I’m getting roofing estimates for a colonial house in eastern MA. The house is old and there’s a modern addition, built around 1989 which pretty much doubles the size of the house. The addition roof is the one in question here. It is a sort of cape-style wing attached to the gable end of the original house and with a garage at the other end. From the front it looks like a 1 story, pitched roof connector between the garage and the original house. From the back it looks like 2 stories because it has a second floor across the back that is sort of like a full length dormer.
That roof on the back side faces south and is almost flat. There’s a little pitch to it but I’d guess it’s something like 1/12 or maybe less. (It’s a terrible design, apparently done because somebody really, really wanted more space upstairs and it has created several problems on the exterior which I won’t even go into here because it’s too confusing already and there ain’t much I can do about it now anyway.)
It currently has 3-tab shingles over ordinary felt.
One roofer has proposed to strip it, ice & water shield the entire flat roof (looks like about 4 squares to me) and shingle it. (We’re asking for 30 year architectural shingles.)
Another roofer has proposed to strip it, ice & water shield the entire flat roof and cover it with SAP Modified Rolled Roofing rather than shingles.
Roofer A says no way – shingles are the way to go. Roofer B says the rolled roofing is better in this application.
Does anybody out there have any guidance for me?
Replies
I wouldn't put shingles on a 1-12 pitch, no matter the exposure or materials used underneath it.
Piffin will be through sometime to point you in the right direction of material to be used for your situation, probably EPMD.
Bobl,
I would definitely use a modified bitumen product (or other membrane) on this slope vs. a shingle. I don't think you could ever get a shingle to last 15 yrs. let alone 30 yrs. on this low of a slope
But. . . I would want the membrane to be fully adhered with the laps well sealed (hot air welded or torched if using a Mod Bit).
No shingle company in the world will waranty three tab shingles on a 1/12 pitch roof.
Roofer A is not a roofer.
No shingle company in the world will waranty three tab shingles on a 1/12 pitch roof.
Or 30 year shingles either
Thanks everyone!
FYI - I got a 3rd quote today from a roofer who has been around our town for many years and seems to have a good reputation. He said he'd do shingles if I insisted but doesn't recommend it and would not warantee it. He also recommended the rolled roofing applied over ice & water shield and felt it would be better than a rubber roof. His reasoning is that rubber roofing is more easily punctured and since there are many trees around he would prefer the rolled roofing.
Seal-O-Flex !!! My favorite in such a situation.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=73188.31
Forrest
It depends on where BobI is. They don't market Seal-o-Flex here because many of their products are forbidden by the LA smog regulations. They'll ship the water based stuff, though.
-- J.S.
I only use the WB line. Once I got the solvent-type by mistake; used it, kept hearing a "pop" on a hot dry fall day, and finally realized vapors were igniting inside my roller when I pulled it off the deck!
I called SOF, and they said, "yeah, it'll do that"
Forrest - WB only