By Jenny Yu.  

Look back on AskARoofer's top stories, podcasts and videos! 

It’s almost the end of the year, so it’s time to reflect on the incredible learning our readers have done through engaging with podcasts, videos, articles and social media content. A recurring theme of the top content from this year, regardless of medium, was the curiosity of our readers that inspired engaging conversations.  

Top podcast 

Composite versus asphalt roofing

Our top podcast of the year features Megan Stone from DaVinci Roofscapes and Anthony Walsh from DuraShield Roofing & Contracting as they discuss what today’s homeowners should consider when weighing material options for a reroof project. Megan and Anthony break down the pros and cons of both composite and asphalt roofing on durability concerns, frequency of required maintenance, overall performance and value for the price. 

Top videos 

YouTube video: Barndominiums with The Barndominium Company™ 

This year’s top YouTube video was also the top minisode of the year! This video is short and sweet but full of interesting ideas. Stacee Lynn, founder of The Barndominium Company, gives listeners a taste of barndominiums — the metal buildings taking the industry by storm due to their flexibility, durability and style. Listeners definitely left this minisode wanting more! 

YouTube playlist: AskARoofer Podcast playlist

With a total of 120 episodes, our AskARoofer Podcast playlist on YouTube was our most popular playlist. A deep well of resources, listeners and viewers were able to quench their roofing curiosities by diving into topics ranging from roof warranties to solar panel systems and everything in between.  

Top articles 

Heartwarming stories from roofs around the country - by Emma Peterson 

Early in the year, our readers gravitated toward stories of kindness and generosity. Emma’s article highlights families in Iowa, Nevada, Wisconsin, Virginia and North Dakota that received new roofs free of charge. Each project served a family in need, whether it was a home destroyed by a tornado or a veteran’s home infested with leaks and rodents. Each family expressed their gratitude for the act of charitable support, and each roofing contractor shared equal appreciation for the opportunity to give back. 

Q&A – Why do some homes not have gutters?

You asked; we answered! The top question of 2025 came from Alex in Northwest Arkansas, who noticed most of the homes in their neighborhood (including Alex’s home) did not have gutters, despite the frequent rainfall the climate brings. Our readers resonated with this curiosity, and two experts offered their insights. Katie Clymer from Armored Roofing shared that this could be due to the area’s relatively stable foundation, as they said, “that is normally why gutters are installed; to keep water away from the foundation.” Scott Edwards from Mammoth Roofing and Solar agreed, specifically mentioning the absence of basements or crawl spaces that “often require gutters to redirect water away and prevent flooding.” Both mentioned that gutters can always be installed for comfort or to address ponding water concerns. 

What is an impact rating and why does it matter? By Emma Peterson. 

Emma breaks down another important topic on homeowners’ minds: impact rating. This article outlines the key points shared in this episode of Roofing Road Trips® in which leaders from IKO Industries explain why the company committed to a minimum rating of Class 3 for three lines of laminate shingles. “The higher a rating a product gets (on a scale of 1-4), the better it will hold up against storms and other natural phenomena because it is more durable,” Emma wrote.  

Top social media posts 

TikTok: What is a steep slope roof?

AAR Expert Henry Staggs tops our TikTok once again with a concise explanation of steep slope roofing. The slope is the roof’s incline, and a steep sloped roof measures 12 inches of “run,” or horizontally, for every 3 inches of “rise,” or vertically. This creates a 3:12 ratio, and any slope that is 3:12 or greater is considered to be a steep slope roof.  

Instagram Reel: Why you must have real hip and ridge shingles on your roof

In September, a reel that captured our Instagram audience came from Travis Jones of Smart Roof and Home Performance. Travis warns against taking a shortcut when it comes to hip and ridge shingles, which are designed to withstand heavy windstorms. Travis gives an example of a time when a contractor installed three-tab shingles instead of actual hip and ridge shingles which blew off during a windstorm. In an attempt to save a few hundred dollars, this shortcut ended up putting the roof — and the entire property — at risk, likely increasing insurance premiums as well. 

By Emma Peterson.  

How Scott Edwards turned a tough start into a thriving roofing and solar business built on culture and care. 

Mammoth Roofing and Solar focuses on providing expert roof installation in Texas with a focus on quality and durability. Their dedication to serving their community and neighbors by humanizing the restoration process is just one of the many reasons they are our September R-Club Roofer of the Month! To learn more about how Mammoth proves that roofing is more than just shingles and structures, Alex Tolle sat down with CEO and founder Scott Edwards. 

Scott started the conversation by sharing how Mammoth got started. He explained, “I didn't get into roofing on purpose, like a lot of people in this industry roofing kind of found me... It was 2010 and I was having trouble finding a job. I was on unemployment and my girlfriend at the time, she's now my wife, was the one paying the bills. And I was honestly pretty depressed and feeling like a burden to my household and to her. So I told myself I’d take whatever next job came along.” That next job came from a guy Scott knew in commercial insurance and lead to him driving out to Kansas City with a bag of clothes and a brand-new insurance license. Jump seven years later, and Scott was founding Mammoth. He summed it up simply, “Roofing changed my life and I'm very passionate about the industry.” 

Today, Mammoth is known for providing roofing, solar and gutter solutions. Scott added, “We specialize in roofing for residential, primarily, but we have gotten a lot of requests for commercial over the years, so we've actually started expanding our commercial division too!” Scott cites a lot of this growth and success, especially in the competitive Texas market, to Mammoth’s culture. He explained, “Roofing has high turnover and one of things that really helped us thrive has been the two promises we make to everybody that comes on board with our company – we treat our team like family and give them the resources they need.” In other words, Scott and Mammoth make it their mission to not only serve their roofing clients, but to support the people in their office and in the field. 

Listen to the full episode to hear more from Scott about what makes Mammoth Roofing and Solar stand out! 

Looking around their neighborhood, this homeowner noticed something strange.

Alex, a homeowner in Northwest Arkansas, recently noticed that some of the homes in their neighborhhod had gutters. But most of them didn't, including theirs. They came to the AskARoofer Experts for some insight into why, asking: 

I live in Northwest Arkansas and noticed recently that my home and most of the homes in my neighborhood do not have gutters. Do you know why this is? We get a decent amount of rain and some snow each year, so it seems relevant (and who likes to get drenched in water falling off the roof when you walk off your porch?) Does it maybe have to do with the fact that most of the homes in the area don't have basements and so we don't need to worry about moving water away from the foundation?

We had multiple experts offer some insights for Alex. This is what Katie Clymer with Armored Roofing had to say:

I can’t speak to Arkansas in general, but it could be that the area doesn’t have a lot of foundation issues and that is normally why gutters are installed; to keep water away from the foundation. Gutters are always a great idea, especially in areas where the soil is expansive and moves quite a bit or the weather goes to extremes of heat them cold. I would recommend speaking with a foundation company if you’re concerned about the water ponding around your home or speak with a local roofing company about installing a gutter system. 

It could also be that the home builder in your area just doesn’t install gutters because it’s something they don’t want to make a choice about. 

I hope this helps you answer your question.

Another one of our experts, Scott Edwards with Mammoth Roofing and Solar, also responded, sharing: 

Great question! Scott from Mammoth Roofing and Solar here... Most of our work is here in Texas, but we have licenses in some other states and in doing a little research, maybe this may help give some insight! The lack of gutters on homes in Northwest Arkansas can be due to a few key factors:

1. Soil and foundation considerations – Since many homes in the area don’t have basements, there’s generally less concern about water seeping down and causing foundation issues. Homes with basements or crawl spaces often require gutters to redirect water away and prevent flooding.
2. Clay-based soil – Northwest Arkansas has a lot of clay-heavy soil, which is less permeable and naturally directs water away from the foundation. In some cases, builders rely on grading (the slope of the yard) to control drainage instead of gutters.
3. Builder cost-saving measures – Many home builders opt not to install gutters as a way to reduce costs, assuming homeowners will add them later if needed.
4. Local building norms – In some areas, gutters are just not as commonly installed unless requested. However, as you mentioned, they can be very beneficial, especially in areas with steady rainfall and snowmelt.

If you’re noticing erosion, water pooling near your foundation or excessive splashback, adding gutters could be a great investment to protect your home and make rainy days a little more comfortable! Let me know if you have any questions — I’d be happy to help.

Continue the conversation in our Forum!