Do you really need drip edge flashing? How should it be installed? Where should it be installed? And what is a drip edge for? If you?ve ever thought about re-roofing your home, it?s likely you might?ve asked a few of these questions.

For starters, you do need a drip edge. Why? Because a drip edge is what prevents water from running down your home?s fascias, soffits, and walls ? and maybe even inside your home. A drip edge is installed under the roof?s shingles, under the underlayment, and behind the roof gutter. In the place of no gutter, a drip edge directs water off of your roof away from the walls. If there is a gutter, a drip edge directs water into the gutter, and not behind it where it can run down your home?s walls.

But a drip edge also needs to be installed with some space between the drip edge and the fascia board. When it is installed too tightly against the fascia board, it is impossible to get the upper edge of the gutter behind the drip edge. And what this means is that water can still run behind the gutter and not into it ? where it shouldn?t go.

When it is installed properly, a drip edge keeps water from collecting where it shouldn?t ? which is anywhere near your home. But when there is no drip edge, or it is not installed properly ? such as leaving a gap between the drip edge and the gutter, or fastening it too tightly against the roof fascia board water can be sent behind the gutter, or if there is no gutter, against the fascia board and walls of your home. The result? Water damage in the best case scenario, and water damage plus mold and mildew in the worst case scenario.

Whether installing a drip edge, or any roofing material, it is always helpful to remember a fundamental axiom of roofing ? all materials should be installed such that they direct water back out onto the roof surface ? toward daylight, and not into the roof layers or structure.

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2016 might have been called the year of solar power. Not just did solar panels become less expensive and Elon Musk, founder of Tesla motors announced the purchase of one of the country?s largest solar providers, SolarCity, but we saw many things become solar powered that we never knew were possible. Things like a train, a roadway, an island, and an entire city.

According to Thierry Lepercq, French energy company Engie SA?s head of research, technology, and innovation, that only the beginning. As he told Bloomberg, ?The promise of quasi-infinite and free energy is here.?

And the reason, Lepercq says, is that the price of solar power will probably fall below $10 per megawatt-hour (roughly 1ó/kWh) in the world?s sunniest places. At the same time, conventional coal-based sources could even be more expensive in the future.

In a recent report, the World Economic Forum (WEF) seconded Lepercq, showing how solar power is now less expensive than fossil fuels. And, if solar power keeps trending at the rate it has been, declining at a compounded 20% annual rate, it will soon reach grid parity, making it a worldwide option.

And as solar power has expanded, so has its innovation. We now have large scale solar energy infrastructure in many countries, a solar desalination plant, supercomputers that run on solar power, and a farm that uses solar energy and seawater to grow crops.

Yes the solar power revolution has arrived.

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During the winter season, ice dams can build up in gutters and roof edges. This is caused by snow that melts on the eaves during the day and refreezes at night. When snow accumulates, water from the melting snow does not drain properly; it instead causes water to leak into the building structure. To prevent the accumulation of heavy snow and ice on the roof, heat tape can be installed. This is an effective tool for de-icing roofs, eaves and gutters in order to facilitate the proper drainage of water and save the structure from any damage that could be caused by winter weather.

Installation Process

Heat tape is a de-icing cable that is fastened in a zigzag or inverted ?V? shaped pattern to the edges or valleys of the roof, the areas most prone to the formation of ice dams. The cables should be fastened securely to the existing roofing material so they do not slide off due to large amounts of snow in the gutters. Aside from the zigzag pattern, this de-icing cable should be run in line with the gutters and inside all downspouts to ensure that no ice forms in these components, which in turn facilitates the free flow of water. Although installing de-icing cables is a good investment, it is a moderately challenging job because of the requirement to climb a ladder and move about on the roof and eaves troughs. Fortunately, this is a job that professional roofers can perform both rapidly and safely.

Sizes

These heating cables come in various sizes and are available at major hardware stores. Lengths run from 30 to 100 feet in length. They are designed to turn on when the temperature falls below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent ice and snow from building. Most heat tape is run with 120 volts of electrical power; however, there are also cables that use from 240 to 600 volts of power. The higher voltage heat tape is installed mainly for extreme cases and for industrial use. For most residential applications, 120 or 240 volts is all that is needed.

Another term for increasing the surface temperature in a given area is called trace heating. This prevents any freezing ice and/or snow accumulation. When buying this type of heat tape, the package includes a thermostat which controls the temperature and switches the cable on and off when the temperature goes below the 40 degree range; other types of heat tape do not have thermostats. Installation is very simple but does differ from one brand to another. Therefore, it is imperative to follow the manufacturer?s instructions accurately.

Safety Precautions

Since de-icing tape uses electricity, it poses a risk of fire due to the possibility of a short circuit. For this reason, there are safety guidelines that should be followed to avoid any property damage.

• Manual ? Always read the manufacturer?s manual.

• Wires ? Some electric cables should not cross or come in contact with each other to prevent overheating or ignition, unless the manufacturer specifically guarantees this will not happen.

• GFCI ? Always use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) as the power source for the installed heating cables.

• End-Caps ? Insulate the end-cap of the cables to avoid water penetration that could cause a short circuit and possible fire ignition.

• Controls ? Temperature controllers should be installed based on the manufacturer?s advice.

• Cables ? Electric cables that are older than three years, discolored, cracked, or damaged should be immediately replaced.

Those who live in northern climates and receive heavy snow should have heat tape installed. Although this is not mandatory, it is highly recommended. It will prevent the formation of ice dams and keep water from penetrating the building and causing major damage. The cost of installing this preventive tool is a wise investment compared to the damage that could be caused by the massive accumulation of snow on eaves troughs valleys and downspouts. Although this device can be installed by non-professionals, it is still recommended to seek the help of professional roofing contractors to ensure complete safety and accuracy of the installation process.a Heat tape is indeed a useful tool to prevent roof damage in wintry climates!

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For many customers, the process of restoring their roof can be a complicated process. Which company to use? Whether or not to contact the insurance company first? How much damage is truly there? These are only a few of the many questions to be answered.

Just recently, another big question has come to the forefront of roofing, and this one pertains to when the house is to be sold. That is, should a roof be inspected or certified?

The following article should help answer the question.

Separate from a home inspection, roof inspections typically are not performed in a home inspection. Instead, roofing inspectors climb up on the roof and issue reports on:

* Possible movement
* Condition of roofing materials
* Ridges, caps and drip edges
* Soundness of drains, downspouts, and gutters
* Flashing around roof pipes, chimneys, vents, valleys and mounting of HVAC units

Should the roof does not require repairs, an estimate of the years of life the roof has left can be given by the roofing company, and the inspection certified. The certification period is usually 1-2 years and sometimes as many as 5, however the period requested can vary.

On the other hand, if the roof requires repairs, it is not until after the repairs are performed, that the roofing company will issue the roof certification.

FYI: A number of buyers have stipulated this as part of the contingencies of their contracts (e.g. Subject To: appraisal, inspection, engineer?s report, roof certification, mortgage, etc. ). There are a lot of stipulations a buyer and seller can insist upon to include in a binder and real estate sales contract to close a deal. Contracts should always be reviewed carefully before they are signed.

Roof Certifications are typically requested by; Lenders, Municipalities, and Buyers. Lenders want a roof independently inspected to mitigate risk, municipalities want roofs inspected to maintain a quality housing stock and tax base. Buyers will often request a roof certification after a home inspection.

If a buyer requests a certification after a home inspection, it is likely that the inspector found defects and therefore requested that a roofer inspect and verify the condition of the roof.

You should contact several roofing contractors who work with your type of roof. Ask them if they will repair and then certify a roof what they charge for the roof certification (after it is repaired). A quality roofing company should not charge an additional fee to certify a roof they have restored.

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By Nick Dorotik

nick@asaproofing.com