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Leaks & Service Repairs

757-399-3066 ext 3 (Leaks & Service Repairs)

Reroof Estimates & Inspections

757-399-3066 ext 1 (Reroof Estimates & Inspections)

Tag: roof

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Category: Roofing Information

Understanding the Workmanship Warranty for your Residential Shingle Roof Replacement

The job is done, the crew has cleaned up and left, and the newly installed roof is beautiful. Now that the job is complete, it is important to understand how you will protect your new asset.

WARRANTY

At Andrews Roofing, we stand behind our work. We pledge to give our customers a quality product that is installed correctly and will perform for the expected life of the roof. This does not mean that the roof may not need regular maintenance throughout its usable life. Just like a vehicle needs a tune-up, oil change or inspection, your roof needs regular maintenance and upkeep to maximize its lifespan.

We know that our customers want and deserve reassurance that the roof will perform after installation, so once the job is closed out, we issue a closing package for the roof, which includes the material warranty.

The workmanship warranty states that from the date of installation for a set number of years, (typically 10 years), there will not be any leaks caused from original application errors of any approved roofing materials provided and installed by our company. We will repair, at no cost to the customer, any leaks which are deemed to be caused by our workmanship.

The warranty is limited to roof repairs only and does not cover any damages to the property that are caused by acts of God. This means that forces such as tornadoes, hurricanes, hail, lightning, earthquakes and the like that are outside of Andrews Roofing’s control are not covered.

Material failure is another issue that is not covered under the workmanship warranty, although it IS covered by the manufacturer’s warranty that is delivered within the closing package.

If you have any questions about your workmanship warranty, please feel free to speak with one of our estimates before, during or after your purchase.

***NOTE: Andrews Roofing provides workmanship warranties for other roofing systems, but this blog specifically addresses the coverage available to our shingle reroof customers.

Jeri Eley | 757-399-3066 | service@andrewsroofing.com | www.andrewsroofing.com

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Category: Roof Installation, Roofing Information

A Few Things to Consider When Replacing Your Residential Roof

There are many factors that can determine when and how you replace your residential roof. Here are a few things to consider if you think it may be time to replace your roof:

Geographic Location
Do you live by the water or in an open field? Is your property located in area that regularly experiences high winds? If so, you may want to consider higher grade materials for your roof, in lieu of basic 3-tab shingles. If you live by the ocean, salt water is also a factor, as it can affect metal, so if metal is used you should consult with your estimator on recommended options.

Budget
If money is an object, the most popular, economical choice for a residential reroof is an architectural style shingle. This roof is a step up from the basic grade, 3-tab shingle. Although the 3-tab shingle can provide a good quality roof, it can withstand winds up to about 60 mph, whereas an architectural roof can withstand up to 130 mph. The difference in price for your investment is usually worth the upgrade if that increase can be accommodated by your budget.

Pitch of Roof
Pitch or slope (steepness) of your roof, or certain portions of your roof, plays a major role in what type of roof will best perform on that surface. Anything from flat to a 3:12 pitch is considered a low slope roof and should, in almost all cases, receive a membrane roof system for best performance.

Home or Rental/How Long Do You Plan to Stay?
People who plan to live in a property for several years typically tend to invest a little more in their roof system so that it will not need to be replaced as frequently. When replacing the roof on a rental property, the decision to go with a lower or higher grade material depends on what you are looking for as far as your return on investment.

Look/Style of the Roof System
Luxury shingles, metal, flat, slate, and specialty materials all have a unique appearance. Choose a roof system that will not only last, but that compliments the appearance of the property.

Tearing Off Old Roof vs. Roofing Over
We do not recommend installing materials over shingles. It is important to inspect the wood deck to ensure that the new roof is being installed over a sound structure. Roofing materials are extremely heavy, and building on a structure that cannot support the weight of the materials can be dangerous.  Roofing over a previously installed roof can be considered under certain circumstances, usually with flat roof systems, but consult with your roofer for the best solution.

Timing
Not waiting too long to replace a roof can save you quite a bit of money in the long run. Ongoing leaks on any roof can lead to rotten and deteriorated sheathing, which adds up in the end.

Be sure to consult with a qualified, licensed roofing company on best practices.

Jeri Eley/Operations Coordinator/757-399-3066/jeri@andrewsroofing.com

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Category: Andrews Roofing

Ice Damming On Roofs Can Cause Leaks

So, here in Hampton Roads we sure have seen some “different ” weather lately. The last snow left eight inches at my house and the very cold temperatures hung around for several days afterwards. I do not recall any storm like it around here in recent memory and I am not looking forward to anymore of it either. In fact, in 17 years of owning Andrews Roofing, I have not seen us this challenged with any weather event as far as scheduling work goes. We are missing many work days this winter because it has been either too cold or too “snowy” or “snow covered” to tear off a roof and put a new one on.

One roof problem this weather is causing more than usual is called “ice damming.” *See the graphic. Ice Dams_013114 This condition can cause some pretty serious leaks.

If your residential or commercial shingle, slate, shake, or tile roof eave overhangs your building in the form of a cornice , soffit, or “boxing” as some call it, you may especially be vulnerable to leaks caused by ice damming. This also happens in roof valleys.

All of your roof that is directly above heated space normally will thaw sooner than parts of the roof that are not. Yes, even though you have insulation in your attic, some heat escapes the living area and into the attic. The snow in this area melts before the snow lower down slope on the overhang eave, which is not above heated space. When the melted snow (water) runs down slope and hits that snow, it can’t escape because of the “ice dam” blocking it. The water backs up and causes leaks because these types of roofs shed water – the material is not water-tight like membrane roofs are. An added complication is when it stays below freezing for several days after snow and even until the next snow. Here we go again with more leaks.

There is a special roof underlayment material that we call ice and water shield. We put it in valleys and around all roof penetrations like chimneys and vents, etc. It provides added protection under the shingle roof in these crucial areas. Up north where snow occurs more often and is deeper, they use this underlayment on the eaves as well, and sometimes architects have us install it on eaves here. It helps to stop leaks caused by ice damming. The thing is that around here, its use on eaves is not very common because ice damming is just not that common of a problem.

If you need a roof soon, you may want to consider this. It will cost a little more, but the ice and water shield underlayment may help to avoid leaks caused by ice damming. The good news is that it may not snow like this again for several years so you may not leak again for several years because of this issue.

Call me with any questions about this or any other roof items. Thanks for reading.
P.S. A rain gutter at the eave can potentially cause ice damming too. Keeping your gutters clean may help.

Robert Andrews ll
President
757-286-7400
robert@andrewsroofing.com

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Category: Roof Installation, Roofing Information, Roofing Repairs, Types of Roofing Systems

Roof Coatings

Sometimes you can coat your roof instead of having to actually remove it and replace it with a new one. It can be much more cost effective, and in some cases, it can be better for your home, business or church roof.

Asphalt shingle roofs can’t be coated, but just about all other types of roofs are “coatable.” Of course, your roof must be in a “coatable” condition. We coat mainly metal and single – ply membrane flat or low slope roofs and it works very well on these surfaces. Examples of single – ply roofs are smooth modified bitumen membrane, TPO membrane , P.V.C. membrane, and E.P.D.M.

Coating a metal roof is usually more cost effective than replacing it because metal roofs are a premium roof system and, in some cases, are old with historic architectural designs that you may want to preserve. You can simply prep it and use a fibrated coating such as aluminum coating or asphalt coating to stop minor leaks and maintain the roof.  This application can also dress it up a bit for aesthetic reasons.  If you really want something nice, we can apply an acrylic / elastomeric coating system, which may or may not include fabric, and even get you a real warranty! This is like roof “membrane in a can.” They do come in colors, of course, and most localities do not require a building permit for coatings, which keeps costs down.

We can apply the same types of coatings to single – ply roofs. We make sure there is no moisture in the flat roof or standing on the surface (ponding water) in a case where a coating would be feasible.

Believe it or not, one can even use some coatings as, “stand alone roof systems,” where the coating is applied right over the plywood roof sheathing.  One advantage, under these circumstances, is that coatings do not blow off and they are extremely light weight, making it alright to overlay an old roof.

High end premium coatings come with 10 and 15 year water tight warranties from the manufacturer and are renewable in most cases. The manufacturer would come out, inspect the roof when it is near the end of its warranty period, tell you what to do to maintain the roof coating system, and renew it for another 10 years even!

If you are interested in coating your roof, ask a roofing professional if it will work for you.

Thanks for reading. Call or email with anytime with any questions because I have not included everything here. I’m really not that good of a writer so … just the facts!

Robert Andrews, II
Andrews Roofing Company, Inc.
757-286-7400
robert@andrewsroofing.com
www.andrewsroofing.com
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Category: Roofing Information, Roofing Innovations

New Roof, No Mess!

That is right. During your roof job, it looks like maybe you are having minor  work  done because 99% of the old roof coming off never hits the ground!  We now have a new piece of equipment known as “The Equipter.” There are less than 500 of them in existence today.

the EquipterThe Equipter is a medium size dump trailer that goes up in the air to receive trash. It is self propelled and has big, wide  wheels that won’t damage your yard or  beds. The job site stays much cleaner and safer and the job takes less time to complete because the trash never hits the ground. We only touch it once instead of a second time picking it up in your yard.

When a residential shingle roof is replaced, tons of trash are removed and tons of new roofing are put back on. The average home has about 8,000 lbs. of shingles to remove and dispose of. A big part of the job is to manage this trash and keep it from damaging property.  This Equipter makes it much easier and faster to complete your roof job. It is especially appropriate if you have a well-maintained yard. A 1.25 day roof now only takes 1 day!

It is also a pretty cool thing to watch in your yard. Anyway, Thanks and have a good day!

Robert Andrews II, President
robert@andrewsroofing.com
757.286.7400

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Standing Seam Metal Roofs

Well, these aren’t for every building or every building owner, but they
are one of the most high quality roof systems you can install. Also,
they are becoming more popular partly because of the rising cost of
petroleum causing fiberglass asphalt shingle roof prices to climb over
the last several years. A standing seam metal roof can seriously
enhance the structural integrity and look of your home or business.
It comes in steel, aluminum, copper, and stainless steel, to name a
few.

All of these are at least a 50 year roof and are to be considered
a lifetime roof system. Why? Because they are made of metal, for one
thing. Metal of course is rigid and strong so it does not damage
easily and can give you a very high wind rating. In most cases it is
screwed down with hidden fasteners so the elements never get to these
screws and cause corrosion. You can use as many screws as you want to
make it very wind worthy.

The technicians are metal roof mechanics and sheet metal mechanics who are highly specialized so they know how to custom fabricate and install every roof as per the particular building design. They are among the most technical workers in all of construction, and aren’t scared of heights either.

Coil metal or flat sheets are run through a roof panel machine for different lengths, widths, and profiles custom to the shape and measurements of the building. Then they are installed. Some standing seam metal roofs [copper mostly] are hand crafted without a machine  for historic buildings. These roofs don’t leak if put on right.  Not just anyone can do it either, so please be sure you pick a roofing contractor who has the men, equipment in their sheet metal shop, and knowledge for the job. Most roofers don’t even do standing seam metal roofs. It is too complicated. See the roofs they have done and see their equipment too.

Although standing seam metal roofs are put on many commercial and residential buildings, as the main roof system they are also used to accent other types of roofs like shingles, tile, shakes, and slate roofs. Many times, bay windows, return roofs and bird walk roofs have metal on them. Some shopping centers have them on the front canopy to draw the eye of tenants and customers. Beach houses and cottages use them for wind resistance and high end aesthetics. High rise buildings and church steeples have them because their owners never want to replace their roofs after original construction. They are too high! There are many 16 ounce copper roofs way up in the air that are rarely seen or touched in Hampton Roads.  Downtown Portsmouth and Norfolk, Suffolk, and Williamsburg are full of them. The old tin roofs we remove are usually 100 plus years of age and today’s metal is better.

The main thing is that if you put a metal roof on your home or business, it will perform very well and will be the last one you ever install, no matter how old you are.

Robert Andrews ll                                                                                                                 robert@andrewsroofing.com

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