Roofing Answers Articles

How do I insulate an old house built in 1750 with an old metal roof?

August 11, 2023

QUESTION: I live in a house built in 1750, which originally had a slate roof. It’s had a metal roof for at least the last 100 years. Currently, it’s a standing seam gable roof with no soffit, gable, or ridge venting, and the only material between metal and attic is the wide rough-cut roof batten… ( read more )

Partial Roof Damage: Can a New Roof Be Installed in Stages or Sections?

September 15, 2017

From a homeowner in Texas who experienced only partial roof damage: Q. I read your post on metal over shingle and just had Hurricane Harvey further degrade my 2000 Comp roof on the west side of the house. Can I roof the West 1500 square foot with metal?  What would the top crown of a straight front composition… ( read more )

How to protect your home from ice dams with metal roofing

May 29, 2017

Todd from Washington recently asked me this question about ice dams and metal roofing: Q: We bought and moved into our house in January. The neighborhood is in a mountain setting and gets a lot of snow. We are new to the area and didn’t really know anything about ice dams. A few weeks after… ( read more )

Exposed Fasteners: Leaking or Condensation?

May 20, 2017

I am not a huge fan of exposed fasteners for roofs on residential applications. Probably 80% of the questions I receive about problems with metal roofs pertain to these types of panels. That said, I am happy to help when I can. I recently received the following question from Jane: Q. I noticed my inside… ( read more )

Is Ice and Watershield on the Entire Roof a Good Idea?

May 7, 2017

Q. I’m going to take off my old roof and put on a metal roof. Would it be overkill or problematic for me to apply ice and water barrier that is self adhesive to my entire roof as my underlayment? I ask because I live on a bluff in the middle of Missouri. It goes… ( read more )

Is OSB Acceptable as Roof Decking for Metal Roofing?

April 3, 2017

Oriented Strand Board, commonly referred to as OSB, is a type of engineered lumber similar to particle board, formed by adding adhesives and then compressing layers of wood strands. OSB is widely used as roof decking material. A homeowner recently wrote and asked me the following regarding OSB roof decking: Q. We are checking into a metal roof and we have a question… ( read more )