SB Roofing Blog

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.

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.

Be sure to have a roofing inspection done on your home when buying or selling, before storm season, and after any storm that sustained damage in areas near your property. For us who live on the east coast, home maintenance and repair are aplenty, and while it is certainly suggested to have your roof inspected after a storm, regular maintenance is something that many homeowners’ overlook.

In the real estate market, roofing and its quality is a major selling point. If you have house on the market for sell, it would be good for you to host a pre-inspection. This will disclose to prospective buyers the age of the roof, and it will promise that the materials in place will last for a set amount of time in regular weather conditions. Have us come out and inspect your roof for you so you can know what needs to be done.

If you are looking to buy a home, know that this is one of the largest maintenance expenses of owning a home. Look for a newer roof adorned with strong materials known to withstand the regional weather. If you discover any immediate repairs or prospective replacements or will not guarantee the home's covering, then you have a bargaining tool. You can insist that the seller come down the price in order to save you money for upcoming repairs, or you can retract any bid from the home until the repairs are made at the expense of the seller.

Being in an area prone to hurricanes, storms, and windstorms proper roofing preventative maintenance can pay off. As storm season approaches, especially if this is your first season in the area, it can be helpful to get your home inspected by the best. Securing gutters, sealing vents, reinforcing materials, and checking for other prospective dangers can save you further damage in the eye of the storm, but most of all it will save you time. If you wait to make repairs after the disaster, you will be in a long line of customers awaiting a service that just doubled in cost.

Lastly, even if your home was not visibly damaged in a disaster, get it inspected anyway! A lot of roofing damage cannot be seen from the ground perspective, and insurance claims will be difficult if too much time has elapsed; you could find yourself absorbing the expense of storm damage that your insurance company will deem as normal wear and tear. In short, your home's roof is a major investment that should be protected as such. It shelters you, your family, and all of your belongings, and you should be preemptive about protecting it. Contact us today as we are in the middle of hurricane season it would be wise to get your roof inspected by professionals.