▪ Be sure to save extra roof shingles for future repairs. Down the road you may forget the brand name and color of your shingles, or they may not be manufactured any longer.

▪ Under your shingles is felt paper, and underneath that is roof decking. Moisture can be a real enemy to your roofing system, causing warping and rot over time. This is why it is important to have ventilation areas to allow the warm moist air to escape. Be sure you install a ridge vent and/or gable and soffit vents to allow the air to circulate. Your roofing contractor, architect, or other construction consultant can give you more information concerning these ventilation options.

▪ Bay windows represent a special roofing challenge. The bay windows that I have dealt with have had copper roofs on them. Even in a big metro area like Atlanta, GA, I have had difficulty finding contractors who put copper roofs on bay windows. I eventually found one, but he primarily works with gutters. The lesson: when you need something done, think about other related trades that might have expertise in your area of need.

▪ To be honest, I do not know why anyone really needs a "drip edge" on the end of their shingles. I suppose they help to keep water away from your structure. I do not have drip edges on my house, and the house stays dry just fine. However, be aware that some building codes do require a drip edge on new roof installations.

▪ For safety reasons, I recommend that you stay off of your roof whenever possible. This includes inspecting possible tree-related damage and cleaning gutters. Leave it to the professionals.

Roof Installation and Repair - Part 2

Former builder and instructor of "Save Time and Money in Home Remodeling" cont. ed. course at Emory University