SB Roofing Blog

We don’t often look up at the roof. But inspecting your roof regularly and repairing it as needed can prevent some costly repairs down the road. Keeping your roof in good condition will also benefit you if you decide to sell your home.

What do you look for and how often do you inspect the roof?

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) recommends you do a roof inspection at least two times a year -- spring and fall. The best place to begin is inside your house, head to the attic with a flashlight.

Here are four things to look for on the inside:

1.   Places where the roof deck is sagging
2.   Signs of water damage or leaking
3.   Dark spots and trails
4.   Outside light showing through the roof

What to look for on the exterior:  

When you take a look at the exterior of the roof, pay attention to such things as damaged flashing, missing shingles, curling, blistering, buckling, rotting and algae growth (which occurs most often in humid climates and appears as dark or greenish stains).

1. Visually inspect your roof for cracked, torn, bald or missing shingles.
2. Scan the roof for loose material or wear around chimneys, vents, pipes or other penetrations.
3. Watch out for an excessive amount of shingle granules in the gutters, this is a sign of advanced wear.
4. Check for signs of moisture, rot or mold. Note that wet spots may not be directly under your faulty shingle; water can travel down to its lowest spot before it drips. Mold, fungi and bacteria can grow quickly, within 24 to 48 hours of a water-related problem.
5. Examine the drainage, and make sure gutters and downspouts are securely attached. Also ensure all drains are open and allow water to exit, and all gutters and downspouts are free of debris.
6. Check that all bath, kitchen and dryer vents go entirely outside of your home, not just into the attic space.

Original article – Home and Garden

Standing seam metal roofs are available in steel or aluminum, and a variety of thicknesses.  They are fabricated to meet the dimensions of your home and are installed with unexposed fasteners, so you don't have to worry about penetrations that could cause leaks.

Professional-looking metal roofs are a great investment, and they are available in a wide range of styles and colors. Here are some of the advantages of Metal Roofs from SB Roofing:

• Light Weight
• Durable. The lowest end metal roofing will last 20–30 years which is roughly 2 times the lifespan of an average asphalt roof. Most metal roofing products today come with warranties from 25 to 50 years.. The coatings and fixings on steel roof sheeting can be designed for different environments including industrial and marine locations.
• Fire and spark resistant.
• Hail resistant.
• Wind resistant.
• Metal is readily recyclable. Aluminum and copper roofing products are available with over 95% recycled content. As an example: recycled Aluminum only requires 5% of the energy to produce as does new Aluminum.
• Energy efficiency. Coatings with high reflectivity commonly save 20-30% on air-conditioning costs because they reflect much of the sun's heat. This increases the thermal efficiency of buildings in high temperature areas.
• Labor efficient
• Most metal roofing products require very little or no maintenance.
• Metal roofs are often used to cover large buildings because of their high strength to weight ratio.
  

Promising rock-bottom prices and quick turnaround for a new roof, unlicensed and untrained home improvement “professionals” prey on consumers when they're most vulnerable.

Unfortunately, this is a common practice that usually results in poor installations that later cause trouble, when the installer has moved on to the next town. 

Choosing a new roof to protect your home and family is a big decision, and deserves careful consideration.
The nonprofit Metal Roofing Alliance recommends homeowners ask these questions before signing a contract for a new roof:

1. Is the company licensed, and are the employees bonded and insured? How long has the company been in business?
2. What types of roofing materials does the company offer?  The industry has evolved - there are many choices beyond the old asphalt shingle.
3. Will the contractor provide a written, final estimate?
4. Can the new roof be installed over the existing roof?
5. What are the environmental considerations of the new materials and disposal of the old roof?
6. What company manufactures the roofing material the contractor will use?
7. How long with will the new roof last?  What does the warranty cover?
8. Will the company use subcontractors?  If so, how will they be managed/supervised?
9. Is there pending legal action against the company?
10. Can you speak with former customers? 

Most homeowners will have to buy three or more roofs in their lifetime.

A growing number of homeowners are avoiding the chore and cost of multiple roof installations by choosing durable and environmentally-friendly metal roofs.   Resistant to cracking, shrinking and eroding, metal roofs stand up to hail, high winds and even wildfires.  Today's residential metal roofing is competing with common roofing material - such as asphalt shingle, cedar shake, clay tile or slate roofing - only stronger and more durable. No matter the style, most homeowners who choose a metal roof will never have to worry about re-roofing again.

Original article on PR Newswire

Synthetic Shingles are designed to look exactly like the natural roofs, such as slate or cedar, but at a fraction of the cost. Synthetic roofing is realistic looking and highly durable. These state-of-the-art shingles provide you with a stronger, pliable, and worry free roof for your home. After the shingles are installed, the sun bonds them together providing you with a solid membrane. This gives you additional protection for your roof.

Interest and use of synthetic roof shakes is growing. There are many advantages, from style and function, a long lifespan, and low maintenance. As homeowners grow more acquainted with the materials and the benefits, they will see the advantages a synthetic roof shake brings.

Synthetic slate has a very good textural effect and appearance and they solve many problems wood shakes have such as pests, and mold and mildew. Even better, they are guaranteed for 50 years. Synthetic roof shakes are made of many different materials and are an environmentally friendly alternative. They are all polymer-based, and some use recycled material. Different manufacturers use different materials for the synthetic roof shake but synthetic roof shake captures the texture and colors of natural materials, while delivering a highly durable shingle, which is weather resistant with a long lifespan.

The most critical component in our homes is the roof and it is often the last thing on our minds. Roof leaks are dreaded by homeowners. And, let's face it; a roof that is leaking is not a kind or problem that can be ignored. They can result in substantial harm to your residence damage or loss of your belongings. Concealed leaks in your roof sometimes cause deterioration that will endanger the structural integrity of the roof and result in the need for costly repairs. To avoid sudden roof failure, leaks have to be addressed immediately. To detect roof leaks before they cause extensive damage a roof should be inspected before and after winter. And after the winter we have had in Virginia this year, probably some of you had water leaks that had never had them before.
 
Missing or damaged shingles cause roof leakage as do flashing issues. Inspectors will check the flashings connected to vents and chimneys to ensure that they are tight and in good condition. Damaged or missing flashings need to be fixed or replaced. Another common cause of roof leaks includes debris hindering roof watershed or blocking rain gutters. Unwanted debris in the valleys of the roof can result in water penetrating underneath roof shingles which can result in roof leaks and water damage.

Roof leaks often develop over time, so water may collect unnoticed for some time before it enters the living space. The sooner you take care of your roofing problem, the better off you will be. SB Roofing is a full service roofing provider specializing in inspections, maintenance, repair and replacement. Our goal is to offer you the most economical solution for your roofing needs.