Roofing Planning
Prepare for your next roofing project by discovering our planning ideas & tips.

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Fixing Ice Dams on a Roof
Home technology expert Ross Trethewey helps a homeowner solve an ice dam issue with smart insulation practices that also improve the home’s efficiency.
Is Your Roof Ready for Winter?
If you don’t take care of problems with your roof before the cold weather arrives, those issues can worsen over time, creating an even more expensive roofing headache in the spring. Here’s what you need to know to prepare your roof for winter.
What to Know Before Adding a Second Story to Your Home
If you live in a single-story home, at some point you may find yourself thinking about more space. While you could sell your house and buy a larger one, there may be more appeal to staying in your house and adding onto it. Read this guide to learn more about what it takes to add a second floor to your house.
All About Metal Roofs
It’s hard to top the versatile looks, longevity, and peace of mind that come with a roof made of metal. Read this guide to learn what you need to know before putting one on your own home.
How to Build a Low-Maintenance Home
While there’s no such thing as a maintenance-free house, it is important to invest in the right materials that will go the distance for you and your home. Read our guide to the best materials to make your home a low maintenance one.
Easy-to-Install Roof Shingles
At the 2020 International Roofing Expo, GAF unveiled their Timberline® HDZ™ Shingle—and soon, you’ll see them up on the roof of the TOH TV Cape Ann Project House. Read on to find out how this revolutionary new architectural roofing shingle makes accurate nailing fast and easy.
GAF HDZ™ Shingles Engineered for Accuracy Installed at the Cape Ann Project House
This Old House’s Cape Ann Project requires more than 6,000 square feet of roofing. Watch as we demonstrate how GAF’s Timberline® HDZ™ roofing shingles provide LayerLock™ technology and a wider strike zone, allowing shingles to be installed 30% faster and more accurately than standard shingles.
Photoshop Redo: Dressing Up a Cookie-Cutter Ranch
Facade improvements, including a new roof and porch, give a simple one-story house an elegant new look
12 Fall Fix-Ups That Pay You Back
Save yourself thousands in future repair, maintenance, and energy costs by not leaving these minor problems to get out of hand
Fire-Resistant Roofing and Siding
Wrap your home's exterior with these naturally non-combustible and fabricated fire-resistant materials
Gables
The triangle formed by two sloping roof planes is a defining characteristic for a house. Take a look at some striking examples of the form these end walls can take.
Cupolas
These diminutive structures sit atop a roof ridge and bring light and air into a dark attic space. Check out a few cupolas that also bring style and interest to their top spots.
Roof Shapes
From gable to shed to barn-shaped, discover the different types of roof designs that give each house its distinct character.
Roofing Materials
If you're building a new house or re-roofing an existing one, your choice of materials will have an enormous impact on the look of your home as well as on your bank account.
From the Ground Up: Roofing and Siding
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how he installs roofing and siding to keep a house buttoned up and dry.
Building a Flat Roof Right
Here's how the pros construct one so it stays tight and tight.
3 Types of Flat Roofs
New flat roofing options are appearing. They wear better than older material, but they cost more, too.
Adding an Eyebrow to Your Roof
They might not be the most inexpensive home improvement project you'll ever attempt. But eyebrow windows can dramatically improve the look of your home
Choosing Roofing Materials
From asphalt shingles to wood shakes to clay tiles, here are the many options available for the topside of your home.
Roof Drip Edge Installation
Protect your fascia with a sheet-metal drip edge.