Q. Some roofers find staples easier to use than nails. Are staples not equally as good as roofing nails in holding down NBP shingles?
A. No staples are not nearly as good. In wind tests, stapled roofs will release shingles completely, long before nailed roofs will begin to show any damage. A good pneumatic roof nail gun will give you efficiency very close to that of a stapler. (Make sure nails meet specifications)Q. We are able to purchase adhesives for tabbing and flashing details that some claim will work "just fine" with our shingles. Is it really necessary to use NBP brand cement?
A. Roof cement is a very important part of a shingle roof system, yet it represents a relatively small part of the cost. As it is an easy thing to buy "wrong", it is not a good place to save money. A cheaper cement may be difficult to apply in warmer or cooler temperatures, or worse still, it may crack when frozen, or run down the roof when too hot. Probably the biggest danger is that the cement will, over time, attack the shingle make-up causing blistering and curling of the shingles. Also if it is wet (when many roof repairs seem to occur) most adhesives simply will NOT stick (not a problem for NBP brand).Q. Why do shingles need an underlayment between them and the roof deck?
A. The underlayment does three things for your shingle roof. 1) First the underlayment temporarily protects the roof from the rain and snow between the time the deck is installed and the shingles are applied. 2) Second, it offers the shingles some protection from any uneven or rough corners or edges that carpenters may have missed. 3) Finally, quality roll roofing products (such as those available from NBP) will have lines on paper, helping you to maintain a horizontal plane while installing shingles without the need of chalk lines.Q. Which roofs need to be ventilated?
A. All roofs need ventilation, with the exception of buildings without walls. Proper ventilation will eliminate moisture buildup in the winter and excess heat buildup in the summer. As such ventilation is REQUIRED to prevent the premature failure of your shingles and roof structure. Roofs that fail or rot due to improper ventilation are NOT covered by NBP’s shingle warranty.Q. We have a number of NBP shingle bundles that were left uncovered out in the rain. When we tried to manipulate the wet bundles, some bundles ripped. The bundles now look awful and we are afraid shingles are ruined! What can be done?
A. The good news is that shingles are usually NOT affected by wet or torn packaging. The shingles should be removed from the paper (you may have to moisten to properly remove paper) then stacked on a flat dry surface out of the sun until they are needed. If shingles were mis-formed when bundles broke apart, they simply need to be set out in the sun at
250 C for a couple of hours to become flat once again. If any foreign matter (i.e. dust or mud) has become affixed, then it should be washed away before shingles are used. If any shingles are damaged make sure to salvage whatever tabs are NOT damaged for use in Hip & Ridge detailing.Q. We know that NBP recommends OSB or Plywood for shingle decks, but locally we have an ample supply of timber planks at excellent prices. Will a roof with a timber plank deck be as good?
A. Possibly, but probably not and the plank deck will definitely take 2 to 4 times as long to install. Before installing the timber make sure it is dry and true. Then, sort to make sure there are no two boards side by side that differ in thickness by more than 2mm. Never use boards that are more than 150mm wide. Wider boards will amplify any swelling and shrinking that will result in shingles buckling. After installation sand or plane any rough edges. Then, you hope that moisture in wood has stabilized such that nails are not forced out through the shingles.