Roofing Answers Articles

Underlayment or Not?

June 9, 2009

Craig asks: Q: Hi, I’m considering replacing the roof on my hunting camp with new tin. I was curious what to put under the tin as a underlayment. I believe there is tar paper now however someone told me I didn’t need an underlay and could just fasten it directly to to the boards. This… ( read more )

Installation Manual for Flashing

A homeowner from North Carolina wrote: Q: Dear sir, Could you please send me a manual on how to apply flashing around objects. I am putting on a metal roof on and I have skylights and chimneys. If not, could you tell me where to get one. My response follows: A: Installation procedures and flashing… ( read more )

Can Metal Be Installed Over Two Layers?

Dean wrote and asked me: Q: My cottage has one layer of shingles. But my detached garage has two layers. They are getting very old with mold growing on them and are curling in spots. Is it advisable to install metal shingles over the existing layers of asphalt singles? I responded: A: The low weight… ( read more )

Cold Air Entering Through Vents

Len from Canada asks: Q: We have just moved into a new home and the draft coming through the fans in the bathroom and kitchen fan is terrible. I have new vent covers placed on the eaves through, but still the cold air is entering the fan. We get a lot of wind so the… ( read more )

Metal Roofing and Saltwater

Q: I have a waterfront house on the gulf in Florida. I need a new roof I was thinking about a metal roof but with the saltwater close by would this be a mistake? A: Many of today’s residential metal roofs have coatings that help tremendously with corrosion resistance. This is done with zinc and… ( read more )