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

If you're replacing your roof, cedar shakes or cedar shingles are an excellent way to increase the curb appeal of your home and increase your home's value. It's easy to see why homeowners would want to add cedar shingles to their home. The beauty of cedar shingles is unsurpassed by any other roofing material.

Cedar shakes, above all, add a beautiful look to your home.  Whether you like the hand-split style or the perfections, SB Roofing can accommodate.  In its natural state, cedar has a rich, textured grain.  It's one of nature's best building products.

Cedar shingles have a natural ability to resist the elements, insects, UV rays and other sorts of decay; also allowing your home to stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Cedar shake shingles are able to provide a higher insulation value than any other roofing products.

Everybody wants the house to look great, and one of the best ways to do this is to make sure that you use the right roofing material. There are many different roofing choices on the market, but be sure to consider cedar shake roofing.

Contact SB Roofing for a cedar shake roof that is beautiful, and a great investment.

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.

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.

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.