Roofing discussions and local services.
sarahdiyer
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: Would Malarkey shingles survive a solar-powered zombie apocalypse?
Malarkey’s been a lifesaver for me too, especially with the wild Midwest weather. I will say, though, the extra weight made installation a bit of a workout - my crew was grumbling for days. Anyone else notice they’re qui...
RE: Making sure the deck’s ready for underlayment - what’s your process?
I’m with you on the “boot test” - if my heel sinks, I know I’ve got a problem. But man, OSB can be sneaky. I once had a section that looked totally fine, even passed the screwdriver poke, but when we pulled it up, it was...
RE: Water sneaking in - why is it so hard to find the source?
Water is basically a ninja when it comes to finding the weirdest path into a building. I’ve chased leaks that started in the attic and somehow showed up as a puddle in the basement - makes you question the laws of physic...
RE: Battling winter roof woes: heat cables vs. more insulation?
Insulation definitely helped with my heating bills, but I’ve still got a few stubborn ice dams, especially on the north side. Honestly, I think some of it comes down to roof design - my place has a bunch of weird valleys...
RE: Would you worry about lightning if your house had a metal roof?
Exactly - seen a few folks surprised when their fancy new roof didn’t stop a surge from frying their router. I always tell people, “Metal roof or not, lightning’s gonna do what it wants.” Whole-house surge protectors are...
RE: Keeping algae off Atlas shingles: My quick hack
I’ve seen folks go full lumberjack on their trees just to get a little more sun on the roof. Honestly, it does help - less shade means things dry out faster. But man, those pole saws are a workout. Ever tried wrangling o...
RE: Would you worry about lightning if your house had a metal roof?
Had a tenant freak out about this exact thing once - she called me in the middle of a thunderstorm convinced her new metal roof was basically a lightning rod. I had to reassure her (and myself, honestly) that, like you s...
RE: Would you worry about lightning if your house had a metal roof?
I’ve got a couple buildings with metal roofs, and I’ll admit, the first time I saw lightning hit about a mile away, I started mentally running through my insurance policy. The thing is, I’ve heard every version of the “m...
RE: Keeping algae off Atlas shingles: My quick hack
Zinc strips have definitely saved me a ton of headaches, but I swear, every time I’m up there, I start questioning my life choices. Last fall, I tried to sweep off a patch of moss on the north side and ended up with half...
RE: Spotting wear and tear on used gear: my quick routine
Paste wax is like my secret weapon for sticky doors - seriously, I’ve got a closet that swells up every summer and nothing else keeps it moving as smooth. WD-40 just left me with a greasy mess the one time I tried it. As...
RE: Did you know Tamko started out making roofing in a chicken coop?
Insurance folks really do love their paperwork, don’t they? I had to send in a whole binder’s worth of stuff for my last green roof claim - felt like I was prepping for a science fair. Did you run into any weird question...
RE: Quick fix or redo: dealing with damaged aluminum flashing
Had to laugh at the “tube of caulk and a prayer” - that’s basically my toolkit for half the stuff that goes wrong in these rentals. I’ve swapped out more flashing than I care to admit, and every time I think, “How bad co...
RE: Avoiding Commercial Project Underbids
Preach. I’ve had projects where skipping a couple of those “peace of mind” cuts ended up costing way more in the long run. But man, green roofs are a different beast - one time we found a leak only because the sedum star...
RE: how much does fixing up after a big storm usually set you back?
Rain gardens definitely help, but I'm curious - has anyone actually compared the costs of fixing storm damage before and after installing one? Like, did it noticeably save you money, or was it more about convenience and ...
RE: Finally tackled that metal edging thing on my roof
Haha, shaky ladders and choice swear words - sounds like my kind of weekend project. Ever had that moment when you're halfway done sealing and realize you forgot to prep the surface properly? Been there... way too many t...