SB Roofing Blog

Because of affordability and ease of installation, asphalt shingles have long been the first choice in residential roofing. However, metal roofs have slowly been increasing in popularity.

Though metal roofs may cost more up front than asphalt shingle roofs, they can be much more durable. Their lifetime spans anywhere from 40 to 60 years, as opposed to 15 years for asphalt. By choosing a metal roof, it's the last time most homeowners will have to put on a roof.

Besides longevity, metal roofs also can be more energy efficient - a "cool" solution because reflective coatings can be applied to the base metal and reduce how much heat enters a home.

Aesthetics are another plus. Standing seam roofs can also add vibrant color that withstands strong sunlight for decades.

Be sure to hire an experienced pro to install it since it takes more skill than putting on asphalt shingles.

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. 

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.

Proper maintenance of your roof is really necessary to keep your family safe. Many people neglect proper caring of their roof which then leads to troublesome situations regarding your roof. SB Roofing suggests you to manage your roof properly and do not overlook small damages or leaks which might have a place in your roof and to repair it as soon as possible. To properly maintain it you should know the basics of it so lets discuss the basics of roof maintainability.

The maintainability of flat roofs is easy but still certain precautions should be taken. Flat roofs normally have edges on its sides, making it difficult for us to see it completely from the ground. To check it properly you need to climb it and see it from there. You should check for any leaks, there should be no debris on the top of it. The pipes should be clean so that the water flows out without any breaks. The management should be such that no water should collect over the roof in the rainy season else it will penetrate through it and would damage the ceiling. Checking the roof at least once in a year is necessary but due to Virginia experiecing a stormy hurricane season usualyl its best to check it every 6 months.

If you have an angled roof for your house then you must have settings to allow the water to collect in the gutters. The gutter is the most important part and you should check it more often for any debris or grass which may have crept in. The gutters should be kept clean else there is a chance that water would seep into the ceilings below. Apart from checking the gutters you should also inspect the entire roof quarterly in a year so that your house remains safe.

Following the above suggestions will ensure a damage free roof for a greater period of time. Should you need any roof replacement, repair, or even a simple inspection contact us today and we'll be happy to help.

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.

Whether your roof is young or old, when you see black stuff on it, chances are you are looking at algae, namely, Gloeocapsa Magma, a fungus that feeds on the crushed limestone used in the asphalt shingles of your roof. Gloeocapsa Magma is carried onto your roof by the wind, and the rain spreads the algae down the roof causing the all too familiar black streaks. Rain adds to the algae’s growth.

Ugly, yes, but even worse, dangerous and costly. Gleocapsa Magma often referred to as “black stuff on your roof” can prevent your roof from reflecting the sun’s heat. This can have a devastating effect on your cooling cost. As your roof fails to radiate heat, your attic catches the heat storing it at the top of your home. Your AC bill skyrockets as you try to account for the heat in your house.

Unfortunately cleaning your roof cannot repair a broken roof, so how do you know if you should replace it? Cleaning your roof may be a solution and is certainly a method you should explore, however, if the algae continues to return and the heat continues to rise, it may be time to consult a roofing expert.

Indications that it may be time to replace your roof include:

• Shingle granules in your rain gutters
• Thin shingles
• Shingles falling off the roof
• Deteriorating or crumbling shingles
• Wavy or warping shingles
• Shingles curling up in the corners
• A roof older than 10 years

Are you embarrassed by the way your roof looks? Do you suffer from extreme heat in your home and costly AC bills? Have you attempted to clean the black stuff off your roof but it simply returns? If so, you may have a larger issue at hand then you may think. For ease of mind, if you have questions regarding your roof, consult a knowledgeable Hampton Roads roofing expert with over 15 years experience. Our skilled contractors at SB Roofing will gladly provide you a  free no obligation estimate. Contact us today if you have any questions about roofing solutions.

Hailstorms in the Virginia Beach, Virginia area are not very common, but they do happen from time to time. Hail can range in size from tiny marbles to golf balls and it can do a lot of damage, especially to roofs in Virginia Beach. The hard impact can damage shingles and expose the roofing materials underneath to the elements. Homeowners insurance will often cover the expenses, but claims are not always approved on the first request and they may take some time to go through. 

Shingles have a coating of granules on them that protect the home from penetration of the sun's ultraviolet rays. When hail hits hard enough, the granules are knocked loose. Because the granules are usually lighter in color than the shingle's surface, the bald area will appear as a dark patch. The damaged area may appear shiny at first, before the shingle's surface has had a chance to fade with exposure to sunlight. Another possibility is that the construction of the shingle itself is damaged. If it is not properly overlapping and adhering to the roof, this makes it possible for water to penetrate the structure. Strong wind from the next storm may peel off shingling entirely. Gutters and roofcaps may be damaged as well. Signs include dimpling on the surface or displacement.

Hail damage is often difficult to see from the ground and requires an up-close view for certainty. The homeowner may go up and check. If there appears to be a problem or if the homeowner is not comfortable with going up on the roof, give us a call and we'll be happy to inspect your roof. 

Roof replacement or roof repair in Virginia Beach may be necessary after a hailstorm. Many insurance companies will use the guidelines that 10 hits per 100 square feet is notable and constitutes damage. For an older roof that has not quite reached its life expectancy, the insurance company may authorize a roof replacement to avoid further damage to the home if it is damaged and left unchanged. Gutters and roofcaps may need replacement as well. Contact us today to do a roof inspection for you before a hailstorm hits. With the winter season here and the unexpected snow voer the last couple of days its best to make sure your shelter is still in tact.