While Youre At Itcupola
Tearing off an old roof offers the opportunity to have your roofing contractor add one of these upgrades.
Before ridge vents became standard, cupolas were used to cool houses and barns. Fitted with louvers, or electronically controlled windows, they help draw cool air in through soffits or open windows, then vent warm air from the top of the building.
Treating Moss At The Wrong Time
When youre treating roof moss, you have to consider the best time of the year when they are most vulnerable. Otherwise, you wont be able to kill the moss successfully.
Summer is the best time to remove moss from your roof. At this time, the moss is slowly but actively growing and is also the most susceptible to moss-killing chemicals.
In fall, winter and spring, the moss has usually grown and reproduced, so it will take several treatments to remove the moss completely.
Remove Moss From Roof With Vinegar
Now you know how to remove moss from roof with vinegar, no matter what roof youre cleaning.
Although the steps might vary depending on the type of roof, the basic process is the same: pour the vinegar solution on the surface, wait for it to dissolve, clean the area, and repeat.
Remember that killing moss in summer when its not fully grown is better than waiting when it has completely grown in fall, winter, and spring. Also, make sure you choose legal products approved by EPA.
Finally, when clearing moss from roof, start with the least aggressive method and escalate accordingly. The less abrasive the method is, the more time it takes, but also significantly reduces the risk of damaging your roofs.
Discovering moss growing on your roof can be stressful, but dont panic you now know how to get them off your roof.
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What Is The Best Way To Strip A Roof
Layers of roofing shingles are often applied directly over the top of older roofing for the sake of economy and to save on time and labor. While this is a normal practice, after a couple layers have built up over the years, it will eventually become necessary to strip it to the bare decking boards before any new roofing may be applied, in order to keep the weight and thickness to a manageable level. If approached haphazardly and without much forethought, this can turn into a labor-intensive mess in a hurry. With just a bit of planning and the use of the proper tools for the job, even a multi-layered roof with years of moss buildup can be stripped and prepped for new roofing quite easily.
1.
Slide the pry bar under the outer course of shingles, all the way down to the plywood decking. Locate the nails. Tap the sharp end of the bar under each nail head, using the hammer. Pry up the nails and remove the course. Discard all the nails and roofing material from the rooftop onto a debris pile in a safe location. Alternatively, discard nails and debris directly into the bags if the pitch of the roof allows for the safe staging of full bags until the entire roof is stripped.
2.
Pry under the edge of the remaining material starting on the downhill side, using the roofing shingle shovel. Scrape underneath the material until you feel the nails stop the shovel. Use the shovel as a lever to pull them out. Keep shoveling uphill.
Resources
Apply A Solution To Remove The Moss
There are cases where muss cannot be removed by just scrubbing. In this case, you will have to invest in a moss cleanser. However, you will have to wait for a cold-weather before you apply for this solution.
Using the solution in a hot condition makes it evaporate quickly, which is not economically recommended. Also, it is wise to go for a gentle cleanser when purchasing these products. The reason is that a harsh solution may discolor your roof, which you dont want to happen to your roof.
Additionally, it is equally important to follow the manufacturers directions on the product you buy. If the instructions do not state that you should leave the cleanser on your roof, ensure you rinse your roof with water immediately that you are through cleaning it with a cleanser.
Before using any homemade solution to clean the moss from your roof, wet the moss-affected area with plain water. The need for the water-before-solution technique is to make the surface moist itll also remove the dirt away from the surface.
After this, you apply the cleanser and give it some minutes to work. Thirty minutes is enough for most homemade cleansers. After this, scrub it off with a soft brush and finally rinse with water.
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Tools Required For A Roof Tear Off
Here is a list of essential tools to get you started on your roofing tear-off project. In addition, weve included links to some of the highest-rated tools on Home Depot.
If you dont have or cant purchase all of these tools, make sure to have the safety equipment, a sturdy extension ladder, a roofing shovel or pry bar, and a nail puller.
How To Remove Roof Shingles
More than 70 percent of all single-family homes in the United States have roofs with asphalt shingles. While asphalt shingles have an average lifespan of 15 to 30 years, they can begin developing problems as they nudge closer to the end of their life expectancy. If you notice that your shingles are missing, broken, or damaged, you may be concerned about the need for roof replacement. However, full roof replacement is not always necessary.
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Its All About The Tiles
Whilst a mossy roof might not be aesthetically pleasing, you could end up in a lot more trouble should you decide to remove the spongy green invader from your roof tiles. When moss grows in, under and around your roof tiles, it actually acts as a filler packing out any gaps and plugging the spaces. Destroy the moss and those tiles that were previously held up by it are likely to settle back down in an awkward way. This could result in a roof that isnt water tight, leading to bigger problems down the road.
If you still cant bear the site of your mossy roof, consider this:
Button Up The Roof And Final Clean
Cover the roof right away to protect against rain. Buttoning up the roof is the final prep step before shingling. It consists of installing ice and water barrier and 30-lb. asphalt-saturated felt. This underlayment acts as a temporary weather barrier to keep rain out. But it won’t stop heavy rain and wind, so once you start a section, always try to flash and shingle it by the end of the day.
Ice and water barrier is used at roof edges and other vulnerable areas. To install it, snap a chalk line 36 in. from the edge of the eaves. If you have gutters, you’ll want the ice and water barrier to cover all of the gutter flashing that’s on the roof.
Starting at the rake edge of the roof, align the ice and water barrier with the chalk line. Tack it at the top with staples every few feet to hold it in place. Once the entire section is tacked along the chalk line, lift up the bottom part, peel off the backing, then let it fall back into place. The ice and water barrier will immediately stick to the roof.
Flip the top part of the ice and water barrier back over the bottom section , peel off the backing, then set it back into place on the roof. Work carefully to avoid wrinkles. They’re a hassle to get out. Move on to the next section of roof edge, overlapping the vertical seams of the ice and water barrier by 6 in.
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Should We Remove The Cellophane Strip When Installing Shingles Bottom Line: No
The debate about whether or not a protective cellophane strip found atop this glue strip on new asphalt shingles has gone on for years and comes up again as new roofers enter the field. Do we remove the cellophane from the shingles as we place them on the roof for nailing or or do we leave it in place? Does it matter one way or the other?
No, leave the strip alone: In answer to a common reader question, not normally: according to roofing manufacturers, it is not required to remove the cellophane strip on the back of roof shingles before they are nailed.
As you can see in our photo at above-left, when the shingles are separated from the bundle and installed in successive roof shingle courses, the plastic or cellophane strip remains on the back of the shingle in a position where it is nowhere near the adhesive strips now exposed on the shingle course below.
In this article at CELLOPHANE STRIP INSTRUCTIONS we include a “leave the cellophane strip alone” quote from a major roofing manufacturer’s asphalt shingle installation instructions.
Yes remove stray cellophane strips in one special case:
Separately at CELLOPHANE STRIP ENGINEERS’ VIEW in a discussion with two forensic engineers we point out an occasional problem when the cellophane strip doesn’t behave it self and does not remain where it should when the shingles are removed from the shingle bundle.
Best Solvent Based Tar Removers
The WD-40 spray is a multi-use product, so the chances of you having it in your home are quite high. And its an excellent product for removing tar.
You will need some elbow grease and a spare rag or paper towel to wipe off the residue once you spray this product. However, avoid using it on plastic surfaces as the chemicals in this solution may cause the plastic to melt, leaving you with more messes than solutions.
2. Blackjack asphalt and tar remover
If you are looking for a product specifically made for removing tar stains, the Blackjack asphalt and tar remover is an excellent choice.
Its biodegradable and pet-safe allow you to use it without any worries of causing harm to any living or non-living things within your space. And it wont damage any surface with roofing tar, whether clothes, metal or even wood.
3. De-Solv-it Contractors Solvent
And the best pick? De-Solv-it Contractors Solvent is a great option for removing roofing tar within seconds. Its eco-friendly, hair, and pet-safe, meaning you have no worries about harming your skin, pets, or hair. With this, your dry paint will also be safe.
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How Often Should You Replace Your Roof Shingles
Any damage or signs of wear call for immediate action to keep water from seeping under the shingles and rotting the wood sheathing beneath. Ignoring a problemeven what appears to be a small onewill accelerate the need to reroof and can add hundreds of dollars to the cost of a new roof.
Pro2Pro Tip: Always make roof repairs on a warm, dry afternoon the shingles will be more supple and less likely to crack. And never climb onto a roof thats wet, icy or covered with morning dew.
If your roof is more than 20 years old and most of the shingles are damaged or badly worn, its time to replace it. But if your roof is basically sound and is at a relatively shallow pitch that youre comfortable working on, you can probably handle most repairs yourself.
Here, well take you through the three most-common ones: replacing asphalt shingles gluing down a badly curled shingle and repairing shingles that have cracked.
Start At The Peak And Tear Off The First Shingles
Youll want to start your tear off at the peak of the roof. Youll work down the line of the peak, then go row by row from there. Just dont try to do too much at once, or you may find yourself in over your head with too much debris on the roof, creating hazards and risk damaging the underlayment below the shingles.
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Things To Know Before You Reshingle Your Building
There are several things you need tounderstand before embarking on roof replacement. As they say, knowledge ispower. The level of knowledge you have concerning your property or your beingwill either make or mar you. Now lets talk about some few things to take noteof, before reroofing:
· Look around
· Strip away the old one
· Go for top quality
· General cleaning
Why Are Starter Strip Shingles Necessary
The starter strip is crucial because it adheres to the shingles on the edges of your roof and protects them from the elements. Without starter strip shingles, a gust of wind would have no trouble sneaking under the shingles on the edges of your roof and blowing them up, and perhaps even off, your roof. And chances are those shingles would take some of the shingles situated above them with them on their way off in sort of a domino effect of roofing misfortune.
Windblown rain also has an easier time getting beneath shingles that aren’t sealed down by starter strip. While layers of secondary protection, like drip edge flashing and ice and water shield, can quell the effects of this invasive water, there’s no guarantee it still won’t find a way to get to your decking and wreak all sorts of havoc on your fascia and soffits. The more protection you can have along the edges of your roof the better, and starter strip shingles provide that crucial extra layer of protection.
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Eight: If You Find Ice And Water Protector You Will Not Be Able To Get It Off Decide If You Want To Remove It By Replacing The Roof Deck Beneath It Or If Youd Rather Apply A New Layer Of Ice And Water Protector Over It
In the old days, roof tear-offs were pretty straightforward shingles, saturated felt and then the flashings. However, self-adhesive ice and water protectors were introduced to the roofing industry, particularly in cold-climate regions, about 30 years ago. These membranes adhere to the roof deck and are most often used in the eave area, covering the lower three to six feet of deck. The challenge is that they usually do a good job of adhering to the deck, especially after many years of summer heat, which works to fuse the membrane to the oriented strand board or plywood substrate. These membranes cannot be lifted with that shingle-stripping shovel.
Youll be faced with two options either cut and replace the deck in the affected area or leave the membrane there and roof over it. If you choose the second option, youll need new ice and water protector as the old membrane wont have the same watershedding integrity once youve removed all the shingle nails. Heres a good tip: To reduce the appearance of a ridge from what will end up being two layers of ice and water protector, install the new membrane slightly higher than the old one, so that the upper edges of the old and new membranes dont align. This feathered edge should be much less visible once the new shingles are installed.
Toss From Roof To Trash Container
As the old roofing material piles up at the roof jacks, carry it to the edge of the roof and toss it into the trash container below. If you couldn’t get the trash container close to the house, throw the shingles onto a tarp on the ground. Make the pile on a flat area away from flowers and shrubs.
Shingles are heavy. Dispose of the shingles before the pile gets too large and they slide off the roof. They usually come off in clumps. If you’re peeling off two or more layers of shingles, even a small section will be heavy. You may have to pull the shingles apart to make them light enough to carry. Rolling the shingles and felt paper into a ball will also make them easier to handle.
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Installing Shingle Roof Can Be Single
Q: I have a small house, and it needs a new roof. I cant afford to hire a roofer. My house has shingles on it, and I can walk on the roof with little difficulty. Ive never installed roof shingles. What will be my biggest challenges? Luckily, theres only one plumbing pipe sticking through the roof. Can I install a new shingle roof myself?
A: The good news is that you can install a new asphalt shingle roof. Whats more, you can probably do it by yourself, and it will be leak-free.
Your biggest challenge will be the physical aspect of the job. Its hard work under the best conditions, unbearable if you have to do it in blistering heat or in the middle of winter.
The first thing to do is to select the shingles and obtain instructions from the manufacturer. It has never been easier to do this with the Internet. Just about every manufacturer has downloadable instructions for each shingle product it makes. I recently downloaded instructions for a specialty shingle that I installed on one of my projects.
Pay attention to what the manufacturer says about installing the shingles on top of an existing roof. Talk with your building inspector and see what the code restrictions are in your town. If you are allowed to add your new shingles on top of your existing roof, you will save an enormous amount of labor. Stripping off an old roof is brutal work.
Tim Carter is a columnist for Tribune Media Services. He can be reached via his website, www.ask thebuilder.com.
Roofing Manufacturer’s Advice About The Cellophane Strip On Shingles: Leave In Place
at ASPHALT SHINGLE INSTALLATION we include this quote from the GAF Materials Corporation, Grand Timberline Premium Architectural Shingle Application Instructions say about the glue strips and cellophane.
You’ll note that according to the manufacturer we are to leave the cellophane strip in place, but if site conditions require immediate shingle sealing, an extra step, using additional shingle tab adhesive, is permitted.
Our photo at left illustrates the “Miami-Dade County Approved” imprint found on the underside of an asphalt shingle that meets Florida’s wind-resistance requirements.
WIND RESISTANCE / HAND SEALING: These shingles have a special thermal sealant that firmly bonds the shingles together after application when exposed to sun and warm temperatures.
Shingles installed in Fall or Winter may not seal until the following Spring.
If shingles are damaged by winds before sealing or are not exposed to adequate surface temperatures, or if the self sealant gets dirty, the shingles may never seal. Failure to seal under these circumstances results from the nature of self-sealing shingles and is not a manufacturing defect.
To insure immediate sealing, apply 4 quarter-sized dabs of shingle tab adhesive on the back of the shingle 1″ and 13″ in from each side and 1″ up from bottom of the shingle. Press shingle firmly into the adhesive.
For maximum wind resistance along rakes, cement shingles to underlayment and each other in a 4″ width of asphalt plastic roof cement.
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