Jack Gray Best Roof Repair Tapes for Sealing Leaks on RV Roofs, Metal Roofs, and Flat Roofs on Buildings I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. Introduction Roof repair tape, also known as roof sealant tape, is a really surprisingly good way to fix a …
Introduction Knowing material weights is extremely important when you’re planning on putting things on a roof. You have to avoid loads that exceed the design strength of the roof and the roof’s supporting structure. I thought it would be helpful to have an easy way to look up the weight of 4×4 lumber, so here …
Introduction An impressive majority of all new commercial roof installations today use a single-ply roofing system. (We’re talking about flat roofs, of course. A single-ply membrane is almost never appropriate for a pitched roof. And a flat roof is more correctly called a “low-slope roof,” by the way.) Single-ply membranes have gradually gained popularity and …
2×10 Lumber Weight Calculator This calculator uses the lumber weight values presented in the table below. 2×10 Lumber Weight Calculator 2×10 Lumber Weight Calculator Select Wood Type: 2×10 Board Length: Feet: Inches: Number of Boards: Calculate Weight Results Clear Calculator For the weights of lumber with different dimensions, see my Dimensional Lumber Weight article. 2×10 Weight Factors …
Introduction This is a list of the types of wall copings and coping materials commonly found in wall construction today. I provide basic information about each type of coping material including attachment method (how the coping is attached to the wall), joint closure method (how the joints between the pieces of coping are made weatherproof), …
What is Coping in Roof Construction? Wall coping serves as a protective cap or cover on the top of a wall, designed to prevent water infiltration from above. Coping is typically slanted or curved in order to shed water, reducing the likelihood of moisture penetration that could lead to wall degradation or damage to the …
Introduction Knowing material weights is extremely important when you’re modifying or adding things to a roof. You have to avoid structural loads that exceed the design strength of the roof and the roof’s supporting structure. I thought it would be helpful to have an easy way to look up the weight of 4×6 lumber, so …
Introduction Knowing material weights is extremely important when you’re planning on putting things on a roof. You have to avoid structural loads that exceed the design strength of the roof and the roof’s supporting structure. I thought it would be helpful to have an easy way to look up the weight of 2×12 lumber, so …
2×8 Lumber Weight Calculator This calculator uses the weight values I used in the full table below. 2×8 Lumber Weight Calculator 2×8 Lumber Weight Calculator Select Wood Type: 2×8 Board Length: Feet: Inches: Number of Boards: Calculate Weight Results Clear Calculator For the weights of lumber with different dimensions, see my Dimensional Lumber Weight article. …
Introduction A pitch pocket (or pitch pan) is a type of roof flashing used to seal small or irregular roof penetrations. Pitch pans are very common on low-slope roofs. Pitch pockets look like boxes, rings, or cylinders made out of sheet metal (normally galvanized steel) or a pre-molded polymer. Although they are usually open at …
This page is a reformatted version of the July 1931 revision of “Weights of Various Woods Grown in the United States, Technical Note Number 218” by the Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin (United States Forest Service). Weights of Various Woods Grown in the United StatesTechnical Note Number 218Forest Products LaboratoryMadison, WisconsinUnited States Forest ServiceRevised: July …
Introduction Knowing material weights is extremely important when you’re planning on putting things on top of a roof. You have to avoid structural loads that exceed the design strength of the roof and the roof’s supporting structure. I thought it would be helpful to have an easy way to look up the weight of 6×6 …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. What are Roof Nail Pops? Roof nail pops, also called “backed-out nails,” are a type of roof defect where the roofing nails which secure the shingles have been forced back and out of the roof sheathing …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. Introduction This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to patch a rubber roof. You can repair an EPDM rubber roof yourself. EPDM rubber is one of the easiest roofing materials to repair properly. Always follow roofing safety guidelines when …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. Tilt-Up Construction Overview Tilt-up construction is a building method where large reinforced structural concrete panels are cast on site, then tilted up vertically and secured to form the building’s walls. Although the first documented use of …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. Introduction This article provides general information about various types of roof coatings. In addition to drawing on my own personal experience overseeing roof coating projects, I compiled much of the technical information here from a wide …
Introduction PVC (polyvinyl chloride) roofing is a type of flat or “low slope” roofing system widely used in commercial and industrial building construction. PVC roofing systems were introduced in the late 1960s, and after they had some initial issues resolved in the 80s, they now have a record of proven performance going back almost 40 …
Introduction When I was managing roof maintenance programs for commercial properties in Chicago, every once in a while a property manager would express concern that the snow building up on her commercial low-slope roofs would melt all at once and the roofs’ storm drainage systems wouldn’t be able to handle it. It seems like it would be …
What is Dimensional Lumber? Dimensional lumber is simply lumber that is produced with standardized dimensions. Standardized lumber dimensions such as “2 x 4” allow for a multitude of efficiencies in construction. Subcategories of dimensional lumber include appearance framing lumber, beams, joists, light framing lumber, planks, posts, stringers, structural light framing lumber, studs, and timbers. The lumber …
Introduction If you’re getting ready to have a new roof installed, you’re probably doing some research about the roof replacement process right about now. A new roof is a substantial investment, kind of like a car. And just like when you’re buying a car, when you’re paying for a roof replacement you want to know …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. Introduction I spent years managing a very large portfolio of commercial roofs for a well known roof consultant firm. (Well-known in the industry, it’s not like we were celebrity roof consultants or anything). Our clients included …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. What is Backer Rod? A backer rod is a cylindrical piece of foam material installed in a gap or joint between building materials to provide a substrate for building sealant. The backer rod ensures that the …
How Much Do Different Types of Pavers Weigh? The weight of a paver depends on the dimensions of the paver, the type of material used to make it, and the manufacturer’s formulation of that material. Stone pavers made from the same type of stone can also vary in weight somewhat depending on which quarry the …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. Introduction In this article, I’m going to explain what a hip and valley factor is, show you the math, and give you a pretty comprehensive table where you can look up the hip and valley factors …
Introduction Knowing material weights is extremely important when you’re planning on putting things on top of a roof. You have to avoid structural loads that exceed the design strength of the roof and the roof’s supporting structure. I thought it would be helpful to have an easy way to look up the weight of 2×6 …
Introduction In this article, I’m going to explain the things that you have to account for when you come up with a PVC membrane roofing cost estimate. I’ll also give you the typical costs for various types of PVC membrane roofs in 2025. To learn more about PVC roofing in general, please see my introductory …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. What is Roof Drainage? “Roof drainage” refers to the system of components and design elements that are used to remove water from a roof and convey it away from a building to an appropriate discharge location. …
Introduction Update: I am now updating the table by using an AI model to analyze extensive publicly available construction cost data, including population data, consumer price data, labor & wage trends, material cost indices, regional construction indices, building permit records, and local market condition analysis, as well as my company’s private records relating to contractor …
Thermal Expansion Calculator This calculator uses the values presented in the thermal expansion table below. Thermal ExpansionCalculator Thermal Expansion Input Form Type of Material: Material Length: feetinchesmetersmillimeters Start Temperature: °F°C End Temperature: °F°C Calculate Change in Length: in ft mm m New Total Length: Clear Calculator Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion Explained The coefficient of …
Introduction In this article, I’m going to explain the factors that determine TPO roofing costs. I’ll also give you the typical costs for various types of TPO membrane roofs in 2025. Roof consultants will typically have to produce accurate roof replacement budget projections for their clients every year. This means keeping up-to-date with changing material …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. Introduction In this article, I’m going to explain the factors that determine EPDM roof costs. I’ll also give you the typical costs for various types of EPDM rubber membrane roofs in 2025. Roof consultants typically have …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. Introduction: Degrees, Percentage, Standard Roof Pitch There are three basic ways to express roof slope. Roof slope can be given in degrees, as a percentage, or as a rise-in-run ratio (X-in-12), otherwise known as standard roof …
Introduction In this article, I’m going to explain the factors that determine asphalt shingle roof costs. I’ll also give you the typical costs for various types of asphalt shingle roofs in 2025. Keep in mind that the cost of any particular asphalt shingle roof will depend on several variables, including roof size, roof pitch, roof complexity, local …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. What is a Roof Pitch Multiplier? A roof pitch multiplier, also called a roof pitch factor, is a number that you use to find the actual surface area of a pitched roof or the length of a common rafter. …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. Introduction The weight of snow is a vital piece of information. There are parts of the building code that are based on knowing how much additional weight a structure will need to support due to the …
Introduction: Natural Slate Colors Natural slate is a durable and beautiful stone roofing material that has been used for centuries. It is also one of the only purely natural roofing materials available. Slate rocks. Among the most striking features of natural slate roofs are the naturally occurring color variations that provide an array of color …
Introduction I’m a professional roof consultant and I’ve spent a lot of time researching roof replacement costs for my clients. This means I keep up-to-date with changing material and labor costs for all kinds of roofing, including slate roofs. I thought keeping (and updating) some fairly accurate slate roof cost estimates online would be a helpful resource …
I participate in the Amazon affiliate program and may earn commissions from purchases made through links on this page. Introduction Slate is a natural stone that has been used as a roofing material for centuries. It is prized for its beauty, performance, long service life, and minimal maintenance requirements. Slate roofing has long been considered …
Introduction Metal roofing is a very large category. There are more metal roofing products available than there are for any other type of roofing material. Metal roof panels are made in many different sizes, from many different metals, with many different panel profiles, with many different coatings, for use in many different situations. In this …
Introduction Selecting the right roofing contractor is very important. A new roof is a big investment, a roof replacement project can be an ordeal, and deciding which roofing contractor to hire can be hard. If you’re like most homeowners, you don’t know much about the technical aspects of a roof installation, or how to tell …
Introduction Metal roofing is an attractive roofing option. It looks great. It can be recycled. It’s lightweight. Metal panels can each provide the same coverage as dozens of shingles and they can weigh as little as 70 pounds per square (100 square feet). Compare this to a clay tile roof that can weigh more than 1,000 …
Introduction This article should give you a pretty accurate idea of what the typical total installed cost will be for various types of modified bitumen roofs in 2025. You should be aware that the cost of any individual modified bitumen roof will depend on several variables, including roof size, roof complexity, local labor costs, the type …
Introduction In this article, I’m going to explain the factors that determine cedar roof costs. I’ll also give you the typical costs for various types of cedar shingle and shake roofs in 2025. Keep in mind that the final cost of any particular cedar shingle roof will depend on several variables, including roof size, roof pitch, …
This article covers traditional asphalt roll roofing. Introduction There’s an old joke that contractors like to tell: “Good, fast, cheap — you can only pick two!” This is one of those jokes that contains much wisdom and actually expresses a deep, abiding truth about the world. I even saw it on a bumper sticker once. …