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I have a one story 1968 house with a fairly flat roof (3 inchs per foot), large overhangs, Michigan winters and various roofing problems.
In the first year we had rains and high winds that lifted the shingles and allowed water in. Also had leaks through a ridge vent (since removed) and other problems outlined below.
The roof was removed and replaced about 12 years ago. I insisted on lock type shingles due to thee high wind experience. But well still have other problems. Various leaks, at one point water works down behind the soffit and dumps down a valley and over the edge, and water and ice behind the fashia (up?) boards.
A contractor advises that the locked shingles are part of the problem, that the roof be removed and replaced with heavy felt, a rubberized material in the valleys and other problem areas. Sounds like more of the same to me.
Are there any good alternative? Like raised gravel, metal etc Why not rubberized material under all the shingles? Where could I get info?
Replies
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My guess is you have a combination of problems. Sounds as if heat/moisture is leaking into the attic area from the house. Pipes, ductwork, and wiring are places to check. How well is it insulated? The other question is were the shingles installed according to the manufacturer's directions? If you have an extra bundle of shingles, look at the instructions on the back. There are almost always specific installation instructions for low pitch and high wind conditions. If they were not followed, that may explain many of your problems.
*gravel? nope. how you gonna keep it up there? Metal? maybe, but 3 in 12 is the limit for low slope. You'd probably want a standing seam ($$$). Why not "rubberized material" under all the shingles? More money, and overkill. Proper roofing would not need this. Are you getting ice damming problems in the winter? What is the insulation/vapor barrier/venting situation?Why does water get behind your fascia? Is this from ice dams or is there an installation problem? Do you have gutters?Do you have a lot of trees shading the roof or is it exposed to a lot of sun? Have you isolated any of the leaks in the Tlocks? Help us help you.MD
*A 3in12 pitch that is having problems is a cantidate for a membrane roof, rubber or modified bitumen. These are widely used in commercial situations and are well suited for your roof. They are warranteed for twenty years and the only possible objection would be an esthetic one.
*Soprema makes a gravel covered rubber to look more normal.-Rob
*the residential product that rob is referring to is Soprema ((Colphene)) which is a grannular surface modified bitumen...it is a peel & stick but needs a smooth base such as plywood or concrete..a similar product is Monsey's ((Lo-Slope))..the colphene is a little harder to work with but seems to be superior with difficult flashing areas..both give a very attractive roof... a black rubber ((memebrane)) roof , fully-adhesed, wold be very effective, and good value... but not very attractive if visibility is an issuethree-tab can be used successfully in your situation .. if the winds are really excessive i would use a tested shingle like Certainteed's Hatteras (rated for 110 mph)... follow the recommemded practise for 3/12 roofs..mad dog and your proposed contractor sound like they are on the right track though... this is probably a flashing problem.. and the valleys and other areas need special attention....b but hey, whadda i no ?
*Tile Roof Ridge VentAre there any products or techniques to provide a continuous ridge vent for S-shaped clay tile roofs?
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Roger;
I have seen a shoddy frame job, followed by careless roofing cause leaks around valleys and behind the facia. Check to see if the subfacia board is flush with the roof plane, if it is above the roof plane, the water can get dammed up and leak around the shingles instead of running off as it should. Use a straight edge to check and see if there is a belly above the fascia. A metal roof is a good alternative on a low pitch like yours, installed correctly, you can go a lot lower than a 3 in 12. Good luck.
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I have a one story 1968 house with a fairly flat roof (3 inchs per foot), large overhangs, Michigan winters and various roofing problems.
In the first year we had rains and high winds that lifted the shingles and allowed water in. Also had leaks through a ridge vent (since removed) and other problems outlined below.
The roof was removed and replaced about 12 years ago. I insisted on lock type shingles due to thee high wind experience. But well still have other problems. Various leaks, at one point water works down behind the soffit and dumps down a valley and over the edge, and water and ice behind the fashia (up?) boards.
A contractor advises that the locked shingles are part of the problem, that the roof be removed and replaced with heavy felt, a rubberized material in the valleys and other problem areas. Sounds like more of the same to me.
Are there any good alternative? Like raised gravel, metal etc Why not rubberized material under all the shingles? Where could I get info?