Questions and Answers
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 ...
Q & A - GAF Golden Pledge Warranty
What are your thoughts on the Timberline HD Ultra and Golden Pledge Warranty from GAF? Maureen from Buffalo, NY asked, "What do you think of the Timberline HD Ultra and the Golden Pledge Warranty from GAF?" The Timberline HD Ultra has extra-thick layered design compared to the other standard architectural shingles. It ...
Q & A - Sealing a Roof at a Wall
Trevor’s question was, "How do I seal a roof at a wall?" Sealing a roof at a wall is a good subject for today since I just got that question from Trevor. Here is a 10-inch cedar lap siding that is the wall covering. Trevor states the leak occurs when the ...
Q & A - Adding Life to a Cedar Shake Roof
How can I make my cedar shake roof last longer? Monday evening I received this question from an old friend who lives in the Portland area. Rod asked, "I will be replacing my old shake roof this year. My roofer suggested going back with cedar shakes. Can you give me any ...
Q & A - How to Unclog a Downspout
So, your rain gutters are overflowing and nothing is coming out of the downspout, what do you do? Well, sounds like you have a clogged downspout. What do you do to fix this? Some will get a ladder and a garden hose and try shoving the hose down the spout in ...
Q & A - Shake Roof Repair
How and when should I have my shake roof repaired? This is a common question asked here at AskARoofer. Most shake roofs start to fail after 15 years. Some sooner, some later, but most start to show age when shakes curl, split and blow off, leaving missing shakes. Cedar shakes can ...
Roofing using a nail gun or hand nailing?
Roofing using a nail gun or hand nailing, which is the best way to install a roof? This question can be argued both ways and both can be correct. The simple answer is...It all depends on the man or woman holding the hammer or air gun and how they use it. ...
Q & A - Do I Need Tar Paper Under My Shingles?
Is tar paper (felt) needed under asphalt shingles? Do I need tar paper under my asphalt shingles? AskARoofer was asked this question a while back by a woman and this question comes up very often. It seems this lady’s house was recently purchased and after the first few spots of winter ...
