Attic Kneewall Ideas While You Are Remodeling!

The area of space just below the roof on Cape Cod style houses, as well as bungalow style homes, is commonly known as the attic kneewall. More specifically, visualize the vertical studs in your attic, and imagine where the roof meets with the shorter attic wall. This space is what creates the area known as the attic kneewall. The following paragraphs will discuss the attic kneewall, as well as provide some tips and ideas regarding how to utilize the space.

Since most kneewall areas involve very little head room, one of the most simple way to make use of this area is to install shelves in it. You can run the shelves down the entire length of your attic kneewall, spacing the shelves according to your own specific storage needs. Many people have found that adding shelves to the kneewall of their attic is the ideal way to store their smaller boxes and other smaller items. The use of shelves in kneewalls also helps to free up space near the taller attic walls, so that it may be used for the storage of bigger boxes and taller items, perhaps even some of your older pieces of furniture.

Another common way homeowners make use of their attic kneewall is to create a storage closet in those areas. By enclosing the attic kneewall with a wall, including a short door for easy entry, you can make it possible to store items in your attic in a space that is closed off from view. Not only does this type of closet help to keep your attic spaced more organized, it can also give your attic more function in case you decide to renovate it into a livable space one day, like a playroom, guest bedroom, or just a quiet place to relax. You can still have a livable space in your attic, while still using your kneewall areas as storage areas.

One thing to look for, before installing shelves or building a storage closet, is insulation in the kneewall area. It is very important that your attic kneewall be insulated. If your attic kneewall was not constructed with some sort of insulation, you will need to install some. By adding insulation before beginning your renovation, you will be helping to maintain a comfortable temperature in your attic. Not only that, adding insulation will also assist in helping to control the temperature of your entire house. Green Building Nari Contractor Atlanta Design & Build can help you through the process!

Some homeowners are totally unaware of the space they could be saving in their attics by dressing up their kneewall. While there may not be a lot of headroom in a attic kneewall, it can adequately function as a storage area or closet.

Installing Roof Leak Barriers - Sealing Off Dormers and Side Walls

Installing Roof Leak Barriers - Sealing Off Dormers and Side Walls

By Joseph Vann Hamby Sr.

On the structural settling, roof decks and side walls can move separately. This settling can tear ice and water shields. Installing water-proof leak protection sealed to only the side wall will eliminate this problem from happening. When sealing dormers and side walls on a roof, install Shingle-Mate or Deck Armor roof underlayment protection. Be sure to cut it flush to the wall seam. Prepare a full 36" width of Weather Watch or Storm Guard Ice and Shield and align the Weather Watch or Storm Guard so that there is at least 5" running up the adjoining wall.

Remove split-back release film and firmly press to seal the Weather Watch or Storm Guard Ice and Water Shield. This seals the membrane to the Shingle-Mate or the Deck Armor roof protection underlayment and to the adjoining wall materials.

For masonry materials, some products may not seal or bond to certain cements and masonry products. If you are installing to a masonry material, install the Shingle-Mate or the Deck Armor roof underlayment 3"-4" short of the wall seam making sure to leave the wood decking exposed. Then, seal the ice and water shield to the deck and run up the masonry without sealing.

Always remember that the Weather Watch or Storm Guard Ice and water shield are required around the dormers of roofs and the side wall of a house for the Weather Stopper orGolden Pledge installations.

Always take care when installing and sealing the Weather Watch or Storm Guard leak barriers. These special underlayments are crucial to the life of your home and the roof itself. The homeowner needs to make sure to hire a qualified roofing contractor that knows how to install the Weather Watch or Storm Guard properly. A qualified roofing contractor knows the proper installment procedures to install the water proof roof deck protection, so the homeowner will be assured that these roof-leak barriers are taking care of his/her needs for leak protection in the form of water proof underlayments.

When dealing with masonry materials, the homeowner needs to make sure the roofing contractor understands they are dealing with a masonry material and not all water-proof underlayments will bond to the masonry on their home. In this case, there may be other materials that can be used to make sure a water proof roofing material will bond and seal to this type of masonry on a home.

A homeowner can rest assured that when using a contractor that knows how to install these types of products, their home will be taken care of.

To find out more about how to install asphalt roofing products, please visit the following links: Roswell Roofing Specialists or Fulton County Roofer. This article was authored and submitted by Joseph Vann Hamby. All editing and summaries are by Joseph Vann Hamby in a collective effort to encourage proper roofing installation practices.

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Composite Roofing and You in Atlanta!

The composite roof is often termed composite because of the different materials used in any type of composite building material. There could be a mixture of various materials as well as the loss of weight for the overall roofing system. I will say that it can be a heavier material than wood too! I Just had to get that in there.

Composite roofs are designed and manufactured to resemble slate or wood. The Slate design is common in composite roofs and people like the price over traditional slate. Generally, the cost is 35 to 40% less than a traditional slate roof. That is a huge benefit for someone who desires that type of exterior finish. The Composite Roof systems are usually warrantied around 50 years to boot.

The composite shake style roof is very beneficial to those who desire the wood look without the wood shake hassles. If you have a wood shake roof, it is very important to keep the roof clean and dry. If you fail to do so, the roof will rot prematurely and you'll need repairs that just do not blend well.

Another issue with shakes or wood shingles, is that if you live in a moist climate you have to keep it clean and dry. You will also need to seal the wood every 3 or 4 seasons.This can be extremely dangerous work because of how slick the materials are during this process. Just imagine trying to walk on a slope with a pure sheet of ice on it. You will see that it would be impossible to do so without falling. To do this part of the job requires safety harnesses and fall protection gear. This is usually very expensive because of all of the equipment that will be required to do the cleaning and sealing safely.

When you purchase a composite shake type of roof you have just eliminated the seasonal hassles of protecting your most valuable asset, your home. Not only will you save the money that you put into the new composite roofing, but you'll actually earn a savings in the long term which will add value to your initial investment. This means that you will get a ROI or Return on Your Investment. So with that being said the benefits to buying a Composite roof definitely does carry its own weight in the roofing market place.

I recommend visiting Tamko's website to learn more about the composite roofs that are manufactured today. This is a great starting place to start by researching the Lamarite series products.In addition this will give you an idea of the message of this Article, and offers you a great foundational place of research. It will be very helpful to you for weighing the Pros and Cons of the Composite Roofing World.

To find out more about Composite Roofing Products please visit the following links: Douglas County Roofing Companies or Douglasville Roofing Contractors.This article was Authored and Submitted by Joseph Vann Hamby.

Why Chimney Inspections are Important Tools to Help Gauge Roof Condition

Did you know that your roof may not be as solid as you think it may be? Regular chimney inspections offer an excellent opportunity to get an expert on your roof to see the condition of your roof as well as inspect the condition of your chimney. Of course there are other reasons why routine chimney inspections, prior to each winter, are advisable. Over time and with exposure to the elements, your chimney can fall into a state of disrepair. It is much easier to fix a small problem than it is to bail out a sinking ship. Small problems that are noticed each year can be manageable to repair or replace. Much more manageable to most people than replacing an entire chimney. Some of the problems that may be noted through routine chimney inspections include: cracks in the mortar, issues with the flue, broken bricks, damage to the flashing, and other potential problems. If your service includes a video inspection of the chimney even more strengths and weaknesses within your chimney may be revealed. Failing to repair damage can lead to a wide range of problems like fires or poisoning by carbon monoxide. The longer the damage is in place, the more difficult it will become to repair. This is one reason that yearly inspections are a wise idea. They allow you the opportunity to repair the damage before it become to cumbersome or costly to manage. Not all issues that damage fireplaces and chimneys are merely aesthetic. It is important to repair any structural or potentially harmful damage to your fireplace as quickly as possible. It is also wise to have regular cleaning of your chimney in order to remove potential hazards from the interior. The cap is also inspected during the process of chimney cleaning. If this is damaged it is important to repair it right away. This cap prevents water and animals from getting into your flue and causing all manner of damage. If you need to replace your cap it's a good idea to consider the benefit of screened caps so that birds will not become a problem. If you haven't had a chimney inspection in quite a while now is an excellent time to do so. Keep in mind that the months of fall are often the busiest for most chimney inspection and repair companies as people are preparing for using their fireplaces during winter. Book your appointment early for the greatest availability. It is a wise idea to double up a chimney inspection with a whole roof inspection whenever possible. Some companies may offer a package deal that includes a rate for both and may include chimney cleaning services as part of the package. The better care you take of your roof the longer it will last. Routine yearly examinations are a great way of identifying and repairing potential problems before they get out of hand.

GAF/ELK Roofing Products - Stateline Shingles Series

GAF/ELK Roofing Products - Stateline Shingles Series

By Joseph Vann Hamby Sr.


Stateline shingles are a new and improved shingle. They offer a lifetime warranty; they have 110 miles per hour limited wind warranty. The new Stateline shingles duplicate the rich look of slate tiles that are often very expensive. Also, the large size offered is easier to install and reduces labor for the installer.
For someone who is looking to install the Stateline shingle, you would first use a starter strip for all Stateline shingle projects. Or if you would like, you can trim off 7 ½" of bottom tabs to align the self seal with the eaves. You would then trim 4" off the rake edge to ensure the first course will overlap the starters. The overhang drip edge should be at 3/8 at both the eave and the rake edges.
Then you would fasten 3"-4" for the eaves above the self sealant. Continue this across the eave with full length trimmed shingles. Installing the first course of shingles is the next thing to do. You start with a full shingle which gets installed over the starters which needs to be flush at the eave and the rake edges. You will use six fasteners to properly secure the Stateline shingles to the roof.
Fasten 5/8" above each cut-out with fastening below the self seal and above each cut out. High nailing comes with a precaution though. High nailing reduces any wind resistance and high nailing also can cause shingles to slip off of the roof deck itself. You are to drive the fasteners flush to the shingle, if you over drive the fasteners it can lead to damage to the shingles on the roof. If you under drive the fasteners it can lead to shingle blow-offs during inclement weather.
You are to continue laying the first course of shingles and then start across the eave using full shingles. Also, avoid crowding the shingles, place the shingles close but not too close. Crowding the shingles can cause the shingles to buckle.
Installing the second course of shingles you will trim off 12" off the rake edge to properly set the design pattern. Align then with the alignment notch of the underlying shingle, giving 3/8" overhang at rake edge. Align the bottom to the top of cut-outs of the shingle below, these results in a 7 ½" exposure. Avoid over-exposing though. This can result in high nailing and can alter the Stateline pattern.
Finally, fasten in place to secure to the deck and continue this across the eave with full shingles. Following these instructions will make sure that your new Stateline Shingles will last for many years to come.
To find out more about how to install asphalt roofing products please visit the following links: Douglasville Roofing Companies or Dunwoody Roofing Contractor. This article was Authored and Submitted by Joseph Vann Hamby. All editing and summaries are Authored by Joseph Vann Hamby in a collective effort to encourage proper roofing installation practices.

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Shingle Manufacturing Process With GAF-ELK

Shingle Manufacturing Process With GAF-ELK

By Joseph Hamby

The definitions of shingles can be broke down into organic or asphalt definitions. Organic shingles are really asphalt shingles that are made with an organic mat underneath. Organic mats, which are typically made from recycled paper that is formed into rolls of felt mat. Sometimes people make the mistake of thinking that organic shingles are the only type of asphalt shingles, which is not true. There is asphalt in both the organic shingle and the fiberglass shingle. Organic shingles require more asphalt since they rely on the asphalt to make the mat stronger.

Fiberglass mats are used because they have a UL class A fire rating, they provide long-term warranties, which can be anywhere from 20 years to 50 years depending on the warranty. Fiberglass shingles provides long term protection in almost all climates, which makes it the most durable shingle in most homeowner's minds.

GAF-Elk provides total quality through total control of the process by making their own glass fibers, by making their own fiberglass mats for the shingles, then by making and manufacturing their own Micro Weave Core for the fiberglass shingles.

By processing their own asphalt, this makes sure that the shingles meets their high standards. Controlling the granule quality which is produced with the highest quality assurance directed by the GAF Elk team. The granules are diamond cut for added strength and depth. Granule colors are then ceramic ally fired using a unique Color Lock system to lock in shingle color. Finally, by manufacturing their own adhesive self seal, which gives the shingles one of the strongest sealants' around.

GAF/ELK shingles are manufactured with the most innovative technology process available. The fiberglass mats are started out as large rolls of fiberglass, they are coated with asphalt, the asphalt penetrates the mat, the granules are then added, back surfacing is added, and the granules are then embedded into the shingle. Sealant is added along with sealant protector, the shingles are cooked to help with the curing process, and they are then cut to size, and finally cut and shipped to their destination.

To find out more about Asphalt Roofing Shingles please visit the following links: Asphalt Roofing Shingles or Carrollton Roofing Contractor.This article was author and Submitted by Joseph Vann Hamby. All editing and summaries are Authored by Joseph Vann Hamby in a collective effort to encourage publishing of how a shingle is made.

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