Roofing Flashcards
1
Q
Are we required to inspect internal gutter and downspout systems
A
No
2
Q
Are we required to operate roof ventilators
A
No
3
Q
Are we required to determine life expectancy of roof coverings or number of layers
A
No
4
Q
Are we required to determine the adequacy of roof ventilation
A
No
5
Q
Asphalt shingles should not be installed on slopes less than
A
2:12
6
Q
Why report knob and tube wiring
A
Dangerous. Some insurance companies might not insure it
7
Q
Recessed Iights in attic must be rated
A
IC or 3” clearance from insulation
8
Q
What ratio is a steep slope
A
4:12
9
Q
Slopes down to 2:12 are allowed if
A
There are double underlayments
10
Q
Minor standing water on low slopes is permitted as long as it dries within
A
48 hours
11
Q
Hot asphalt is also referred to as
A
Bitumen
12
Q
Flat roof materials
A
Built up roofing, single ply membranes, roll roofing, spray polyurethane foams
13
Q
Why could a roof be wavy and uneven
A
Too many layers (more than 2)
14
Q
Describe asphalt shingles
A
Fibreglass/felt mat with asphalt
Granules deflect sunlight
15
Q
What are wood shingles or shakes made of
A
Cedar or cypress
16
Q
What number and colour of wood shingles/shakes should be used
A
1- blue label (free of sapwood and knots)
17
Q
How much space in between wood shakes/shingles and why
A
1/4” space between to allow for expansion when wet
18
Q
Wood shingles/shakes joints should be offset by how much and line up with every ____ course
A
Offset 1/2”
Every 4th course
19
Q
In Wood shingles/shakes, what is required between building paper and shingles
A
1/4” thick synthetic mesh
20
Q
Wood shingles/shakes violate fire codes. True or false
A
True in some cases. Check local codes
21
Q
Describe built up roofs
A
3-5 alternating layers of heavy roofing felt and hot asphalt Modified bitumen (torched on cap membranes that fuse them to fibreglass= reinforced inter piles or base coats)
22
Q
What is an SPF roof
A
Spray polyurethane foam
23
Q
What to look for on spf roofs
A
Gaps around verticals elements
24
Q
In an spf roof, how could foam shrinkage happen
A
If not properly sealed with a UV resistant coating
25
How do you know if a vent stack flashing has been installed incorrectly
If the base flange is sitting on top of the shingles
26
How far away from operable windows should vent stacks be and why
3 feet away because they vent sewer gases
27
Gas appliance vents/flues closer than ___ feet to an adjacent wall must extend at least ____ above the roof surface
8 feet to adjacent wall
| 24” above roof surface
28
What is the reason if a skylight drips and there is condensation between panels
Seal has failed
29
What is the issue if a skylights flashing is corroded
Incompatible nails
30
How high above roof decks do skylight curbs rise
6 inches. 8” on flat roofs
31
What are standard gutter widths
5” or 6” in high rain areas
32
Gutter hangers (supports) should be every ____ inches
32
33
Gutters should slope how much toward shutter outlet
1” every foot
34
How far away should downspouts discharge water from a house
6 feet (or into solid subsurface drainpipes)
35
Roofing materials can fail from
Manufacturers defects, storage before installation
36
Ratios of
Conventional roofs
Low slope
Flat
Conventional roofs 4:12
Low slope 2:12
Flat 0:12
37
How many layers of shingles max ideally
2
38
When a second layer of roofing is installed, what must be done
Flashing redone
39
What is a water and ice dam protection membrane
Extra layer of underlayment (self adhering)
40
What are underlayment requirements for roof slopes 4:12 or greater
Minimum single layer of underlayment applied horizontally
41
What are underlayment requirements for roof slopes between 2:12 and 4:12
Single layer of self adhering polymer modified bitumen underlayment or double layer of underlayment
42
Does a drip edge at the rake go over or under the underlayment
Over
43
Does a drip edge at the eaves go over or under the underlayment
Under
44
Chimneys wider than _____ need ____
30” need a cricket
45
What protection do shakes and shingles need underneath
Eaves protection
46
In attics, what do you need for every 300 square feet of attic floor
1 square foot of net free vent area
47
```
Wood shingles
#1=
#2=
#3=
#4=
```
```
Wood shingles
#1= blue label
#2= red label
#3= black label
#4= undercoursing
```
48
Describe sloped roofs
Not watertight
| Greater than 4ft: 12ft
49
What ratios are low sloped roofs
Between 4ft: 12ft and 2ft: 12ft
50
Describe flat roofs
Watertight membranes
| Less than 2ft:12ft
51
Ratios of
Sloped (steep) roofs=
Low sloped=
Flat=
Ratios of
Steep sloped roofs= greater than 4:12
Low sloped= between 4:12 and 2:12
Flat= less than 2:12
52
Asphalt shingles are classified by
Manufacturers warranty (15,20,25,30,35 year)
53
Factors for asphalt shingle wear
Exposure and slope
54
Which sides of an asphalt shingle roof wear out fastest
South and west due to sun
55
What are shingles installed in cold weather susceptible to
Being blown off, as the self sealing strip won’t stick until warm weather
56
Shingles can be used down to a slope of 2:12 if____
There is a waterproof membrane
57
Most wood shakes are what kind of wood and what are also used
Most are cedar. Redwood and pine are also used
58
Wood shingles can be used on roofs with a slope as low as
3:12 but 6:12 is more recommended
59
Wood shingles can vary in length between
16-24 inches
60
Shakes may be how long
24 inches
61
Wood shingles life expectancy
15-40 years
62
Wood shingles and shakes can be installed over asphalt shingles. True or false
True but only single layer.
63
Can wood shingles and shakes be installed over an existing wood layer
No
64
How long can slate roofs last
200 years
65
What slope is recommended for slate roofs
6:12
66
Slate roof replacement is needed when more than how much needs repair
10%
67
What might need to be done to a slate roof that’s not originally designed for it
Might need to be reinforced
68
Concrete and clay tiles life expectancy
50-100 years
69
Concrete and clay tiles may be used on a slope as low as
4:12
70
Concrete and clay tiles can not be installed over another roofing system with what exceptions
Single layer of asphalt
| Built up roof system
71
Describe fibre cement shingles
Mixture of Portland cement, water and fibre
Asbestos was used up until 1970
Brittle and susceptible to mechanical damage
Often discolour and grow fungus or moss
72
Can metal shingles and sheets be used on
Sloped roofs=
Flat roofs=
Can metal shingles and sheets be used on
Sloped roofs= Yes
Flat roofs= only sheets
73
All metal roofing should be painted on a regular basis other than
Copper and pre coated roofs
74
Why should metal roofing never be covered in tar
Moisture can get trapped in between tar and roof which can cause rusting
75
Where are leaks commonly found in metal roofing
Around fasteners
76
What might failed fasteners affect in metal roofing
Leaks and blowing off in high wind
77
What is built up roofing also called
Tar and gravel roofs
78
Describe built up roofs
Multi ply roofing (2-5 piles of roofing felts with a coating of asphalt)
Designed for flat (low slope)- no greater than 3:12
79
What is roll roofing also known as
Selvage roofing
80
Life expectancy of roll roofing
5-10 years (low quality)
81
What is roll roofing sometimes used for
Protecting a built up roof covering
82
Roll roofing can have a similar appearance to
Modified bitumen
83
What might happen to roll roofing
Buckle and wrinkle as it expands and contracts with weather
84
What is modified bitumen roofing an alternative to
Built up roofs
85
How is modified bitumen roofing installed
Torched on
Bonded with hot asphalt
Peel and stick applications
86
Most common issues with modified bitumen roofing
Seam failure and installation
87
What is single ply membrane roofing an alternative for
Built up roofing
88
Single ply membrane roofing is what based
Plastic and rubber based
89
Should single ply membrane roofs be installed over asphalt
No. They are not compatible. They should not be installed over built up roofs
90
13 Problems that affect all roofs
1. Leaks
2. Damage
3. Blisters
4. Loss of granular materials
5. Flashings
6. Poor installation
7. Patched/previous repairs
8. Too many layers
9. Tree branches
10. Manufacturing defects
11. Contacting roof
12. Vulnerable areas
13. Severe weather
91
What is ice damming caused by
When melting snow on the upper portion of the roof, warmed by the attic can not drain properly as it is trapped behind the frozen dam at the eaves
92
Where is ice damming most common
On low slope roofs or roofs that change from high to low slope
93
Where do largest ice dams tend to form
Unheated areas (eaves, porches, attached garages)
94
When do ice dams usually occur
After periods of heavy snowfall when daytime temperatures are above freezing and nighttime is below freezing
95
How to avoid ice damming
Keep air path open, continuous soffit vent, upgrade insulation
96
What do you look for in warm weather for evidence of ice dams
Water stains at window tops
97
Why might ice damming occur if the problem isn’t so much insulation
Heat may leak into holes in attic floor (lights, stacks, heating ducts, etc)
98
When re-roofing, what should be provided to prevent ice damming
Eave protection (rubberized asphalt membrane)
99
What kind of roofing can be used to prevent ice damming
Metal roofing at lower part of roof
100
What electrical means can be used to prevent ice damming
Heating cables
101
What kind of flashing can be used to prevent ice damming
Kick out flashing at bottom of roof against a side wall
102
How much does ponding reduce life expectancy by
50%
103
What are flashings made of
```
Galvanized steel
Tin
Aluminum
Lead
Copper
```
104
In valleys, can roll roofing be used
Yes
105
Which part of a chimney flashing is the weakest
The high side, facing up the roof
106
When a chimney is wider than 30”, what is required
Saddle (cricket flashing)
107
When are pitch pans sometimes used
On flat asphalt roofs
108
On most built up flat roofs, what flashing is used at perimeters
Gravel stop
109
Pitch pans should be kept full of
Asphalt or pitch to avoid collecting water
110
Each appliance has a separate flue, with these exceptions
Two gas furnaces on the same floor
| Gas furnace and gas water heater on same floor
111
Some flues can have masonry exposed except
Gas fired furnaces. They require a liner. Cooler air condenses, producing acidic water that can damage flues
112
How high above penetrations should chimneys be and how much higher than anything within 10 feet of them
3 feet above penetrations
| 2 feet above anything within 10 feet of them
113
How high beyond the top of the chimney should the top flue protrude
2-4 inches
114
Chimneys over how high should be braced
5 feet
115
Chimney caps provide protection from
Rain and down drafts
116
What are rafters
Designed to support roof sheathing and transmit the roof load to bearing walls
117
Describe the ridge in an attic
Rafters can be attached to each other where they meet at the peak of the roof or attached to a ridge board
118
What are collar ties
Used to prevent rafters from spreading apart under load. (In conventionally framed peak roofs, they aren’t necessary. Attic floor joists prevent spreading)
119
What are knee walls
A partition for supporting roof rafters when a span is great or for forming a side wall (as of a secondary story room) under a pitched roof
120
What are trusses
An engineered geometric construction whose members perform the same function as rafters, collar ties, knee walls and ceiling joists
121
Built up flat roof wall flashing sections should not be longer than
10 feet
122
What is a base flashing in a built up flat roof
2 layers of felt mopped up the wall
123
What is the cant strip
45 degree strip on built up flat roof
124
How are cedar shingles installed
Doubled up at first course, 1-1/2” overhang at eaves and edges
125
Clay tiles are secured by
Twisted wire secured to sheathing
Tile locks
Nailing
Battens (square strips)
126
What can serve as counter flashing for side walls
Siding
127
Where are leaks common on flat roofs
Scupper drains
128
Ridge shingles should overlap ____ horizontally and _____ vertically. And nailed within ____ of edge of shingle above
6” horizontally
4” vertically
1” of edge
129
8 Types of insulation
1. Batts and blankets
2. Rigid board
3. Loose fill and blown in
4. Site foamed
5. Fibreglass
6. Rock wool
7. Cellulose
8. Vermiculite
130
What is rock wool insulation
Made from slag wool. (A by product of manufacturing steel)
131
What is cellulose insulation
Made from old waste papers, treated with borate solution (resistant to mold and insects)
132
Types of rigid board insulation
Polyiso- high R value. Reflective foil surface
XPS- blue or pink, smooth surface. Won’t absorb water like polyiso
EPS- think styrofoam cup
133
What to look for on roof inspections
Coverings, penetrations, flashings, drainage
134
Valley flashings are shedding or water tight
Shedding
135
What roof membrane feels like rubber
EPDM
136
Ponding water does what
Increases weight on roof
137
Skylights on FLAT roofs should rest on curbs no less than how tall
8 inches
138
Pitch pockets are not desirable why
Because they require regular maintenance
139
Metal counter flashing that is close to the roof surface but does not have a hem may pose this issue
May cut the roof membrane due to expansion
140
A pitch pocket would likely be used on
An antenna base
