For questions regarding the roof of a home or other structure in general, including roofing types, installation, maintenance and repair, upgrades, venting, and potential problems.
4
votes
2answers
158 views
Should a vent cap be installed under all the layers of shingles, or just the top most layer?
When installing a roof cap on a roof where there are three layers of shingles, do i trim away just the first layer of shingles or should i trim away all three layers to slide the cap underneath.
4
votes
1answer
120 views
How do I seal a leaky roof and repair the minor ceiling damage it caused?
We recently had some very heavy rains and during the worst of it we had some leaks. When I noticed the problem, I went into my attic and found out that the leak was coming from around a vent in the ...
4
votes
2answers
621 views
How do you install zinc strips in a roof without creating leaks?
This article gives instructions for installing zinc strips at the ridgeline to inhibit moss.
This picture shows nails through the zinc strip:
It looks like they have nailed through the zinc in to ...
4
votes
2answers
965 views
What are the pros/cons of Ondura for roofing?
I came across Ondura in Lowes this morning and had never heard of it. It looks pretty slick. Does anyone have experience with it to share? I found no matches when searching here and was sort of ...
4
votes
2answers
491 views
What are some good downspout options for a brick house?
I need to replace the gutters and downspouts on my house, and I'd like to know the best approach.
The house is 100 year-old clay brick house. The old gutters were aluminum and used downspouts that ...
3
votes
6answers
2k views
Would putting a sprinkler on my roof help cool my home?
Anyone ever put a sprinkler on your roof to help out your A/C on unusually hot days? Just wondering if it helps.
3
votes
3answers
297 views
Small amounts of moss on asphalt shingles?
What's the best way to remove moss from asphalt shingles?
3
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I lay asphalt shingles on a roof, and what should be under them?
How do I lay asphalt shingles on a roof, and what should be under them? Are they self-adhesive? Can I stick them directly onto plywood?
3
votes
2answers
363 views
Can you use plywood as roofing?
I've seen buildings where plywood was used as both wall sheathing and siding. T-111 is commonly used this way, for example.
Would it work to do the same thing on a roof?
I assume it wouldn't last ...
3
votes
2answers
373 views
How to repair cracks in concrete overhang over entrance
I have a slab of concrete over the front entrance of my house with some serious cracks in it. I don't actually know what the proper name for it is, which makes this difficult to Google - so I've ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Is installing a gable fan worth the investment?
We have 2 gable vents in our roof (approx 2' high or so), one at either end, and upon inspection it does not appear that there is really enough overhang in the roof for soffits. I still have to ...
3
votes
3answers
3k views
What's a good way to seal a flat concrete roof?
My guess is that a long time ago there was a fire in part of our house and what was the top storey was capped and the floor replaced with thick slabs of concrete. This was then sealed over with ...
3
votes
2answers
517 views
Which flat roofing system requires the least maintenance?
I am a board member of my townhouse homeowners association and our townhomes are unfortunately very tall (need a lift or 60 ft ladder to access the roofs) and also the builder made the roof one single ...
3
votes
1answer
216 views
Service mast too short
I've read that the service mast on the roof should be 12-18 inches high. The one we have is a lot shorter than that. Does that pose any safety issues? We recently purchased the house, and the previous ...
3
votes
3answers
422 views
Does a device exist that can help find the source of a leak in a flat roof?
My Dad has a flat roof over his garage. It's covered with tar and felt.
We had an unusually hard and cold winter last year (Republic of Ireland) and since then the roof has developed a leak.
We've ...
3
votes
2answers
912 views
How do I fix a leaking skylight?
I have a skylight on a shingles roof. I don't know much about the skylight as it was installed by a previous owner, but every year, at the beginning of the rainy season, the skylight leaks. And every ...
3
votes
2answers
136 views
What limits the number of skylights you can put in a room?
I am thinking of putting skylights in my kitchen between the trusses in the attic. Let's say my kitchen is below 5 trusses, giving me 4 spaces where I can put a skylight. Is there any structural ...
3
votes
2answers
474 views
Should I pre-built rafter units, or build them in-place?
I'm planning a small roof - 12' x 16', gable style. Almost all the rafters will identical.
Should I build rafter units ahead of time? 2 rafters + a ceiling joist + plywood gussets. I'd make a simple ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
How do I nail plywood to flat roof framing?
I am putting some 3/4 plywood on top of 2x6 framing joists on my flat garage roof. The framing is spaced 16oc. I figured that I place 4x8 plywood sheets in such way that their short edge will be ...
3
votes
2answers
299 views
What is the method to seal a concrete roof?
We are staying in a home which has a concrete roof. Now we are facing leakage in the roof during rainy seasons. What do we have to do? How do we protect the roof from leaks?
3
votes
2answers
2k views
What should I do about water dripping into my smoke detector from the attic after a heavy rain?
I live in the Midwest of the United States, and we not-too-rarely get a large amount of rain coming down at one time both in the spring and sometimes in the fall. Last night was no different (aside ...
3
votes
2answers
182 views
Roof stone tiles. How to fasten them?
I am watching a TV program where they are restoring a ruin into a cottage. One thing that left me aghast is the fact that the roof was made with flat, very heavy stone tiles. Ater they rebuild the ...
3
votes
2answers
81 views
Should I paint wood in a roof that is not directly exposed to the outside?
I'm currently in the process of replacing the roof of a room. This room was originally a balcony, so has never been part of the main house. The roof that was removed had wood beams with wood ...
3
votes
1answer
195 views
How much sag on a roof is acceptable?
I have minor sagging of my roof plywood, 3/8" thick, placed on trusses 24" apart. Is there an amount of sag that is technically okay? I could not find anything on the APA website. I am not worried ...
3
votes
1answer
97 views
Should I have my old ceiling vacuumed before installing insulation?
My house (built about 1890) has no insulation in the roof and so I plan to put in insulating batts. There is a lot of old dust and a few possum droppings up there, and I have heard that the dust can ...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
What do I need to do to finish a roof with exposed rafters on a shed
I have a shed as pictured that had never been finished completely. As such the shed has a lot of dust debris, etc getting in that should not be. What do I need to do to finish the shed. Should I be ...
3
votes
3answers
146 views
Can you cap a chimney to reduce moisture and still use the chimney with a gas fire?
Or does capping a chimney always remove the ability to use a fire ?
3
votes
1answer
287 views
Roof Showing Some Dipping
I recently walked my roof. There are some low spots, like little depressions. What causes this and should I be concerned? It seems that the plywood underneath is good but it seems like the ...
3
votes
1answer
210 views
Can you have different types of vents on a single roof?
The attic of my house has serious ventilation issue and the sheathing becomes rotten. The roofing contractor suggests me to replace the rotten sheathing and install some ridge vent. His plan will ...
3
votes
1answer
326 views
How do I properly install underlayment and a modified bitumen roof on a flat garage roof with concrete walls?
My project is to replace 18'x10' flat roof on my concrete garage. So far I installed 16" oc framing and 3/4" plywood over it. Now I am planning to install some fiberglass based underlayment (#30, ...
3
votes
1answer
796 views
Best way to flash an EPDM rubber roof on a concrete roof deck?
I'm planning to install an EPDM rubber roof on my 1922-built, poured concrete garage. The concrete deck leaks heavily during rainstorms, and it looks like installing an EPDM roof is just within my ...
2
votes
4answers
435 views
My house is nearing 20 years, what will break soon?
Okay, I recently learned that most appliances/things start breaking once the house reaches around 20 years. I'm running 19 now.
From what I have heard, roof (although mine is apparently a 30 year ...
2
votes
5answers
7k views
How do I approach new water stains on my ceiling?
I am a brand new home owner with almost no experience with DIY stuff. There was a few days of significant rain and now my wife noticed some stains on our 2nd floor ceiling that we are pretty sure ...
2
votes
2answers
469 views
Why am I getting a lot of condensation in new shed?
I just got a new shed built with concrete blocks and a metal roof last month and thing is dripping with condensation from the roof. There is absolutely no insulation in the shed.
How would I get rid ...
2
votes
1answer
90 views
How do I install roofing material on a roof with a ridge vent?
I am helping a friend repair his roof; his roof has a roof vent at the peak of the roof. I've done a few roofs, but never with a roof vent. So any help in how you roof with a roof vent? I assume ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
Can I tear down a roof with a torch? [closed]
Can my friends and I use a torch gas cutter to cut into the roof, and dismantle everything by sections? I imagine there will be some concrete layering underneath and such.
2
votes
1answer
428 views
Moisture/Dew on Roof in Morning
I just had a new roof installed and it looks decent enough. They replaced my metal ventilation with some plastic vents, which is fine, but I'm not sure if it was enough. I had a two layers of asphalt ...
2
votes
3answers
155 views
How to address mold/moss on newer roof?
I have an old house with a new(er) installed roof shingle that's about 5 years old. In removing leaves from the gutter today, I noticed green moss? mold? around some of the areas close to the house. A ...
2
votes
2answers
243 views
Is a thick, unvented hot roof a good candidate for spray foam?
Upon removing some drywall from an unvented hot roof I noticed two serious issues:
1) The roof sheathing is not a taped or sealed ply but a 2x8 T&G
2) There is no vapor barrier and the cavity ...
2
votes
3answers
359 views
Is it safe to use a former furnace flue to vent my dryer through the roof?
Our dryer is located in the center of our house. The current vent situation has tubing that makes several bends between the dryer and the crawl space before hitting metal duct that takes it about 25' ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
How to remove moss from my roof?
My roof seems to be growing moss and I'd like to remove it. I did some research and it looks like the solution is to mix water and bleach, spray the mix on the moss and then scrub the moss off about ...
2
votes
2answers
328 views
TV antenna moves a bit - problem?
I'm partway through installing my own outdoor TV antenna.
I've gone with a "through the roof and screwed into a beam" method rather than the "sit on top of roof and stabilise using 3-4 wires screwed ...
2
votes
2answers
284 views
What can I do with these roof trusses to cover them up a bit?
Relating to another question about loft conversion I also want to fill up the gaps in between the trusses on which the roof tiles lie on.
So during allot of build I heard here and there that some ...
2
votes
1answer
600 views
What is the max distance between top of gutter and the roof tiles?
I am about to replace my gutters, one guide I have read say the gutter should never be more then 30mm below the bottom of the roof tiles, another says 50mm.
What is the reason for this?
What is a ...
2
votes
3answers
303 views
How can I seal around this pipe on my roof?
I have a PVC furnace exhaust pipe coming out through my roof. Unfortunately, the guy who installed it used the wrong size flange. So instead of the rubber rising upwards against the pipe, it is sunken ...
2
votes
2answers
356 views
How do I set up drains for a flat roof?
In the house I'm building, I will be using a flat roof with a parapet around it. The total area will be around 120 sq meter and the roof will be a concrete slab (at least 8 cm).
What is the best way ...
2
votes
3answers
271 views
How do you calculate if it's worth it to insulate?
We live just north of NYC, and the house was built in 1906. We're putting on a new roof and trying to figure out if it's worth it to insulate too. It's a cathedral ceiling on the inside, and we do ...
2
votes
1answer
4k views
Is it better to vent a bathroom fan out the soffit, the side of the house, or the roof?
Working on a friend's house, we're installing a bathroom fan. He had planned to vent the fan out the closest soffit, which is only a few feet away. I'm trying to persuade him to vent it out the roof ...
2
votes
2answers
448 views
How do I build a Gambrel roof?
We would like to put a Gambrel Roof on a 32 x 32 log cabin we're building but I don't know the formula or how to build the Gambrel roof. Please help
We're building this cabin ourselves and love the ...
2
votes
1answer
523 views
Do I need soffit vents for my knee wall attic?
I purchased a 55 year old home that has no soffit vents. The attic space consists of a knee wall attic space and peak attic space. The peak attic space has vents at each end and a ridge vent at the ...
