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Q. Can asphalt felt be used directly under vinyl siding? I have heard that the two products are incompatible.
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A durable job depends on using the right mortar, anchoring the stone to the concrete, and providing weep holes for water that penetrates the veneer.
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Q: How far beyond the drip-edge should an asphalt shingle extend? Is the amount of overhang the same at the rake as at the eave?
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Q: Why is EPDM roofing so much more expensive than torch-applied modified bitumen? Is EPDM roofing that much better?
Stripping trees from a lot before building may seem practical, but saving them can pay larger dividends. This article explains how to watch out for what you can’t see — the roots.
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Q: The shady part of a customer’s roof is stained with round, pea-green growths on the asphalt shingles. The round spots are of various sizes, and they are not fuzzy like moss. A bleach solution does not remove these growths. What are they, and how can I
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Every year, product and tool manufacturers vie for your attention with the latest, greatest releases guaranteed to help you work faster, better, cheaper. Here’s our pick for 2001.
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Q: We are restoring a 19th-century Victorian home with a painted brick exterior. The client wants to remove the six or more existing layers of paint, down to the natural brick. What is the best way to remove the paint without destroying the brick or morta
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Q: What is the minimum slope allowed for asphalt shingles? I have heard that asphalt shingles can be applied on a roof with a pitch as low as 2/12, as long as a rubberized asphalt eaves membrane is installed under the shingles.
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Q: I plan to install new cedar shingle siding over existing T & G board siding. Should I install housewrap under the new shingles? Since there is already a layer of housewrap between the plywood sheathing and the board siding, I’m worried that two layers of
Q: Two years ago, in the middle of the summer, I re-roofed a house here in Montana with three-tab asphalt shingles. The south-facing slope came out perfect, but the north-facing slope would not seal. I know the temperature was hot enough and the installat
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Q: I intend to reroof over the original asphalt shingles on a 30-year-old house. I would like to install heavy 40-year architectural-weight asphalt shingles, without stripping the existing shingles. I am a little worried that the new shingles may add too
Q: Can asphalt shingles be nailed above the adhesive strip? I have seen leaking low-slope roofs with relatively new asphalt shingles, where the leaks followed the nailing pattern. In the attic, there were rows of drip holes in the cellulose insulation on the attic floor. In this case, the shingles...
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Q: I am building an addition that will enclose the back side of an existing brick fireplace, which is now on the exterior of the building. Can 2x4 furring be attached directly to the brick?
The same technology used in radiant slabs also works outdoors to melt snow from drives and walkways. A heating contractor explains how to schedule and install a radiant snowmelt system.
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Q: Is the self-adhesive strip on standard asphalt shingles adequate for occasional 100-mph winds, or should extra roofing cement be applied under each shingle?
Reroofing over old asphalt shingles is cheaper than a complete tear-off, but to look good and last long, the new shingles have to lie flat. A veteran roofer explains how to use special flashing, filler strips, and careful layout for a perfect job every time.
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Building a durable driveway
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Q: I am bidding a job where the owner wants to install a new metal roof over a double layer of asphalt shingles. The roof has solid lumber rafters and plywood sheathing. Should I install 1x4 horizontal purlins over the asphalt and attach the metal roof to those? Should the purlins be...
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Rafter sizing chart for multiple shingle layers