Paper Is Commonly Used
Felt paper is usually used as a buffer between materials. Back in day, we used felt paper to protect shingles from tree sap from wood and eventually break down the shingle. While felt paper is lightweight and inexpensive, it provides a last-line-of-defense for your home if a shingle should break or be damaged in some way. Keep in mind, you’ll need a different weight/gage of felt paper depending on what roofing materials you choose to install.
Window Wisdom
Roofing manufacturers sometimes call a skylight a roof window. So, to be clear, if you can see the sky through it, it is called a skylight, but if you can see both land and sky, you can call it a roof window. Another way to discern the difference is to ask yourself if the window could be used as an escape point in the case of a fire or other emergency. If the answer is yes, then the particular window is roof window.
Black Stains: How Does That Happen?
Sometimes dark streaks might appear on your roof because of algae that grows off of the minerals on some types of roof shingles. The wetter your roof is, the more likely this is to happen. While algae aren’t likely to damage your roof, it can look unseemly. You can get rid of this roof algae by mixing bleach and water and spraying the affected area. Keep in mind, that bleach can hurt your foundation plantings. Be sure to rinse them before and after the application of the bleach mixture which you want to be one part bleach and two parts water.
Do-It-Yourself Roofing?
Of course, you can install your own roof. But should you? Safety is important. And working up there on the roof can be dangerous for sure. As far as installing a metal roof goes, it appears to be fairly simple and straightforward until you get down into the details. Working around skylights, chimneys, valleys, and corners…not so simple. Aside from the danger inherent in installing your roof, if you make even a tiny mistake, you could be looking at leaks in the future. Expensive leaks. If you don’t consider yourself a professional or at the very least extremely familiar with the process, it’s best you don’t install your roof on your own.
Overhanging Shingles Block Gutters
If your shingles extend beyond where your gutters are hung, it can create and overhang which creates a cavity. Inside this little gutter-cave, birds can make nests, debris can become lodged, and algae can grow unabated. The shingles will need to be trimmed and that can be expensive. More the reason why you should have a professional roofer do all the installing for you.