Nearly flat roof, with ventilation pipe, ice dams / leak - suggestions needed!

highvoltz

We currently own a 2-story duplex, and last winter we had water leaking in around a toilet vent pipe that runs vertical through the external wall, and out the roof about a foot from the edge. There is as much insulation as possible in the area, however the heat is causing the snow to melt, and creates ice jams, backing the ice up to the vent pipe, where it's entering. The ice only needs to backup about a foot before it reaches the pipe.

There is also another issue, where ventilation can not really happen with what's there - The ceiling in the top floor is only about 6'3". From what I understand there is room for insulation, and not much more for anything else. I think the correct and most expensive fix is to increase the slope, maybe sloping a 2x12 on top of the current roof, and adding in a vent on both sides.

Would it be possible to strip down to around the vent pipe, add a better boot, and then tar over the whole section of roof?

What's the best / cheapest way to fix the problem?

Attached is a pic of the problem.

shazapple

What kind of roof is the flat roof?

remove the shingles around where the flat area connects to the house and around the vent. Apply Ice and Water shield and new shingles. This is only a bandaid and your idea of increasing the slope is the easiest/cheapest fix.

highvoltz

For that flat section, its roll roofing

Windows on Wash

Make sure the drywall/structure on the living side is air tight and ventilation requirements are probably little to none.

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oh'mike

Bad design --and ugly,to.

I'd reframe the roof so you have a decent pitch--4/12 or better----

But I'm a carpenter ----a roofer might have a better solution.

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AndyGump

The best and cheapest (in the long run) is to raise the ceiling in that bathroom to something decent and build a new roof gable that will over-frame onto the main roof.

This is something you can DIY.

Andy.

highvoltz

Thanks Guys