Ice and water question

I'm a PM and have a crew doing a roof. Hopefully I can get some answers to these questions, and please don't say "ask your roofer", since I want your answers.

The roof is a 7 pitch and planning to run 3 ft of ice and water along each long side. Shoul>>>

what is the point of doing that? not to sound like a smartass or anything.. just really don't understand why? why dont you just cover the whole thing in ice and water shield or just re- felt the roof?>>>

In NE, due to cost of ice and water (approx $70/2 sq roll) vs 15 lb felt ($20/4 sq roll), most installers use tar paper for remainder of roof and don't use ice and water for entire roof. What about question concerning drip edge?>>>

I would install 6' (two courses) at the eve as well as 6' in on each of the gabled ends. If you are going to strip in the drip edge, I would use a 6" strip of the Grace for that as well. BTW, when I worked in northern climates, we didn't strip in th>>>

Dang RG that was such a good description it brought back memories of frozen fingers and icey roofs.......warn me next time would ya...;)>>>

I live in SE Michigan where we get our share of cold and snow. I remember when there was no such thing as ice and water shield. Yet somehow we managed to roof houses that didn't leak.>>>

Right on RRD, but yet now there is a train of thought that the whole roof should be sealed with the stuff.>>>

Trend here is to I&W everything so it doesn't matter if you can see the stuff through the finished roof. Put enough on and you're good to go.

( Not me though):laugh:>>>

Any others want to comment on whether using Grace Ice and Water is better than Certainteed Winter Guard - looking at price diff between the 2 (almost 2X)?>>>

We don't use either but I believe most roofers hold Grace as the best don't they....>>>

Grace is the gooeyest. I just use what is available. No preference.>>>

There is no reason to use an HT sheet unless you get really hot and the sheathing is nominal one-by.

I despise the very notion of sticking any sheet like that directly to the deck unless you're in hurricane alley like HOP.

Troop goes down with a fift>>>

In the North East, at least when I was on the tools there, you would be foolish not to put down I+W shield along the eave of ANY shingle job. Chopped out many ice damns that had formed along the eave due to clogged gutters and inadequate insulation. If I+>>>

the reason for the felt first method is to separate the membrane from the sheathing, which is unimportant until roof replacement time. I asked this very question about 100% I&W, a few years back, and got answers from the manufacturers reps basically sta>>>

TRG - I've never heard about the baking thing. I like 30# felt because it doesn't tear as easily as 15#. Also, it would allow me to differentiate myself from the competition not unlike guys claiming that hand nailing is better then gun nailing. It's>>>

TRG, we don't have any disagreement about the sealant that I can see. Also, your treatment at the lower eaves is exemplary imo. Bullet-proof actually.

Nice post builderr.

Jed, I don't see I&W as an all-or-nothing proposition. Upgrading from a single>>>