SB Roofing Blog

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.

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. 

As with any business there are certain terms that are widely used regarding the type of work that they are involved in. Such as restaurants have their own lingo that they go by to signify to their employees that either a certain dish is ready to be taken out or they ran out of an ingredient. The same can be said about home improvement particularly roofs. Being in the business for over 15 years has made us at SB Roofing familiar with all the types of roofing lingo there is when dealing with inspections, replacement, or repair. So we put together a small list of roofing vocabulary we thought you all might like to know:

• Barge Board: A board that conceals roof timbers projecting over gables.
• Beam: A long piece of wood or steel that supports the roof.
• Cornice: The overhanging part of the roof (the part that sticks out past the building’s walls).
• Eave: The beam ends of the roof that allows water to drip off away from the building’s walls.
• Fascia: The edge of the cornice.
• Rafter: Parallel beams that support a roof.
• Soffit: The underside of the eave.
• Truss: A framework of beams that support the roof.

As always feel free to contact us for a free no obligation estimate regarding your roof and we will be happy to help you. From small repair jobs, maintenance and inspections to brand new roofing systems, we will cater to all your roofing needs. And our work is backed by a full warranty that covers labor & materials.

Homeowners who love their homes to have a rustic look use cedar wood shakes as their choice of roofing material. Cedar resists warping, insect damage and rot, and therefore makes ideal sidings. Shake shingles are made up of cedar that is cut into small pieces and attached to the roof, in a typical shingle formation. This can enhance the rustic look of your house.

Cedar shakes are pieces of wood that are "wedge-shaped" and are vertically installed in rows. The face of a cedar shake is not sawed but split. However, there are some manufacturers who offer both types. The split cedar shake is traditional. "Splitting" emphasizes and enhances the grooves and the overall appearance of the shingle.  Some additional benefits to cedar shakes are:

• These resist warping which is extremely common with many wood products. Cedar does not warp, cup or split as easily as other woods.
• Cedar has oil in the wood that is an insect repellent and that is very powerful.
• The Cedar oil prevents rotting in the wood and makes the wood ideal for use in areas like spas where humidity is high.

This type of cedar wood shake  is an exterior finish that is excellent for many homes. However, installing cedar shakes are very difficult and require a trained, experienced contractor to do the job well. There is no real substitute to cedar shake roofing material when it comes to adding a rustic elegance and authentic look to your home. One has to note that with time, the beautiful gold and brown hues of cedar shakes fade to a soft gray color. These shingles are very appealing on account of the natural wood texture, smooth and rich colors, and the fragrant subtle aroma the shingles have.

It goes without saying that another advantage of cedar shake is "durability". Its natural oil discourages mildew and mold as well as resists insects. With the right maintenance and proper finish, this type of roofing solution will last for many years and age gracefully over time. Contact us today to find out how you can get cedar shakes installed on your roof or if you have any questions about other types of shingles or roofing solutions.

Did you know that the roof of your home is exposed to maximum stress and strain? Yes, the roof experiences the maximum exposure to natural elements and also has to take the full blunt of the changes in weather and external environmental conditions. It is also the least looked after structure within the house. Most of us go in for wall upgrades like a new coat of paint or maybe an installation of a bathtub or a Jacuzzi in our bathrooms, but how many of us go in for regular roof repair or roof upgrade? I am sure that the last time you must have seen your house roof must have been the time when you had the house constructed, or some time shortly after that.

Like any structure, if a roof is not maintained properly will deteriorate and gets damaged. In spite of the improvement in roofing designs in recent years, roofs still have a relatively shorter life that the walls. This is a direct result of both the vertical as well as the horizontal stresses that the roof experiences. There are many things that cause roof damage, the most common are:

•   Earthquake and other natural disasters.
•   Incorrect design.
•   Extreme environmental conditions prevailing outside like snow, hail storm or gust of wind.
•   Poor material used in the construction of roof. .
•   Improper shielding from water and direct sunlight.
•   Thinner layer than advised in the location where the roof has been installed
•   Presence of hanging trees and branches on a roof.
•   Lack of proper maintenance during the life of a roof.
•   Lightning.
•   Age of a roof.

From small repair jobs, maintenance and inspections to brand new roofing systems, we will cater to all your roofing needs. Feel free to contact us at any time for a free no obligation estimate.

Did you know that the roof of your home is exposed to maximum stress and strain? Yes, the roof experiences the maximum exposure to natural elements and also has to take the full brunt of the changes in weather and external environmental conditions. It is also the least looked after structure within the house. Most of us go in for wall upgrades like a new coat of paint or maybe an installation of a bathtub or a Jacuzzi in our bathrooms, but how many of us go in for regular roof repair or roof upgrade? For most people the last time they saw their roof was when it was constructed, or when they last cleaned the gutters. Like any structure, if a roof is not maintained properly will deteriorate and get damaged. In spite of the improvement in roofing designs in recent years, roofs still have a relatively shorter life that the walls. This is a direct result of both the vertical as well as the horizontal stresses that the roof experiences. There are many things that cause roof damage; here at the 10 most common factors:

1. Earthquake and other natural disasters.
2. Incorrect design.
3. Extreme environmental conditions prevailing outside like snow, hail storm or gust of wind.
4. Poor material used in the construction of roof. .
5. Improper shielding from water and direct sunlight.
6. Thinner layer than advised in the location where the roof has been installed
7. Presence of hanging trees and branches on a roof.
8. Lack of proper maintenance during the life of a roof.
9. Lightning.
10. Age of a roof.

These are just a few of the factors that can contribute to damage on a roof. SB Roofing knows that regular roof maintenance and roof inspection is key to keeping your roof "alive." If you haven't checked out your roof in a long time or if you cant even remember the last time you did, contact us today and we'll be happy to assist you in any way possible regarding your roof.