SB Roofing Blog

Residential metal roofs provide energy savings, beauty, and protection for your Virginia Beach home for a lifetime. Metal roofs are also available in a wide variety colors to complement any style home. Metal roofs last 2 to 3 times longer than most other roof types. A metal roof will probably be your last roof.

The main benefit of metal roofing is that it can help to increase the efficiency of your home.  This increase in energy efficiency saves you money. Residential metal roofs utilize reflective pigment technology.  It reflects heat away from the home rather than absorbing it like other roofing materials thus lowering utility bills.

All metal roofs are made from 30-60% recycled material, so by choosing a metal roof, you'll do your part for the environment. Traditional shingles add an estimated 20 billion pounds of waste to U.S. landfills annually. Metal roofs can often be installed over an existing roof, no more tear-off and disposal.

Contact SB Roofing for an estimate on a metal roof for your home.

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

Due to the summer heat and strong winds in Virginia Beach, we recommend you perform roof inspections regularly. Virginia Beach roof inspectors will look for uplift around the perimeter shingles. During the next wind storm, is the perfect time to walk around your roof and inspect it from the ground. Look for shingle lifting. Shingle lifting is an indication that the adhesive strip holding down the shingles is no longer performing its duty and should be replaced. As a result, your roof may be vulnerable to leaks and shingle blow off.

Keeping your roof clean is the most important tip we can give you. Built-up debris and plant matter will cause moisture to gather allowing mold and mildew to grow leaving green stains or black streaks. These stains and streaks are unsightly and will damage your roof.  Have moss removed from the roof by sweeping while it is wet or by having a roof moss killer product applied. Also, check all gutters and downspouts to make sure water is flowing freely and clean out all roof drains and gutters from spring time flower blossoms.

We do NOT recommend pressure washing roofs. If you have asphalt shingles, pressure washing can remove the granules which are the shingle's sunscreen material. If you lose that sunscreen layer, the asphalt shingle will be exposed to harsh UV rays which will start premature aging and the shingles will become brittle. If you have cedar shingles, pressure washing them will remove the top, aged layer making your shingle thinner. You will then have to treat the newly exposed cedar so it will once again repel rain water.

Virginia Beach roofing companies like SB Roofing stand ready to provide more roofing tips, inspections, and maintenance if you have any questions about the quality of your roof.

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.

Your home is your most valuable possession. Protect it with a long lasting, durable metal roof from SB Roofing. Standing seam metal roofs have a more modern look.  They are available in steel or aluminum, and a variety of thicknesses.  Metal roofs are a great investment, and you'll save money in the long run.  A metal roof can last a lifetime, whereas materials like asphalt require reroofing every 10 to 20 years.

The average life of a non-metal roof is 17 years. A metal roofing system offers durability, lasting 2 to 3 times longer than many other roof types. Chances are good that a metal roof will be your last roof. And they are available in a wide range of styles and colors.

Regardless of the roofing style, color or finish you have on your home now, there's a metal roofing style to match. Metal roofing in both light and dark colors reflects heat effectively to reduce cooling needs during the Virginia summer and they insulate homes better during the winter. This can help to lower your energy bills. They are made 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.

You may have noticed some loose shingles while you were doing yard work. Or was there a small leak after the last rain storm? Whatever the case, there are some issues with your roof. The burning question is should repair or replace it.

Obviously, roof repairs are less expensive than a roof replacement, but will there be long-term costs that will come into effect if you opt for one over the other? How do you know which is the better option?

Even though replacing your roof is more expensive, depending on your circumstances it is often the better choice. Really what you should consider is this:

• How old is the roof? If the roof is fifteen years or older, replacement is around the corner anyway. Stop wasting money on repairs and just replace it. If your roof problems are because of severe weather, the damage is probably extensive. A repair on the obviously damaged part may solve your problems for a month or two, but replacement is the best choice because the roof has probably been weakened.
• If the roof has been exposed to excessive moisture or the moisture has led to mold on the inside of your home, replacement is the best choice.
• If the roof was poorly designed, improperly or poorly installed, or built with cheap materials, you will need a new roof.

Replacement is generally the best option for serious roofing problems, sometimes making repairs to your roof makes more sense. There are definitely scenarios where a roof repair is the better answer:

• If you are moving in the next six to twelve months, a new roof is not worth the costs when a repair will do the job for the time being.If the damage is limited, a repair may be sufficient to solve the whole problem.
• If your roof is new or regularly maintained the problem should be small and easily repaired. Regular roof maintenance ensures that small problems are spotted and fixed quickly.

If you are still not sure whether your roof needs to be replaced or repaired, call SB Roofing for more specific information about your situation. We will get you all your estimates and inspections in writing.

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.

Maintenance of roofs is extremely important as they are prone to problems such as leakage during the rainy season. Damaged roofs should be replaced on time and one should always be inspected so you know the right time to replace them and avoid any further damage to your home or office.

So how do you know when to replace it? You need to consider many factors before you contemplate replacement of your roof. These factors include age, which is approximately about 15 to 18 years depending on how you have maintained it. Conditioning of the interior walls touching the roof also indicates the time required for it to be replaced. Also if there are a large amount of tiles and shingles torn apart or missing out then it needs to be replaced. Weather conditions at their extreme would have exposed your roof to repeated and unpredictable snowfall, rain and sunlight. You would be glad to know that the value of your house could increase by replacing your roof as home buyers will never buy a house which has a damaged roof or one which is prone to leakage issues.

Once you have decided, start the process without any further delay before the worn-out roof affects the structure of your home. SB Roofing offers full comprehensive roof inspections whether on an as needed basis or as part of a preventative maintenance program. Feel free to contact us should you have any roofing problems.