SB Roofing Blog

Remember the home energy tax credit? That was extended through the end of 2011. If you need to fix a roof, or need a new roof, now is the time. If you have not had a roof inspection for a while, have it done now. If you need any roof repairs, or if you need a new roof as a result of your roof inspection, get it done while you can take advantage of the home energy tax credit.

You may claim a credit for 10% percent of the total cost of the metal roofing or asphalt shingles, or new energy efficient skylights for your existing primary residence.

There are a few rules and restrictions, however:

• The maximum combined credit is $500 (10% of $5,000 in total cost) for all allowable products purchased between 2006 and 2011.
• The credit is for the price of the product only, not labor.
• Energy tax credits are nonrefundable, which means you can only claim a credit to offset taxes you owe for the year.
• Tax credits may only be claimed once and are limited to the year in which you purchased the item.

If you are in need of a new roof or need a roof inspection, or if you are installing energy efficient skylights, contact SB Roofing.

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

In this slow Virginia real estate market, anything you can do to make your home more saleable would be beneficial. Many homeowners who are thinking about putting their home on the market need to consider the buyer. This is no longer a seller's market, and it hasn’t been in a while. So, while those who want to sell and know they need a new roof used to be able to put their home on the market without fixing the roof. Maybe they took some money off the asking price.

Not these days. If your roof has less than 5 years on it, or if you haven’t had a roof inspection in several years, or you know you actually need a new roof, you should get this fixed before you put your house on the market. Either you're going to pay for a new roof or lose that much off the sale, but the sale will almost certainly take longer than it would with a new roof. There are just too many competing homes for sale. 

When buyers make an offer in this market, they will usually add up everything they think they need to have fixed in a home and their number will usually be higher than what you can do the job for. Then they subtract their cost from your asking price and then some. Weigh the costs of the job and your return and you will find it is probably worth the new roof.

Metal roofing is becoming a popular alternative to shingles because it is strong, aesthetically pleasing and exceedingly durable. Should you consider metal roofing for your Virginia Beach home? Other than a great appearance, metal roofing offers many benefits.

Long lasting
Metal roofing offers exceptional longevity compared to other roofing materials. Metal withstand adverse weather conditions much better than other roofs. Metal roofs look great for years with little to no maintenance.

Better Energy Efficiency
The main benefit of metal roofing is that it can help to improve your home's energy efficiency. It reflects heat away from the home rather than absorbing it like other roofing materials, so the home's attic stays much cooler. This increase in energy efficiency will lower your utility bills.

Value
Like many energy-efficient additions, a metal roof can also boost your home's resale value while making your home look great, boosting curb appeal and helping it stand out in a crowded real estate market.

Let's face it. Roof repair or replacement is job number one when considering home upgrades. Everything you do, from remodeling to painting to renovations, will be ruined without a functioning roof. Roof replacement is probably one of the most “boring” home renovations, but certainly is one of the most essential.

Roof Replacement is the process of removing the existing roof when in disrepair. Nailing over the existing roof is not recommended due to the added weight and increased chance of leaks. There are many factors that may cause a roof to fail, such as poor workmanship, faulty materials, inclement weather, age, and improper maintenance.

Your choice of roofing materials depends on your own personal taste and on the style of your home.

• Asphalt Shingles: Cheap and easily obtainable, but less attractive than other options due to "flat" appearance.
• Wood Shake: more expensive, but an attractive shingle.
• Metal Roofing: Metal roofing is less common, and few roofers install it; great for heat reflection and snow shedding.
• Architectural shingles or "Faux" Slate - Recycled post-industrial synthetics gaining in popularity.

Standing seam metal roofs 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.

Professional-looking metal roofs are a great investment, and they are available in a wide range of styles and colors. Here are some of the advantages of Metal Roofs from SB Roofing:

• Light Weight
• Durable. The lowest end metal roofing will last 20–30 years which is roughly 2 times the lifespan of an average asphalt roof. Most metal roofing products today come with warranties from 25 to 50 years.. The coatings and fixings on steel roof sheeting can be designed for different environments including industrial and marine locations.
• Fire and spark resistant.
• Hail resistant.
• Wind resistant.
• Metal is readily recyclable. Aluminum and copper roofing products are available with over 95% recycled content. As an example: recycled Aluminum only requires 5% of the energy to produce as does new Aluminum.
• Energy efficiency. Coatings with high reflectivity commonly save 20-30% on air-conditioning costs because they reflect much of the sun's heat. This increases the thermal efficiency of buildings in high temperature areas.
• Labor efficient
• Most metal roofing products require very little or no maintenance.
• Metal roofs are often used to cover large buildings because of their high strength to weight ratio.
  

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.

Choosing the right roofing materials for repair or installation of a new roof is a pretty hard thing to do especially for those who do not have any experience. Roofing is one of the most important facets in the structure and integrity of your home, so it is necessary to do the proper research for the best roofing materials for your home and your needs.

Deciding on the best roofing material to use depends on your personal preference but it also depends on the area where your house is located.

Asphalt Shingles - The most cost effective among all types of roofing - that's why they are widely used. Asphalt shingles provides a variety of colors that add style to your roof. Asphalt shingles usually have 30-, 40-, 50-year or limited lifetime warranties. They are widely being used by homeowners.

Architectural Shingles- Synthetic Architectural Shingle roofs are designed to look exactly like the natural roofs, such as slate or cedar, but synthetic materials are lighter weight and usually less expensive to repair. Synthetic slate and cedar are highly fire resistant.  They are also backed by a 50-year manufacturer's warranty.

Standing Seam Metal Roof – Similar to  asphalt shingles in functionality and durability, they are inexpensive, long-lasting and easy to install. A properly installed metal roof should last at least 50 years. They are great in warmer climates where they reflect the heat from the sun.

Wood Shingles - the ideal choice of many homeowners. The color of wood shingles turns lighter over time, but this look is often what the homeowner is looking for. With proper care and maintenance, wood shingles could last for about thirty to fifty years.

Architectural shingles are a new generation of high-quality roofing shingles with a distinctive, textured appearance.  They are also known as laminated or dimensional shingles; architectural roofing shingles are among the highest quality roofing products made. Architectural shingles were designed to produce an asphalt shingle product that had the higher end quality look of slate or cedar wood shake shingles, without the negatives of breakage, insect damage or weight. Architectural shingles come in a wide variety of colors, styles, and warranties.  

Architectural shingles have a unique visual appearance. Instead of a running row pattern as with 3-tab shingles, architectural shingles have a cedar shake texture appearance that give a more dramatic look to a home. Architectural shingles are also excellent for hiding roof imperfections due to their textured look. Because of this alone, many home builders prefer to use them today. However, many builders believe that architectural shingles are easier to install then 3-tab shingles.

Architectural shingles are manufactured using a mat base that is heavier than the standard 3-tab asphalt shingle. The mat base is made from either organic materials or fiberglass material coated with asphalt. Colored granules are then added to the top surface. Multiple layers are overlapped and laminated together to produce the textured appearance found in architectural shingles.

Due to the heavier mat base, architectural shingles are heavier than standard 3-tab shingles, thus making them less susceptible to curling and wind damage. Some higher end architectural shingles are rated for winds up to 120mph. They also have heavy coats of granules are also highly fire resistant.

Architectural shingles are excellent for more complicated and higher end roof lines, such as hip roofs, or roofs that include turrets and gables.

Synthetic Shingles are designed to look exactly like the natural roofs, such as slate or cedar, but at a fraction of the cost. Synthetic roofing is realistic looking and highly durable. These state-of-the-art shingles provide you with a stronger, pliable, and worry free roof for your home. After the shingles are installed, the sun bonds them together providing you with a solid membrane. This gives you additional protection for your roof.

Interest and use of synthetic roof shakes is growing. There are many advantages, from style and function, a long lifespan, and low maintenance. As homeowners grow more acquainted with the materials and the benefits, they will see the advantages a synthetic roof shake brings.

Synthetic slate has a very good textural effect and appearance and they solve many problems wood shakes have such as pests, and mold and mildew. Even better, they are guaranteed for 50 years. Synthetic roof shakes are made of many different materials and are an environmentally friendly alternative. They are all polymer-based, and some use recycled material. Different manufacturers use different materials for the synthetic roof shake but synthetic roof shake captures the texture and colors of natural materials, while delivering a highly durable shingle, which is weather resistant with a long lifespan.