BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Managing Snow Loads on Roofs and Decks

Guide describing how to construct homes and decks to manage heavy snow loads in winter weather.

Installation sequence for deck ledger flashing.

Publication Date

Wed, 12/01/2010 - 12:00

Deck ledger flashing and fastener details.

Publication Date

Wed, 12/01/2010 - 12:00

Roof Deck Sheathing and Sealing for Sloped Roofs

Guide describing requirements for sheathing and sealing the roof decking in accordance with the requirements of the IBHS Fortified Home Program's Hurricane and High Wind Standards, and other roofing considerations to increase the roof's disaster resistance.

Right – Seams in the deck sheathing are sealed with tape

Heavy metal flashing protects the deck timbers and separates them from the wall at the wall-deck connection which is vulnerable to both ember entrapment and water damage.

Publication Date

Tue, 04/20/2021 - 12:00

Wrong – The step flashing is not the required height above the roof deck

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

Right – The step flashing is the correct height above the roof deck

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

Right – A roller helps the tape to adhere over seams in the deck sheathing

Apply roof underlayment over roof deck and up the sidewall over housewrap

Reference

40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Marine Climate, Volume 11

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Williamson Jennifer,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report providing builders in marine climates with guidance for building homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Publication Date

Mon, 04/23/2012 - 12:00

Install self-sealing bituminous membrane or equivalent at all valleys and roof deck penetrations

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

Install shingle starter strip then kick-out diverter; attach to roof deck but not sidewall

Reference

40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Marine Climate, Volume 11

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Williamson Jennifer,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report providing builders in marine climates with guidance for building homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Publication Date

Wed, 09/01/2010 - 12:00

Right – This second-story deck also serves as a deep overhang to protect the entry door from weather

Publication Date

Fri, 12/31/2021 - 12:00

Right - A lattice of 1X4 furring strips provides a ventilation gap between the decking and metal roofing for this shed roof.

Publication Date

Sun, 05/16/2021 - 12:00

Right - This shed roof is constructed with 1X4 furring strips installed over the decking and underlayment for ventilation beneath the metal roofing.

Publication Date

Sun, 05/16/2021 - 12:00

Step 1. Apply roof underlayment over roof deck and up the sidewall over the rigid foam insulation

Reference

40% Whole-House Energy Savings in the Marine Climate, Volume 11

Author(s)

Baechler Michael C,

Gilbride Theresa L,

Hefty Marye G,

Cole Pam C,

Williamson Jennifer,

Love Pat M

Organization(s)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,

PNNL,

Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

ORNL,

U.S. Department of Energy,

DOE

Report providing builders in marine climates with guidance for building homes that have whole-house energy savings of 40% over the Building America benchmark with no added overall costs for consumers.

Publication Date

Wed, 09/01/2010 - 12:00

A roof drain is installed in an existing flat roof retrofitted with above-deck rigid foam insulation that is integrated with new air and water control layers

Publication Date

Thu, 09/10/2015 - 12:00

Step and kick-out flashing at all roof-wall intersections extending ≥ 4 in. on wall surface above roof deck and integrated with drainage plane above

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

The mechanical curb for a skylight is integrated with the water management and air control layers on a flat roof retrofitted to include new above-deck rigid foam insulation

Publication Date

Fri, 05/01/2015 - 12:00

This roof is hurricane proofed with a coated insulated OSB deck sheathing that is caulked and taped at all seams with a water-resistant tape, then fully covered with a peel-and-stick membrane, and asphalt shingles.

In 2009 IECC CZ 5 and higher, install self-sealing bituminous membrane or equivalent over sheathing at eaves from the edge of the roof line to > 2 ft. up roof deck from the interior plane of the exterior wall.

Publication Date

Tue, 02/01/2011 - 12:00

This roof was constructed to meet the IBHS Fortified Roof standard by sealing the decking seams with flashing tape, installing synthetic roof underlayment secured with metal drip edge and nailed every six inches, and using self-adhered starter shingles.

Publication Date

Thu, 08/17/2023 - 12:00

Unvented Insulated Sloped Roofs

Guide describing construction of sloped roofs that are unvented and are insulated above the roof deck.

Low-Slope ("Flat") Roofs

A guide describing how to install low-sloped ("flat") roofs with insulation above the roof deck that resist wind pressures during high-wind events.

Construct Roofs and Attics for Ice Dam Prevention

Guide describing how ice dams form and how roofs can be constructed to prevent them.

Roof Valleys and Penetrations Sealed

Guide describing how to seal roof valleys and how to seal around pipes, chimneys, and other roof deck penetrations.

Roof Eaves Sealed with Self-Adhering Membrane in Cold Climates

Guide describing how to apply heavy membranes at eaves in cold climates to help guard against ice dams.

Existing Skylights Repaired or Replaced and Fully Flashed

Guide describing how to repair or replace skylights in existing homes.

Clay or Concrete Tile Roofs

Guide discussing disaster resistance related to clay or concrete tile roofing when installing roofing on new construction or when repairing or replacing roofing on existing homes.

Metal Roofs

Guide discussing disaster resistance related to metal roofing when installing roofing on new construction or when repairing or replacing roofing on existing homes.

Inside FORTIFIED: Sealing Roof Seams with Tape

Publication Date

May, 2018

Video showing how to seal the roof deck with tape per IBHS Fortified Requirements.

Framing of Gable Roof Overhangs

Guide describing construction of gable roof overhangs to resist uplift pressures in high winds.

Project Overcoat: Airtightness Strategies and Impacts for 1 1/2-Story Homes, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Author(s)

University of Minnesota

Organization(s)

NorthernSTAR,

NSTAR

Publication Date

November, 2014

Case study describing the External Thermal and Moisture Management System developed by the NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership for retrofitting roofs with rigid foam over the roof deck, especially on one and a half-story homes.

Cost Analysis of Roof-Only Air Sealing and Insulation Strategies on 1-1/2 Story Homes in Cold Climates, Minneapolis, MN

Author(s)

University of Minnesota,

NorthernSTAR

Organization(s)

NSTAR,

UMN

Publication Date

December, 2014

This case study describes costs associated with the External Thermal and Moisture Management System developed by the NorthernSTAR Building America Partnership for retrofitting roofs with rigid foam over the roof deck, especially on one and a half-story homes.

Inside FORTIFIED: Installing Underlayment Over Taped Seams

Publication Date

May, 2018

Video showing how to install synthetic underlayment over taped seams on roof deck per IBHS Fortified requirements.