Roofing Discussions Forum - Recent Topics

Roofers And The Mysterious Payment Schedule: A Story Prompt

literature235 — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:24:40 +0000

Picture this: you finally decide to fix that leaky roof (asphalt shingles, midwest, lots of wind). The roofer shows up with his crew and a clipboard, but then he asks for half the money up front. Do you hand it over? Or do you wait until you see at least a few shingles nailed down? Maybe there’s a clever way to handle it I haven’t thought of. How would your story go from here?

Metal roofing on low pitches: what’s your go-to?

spirituality_amanda — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 05:12:43 +0000

Curious how folks here handle metal roofs on low-slope jobs. Do you stick with standing seam, or go for something else? Ever had leaks or regrets? Quick poll: what’s your preferred system for slopes under 3/12?

Ever had those rubber boots around vent pipes crack way sooner than expected?

nickf74 — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:07:05 +0000

I used one of those “lifetime” neoprene boots on my last roof (asphalt shingles, Midwest winters), and it still started splitting after like 7-8 years. Noticed a tiny leak in the attic, traced it back to that boot. I thought these things were supposed to last as long as the roof? Maybe the sun just eats them up faster here. Anyone else have these wear out early, or is it just my luck? Wondering if the metal ones are really worth the extra cost.

Is a white roof really worth it or just hype?

timharris186 — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:57:15 +0000

I keep hearing that painting your roof white or getting those “cool” shingles will save a ton on AC bills, but my neighbor swears it barely made a difference for him. Anyone actually notice real savings? I’m in Texas, so heat’s a big deal. Wondering if it’s worth the hassle or just marketing.

Best way to lay deck boards on exposed trusses?

jennifertail646 — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:37:52 +0000

Trying to figure out the smartest way to lay down decking on top of some exposed trusses (not solid joists, but open web steel trusses in my case). I’m a bit stuck on whether I need to add some kind of sheathing or blocking first, or if there’s a way to just attach directly. My main concern is flex and squeaks, plus making sure it’s safe—don’t want to step through a gap and end up with a story for the ER, you know? Also, do I need to worry about spacing for airflow or anything like that? It’s an outdoor setup, if that makes a difference. Anyone dealt with something similar, or have suggestions for what NOT to do? Would love to hear how others handled this, especially if you’ve got any “wish I’d known this” tips.

Composition Roof, Roof damage from improper installation, need advice

roofdungeness — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 14:55:50 +0000

I am the homeowner. When we bought this house in 2008 it had a shake roof on skip sheathing. We needed to do extensive work on the inside and add a garage and a shop. I asked one of the well respected home builder to help and they declined because they "only do new construction". So I worked with some sub contractors and it was not going well. Then, six months later they called and said they were slow and would like to look at my project and addition. Remember, this was 2009 and they were now looking for work. We all agreed on the plan and work went well. When time came for the roof, they said they would also do it as some of them roofed before and they were still looking for "new construction". So I agreed on a composition roof, 4000 under roof. With the composition, they had to use OSB on top of the skip sheathing. After they were finished I complained about the lack of drip edge. The OSB ended short of the fascia board and there was about a one inch gap. It was not a nice job but they said it was the way to do it. After moving in, I had the local sheet metal shop make up some drip edge and installed it myself. This was 2010. In 2024, I noticed a spot in on the south side that was leaking into the soffit. Investigating, I found the OSB rotted and the shingles dipping down before the fascia board. I did a quick repair by lifting up the shingles, the nails were no longer into anything, ripping out what remained of the OSB, and lifting up the shingles on a hot day, slipped in some solid wood strips to hold up and level the shingles. At that time, I did not notice what the defect was. Last week, I noticed some areas on the North side which were doing the same and when investigating, I found the same issue, disintegrated OSB and shingles dipping down. After further investigation, I found the real problem. When installing the first row at the eve, for some reason, instead of flipping a whole shingle around, they cut a short piece. So the first row was only six inches up the roof as seen in the images. So now I have an issue. The entire roof line is like that with a short first shingle. Even the three gables. I know the proper way would be to remove all the roof shingles a few feet up, repair all the water damaged OSB, and re-shingle correctly. But is there any other options? One idea I thought of was lifting up the shingles, removing the short piece, slipping in a full width of shingle, slip in some wood to span the damage, and somehow nailing it down. Notice the moss, which I know didn't help, but everywhere else on the roof above the first few feet is not leaking. I don't know what the blue stuff was, but would tar paper have prevented this? The blue material was held down with some staples and some green plastic disks.

I don't mind helping this roof limp along until it needs replacement in 10 or so years, or am I dreaming?

Thanks for looking at my post and any ideas would be appreciated.

Joe on the Olympic Peninsula

Roof-3.jpeg

Finally Got My Attic to Stop Sweating—Soffit Vents Did the Trick

coopers27 — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:29:01 +0000

Spent years dealing with a weird musty smell and damp insulation up in the attic. Turns out, adding soffit vents (and clearing out the old insulation blocking them) actually fixed it. Anyone else have a “wow, that actually worked” moment with attic airflow?

ANYONE ELSE NOTICE CHANGES IN SHINGLE BUNDLES LATELY?

milo_moon — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:23:39 +0000

Caught a news bit about how Owens Corning (and maybe some other brands?) are updating their shingle packaging and labels. Apparently, they're trying to make it more clear which product is which, and there was something about new color coding and bigger print for the specs. I guess it's supposed to help contractors and even DIY folks avoid grabbing the wrong stuff. Honestly, I get why they're doing it—I've stood in the aisle squinting at bundles more than once, especially if you're in a rush or it's a busy site. But I'm wondering if this is actually going to help, or just make things more confusing for folks used to the old look? Has anybody run into the new packaging yet? Did it make things easier, or just slow you down while you figured it out? Curious what y'all think—especially if you've had to swap out a bunch of shingles mid-project.

When the stitching starts to show

bellatail521 — Fri, 29 May 2026 14:01:58 +0000

Had this weird thing happen with my favorite pair of jeans last week—noticed this little line of thread poking out along the inner thigh. Figured it was just a loose thread, but nope, turns out the whole seam was starting to come apart. I swear I only bought these like a year ago, and I haven’t even worn them that much (well, maybe more than I want to admit). Anyway, I tried to sew it up myself and let’s just say… it’s not exactly invisible mending. I’ve had similar stuff happen with shirts too, especially around the armpits or cuffs. Sometimes it’s like the fabric is fine but the stitching just gives up? Is that just cheap manufacturing or am I somehow hard on my clothes without realizing? I’m not doing parkour in these things or anything. Curious if anyone else has had their clothes start unraveling at the seams way sooner than expected. Do you try to fix it yourself or just give up and toss it? And if you do fix it, any tips for making it look less like a five-year-old did the repairs?

QUICK FIX FOR ROOF LEAKS: DOES A TARP REALLY HOLD UP?

tiggergolfplayer — Sat, 23 May 2026 17:40:17 +0000

Had a leak pop up in my old asphalt shingle roof after last week’s storm. I grabbed one of those blue tarps from the hardware store and tried to secure it with some 2x4s and bricks (don’t judge, I was desperate). It’s held up okay for a few days, but I’m nervous about wind or more rain. Anyone else used a tarp like this? Did it actually keep things dry or just buy you a little time?