SB Roofing Blog

Many homeowners have experienced roof leaks or have noticed visible signs that their home or roof is aging.  However, unfortunately, there are additional components to your roof system that are not always easy to identify.

There are many contractors who will do a basic roof inspection, meaning an examination of the exterior of your roof, sometimes from street level, and basic components like flashings.  Unfortunately, this is a basic standard in the industry.  However, more thorough roof inspections can identify areas of concern and identify items that could potentially lead to more costly roof damage and roof repairs. In the case of roof inspections, ignorance is not bliss.

At SB Roofing, we do a comprehensive inspection that covers the basics as well as an inspection and review of potential issues. We will provide you with a detailed overview of what we find.  Our comprehensive inspection includes:

•   Inspect all flashing in the roof system
•   Inspect all pipe collars, storm collars, and air vents
•   Check for any damage to the roof deck on the exterior and interior surfaces
•   Complete spot checks across the roof system for straight lines, appropriate fasteners, and number of layers of existing roof
•   Inspect gutter system to insure adequate drainage
•   Complete an attic inspection for moisture, mold, mildew and adequate ventilation

Contact us today to schedule a free roof inspection.

A very necessary, but often dreaded, home improvement project that homeowners face is repairing the roof. It is a huge project and it is one that will affect the overall appearance of your home. If you choose the wrong material for your roof, you won’t like the look of your home, and you could be stuck with it for years. If you choose the right material, your roof will look great, last a long time, and do its job. The problem is there are so many types of roofing shingles to choose from, it's impossible to know about all of them or which to choose.

Composite shingles are one of the most popular shingle materials. They are made from different materials that are put together. These shingles are popular, because they are inexpensive. However, they don't last that long compared to metal materials. Using composite roof shingles is the latest trend in roofing. Composite shingles are similar to other conventional and traditional shingle materials. You also have a lot of options in their appearance because they come in a wide variety of colors and styles.

As for metal shingles, there are copper, steel and iron roof shingles. There is also standing seam metal roofs which have a more modern look.  They 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. This professional-looking product is a great investment, and it's available in a wide range of styles and colors. They are very durable, and maintenance free.

Wood shingles, or shakes, are made from medicated woods like pine, spruce, or cedar. The color of these shingles is vibrant initially but, after the first year they usually turn to gray. Some setbacks of wood as shingles are breakage, deformity, and cowering. So it is usually recommended that you do roof replacement in 10 years or so.

Architectural Shingles resemble a shake shingle in appearance.  There are many advantages to these shingles starting with the warranty which usually ranges from 30 years to lmited lifetime. They are much thicker than the standard 3-tab shingle and have a more three dimensional look that resembles wood shakes or slate.  And they add a very nice accent to the look of your home.

Asphalt shingles are the most widely used. Asphalt roofing shingles are made of paper, glass, or fiber and are very strong. These shingles can last up to twenty years

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.

Choosing the right roofer may be the most important as well as well as the most difficult shopping experience for most home owners. SB Roofing will provide a thorough evaluation and diagnosis of each aspect of the whole roof design including:

• Inspect current condition of the roof surface for visible signs of fatigue or failure.
• Inspection of the existing ventilation and water carrying system.
• Inspection of attic to establish condition of wood sheathing, ventilation, or improper insulation or air sealing.
• Condition of chimney and all areas that may require repair or replacement of the flashing or re-pointing.
• Determine if the roof is actually in need of replacement or if there are other conditions that may be causing problems. Not every roof that leaks is a bad roof. Ice dams can be the problem as even new roofs have been known to leak.
• Provide a variety of options for style, color, and the length of the warranty period that fits your budget.

Here at SB Roofing, we are dedicated to providing quality products, craftsmanship, and service. But, more importantly, we want to assure that you are completely satisfied with the job we do for you.We are experienced providers of the industry's most secure residential roofing solutions, providing Hampton Roads homeowners with over 15 years experience. From immediate roofing estimates to quick service to final clean-up, we have built our reputation on protecting your most important investment - your home! Contact us today to learn more about our roofing services and how we can help you.

Every winter, your roof gets bombarded with wind, snow, ice and continual thaw-freeze conditions. This can result in severe and often hidden damage to the roof. Your roof can then leak during spring months when the heavy rains begin. Without a roof repair check-up and required repairs to your roof, a flood of water can cause thousands in damages.

Older roofs are especially vulnerable. Why? Because the shingles are already broken down from years of abuse from Mother Nature, and even if your roof has 5 or 10 more years of warranty life ahead, repairs to your roof are sometimes a must to get the most from your roof. Roof repairs are often mandatory.

Some of the areas your roof may require repairs are the loose or missing shingles that were damaged from hard winter winds. Shingles are extremely brittle in cold temperatures, and hard driven cold winds can easily break shingles. The worst danger areas are around chimneys, skylights, and anywhere shingles butt up against a wall. These are all very crucial roof repair areas during the new raining spring months.

Spring is almost here. Now is the time to do repairs to your roof. Roof repairs during the early months of spring after a hard blistery winter can literally save you thousands of dollars of damage and can keep your roof in tip top shape. Contact us today to learn more about your roof and repair services we offer.

Ice dams are simply ridges of ice that form at the edge of a home's roof and prevent the melting snow and/or water from draining off the roof. This water, if left undrained, can cause leaks in your home's roof, ceilings, walls, insulation and other problems.

So how are ice dams formed? A number of things can cause ice dams such as loss of heat from your home, snow cover on your roof, and the outside temperatures. In order for ice dams to form, there typically must be snow cover on the roof of your home. At the same time, the higher areas of your roof's outside surface are normally above freezing, while the lower surfaces are below freezing. This typically happens when the temperature outside is lower than freezing or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. When the temperatures at the higher levels of your roof reach above freezing, they begin to melt. As the water from this melting snow runs down the roof and reaches the lower portions of your roof it re-freezes. This causes an ice dam. The dam will grow as more water runs down the roof from the melting snow but will typically limit itself to those areas of the roof that remain below the freezing point.

If you currently have ice dams, they can be removed before any damage is done. You must first remove the snow from the roof. Taking a water hose and applying warm water on a day in which temperatures are above freezing will create the channels and allow the melted water to flow off your roof, preventing a further ice build up and keeping your interior safe from water damage. Should you be experiencing any ice dams be sure to contact us today and we'll be happy to come inspect your roof and diagnose the problem.

This winter, we Virginians have all experienced a lot of snow and you probably give a great deal of thought to getting rid of the snow that accumulates on your sidewalks and in your driveway. But that's a relatively easy task...just a bit time consuming.  Sidewalks are flat - there's really no way to get around shoveling them after a heavy snowfall. But what about your roof? Most houses in areas that get a lot of snow have inclined roofs so that the snow just slides off. However, there are occasions when snow accumulate on your roof, and because snow is so heavy it simply must be removed before it does serious damage to that roof. Even if you know that your roof was built to withstand all that weight - there's another reason why it should be removed. Melting snow can cause icedams in your gutters, so that as more snow melts the water has nowhere to go except into your ceilings.

Don't Climb On Your Roof

Even if you're able to get out onto your roof during the middle of winter it would be best if you didn't do it. Climbing around a dry roof is hard enough - trying to walk up and down a sloping roof covered with snow - which might be obscuring the ice below it - is the height of folly. Your best best is to use a roof rake or call a Virginia Beach roofing professional.

Whatever roof rake you use, do not use it near power lines. Even if you're a dozen feet away from a power line, if you lose control of the rake for any reason, it's length is such that it could quite easily tilt over those dozen feet, hit the power line, and give the operator quite an unpleasant shock. A roof rake enables the operator to reach up over 26 feet, which should be more than enough to get most of the snow off one's roof.

While this is a task that you do-it-at-home individuals can achieve it is still a difficult. We recommend having a roofing professional come and clear off your roof for you. We at SB Roofing have experience in all roofing solutions and we can save you the hassle of this daunting task. Contact us today for more information on our roofing services. 

Winter can prove to be extremely damaging to your roof; leaks from driving rain, ice, and snow are dangers to be conscious of. SB Roofing offers some information on a few great ways to guard against roof hazards and what to look out for.

Check for Leaks
The first step you should take when roofing in the cold season, is to check for roof leaks. Most roofs will leak from a few locations: drains on flat roofs, and at gutters, leaders, and flues on sloped roofs.

Condensation
Another cold weather issue is condensation, which happens when warm, moist air hits a colder surface: for example, your home's warm interior against the bottom side of the cold roof deck. Prevent this from happening by installing a vapor retarder at the ceiling level to trap the warm air and keep it away from the roof deck's bottom. Houses with cathedral ceilings have more complex problems, and you might have to replace the existing insulation with uniquely designed cathedral ceiling insulation. To allow adequate ventilation, baffles may need to be installed, and it could involve the demolition of the ceiling or the roof in order to remove the insulation.

Clear Your Gutters
Next, check your drains, gutters, and leaders because leaks can occur if they become clogged with debris. Bi-monthly inspections of roof and terrace drains are very important during the winter months.

Ice Damming
The single most threatening weather occurrence is ice damming. Ice dams are the capillary action of water reaching its highest point in either a liquid or solid form. If ice or snow fills your home's gutters, the resulting melting water creates a roof hazard by overflowing the gutter and back up the roof, penetrating the roofing tiles and shingles. And with our recent blizzard and cold weather in Virginia this is a problem that most Virginians aren't aware of. Cleaning debris, snow and ice from flashing points is a great protective measure against ice-damming.

Should you be experiencing any of these problems be sure to contact us immediately and allow SB Roofing to repair your roof for you. If you're not sure whether or not your roof is experiencing problems we can inspect the roof for you and give you a free no obligation estimate. Contact us today to learn more about roofing solutions and how SB Roofing can save your roof.

We recognize that a new roof represents a major expenditure for most homeowners, and that you want the job done right. SB Roofing specializes in residential roof replacement and we want to provide you with the very best in roofing workmanship for your home. Many factors come into play when we venture to do a roof replacement. Our roof replacement consultants are skilled in attending to even the finest details. We use only the finest quality materials when dealing with your roof and our inspections are by-the-book.

Our goal is to provide a high quality roofing solution to homeowners at a reasonable price. We strive to treat each and every one of our customers as we would like to be treated. Honesty, Fairness, Quality and Integrity are the cornerstones of our business. Which is why we offer our quality workmanship warranty/guarantee.

The ultimate performance of your new roof is related to climate, proximity to the coast, adverse environmental conditions, such as high winds, as well as roofing type and quality. Determining which roofing solution is right for your home is not only a question of color and style; it is also about the long-term protection and confidence associated with a quality job completed with quality products - backed by a full warranty. We are dedicated to providing quality products, craftsmanship, and service. But, more importantly, we want to assure that you are completely satisfied with the job we do for you.

We are experienced providers of the industry's most secure residential roofing solutions, providing Hampton Roads homeowners with over 15 years experience. Whatever your needs, we have a solution. Our roofers are qualified to install or repair each style of roof listed below. And like we stated above our work is backed by a Quality Workmanship Warranty/Guarantee. Contact us today to find out more about our professional roofing solutions and allow us to be your roofing company.