Mouting a DISH on your Roof.. Scary....

[dcanesdbs]

I mentioned in the one post how I now have a new Slimline 5LNB dish that was put on my roof... i was nervous because they left the old brackets on the roof with the old 3LNB dish and with the new, the installer said he used, I think Bishop Tape instead of silicone.

Well anyway, after researching, I found this scary article and now is freaking me out!!!!! Any thoughts?

http://www.cableplease.com/dish-roof-damage.html

[RaMMaN]

look at who runs that site

are you still freaked out

[dcanesdbs]

look at who runs that site

are you still freaked out

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, duh.. You are right....

do you have a slimline mounted to your roof? any isues?

[HDTVsportsfan]

That's funny. Nice scare tactic.

[dcanesdbs]

That's funny. Nice scare tactic.

Umm yes.... Freaked me out!!!! The guy that put on my new roof last year also provided his own scare tactic about ice dams, etc., in the winter... Just saving himself... AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!:nono2:

[RaMMaN]

Yes I have a slimline 5lnb on the roof for over a year and have had no problems

[dcanesdbs]

Yes I have a slimline 5lnb on the roof for over a year and have had no problems

Sounds good.. Thanks buddy!

[randyk47]

Actually, that's a pretty funny site. Of course, I've had 3 different dishes on two different houses over the past 8 years and not one of them, including the Slimline I had put up 2 weeks ago, have been mounted through the roof. Fascia mounted dishes work just fine for me.

[HDTVsportsfan]

If done right it shouldn't be a problem. But for full disclosure, mine is pole mounted. For the three house's i have had, i have avoided putting it on the roof for a variety of reasons. On being to hard to get to for adjustments, service, cable runs, etc. Not just because of the story in the link.

[dcanesdbs]

If done right it shouldn't be a problem. But for full disclosure, mine is pole mounted. For the three house's i have had, i have avoided putting it on the roof for a variety of reasons. On being to hard to get to for adjustments, service, cable runs, etc. Not just because of the story in the link.

Yes, I think my cables are in the gutter then run down the side of the house behind the gutter, into the basement...

What I also noticed was the dish was installed right above the eave/soffit vent on the roof.. so, technically, if there was any leaks, the leaks would drip out into the eave/soffit vent and I would never see?

[joe diamond]

Did ya see the one about "Underground cable installation blows up house?" They cut a propane line and the house basement filled with gas. When the stuff found the hot water heater with an open flame.......

Sadly, after the explosion and fire there was no place to mount a dish.

And a good thing too. The satellite company was going to use electricity to run their equipment. If that stuff is so safe how come it is used to run the ELECTRIC CHAIR?

Joe

[TigersFanJJ]

That story is just too funny. Ninety percent of it is either false statements or is contradicting itself. It almost sounds like it was written by someone in high school.

[Hansen]

And yet, more cable propaganda. That is very funny.

The satellite providers should put a counter-point story up on some website that talks about the cable companies burying (assuming they eventually ever get to your house to bury it) their cable after a new install and in the process of burying the new line the cable company could cut gas lines, electric service, telephone service lines, or sprinkler lines (could even throw in a gratious speculative comment like a small leak in the sprinkler line near the foundation could cause the foundation to sink resulting in 10,000 of thousands of dollars in damages to the home.) :lol:

[dcanesdbs]

And yet, more cable propaganda. That is very funny.

The satellite providers should put a counter-point story up on some website that talks about the cable companies burying (assuming they eventually ever get to your house to bury it) their cable after a new install and in the process of burying the new line the cable company could cut gas lines, electric service, telephone service lines, or sprinkler lines (could even throw in a gratious speculative comment like a small leak in the sprinkler line near the foundation could cause the foundation to sink resulting in 10,000 of thousands of dollars in damages to the home.) :lol:

Hansen, is your dish mounted on the roof? Is so, any issues?

[Hansen]

My 5 lnb is mounted on the roof and I have (knock on wood) had no problems. The installer used a black tar like mastic tape under the mount and each monopole mount and it made a great seal.

I have had 3 other dishes mounted on my roof over the years and never had any issues. There is no quesiton that there is risk involved but, IMO, if it's done correctly, you should be fine. I wonder how many of the 13 to 14 million D* subscribers have dishes on the roof. I bet it's at least 50% if not substantially more. No worries...enjoy the HD programming.

[dcanesdbs]

My 5 lnb is mounted on the roof and I have (knock on wood) had no problems. The installer used a black tar like mastic tape under the mount and each monopole mount and it made a great seal.

I have had 3 other dishes mounted on my roof over the years and never had any issues. There is no quesiton that there is risk involved but, IMO, if it's done correctly, you should be fine. I wonder how many of the 13 to 14 million D* subscribers have dishes on the roof. I bet it's at least 50% if not substantially more. No worries...enjoy the HD programming.

That is GREAT to know... I think my installer used the same tape... We are supposed to get a storm here tomorrow so it will be put to the test:)

I will enjoy!! They are supposed to come Tuesday but it is supposed to rain. If the dish is already installed and I currently do have 2 lines coming in, even if it rains, I will be OK? Right? Since the dish is already installed? Thank you!

Thanks

[wmj5]

I don't see why anybody wants a dish on the roof, I'm not worried about it doing any damage, I just want it where I can get my hands on it, I been with directv 12 yrs and I just put mine on a poll, this is 4 I have had. I just walk out to the end of my deck and it's at eye level.

[rdiedrich]

I mentioned in the one post how I now have a new Slimline 5LNB dish that was put on my roof... i was nervous because they left the old brackets on the roof with the old 3LNB dish and with the new, the installer said he used, I think Bishop Tape instead of silicone.

Well anyway, after researching, I found this scary article and now is freaking me out!!!!! Any thoughts?

http://www.cableplease.com/dish-roof-damage.html

Bishop Tape is a tar like substance. When the lag bolts go through it, it will stick to the thread thus sealing the holes.

Randy

[dcanesdbs]

Bishop Tape is a tar like substance. When the lag bolts go through it, it will stick to the thread thus sealing the holes.

Randy

Randy,
By an installer usingthis tape instead of say, silicone, would you say the installer did a good job and was reliable? Is this tape better then silicone, etc?

[rdiedrich]

Randy,
By an installer usingthis tape instead of say, silicone, would you say the installer did a good job and was reliable? Is this tape better then silicone, etc?

Much more reliable in my book than silicone on a roof. This is the standard for what we use on roofs.

Randy

[dcanesdbs]

Much more reliable in my book than silicone on a roof. This is the standard for what we use on roofs.

Randy

Great to know. Thank Randy!

[kstefanec]

I never mount my dishes on top of shingles. NEVER! Strictly chimneys, peaks, or wooden frames. I used to work for someone who instructed his installers to mount the bracket to the roof and then proceed to drill an 1" hole for the four RG-6s. Then, silicone was used to seal the mount and hole. I refuse to do things this way.

I have a cousin who is a roofer and I asked him about this procedure. He said that silicone will never last on the shingles as the wind will flex the seal. Plus, he said that would be very stupid to do to a new roof with a warranty on it.

I've never used the Bishops Tape. Sounds like a better deal than the silicone but I would just stay away from mounting it right to the roof. But, hey, that's easier now, ain't it?

[Mike500]

I used to work for someone who instructed his installers to mount the bracket to the roof and then proceed to drill an 1" hole for the four RG-6s. Then, silicone was used to seal the mount and hole. I refuse to do things this way.

There is a way to do a roof entry properly, but it is useally beyond the skill and training of your run of the mill installer. You have to drill the one inch hole at the bottom and center of the lower tab. Then, using a wide blade drywall knife, you'd release the glue down tabs on the tab with the hole at the top. Cut a one inch slot in the tab from the bottom of the tab to the hole. Run the four cables. Cut a piece of dead soff copper approzimately 8x6 inches. Slde the 6 ench edge under the tab with 2-3 inches of copper above the hole. Work the soft copper around the cables matching their route down the slot on the tab. Fasten the copper at the bottom with two copper roofing nails, making sure that the heads will be covered by the shingle tab. Apply roofing cement across the bottom one inch of the tab. If done right, that makes a really neat roof entry that will remain leakproof for the life of the roof.

I've never used the Bishops Tape. Sounds like a better deal than the silicone but I would just stay away from mounting it right to the roof. But, hey, that's easier now, ain't it?

I don't use Bishop's Tape either. You don't need to GLUE the mounting base to the shingles. All it means is that the shingles will come off with the mount. I prefer to use electricians duct sealant, which is a putty like material like Bishop's Tape and the pitch pads sold with TV antenna tripods ($2 for a one pound block at Home Depot or Lowes in the electrical department. Only, it has much less petroleum solvents in it. I just roll this puttylike substance into a little 3/8 or half inch ball. Then, I place it over the mounting hole and drive the lag screw through it. If I predrill, I'd shove the sealant down the pilot hole. This provides a sealant that is fully compatible with the roof. It is easy to remove, and when removed, it does not take the shingle off with it. The same thing can be done with 3/4 inch squares of Bishop's tape.

I can easly remove the dish without an ugly spot from torn shingles on the roof. Using a drywall knife, I'd just lift the tab and glue down a piece of aluminum roof flashing in the area of the hole, so that the aluminum flashing will be covered by the shingle tab. Putting a dab of roofing cement in the spot where the hole was will seal the hole in the tab. If the roof is not black, I go to the gutter and pick up some of the color granules and sprinkle up over the roof cement to perfectly match the roof's color.

This is what works for me.

[BattleZone]

Randy,
By an installer usingthis tape instead of say, silicone, would you say the installer did a good job and was reliable? Is this tape better then silicone, etc?

Silicone will break down much faster in the heat and direct sunlight. Bishop tape is a form of roofing tar designed exactly for applications like this, so, yes, it is the RIGHT material for the job (and silicone is not).

In my area, we try to find a way NOT to mount the dish on the roof surface if we can, but sometimes there is no other option aside from a custom mount that some customers don't want to pay for. In that case, we will mount the dish on the OVERHANG of the roof (NEVER over the living area) if the roof is asphault/composite shingles. Dishes should never be mounted to shake (wooden shingle) roofs or to ceramic or cement shingles.

[Radio Enginerd]

Doesn't cable have a better picture? :)

[Mike500]

Doesn't cable have a better picture? :)

Nope.............

OTA has the BEST picture...............Beats them all..................................

[Mike500]

Silicone will break down much faster in the heat and direct sunlight. Bishop tape is a form of roofing tar designed exactly for applications like this, so, yes, it is the RIGHT material for the job (and silicone is not).


Silicone is RTV or "room temperature vulcanizing" rubber. Roofing shingles are made from a petroleum based tar and so is Bishop Tape and other petroleum based products.

[dcanesdbs]

Silicone is RTV or "room temperature vulcanizing" rubber. Roofing shingles are made from a petroleum based tar and so is Bishop Tape and other petroleum based products.

So Mike, is Bishops tape the best to use on a roof/shingles? Will I have any worries in the future? Wearing out? etc?

[Mike500]

So Mike, is Bishops tape the best to use on a roof/shingles? Will I have any worries in the future? Wearing out? etc?

Bishops Tape is fine. Just don't use it to "glue" the mounting foot to the shingles. The screws do that. The only place it needs to be is to seal the area under the screws.

[dcanesdbs]

Bishops Tape is fine. Just don't use it to "glue" the mounting foot to the shingles. The screws do that. The only place it needs to be is to seal the area under the screws.

What about the old bracket they leave up on the roof? They said they left it up because if they removed, there would be holes. The dish was taken off. Should anything be done with that old bracket. Should I leave it up there? Does that need to be tarred, etc? That dish was up there for 3 years

[Mike500]

It CAN be removed, and, I have done it.

You use a high tension wire like stainless steel security wire tied to to sticks, like the garotte that you see allied soldiers used to strangle the Germans in WWII.

After removing the screws on the bracket, you use the wire in a sawing motion to cut the mastic, roofing cement or silicone. It will definitely take the granules off, but if you are not good at roofing or don't have extra shingles, you can carefully lift the shingles up with a wide blade drywall knife, and place, then glue pieces of aluminum flashing under the shingle tab. Finally, glue the shingle tab down, spread a thin layer of roofing cement over the area marred by the mount, and sprinkle granules from the gutters on it to blend it in.

I prefer, however, to use an adapter for the old Phase III pole to set the new slimline dish on. There are skeptics, but a have a fellow subcontractor, who makes and sells them. It seems that ALL his customers are staisfied, whithout your dilemma.

Here is his posting on eBay;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=150184563677&Category=32841

[Steve Mehs]

I’m a cable lover and will defend cable to great ends, but geeze that website is just plain awful. The design is hideous, I guess using tables is too much effort. The paragraphs are poorly written, looks more like a blog then anything.

[diggerg56]

World Cable Association....I suppose those are the same folks that run the ads telling us that our evil satellite dishes will go out every time it rains.

I still have basic cable with my high-speed internet so occasionally I see those commercials- That is if the cable is actually working!

[dcanesdbs]

It CAN be removed, and, I have done it.

You use a high tension wire like stainless steel security wire tied to to sticks, like the garotte that you see allied soldiers used to strangle the Germans in WWII.

After removing the screws on the bracket, you use the wire in a sawing motion to cut the mastic, roofing cement or silicone. It will definitely take the granules off, but if you are not good at roofing or don't have extra shingles, you can carefully lift the shingles up with a wide blade drywall knife, and place, then glue pieces of aluminum flashing under the shingle tab. Finally, glue the shingle tab down, spread a thin layer of roofing cement over the area marred by the mount, and sprinkle granules from the gutters on it to blend it in.

I prefer, however, to use an adapter for the old Phase III pole to set the new slimline dish on. There are skeptics, but a have a fellow subcontractor, who makes and sells them. It seems that ALL his customers are staisfied, whithout your dilemma.



Here is his posting on eBay;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=150184563677&Category=32841

Hey Mike,

If I leave the old bracket on there, will everything be OK? Will I eventualy get leaks?

[newsposter]

no outages...so funny....DUH they use the same satellites we do and cable goes out for longer periods than dbs

[Mike500]

Hey Mike,

If I leave the old bracket on there, will everything be OK? Will I eventualy get leaks?

Yes, it should be fien...........No, as for leaks, not lkely.

[mj1]

My local hardware store doesn’t carry Bishops Tape, but he showed me a can of aerosol spray called Plasti Dip which he said can be sprayed on the bolts and after the mast is mounted he told me the base & bolts should be given a couple coats of the spray. I didn’t buy it yet, but it said rubber coating. Can anyone tell me if this would be a good alternative??? I’m not an installer but when dish installed our local channel dish they could not find a good spot on the house to get all 3 satellites so they left the original dish and showed me a good spot to get the 110 satellite. My other choice is cutting down some nice maples. My main concern is leakage, our original dish was installed around 1998 and we had leaking the following summer. The roofer said the dish wasn’t sealed properly. That’s what makes me paranoid, if I can’t find Bishop tape would the spray work fine, or should I wait for warm weather and use good old fashioned tar? Any info would be appreciated!

[Mike500]

There is no need to use Bishop's Tape. Use "Gardner Bender" duct seal found at Home Depot of Lowes. It is made of the same material as the pitch pads used for antenna tripods, only that it has less petroleum solvent in it. a one pound block can be found in the electrical department for about $2. It works out like putty or modeling clay.

Don't use the spray on vinyl grip material. It will make a real mess.

[mj1]

Thanks Mike500, I really appreciate your help, I was going to Home Depot tomorrow so that works out perfect. The Dish installers had already changed the settings on the dish and told me as long as I had the mast plumb there was no way I could miss the satellite with a little adjusting left to right, the Packers aren’t playing Sunday so I can finally put it up and not have to worry about it anymore, and also get a few more channels besides!!

[Ext 721]

no outages...so funny....DUH they use the same satellites we do and cable goes out for longer periods than dbs

I went over a friend's house last year and he had cable...yeowch. Perhaps it's because he's a bit rural, but his cable goes out ALL the time....when the "lines get flooded" he says he's often out for days, and there's nothing he can do about it.