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Once limited to building paper, underlayment now includes self-adhering rubberized sheets that replace metal flashing in some cases. Thus you can base your choice of underlayment on climate, composition, and position on the roof. Weather-resistant underlayment. Traditionally, underlayment has been 36-in.-wide, 15-lb. or 30-lb. felt paper used as a weather-resistant layer with several purposes. It […]

Roof stripping is one of the nastiest, dirtiest, most dangerous jobs in renovation. If you can afford it, hire an insured contractor for this. Most roofing contractors know of tear-off crews that will obtain permits, rip off the old roof, and cart away the debris, or you might be able to sub­contract the job through […]

Daily temperatures on a roof or in an unventilated attic can swing from 50°F to 150°F, thereby caus­ing tremendous expansion and contraction of roof materials. Improving ventilation under the roof, as shown in "Roof Venting,” on p. 76, can prolong shingle life somewhat, but the key to a long-lasting roof is the quality of the […]

► Stay off the roof unless you have a compelling reason to be on it. Besides being hazardous to you, walking on a roof can damage roofing materials. ► If you must work on a roof, have a second person within earshot in case you fall or need occasional help. ► Don’t venture up when […]

A roof is a building’s most important layer of defense against water, wind, and sun. Properly constructed and maintained, a roof deflects rain and snowmelt, and routes them away from other house surfaces. Historically, roof materials have included straw, clay tile, wood, and slate. Although many of these materials are still used, most roofs installed […]

Wood construction connectors are commonly called Simpson™ Strong-Ties™ after the company that popularized them. For a complete overview of available connectors from Simpson, go to www. strongtie. com. Professionals swear by these ingenious connectors for three main reasons. ►They offer wood-to-wood connections superior to most traditional construction methods. For example, unlike toenailing, metal connectors are […]

If wood is the universal building stock, metal is the universal connector. Nails of many types as well as screws and bolts are discussed in this sec­tion. Specialty plates that reinforce structural members are also described. Later in this chapter is a review of construction adhesives, which, some say, are destined to supplant metal connectors. […]

Your local building code will have the final say on sizing structural panels. To accommodate heavy loads, choose a panel rated for a higher span. A span rating of 32/16 indicates that the panel is strong enough to sheathe rafters spaced 32 in. on center and studs 16 in. on center and, therefore, can support […]

Plywood and OSB are the structural panels most often specified to sheathe wood framing and increase its shear strength. For example, a 20-ft. wall sheathed with %6-in. plywood can withstand more than a ton of lateral force pushing against the top of the wall. PLYWOOD Structural plywood is made by laminating soft­wood plies. Each panel […]

The use of steel framing in residential renovation is increasing, but it’s still rare and generally not advised for novice builders unless working with a builder experienced with it. LIGHT STEEL FRAMING Light steel framing consists primarily of C — shaped metal studs set into U-shaped top and bottom plates, joined with self-drilling pan-head screws. […]