attic Articles

How to Deal with Your Roof: Ice & Snow

September 10, 2021

Severe winter weather brings dangerous ice dams that accumulate on rooftops. These ice dams can damage roof systems and also allow melted snow to enter the home. They can also form dangerous icicles and ice packs on the home’s perimeter, posing a hazard to pets, people, and shrubbery. How Ice Dams Form Ice dams most… ( read more )

Condensation: It’s Raining in My Attic!

December 10, 2018

As someone who helps thousands of homeowners each year with their roofing questions and concerns, I can depend on one thing like clockwork. Every spring and fall, I will field many calls and emails from desperate, scared, and frustrated homeowners who are exclaiming “I had a metal roof installed, and now it’s raining in my… ( read more )

Ridge Vents and 2nd Floor Conversions

February 12, 2011

A homeowner from Tennessee wrote and asked me: Q: I have ridge vents for a metal roof that I had installed this past year. To prevent wasps and leaves from coming in, the roofer told me he’d put metal screens in the vent. However, a man he sent over put in a black foam that… ( read more )

Hot Attic Increases Energy Costs

November 10, 2010

A homeowner from Alabama, recently sent me the following question: Q: I live in southern Alabama in a home that was built in 1992, The inspector while inspecting this summer said my attic was running 150 – 180 degrees and suggested that something be done. Roof is original there are wind vents and soffit vents…. ( read more )

Garage Ventilation

August 29, 2009

Q: I had my garage roof replaced (attached to the house). They removed my 2 wind turbines and installed 1 ridge roof vent, I have 6 soffit vents on the eaves, But my garage is now extremely hot. They said I no longer needed the turbines with the ridge roof vent. How can I cool… ( read more )

Does Metal Roofing Require A Roof Deck?

August 13, 2009

Q. We just built a 16’x16′ shed, that will be converted into a guest house in a year or two. Our contractor installed a metal roof, but he put it directly on 2×4’s attached to the rafters, as opposed to installing on a roof deck. The 2×4’s are 3 1/2 feet apart in some places…. ( read more )