Questions and Answers
Roofing Deposit - How Much Should I Give My Roofing Contractor?
The answer can depend on the state you live in and the contractor you hire. I get asked this question quite often. The answer can depend on the state you live in and the contractor you hire. Some contractors ask for deposits, some don’t. Whatever you agree on, make sure it ...
5 Reasons to Hire a Certified Roofing Contractor
Five reasons to hire a certified roofing contractor. A roofing question came in this morning. I was asked if I knew a good roofing contractor in Portland, Washington area. It just so happens I have no solid contacts up there at this time that I felt comfortable referring to. So I ...
Q & A - Roofing Shingle Warranties, How Good Are They?
What is the life expectancy of the Presidential TL shingles from CertainTeed? Roofing question from Klaus, Thank you for providing some history on your website about the Presidential TL shingles from Certainteed. Based on your experience with that product, what is the life expectancy of these shingles? These asphalt shingles have a ...
Q & A - Pitch of My Roof, the Easy Way to Find Out
Finding the pitch of my roof can be a challenge when you don’t know how, or it can be really simple. The pitch of the roof is the angle of the slope. There are steep roofs that are difficult to walk on then there are flat roofs and all between. The ...
Q & A - Installing Ridge Vents
When a ridge vent is installed on a roof ridge, is it normal to end the vent three to four feet from the edge of the roof? Stephen asked, "When a ridge vent is installed on a roof ridge, is it normal to end the vent three to four feet from ...
Q & A - Roof Transitions, Matching Up Courses
I'm laying asphalt shingles on a newly installed deck roof, will they line up perfectly with the house shingles? Allen asks, "Hello, I’m laying asphalt shingles on a newly installed deck roof. The roof runs adjacent to the house roof. Like the house, the roof is exactly the same in dimension ...
Valley Metal - Do I Need it On My Roof?
Valley metal is used on most types of steep-sloped roofs where two roofs intersect. This is a very important part of the roof. Just like a mountain with peaks, ridges, and valleys, the valleys carry a lot of water down the mountainside, so too with our roofs. We have on our ...
Q & A - Dutch Gutters, Why Are They Still Around?
What is a Dutch gutter and what is its purpose? Mike asks: "What is a Dutch Gutter? What is its purpose? Why are they used on some San Francisco Victorian roofs? There are different varieties of Dutch Gutters but most of the time these rain gutters allow the fascia board to be ...
Q & A - Pigeon's Causing Roof Leaks?
Can pigeon excrement cause roof leaks? Lisa asked, "I heard that when rainwater mixes with pigeon excrement it becomes acidic and it is a common cause of roof leaks (mixture eats through the waterproof underlayment). Is this true?" I asked Ian Hollandsworth from Ruffle Feathers Bird Control in Sacramento this question. If ...
Q&A - Layers of Roofing, How Many are Allowed On My Roof?
Is there such a thing as too many layers on my roof? John asked, "My neighbor says I can put another roof over my existing roof that has two layers on it now. Is that true?" It is advised you seek the local building department for an exact amount of layers that ...
