SB Roofing Blog

Every winter we repair roofs that are damaged by "ice dams".  The details about ice dams follow later in this blog post, but first we want you to know why we bring this to your attention. SB Roofing is not just the highest quality and value professional roofing contractor in Virginia Beach and across Hampton Roads, we are your friends and neighbors.  We work hard earn your trust.

Our business is growing exponentially due to referrals from our satisfied customers.  Many of you have provided us with feedback that you value our honesty and integrity every bit as much as you do our professional service.  We know that eventually all roofs wear out and must be replaced, so we prefer to help you get the most out of your existing roof and trust that when it does come time to replace the roof, you will trust SB Roofing to perform the job.  Now, onto the subject of "ice dams" and the damage that they can do. We credit the experts at "energystar.gov" as the source for the information that follows.     

At first it may seem odd to add insulation for warmth and then purposely allow cold air to enter the attic through vents, but this combination is the key to a durable and energy-efficient home. Here's why: in the winter, allowing a natural flow of outdoor air to ventilate the attic helps keep it cold, which reduces the potential for ice damming (snow that melts off a roof from an attic that is too warm and then re-freezes at the gutters, causing an ice dam that can damage the roof). Proper insulation and air sealing also keeps attics cold in winter by blocking the entry of heat and moist air from below. In the summer, natural air flow in a well-vented attic moves super-heated air out of the attic, protecting roof shingles and removing moisture. The insulation will resist heat transfer into the house.

The most common mistake homeowners make when installing insulation is to block the flow of air at the eaves. NEVER COVER ATTIC SOFFIT VENTS WITH INSULATION — use rafter vents and soffit vents to maintain airflow.
Attic Fan Ventilation

Attic fans are intended to cool hot attics by drawing in cooler outside air from attic vents (soffit and gable) and pushing hot air to the outside. However, if your attic has blocked soffit vents and is not well-sealed from the rest of the house, attic fans will suck cool conditioned air up out of the house and into the attic. This will use more energy and make your air conditioner work harder, which will increase your summer utility bill.

You don't want your unfinished attic cooled by your air conditioner. To prevent this, follow the air sealing and insulation strategies in this guide and make sure the attic is well-ventilated using passive vents and natural air flow.

We discovered a documentary on "Designing Spaces" where their hosts Debi Marie and David Jones explore the benefits of synthetic roofing.  The documentary is a simple six minute video that discuses the benefits of synthetic roofing versus the more traditional materials like slate, concrete, metal roofs, or cedar roofs.

Of course, every roofing material offers its own distinct advantages and we welcome the opportunity to discuss in depth every roofing option available to you.  A synthetic roof may or may not be the perfect product for you, however, by watching this video you can gain a fairly good understanding of what synthetic roofs have to offer.  

At SB Roofing, we feel an educated consumer is the perfect customer.  The more you know about roofs and how to judge the Virginia Beach roofing contractors, the more we are convinced you will trust your roof repair or replacement to us.  So click here to watch the short video on the advantages of synthetic roofs then contact us to get the rest of the story.  

Did you know that water damage in your home caused by a neglected roof may not be covered by home owners insurance? If you get water damage as a result of a hole in your roof or skylight because of wind and storm damage, that is a different story. But water damage from a neglected or improperly maintained roof or skylight is not covered.

Regular roof maintenance is the key to a roof that can withstand and repel driving rain and melting snow.  Roof Maintenance involves an inspection of the existing roof to determine if there are any areas of weakness that may compromise the roofing system. Through regularly scheduled annual roof inspections, SB Roofing can assist you in protecting your investment.

If you have not had a roof inspection or had a roof replacement in a long time, now may be the time. Despite the lack of evidence on your ceilings, you could have structural roof issues that are allowing water leaks or seepage. You could have water build up beneath the shingles of your roof that have not yet been detected. A roof inspection is a good idea before the winter weather starts in Virginia Beach.

Early stage detection of roof issues from a roof inspection makes it possible to repair or extend the life of your roof, which is significantly less expensive than roof replacement. Contact SB Roofing to set up your annual inspection.

It is hard to find a roofer and we know it. Unfortunately there are a lot of unsavory roofing contractors out there. That is why at SB Roofing we have a guarantee. We guarantee quality workmanship, affordable roofing solutions, and peace of mind quality. Our goal is to offer you the most economical solution for your roofing needs.

Roof repairs are a major expense, it needs to be done right. SB Roofing specializes in residential roof replacement. We want to provide you with the very best in roofing workmanship for your home. We want to provide for you a high quality roofing solution to homeowners at a reasonable price.
 
You need to find roof shingles with a color and style that is right for your home that will also offer long-term protection. SB Roofing  uses quality products - backed by a full warranty, contact us.