I'm shopping for a house and recently looked at one that has a VERY shallow roof pitch. In addition, it appears that the roof is warped in places.... my guess is because it's had alot of snow sitting on top, melting, and ultimately bowing the roof. What should be the proper roof slope in wintery New England? I suspect I'd need to have the roof ripped off and redone at some point... what's involved, how long, and at what cost?
Answer:
I can't really talk to you about costs because you are quite a distance from my immediate area but it entails removing everything above the exterior walls. You now have to install trusesd with what is termed a "5/12" or greater slope. 5/12 means that the pitch rises five feet in a horizontal distance of 12 feet. Next you put on a new roof deck and then shingle it as follows: Ice & water shield can be installed along the lower edge of each roof panel. This shield has to go up high enough to be at least nine inches past the exterior wall of the house. Black, 15-pound building felt is then installed horizontally on the remainder of the roof to within a couple of inches of the peak before shingles are applied. At the peak, there should be a baffled ridge vent running from gable to gable on straight runs and from the gable back to within a couple of feet of valleys if they exist. The valleys themselves should also be amply lined with ice & water shield under whatever metal flashings there may be. The chimney, if it needs attention, should be addressed before any of this starts. The twenty-year asphalt shingle is presently the most cost effective product on the market.
