Roofing discussions and local services.
oreobirdwatcher
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: When hail meets metal: a suburban legend
We actually went with stone-coated steel when we replaced our roof after a nasty hailstorm a few years back. Honestly, the panels have held up better than I expected - still a couple of small dings here and there, but th...
RE: How do you keep your gutters from turning into leaf soup?
You’re not wrong to be skeptical. I’m in central Illinois, and we get hammered with leaves and those maple helicopters too. I put on solid guards (the kind with the little slot at the edge) about five years ago. They def...
RE: Keeping algae off Atlas shingles: My quick hack
That’s been my experience too. I bought into the algae-resistant hype when we re-roofed five years ago, but honestly, the north side still gets those dark streaks every summer. I wonder if the shingle coatings just can’t...
RE: Swapping Out Roof Vent Boots With The Seasons - Worth The Hassle?
That’s exactly how I feel - ugly but watertight wins every time. I’ve been tempted by those newer composite boots because they look a bit cleaner, but after one winter here (central Iowa), the first one cracked right whe...
RE: Confused about insurance deductibles for storm damage
Yeah, the percentage deductibles are sneaky - especially if your home value’s gone up and you don’t realize how much that “2%” actually is. From what I’ve seen (I’m in Texas), wind and hail usually get their own deductib...
RE: finally found an underlayment that lasts - what's your experience?
Interesting - I've actually had the opposite experience with synthetic. Maybe it's just my area (humid summers, lots of storms), but I found the synthetic stuff got a little too slick for the roofers and a couple seams e...
RE: Trying to pick a shingle that won’t cook my attic - Malarkey worth it?
I get where you’re coming from - everyone wants to blame the shingles, but honestly, when our upstairs was roasting, it turned out to be a combo of poor attic airflow and not enough insulation. We swapped to “cool” shing...
RE: finally found a roofing company that didn't rip me off
Glad you found someone reliable - good roofers are like gold. Curious though, did they recommend any specific ventilation setup or products? When we redid ours, the contractor suggested ridge vents, but I've heard mixed ...
RE: Roof checkups saved me big bucks - anyone else?
Good catch on the vent boots - those things are sneaky. Did you happen to check your chimney cap too? Mine rusted out without me noticing...ended up with birds nesting inside. Definitely worth a quick look every now and ...
RE: think my roof's trying to tell me something
Good point about the gutters - have you checked the downspouts too? I've found sometimes the gutters look clear, but the downspouts are clogged halfway down with pine needles or debris. Had a similar issue a couple years...
RE: warranty fine print - what should I watch out for?
Good points, but do you think authorized dealer servicing is always pricier? I've found a few cases where independent shops actually charged more because they had trouble sourcing parts or didn't have the right tools... ...