Hi folks. I ususally post over at Knots, but I have this old house that I live in. I’m trying to find out what kind of material you use to build up low spots in low angle roofs.

The family room is a shed addition with a low slope roof. When we bought the place, we had roll roofing tarred in place to satisfy the lender. It leaked in about six years.

After some research, I tried a “build in place membrane” system – the Henry’s version of snow seal/snow roof. It held up well for about 12 years (better than the six the roll roofing gave us). Now, it has failed by disintegrating where water stands all winter.

The roof is low angle with a 2″ wall on the low side and two downspouts to carry water off. There is about 20′ between the downspouts and years of sloppy construction and roofing have left low spots along the low wall where the membrane failed.

I’d like to use some sort of “leveling” compound to establish a pitch to the downspouts before I redo the membrane next summer. What to you use to build up a roof like this? I’d like something lighter than the cement used below the kitchen linoleum.

And no, I can’t put a gable on and pitch the roof. The bearing wall is just wrong for a gable. Besides, the house isn’t worth any major work at this point. It’s a very nice and comfortable old grown up old country cottage with lots of windows and light. But, it’s only 1500 sq ft of funky old house on six acres between Davis and Woodland,near sacramento in the grand state of confusion. Anyone that can afford the place when we sell in 15 or 20 years won’t live in this house guaranteed! They’ll knock it down and build a huge horsey farm with a 4000 sq ft ticky tacky palace.