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lol we target everyone with a bad roof! However, a majority of our business is customers with disposable income.

-- Edited by Bob Jr on Tuesday 12th of October 2010 09:48:48 PM

Bob Jr wrote:

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lol we target everyone with a bad roof! However, a majority of our business is customers with disposable income.

-- Edited by Bob Jr on Tuesday 12th of October 2010 09:48:48 PM

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That's what I figured.  Keep up the great work, Bob.

 

(Disregard, I just looked at the pdf attachment and saw that there is ridge vents.)


As a roofer for 17 years I'd suggest to them to add on shingle over ridge vents if indeed there is a ventilation problem. The FHA actually has guidelines for ventilation and I'd get that chart so that you can have it for reference. It's a pretty simple formula of sq ft times number of vents needed and type with 50% at ridge and 50% at eaves.

If it were me I'd give them a bid for installing ridge vents along with the roof cleaning and make yourself some extra $

Here is a link to the GAF Ridge Vents that would be good for your area with the snow etc.

http://www.gaf.com/Roofing/Residential/Products/Roof-Vents/Cobra-Snow-Country-Advanced/Cobra-Snow-Country-Advanced.aspx

-- Edited by Chowell77 on Thursday 14th of October 2010 08:45:22 PM

-- Edited by Chowell77 on Thursday 14th of October 2010 08:49:51 PM

Bob I got you here, so I zoomed in those pics and it looks like there are no ridge vents on most of the roofs only one and no draw either so you will not be able to just add vents without somewhere to draw from; i.e. a vented soffit, gable vents etc.
(Adding a ridge vent will do nothing unless there is a place to draw air from. This also releases pressure built up creating a more equalized space which reduces expansion and condensation.)

So the roofer may have just assumed a mold problem and noticed there is no ridge vent and is going in for the kill, or because the roofer may not be aware of GMagma and it's behavior. But the fact is that if the plywood is not rotting and there are no moisture issues than there is no venting problem. Lord knows there may be insulation issues. And even if it were just fire rated plywood and they put grace underlayment and it is sweating; venting could solve that with minimal shingle loss because it is treated plywood and will not rot that quick without shingle tabs blown off everywhere and leaking all over. No reason for shingle replacement.

Also the parts with the shingled roof appear to have some high windows, maybe open ceilings? If so take a look. There is no way that this is all wood construction in there. Zoom in 200% on picture 2 in the top left corner. The way the gable ends are bricked and the rakeboards up the side are built you can see the size of the gutter vs the fascia, there is not much difference. I imagine you guys get a good bit of snow up in Michigan and 2x6 isn't going to hold back anything especially on a 7 pitch. Which I can't see a commercial building, especially a school built in the last 15 years that has this type of problem. So this is most likely constructed like a normal commercial building. You probably don't even see a lot of ridge vents except on steep pitches of which I am sure is the norm out there.

IMHO it sounds like the roofer is trying to make some money or way under qualified for this job. If and thats a big if they do require ridge vents due to moisture issues they should be either adding eave vents and coupala or a mechanical venting system, both of which do not require more than a few bundles of shingles to patch in the new work not the 150 square for 85 grand like the other guy may be proposing. And I don't think they would have called you first if they had a leak.

Find out who the architect was, it is public knowledge ask them if they had a decent relationship with the school district and tell them that some roofer may be making them look bad, although it is no fault of thier own, you are here to help save their name and the innocent people who pay school taxes in Shelbyville MI, or 8 mile or wherever you hail from because it isn't thier fault it is only due to the green monster on your logo you like to call Glowy, and then give your best Clint Eastwood face, lean over the guys desk, yank off your sunglasses and say "And I am Glowy's WORST NIGHTMARE! Now lets go show that moss who's boss!" and make that click--click sound of a shot gun and march right on over to that School and get paid for what you do. RCIA style. no pressure.

That should get you the job and a few other ones from your new achitecht friends, and possibly a few high 5's. And a big thanks from the school board and all the towns folk for bringing in the people who should be determining if they need venting or not and saving them all tax dollars.

Great advice Bucks county PA!!!!

Well I made it up on the school today to get a better look at the 7 gables and 1 of the gables did have a major ventilation problem. 

Either the perforated soffit on the overhang was plugged or it was a cathedral ceiling without a ridge vent? I did not go inside. 

The other 6 gables were fine just needed a good cleaning.

I am sure the school will fix the vent problem and install a new roof on all 7 gables... moving on!