Replacing a roof isn’t an easy job. It takes a skilled craftsman to be able to effectively and efficiently strip down a roof to its decking, build it back up to the shingles, and finish it off with the correct metal – something our White Castle Roofing crews can often accomplish in a day or two! While you might be able to DIY it, you may eventually run into something that sticks out of the roof. And you have to figure out what it does, why it’s there, and how to keep your roof intact around it.
It’s a good thing you hired White Castle Roofing instead, isn’t it?
Those rooftop accessories, as we call them, serve important – and very different – purposes, even if many of them look similar (especially from the ground). Here’s the crash course, from the roofer’s-eye view, of what some of those accessories are.
- Plumbing Boot: A plumbing boot is a type of roof flashing used around plumbing exhaust pipes (the piece that actually sticks out!) that exits through the roof. For asphalt-shingled roofs, these typically come as either painted aluminum boots with a neoprene gasket, designed to fit snugly around the pipe, or as lead pipe flashings that cover over the top edge and tuck into the pipe. Though there are many other pipe flashing options, these are the most common options in most residential roofing applications. We replace the plumbing boots on every White Castle Roofing re-roof project.
- Furnace Stack: A furnace stack is a pipe which exhausts the furnace’s combustion fumes out of your house. This pipe must be tall enough that burned gases exit above a roof line and cannot filter back into the house. Note that a roofing crew cannot change the pipe itself; rather, a certified HVAC is recommended.
- Electric Riser and Boot: An electric riser is a length of piping that extends the electric utilities for a home (typically a one-story structure) to an electric service drop. The electric boot is a rubber collar that fits snugly around the riser to weather-proof the opening against precipitation and moisture.
- Chimney Chase Cover: Chimney chase covers are an external top covering for a chimney. This covering prevents water from entering the interior of the chimney structure. The chase cover is usually made of an inexpensive galvanized sheet metal.
White Castle Roofing crews are trained in how to build a roof while ensuring that these accessories aren’t a hindrance to the roof’s main job – keeping your home protected from the elements. White Castle’s experienced roofers safeguard your roof against leaks, by professionally recognizing and installing these essential rooftop accessories. The end result is a functional, attractive roof, backed by a 5-year workmanship warranty. So don’t worry about whether you might accidentally put a furnace cap on your plumbing pipe – bring in the experts and request your free estimate today!