How to cut out rafters to create a new bedroom upstairs

[Robert_in_NY]

I'm going to take a couple of pics of what I got this weekend from the exterior. I want to make sure we're on the same page. I have this metal flashing in my valleys right now that is green to match the trim of the house that I have been adding silicone to where the hairline cracks occurred. I agree that was likely not the right solution, although that is what the "roofing expert" I had come in and asses this the first time I experienced leaks suggested as the fix.

I don't understand why people still insist on using metal flashing and exposed valleys. We run our shingles through the valley up 18" then bring the other side into them and cut the shingles in a straight line. When done you have a solid valley with no chance of leaks unless you intentionally do something to damage it and it takes a lot. Even a weave is a good option but the down side to the weave is that you have to bring both sides of the roof up at the same time. If you end up having to strip the valley you may want to change how you roof the valley when you redo it.

 

[pclausen]

I'm all about doing it right. Here's a shot from 2002, 2 years after I bought it. You can see the "green" metal valleys.

The house was built in 1997, I purchased in 1999 and the building inspector had nothing but praise about the house. Guess you have to pick your inspectors carefully!

House got some cool inside features thought, which sold me on it.

And the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains is something else.

 

[sandman2234]

Nice view!!
David from jax

 

[BeezFun]

I don't understand why people still insist on using metal flashing and exposed valleys.

They look nicer (to some people) and last longer. I had a slate roof that was 70 years old with copper valley flashing, it was still in fine shape. Slate deteriorated but the copper was fine. When I reroofed I used shingles, looked great with the patina on the copper. I think metal gives a nice crisp look, also doesn't hold leaves and debris as bad as a shingled valley because it's smoother. I think the real downside of metal is that it's so expensive now no one can afford it on a normal house. I'm guessing this fellow's house has aluminum flashing that's colored to match the shingles.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

They look nicer (to some people) and last longer. I had a slate roof that was 70 years old with copper valley flashing, it was still in fine shape. Slate deteriorated but the copper was fine. When I reroofed I used shingles, looked great with the patina on the copper. I think metal gives a nice crisp look, also doesn't hold leaves and debris as bad as a shingled valley because it's smoother. I think the real downside of metal is that it's so expensive now no one can afford it on a normal house. I'm guessing this fellow's house has aluminum flashing that's colored to match the shingles.

I agree if they use quality metal. The old tin roofs used a very heavy gauge metal in the valleys and it held up well. Now most people go cheap and use the paper thin aluminum flashing now.

I look at it like this, if I put a 50 year shingle on my house and run it through the valley then it will last the same as the rest of the roof. But you are right in that its a persons perogative as far as the looks but the leaf issue isn't always true. If you have a large gap between the center of the valley and the edge of the shingles then it will help clear the leaves but if the gap is close then all it does is hold more leaves. A shingled valley really doesn't have that issue, the leaves will only stay up there till a good wind takes them away.

My house use to be all metal and it always had leaves built up in the valleys. I redid it with a 50 years asphalt and no longer have any leaves staying in the valleys.