Zinc-stripped roof gathers no moss
Q Where can I find zinc strips to keep moss off the new asphalt-shingle roof I’ll be installing? I’ve heard these strips work, but I can’t find a supplier.
A Yes, thin strips of flexible zinc do keep roofs free of growths in most cases, and that’s a good thing because moss and lichen cuts shingle life in half if it grows unrestricted.
When zinc strips are installed under the top course of shingles, so that an inch or two of the metal remains exposed, small amounts of zinc dissolve in rainwater and run down the roof. Although zinc is non-toxic (it’s actually a nutrient for humans), it discourages moss and lichen from starting.
Zinc can’t kill existing growths, but it will reduce or eliminate new ones. When I first discovered the value of zinc strips, you could order rolls only from specialty suppliers. These days, regular building-supply outlets carry them or can get them. Even in the small-town building outlet where I live in backwoods Canada, zinc roof strips are a stocked item.
One brand name I’ve used is Moss Boss, but all seem the same. Zinc protects up to 20 downhill feet of roof. If your roof is longer than this, install one strip half way up and another at the peak.
Q Would vents get rid of the musty smell that develops in the crawl space and under the interior steps of my sidesplit house? I’m thinking that vents through the walls of the office and family room would freshen the air. There’s no visible mould or mildew, just a musty smell. A Vents might do a good job for you, provided they’re large enough. But vents that are large enough to be effective might also look strange on your walls. I would guess that vents at least 12 inches square would be needed
— maybe larger and maybe more than two.
Is there an access door or two you could leave open for a while to see if that solves the problem? If it does, then installing vents is an option.
If your passive ventilation trial doesn’t work, consider an ultraquiet, variable speed exhaust fan. The good ones are so quiet on low speed that you can’t even hear them. You dial in just the right amount of air flow to keep mustiness from developing, then leave them alone.
A fan like this would provide a less obvious installation than vents, though it costs more to install. Panasonic makes an excellent line of variable-speed fans that I’ve used and recommended. Electricity costs will be less than 20 cents per day on slow speed.
Q Why do my drain pipes make noise? I can hear dripping sounds from inside the wall where the upstairs drain pipe is located, and it continues after water stops flowing. Other times I hear clicking sounds after hot water goes down — rapid at first, then slowing down. Is there a hidden leak? A Almost every home built or renovated during the past 50 years uses drain pipe made from a black, plastic-like material called ABS.
This pipe is strong, inexpensive and easy to work with, but it does
have one flaw: ABS lets the sound of running water escape to surrounding rooms.
This accounts for the dripping sound you’re hearing. If there was a leak somewhere, you’d see water.
You must be very observant because I don’t hear from many people who have noticed drainpipe dripping sounds.
Temperature is also a factor in drainpipe sounds. ABS expands as it gets hot and shrinks again as it cools, making the clicking sounds you hear. There’s no need to worry.