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Resources.

Roof problems, explained. Follow the clues, compare your options, and figure out what to do next.

Materials & installation

Which roof system suits the house?

The covering is only part of the decision. Compare materials first, then look at the deck, roof shape, flashings and installation details that determine how the complete roof fits your home.

Browse all 79 guides

  1. Asphalt vs. Metal vs. Cedar: Which Roof for Which House?

    Begin with the broad material choices and the differences that matter to a homeowner.

    4 min read

  2. Architectural or Three-Tab Shingles: What Changes?

    Choosing asphalt? Compare shingle construction, repair matching and the scope of the whole roof.

    3 min read

  3. Can Metal Roofing Go Over Existing Shingles?

    Considering metal? Check what an overlay proposal assumes about the existing roof and deck.

    4 min read

79 guides / Materials & installationShowing 1-18

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Weathered grey asphalt shingles with uneven lower edges

Materials & installation4 min read

Roof Rejuvenation Sprays: Check Before Paying

Review roof rejuvenation claims against current shingle-industry guidance, manufacturer compatibility and the actual defects on your asphalt roof.

Soft ripples of reflected light across grey standing-seam roof panels

Materials & installation3 min read

Will a Metal Roof Be Loud in the Rain?

Rain noise depends on the roof, attic and ceiling together. Compare the room you sleep in before choosing metal roofing for an Ontario home.

Flat shingle sample and bent cap-shaped sample on a wooden bench

Materials & installation4 min read

Should the Plastic Strip Come Off Roof Shingles?

Packaging release film and the shingle's working sealant do different jobs. Identify the product before treating an intact strip as an installation mistake.

Overlapping grey asphalt shingle courses across adjoining roof slopes

Materials & installation4 min read

Why Do the Joints in My New Shingles Line Up?

Separate decorative tabs from actual shingle ends, then compare the installed offset and exposure with the exact product instructions.

Pleated blind covering the upper half of a skylight in a sloped bedroom ceiling

Materials & installation4 min read

Laminated or Tempered Skylight Glass?

Understand what skylight glass does when it breaks, why pane construction matters overhead and what to specify before ordering.

Asphalt shingle, folded metal and wood samples on a workbench

Materials & installation4 min read

Can Shingles Go Over Wet or Wrinkled Underlayment?

The covering should wait while wetness, folds and the condition of the deck are resolved under the installed product's requirements.

Pleated blind covering the upper half of a skylight in a sloped bedroom ceiling

Materials & installation4 min read

Three Skylight Ratings: Heat Loss, Solar Gain and Daylight

Read U-factor, SHGC and visible transmittance as three different measures, with a worked comparison that keeps units and product variants straight.

Brick house with a steep shingle roof, chimney and front dormer

Materials & installation4 min read

A 60-Day Underlayment Rating Is Not a 60-Day Temporary Roof

An exposure rating can describe UV resistance without promising weather protection for an unfinished roof. Ask for the separate dry-in plan.

Weathered grey asphalt shingles with uneven exposed edges

Materials & installation4 min read

Can a Roof Be Repaired When the Shingle Is Discontinued?

A discontinued colour does not automatically require a new roof. Establish physical compatibility, repairability and the appearance you will accept separately.

Open ceiling hatch showing loose-fill insulation and attic framing

Materials & installation4 min read

Can Roofing Go Over Wet Plywood or OSB?

Distinguish temporary rain wetting from damaged roof decking and ask for a documented drying and substrate-acceptance decision before underlayment conceals it.

Grey standing-seam metal roof with visible reflections and surface waviness

Materials & installation4 min read

PVDF or SMP on a Metal Roof: What Are You Paying For?

Compare the named factory finish, colour-retention terms and complete panel system. The coating acronym alone does not describe the whole roof.

Grey ribbed metal roof with visible screw heads and washers

Materials & installation4 min read

24- or 26-Gauge Metal Roofing: Is Thicker Better?

Lower gauge means thicker comparable steel. Check actual thickness, panel profile, support and tested assembly before paying for a metal-roof upgrade.

Grey standing-seam metal roof with visible reflections and surface waviness

Materials & installation4 min read

Snap-Lock or Mechanical Seam on a Low-Pitch Metal Roof?

The exact panel system sets the minimum slope. A standing seam's appearance does not establish whether its joint is suitable for a shallow roof.

Granular grey, smooth dark and pale membrane samples on a bench

Materials & installation4 min read

60-Mil or 80-Mil Single-Ply Roofing: What Changes?

Compare thickness within a named membrane system, then check reinforcement, substrate and details. The thicker sample does not answer every durability question.

Low-slope roof over a glazed rear addition beside a brick wall

Materials & installation4 min read

Does a Small Flat Roof Need a Cover Board?

A cover board provides a specified surface beneath the membrane. Its value depends on the assembly, damage risks and attachment, not the roof's size alone.

Low-slope roof over a glazed rear addition beside a brick wall

Materials & installation4 min read

Adhered or Mechanically Attached Membrane on an Addition?

Attachment is a complete assembly decision. Compare the deck, substrate, wind design and installation conditions before choosing between adhesive and fasteners.

Low-slope roof over a glazed rear addition beside a brick wall

Materials & installation4 min read

Can a House Have a Ballasted EPDM Roof?

Loose-laid EPDM held by designed ballast is a real roofing system. Residential suitability depends on structure, wind design, drainage and maintenance access.

Roof paperwork and shingle samples on a kitchen table

Materials & installation3 min read

Oil Canning: Why a New Metal Roof Can Look Wavy

Understand oil canning on metal roofing, why sunlight changes its appearance, and how to separate an appearance concern from installation defects.

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