the engineer next best to an architect -- I'm planning a new roof to completely replace the one ... A: We usually do not recommend the step or "saw tooth" style of flashing a chimney. We use a straight ... | |
| attic ventilation | 4/30/2007 |
| Q: Neighbor insists whirlybirds beat roofridge venting. He has both because roofridge did not do the ... A: The basic idea is to not allow the air to stagnate & elevate temperature due to sunlight on the ... | |
| New replacement roof | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: Your the engineer next best to an architect -- I'm planning a new roof to completely replace the one ... A: Our favorite roofing product for this type of project is steel Standing Seam roofing, we prefer a 24 ... | |
| Artificial Slate | 4/23/2007 |
| Q: I'm a carpenter who has become a roofer now and again with great results. It's about to happen again ... A: We have also seen quite a leap in synthetic Slate roofing products. It used to be that the ... | |
| Aluminum Porch Roof? | 4/21/2007 |
| Q: I saw a similar question to this, but it didn't quite answer my question. Please let me know your ... A: 1) As far as the entry flat roof goes, what do you want it to look like? a) You could contact ... | |
| cedar shake roofer only using felt first 3 feet - OK? | 4/19/2007 |
| Q: we are replacing our 40 year old cedar shake roof with a new cedar shake roof. We noticed our roofer ... A: it is nice to see a homeowner get involved & force the "turkeys" in the business to do what is ... | |
| cedar shake roofer only using felt first 3 feet - OK? | 4/18/2007 |
| Q: we are replacing our 40 year old cedar shake roof with a new cedar shake roof. We noticed our roofer ... A: Legal advice is beyond the scope of my expertise, but I will try to answer what I can. Questions ... | |
| cedar shake roofer only using felt first 3 feet - OK? | 4/17/2007 |
| Q: we are replacing our 40 year old cedar shake roof with a new cedar shake roof. We noticed our roofer ... A: Something is definitely not right. I am unsure of your Canadian building codes, but I can tell you ... | |
| Radiant barrier for re-roofing | 4/13/2007 |
| Q: Re-roofing project will replace old wood shingles attached to 1"x4" planks (spaced about 1' apart), ... A: You are correct to question the installation plan, the Radiant Barrier (RB) surface would be blocked ... | |
| attic ventilation | 4/9/2007 |
| Q: Neighbor insists whirlybirds beat roofridge venting. He has both because roofridge did not do the ... A: In a hot area as you mention, keeping the attic temp low is the biggest concern. Keeping air moving ... | |
| attic ventilation | 4/8/2007 |
| Q: Neighbor insists whirlybirds beat roofridge venting. He has both because roofridge did not do the ... A: Almost all roofing products have to deal with condensation, mostly due to moisture rising from ... | |
Roofing
Answers by Expert:
Dan Merrill
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
We are a "green" roofing company. We offer information and advice on metal and synthetic cedar, tile, and slate roofing products. We also address good, sound installation practices for lifetime and slate roof installations. Generally speaking, we are experienced with any materials that have 50 year or longer, expected lifespan, such as copper, terne coated steels, Kynar painted Steel, Aluminum, etc. We do extensive Infrared scans of homes with water leaks, moisture damage, air leakage, etc. So we have a good practical knowledge of what works and what does not work in the long term. We offer no advice on asphalt or fiberglass roofing products.
Experience
Was a hobbyist/home remodeler for over 30 years. Restored over 30 homes.
After retiring from engineering (27 years), I studied materials and installation practices of high-end roofing materials. This information was tempered by my engineering experience.
We have developed and sell roofing "kits" to roofing contractors who do not have the time to research rarely used roofing products. We ensure that they have all the required materials, tools and information to offer their customers a solid 50 year installation.
Organizations
National Association of Home Builders
Fox Valley Builders Assoc.
Illinois Association of Home Builders
Remodelers Council of NAHB
Metal Roofing Alliance
EnergyStar provider
U.S. Green Builder Council
Better Business Bureau
Publications
Our websites www.ecowiseinc.com and www.chicagometalroofing.com,
Fox Tails, publication of the Fox Valley Builders Association
Education/Credentials
Tech certificate in Mechanical Drafting, 1978.
Self-taught Engineer.
Many certificates held.
Have achieved NAHB "Certified Graduate Remodeler" designation.
Graduate of Green Builder College.
Licensed, insured & Bonded Roofer in Illinois.
Awards and Honors
Holder of many Patents,
Member of Mensa
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