Roofing
Is Your Roof Ready for Winter?
If you don’t take care of problems with your roof before the cold weather arrives, those issues can worsen over time, creating an even more expensive roofing headache in the spring. Here’s what you need to know to prepare your roof for winter.
What to Know Before Adding a Second Story to Your Home
If you live in a single-story home, at some point you may find yourself thinking about more space. While you could sell your house and buy a larger one, there may be more appeal to staying in your house and adding onto it. Read this guide to learn more about what it takes to add a second floor to your house.
How Much Does a New Roof Cost? (2022)
Many factors go into the price of a new roof, some of which you’ll have control over, some you won’t. Here’s a breakdown of what goes into a new roof cost.
The 5 Best Telescoping Ladders (2023 Review)
Telescoping ladders extend in one-foot increments, giving you the height of an extension ladder without the hassle of carrying and storing one. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best telescoping ladders on Amazon to help you find the product that’s right for you. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers like Amazon.
How to Install Shingles on a Shed
In this DIY Smarts project, general contractor Tom Silva shows a homeowner the proper way to reshingle an old shed’s roof.
Best Sealants for Roof Leaks of 2022
Sealants cover roof leaks and protect the remaining area from water and sunlight damage. To learn more about preserving your roof, read our review on the best roof sealants.
Bringing the Outside In with Marvin’s Skycove
This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert explains a few features of Marvin’s Skycove window.
Common Roof Problems and How to Fix Them
Staying on top of these common issues will keep the water outside, where it belongs.
Metal Roofing Cost Guide (2022)
Metal roofs are easier to maintain than their traditional asphalt shingle counterparts and can save you money on cooling costs in the long term. This metal roofing cost guide breaks down some of the most common types of metal roofs and their prices.
Training the Next Generation of Roofers
There’s a shortage of skilled labor in the building trades, and This Old House’s Generation NEXT program is seeking to attract and train workers to fill the gap. Learn how our friends at GAF joined the cause, inviting a pair of Youthbuild apprentices to their intensive roofing academy for invaluable hands-on education and experience.
Home Inspection Nightmares | Untamed Roof
The Ask This Old House crew share more Home Inspection Nightmares with Kevin O’Connor including some wild growth on a roof and chimney and an over-caulked plumbing fix.
How to Patch a Roof Leak
The hard part about patching a leak in your roof is finding the leak itself. Once you’ve accomplished that, repairs are often relatively simple.
The 5 Best Snow Rakes (2023 Review)
To help make the snow removal process easier, the This Old House Reviews team researched the five best snow rakes on Amazon and created a comprehensive buyer’s guide that details the most important factors to consider before buying a snow rake. The products included in this article are available at various home improvement stores and online retailers like Amazon.
The Surprising Benefits of Skylights
Skylights are designed to bring more natural light into the home, and they can dramatically up the wow factor in any room. But beyond the aesthetic benefits, skylights offer real health benefits, too.
Innovations in Metal Roofing Panels | TOH 2021 Modern Barnhouse
With the ability to be snap-locked or mechanically-seamed, a brand new product from Bridger Steel offers a quicker and easier installation than traditional double-seamed panels.
Roofing Innovations | 2020 Farmhouse in Fairfield County
Learn how GAF’s Timberline American Harvest shingles combine texture, dimension, and beauty with exceptional durability to keep the TOH 2020 Farmhouse safe and looking beautiful for years to come.
All About Metal Roofs
It’s hard to top the versatile looks, longevity, and peace of mind that come with a roof made of metal. Read this guide to learn what you need to know before putting one on your own home.
Metal Roof Styles: Colors, Paint, & Accents
From smooth and seamed to deeply embossed, and in a range of colors, there’s a metal-roofing profile to suit virtually every architectural style.
How to Make Decorative Roof Brackets
Decorative cedar brackets are often found under an overhang like a balcony or a roof. Some brackets may be structural, but in this case, these ornamental brackets are simply decorative and are part of the home’s original features. Watch as This Old House Host Kevin O’Connor meets with Builder Charlie Silva in his shop while he makes brackets himself.
A Reliable Roof at the Cottage on the Cape
A sturdy roof is crucial in regions prone to harsh weather, like our Idea House in Eastham, Massachusetts. Here’s how ZIP System’s roof assembly with integrated underlayment offers immediate protection during construction, and long-term protection for years to come.
Creating a Secure Enclosure for the Cottage on the Cape
Learn how ZIP System’s integrated panel and tape system for roof and wall assemblies kept the This Old House Idea House on Cape Cod construction moving swiftly and efficiently—and how it will continue to help the home achieve higher efficiency and protection for years to come.
How to Install Drip Edge and Step Flashing
In this video, General Contractor Tom Silva teaches three apprentices from our GenNEXT program his method for roofing a section of the house that will receive significant snow loads.
How to Build a Low-Maintenance Home
While there’s no such thing as a maintenance-free house, it is important to invest in the right materials that will go the distance for you and your home. Read our guide to the best materials to make your home a low maintenance one.
Future House: Solar Reflective Roof Shingles
Ask This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey explores the design and testing of asphalt roof shingles that can reflect some of the sun’s heat away from the building.
Easy-to-Install Roof Shingles
At the 2020 International Roofing Expo, GAF unveiled their Timberline® HDZ™ Shingle—and soon, you’ll see them up on the roof of the TOH TV Cape Ann Project House. Read on to find out how this revolutionary new architectural roofing shingle makes accurate nailing fast and easy.
Home Warranty Roof Leak Coverage (2022)
Are roof leaks covered under a home warranty? Keep reading to learn about home warranty roof coverage and how to protect your roof over the long-term.
GAF HDZ™ Shingles Engineered for Accuracy Installed at the Cape Ann Project House
This Old House’s Cape Ann Project requires more than 6,000 square feet of roofing. Watch as we demonstrate how GAF’s Timberline® HDZ™ roofing shingles provide LayerLock™ technology and a wider strike zone, allowing shingles to be installed 30% faster and more accurately than standard shingles.
Getting Algae Off My Roof
The black mold-like stains and streaks that appear on roofs, particularly light-colored asphalt shingles, is actually a blue-green algae.
How to Clean and Prevent a Mossy Roof
Tom Silva helps a homeowner remove moss from his roof and prevent it from growing back
Learn the Basics of Roof Systems
Roofs are considered one of the most critical components of your house. From materials and roof shape to problems and repairs, read this comprehensive guide to ensure yours is up to par.
Comparing Roofing Materials
Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva compares the qualities of different types of roofing materials
Home Inspection Nightmares | Crooked Chimney
Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, mason Mark McCullough, and carpenter Nathan Gilbert share more home inspection nightmares