Roofing & Gutters
12 articles · A–Z master index
General
- Roof Repair vs. Replacement: How to Decide — The decision framework: age against the failure sequence, the localized-versus-systemic test, repairability of brittle shingles, the layering question, and timing the replacement you choose.
Gutters
- Gutter Sizing, Slope, and Downspout Placement — The hydraulics of a working gutter system: five- versus six-inch sizing, the quarter-inch-per-ten-feet slope rule, downspout capacity and placement, and where the water must go.
Leaks & Flashing
- Flashing: Where Roofs Actually Fail — The metal details that keep water out at every roof transition: step, counter, headwall, drip edge, and boot flashing, how each fails, and why caulk is a confession rather than a repair.
- Ice Dams: Causes and Prevention — The attic-heat mechanism behind ice dams, why icicles are a symptom, the air-sealing and insulation fixes that actually work, and the emergency measures that do not wreck the roof.
- Roof Leak Diagnosis: Finding the Real Entry Point — Why the ceiling stain is rarely under the hole: how water travels along rafters and underlayment, the attic flashlight method, the garden hose test, and the usual suspects by location.
- Skylight Leaks and Curb Flashing — Why skylights leak at predictable points, the condensation impostor that is not a leak at all, curb versus deck-mounted flashing systems, and the repair hierarchy from weeps to replacement.
Roof Coverings
- Asphalt Shingle Lifespans and Failure Signs — How long three-tab and architectural shingles really last versus their warranties, the aging sequence from granule loss to cracking, and the signs a roof is entering its final years.
- Hail Damage: Real Damage vs. Cosmetic — What hail actually does to shingles, the bruise-and-granule evidence that matters, the marks that do not, storm-chaser dynamics, and how the insurance assessment really works.
- Metal Roofing: Types and Considerations — Standing seam versus exposed-fastener panels, steel, aluminum, and the premium metals, the myths about noise and lightning, and the ownership details that decide satisfaction.
- Moss and Algae on Roofs: Causes and Removal — The difference between cosmetic algae streaks and shingle-lifting moss, safe removal that spares the granules, the zinc and copper strip question, and prevention by sunlight.
- Roof Valleys: Open vs. Closed — Why valleys are the roof's rivers, the open-metal versus closed-cut construction choice, the woven third option, and the failure signs each style shows.
Ventilation
- Attic Ventilation: Soffit and Ridge Vents Explained — How passive attic ventilation works, the intake-exhaust balance, the baffle detail that insulation crews miss, mixed-vent mistakes, and what ventilation can and cannot fix.