Leaks & Service Repairs

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

Reroof Estimates & Inspections

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

Author: Andrews Roofing

Roof Leak Repairs

Roofers are like auto mechanics. There are really good ones and some…..are not as good.

When you have a problem with your eyes, you don’t go to a general practitioner. You go to an optometrist, right? Similarly, if you have a roof leak, you need a good roofer who specializes in finding and fixing leaks.

Some roofers install roofs. There are many different types of roofs and many types of roofers install them. Some fix leaks. These are the most detail-oriented, patient, and experienced roofers of all, usually. They know how to sniff out a leak because they’ve seen a million of them. They have installation experience in a variety of roof types. Most are experts in shingle, flat, and metal roofs, slate, cedar shakes, synthetic tile roofs,etc. Flat roofs include built-up, tar and gravel, modified bitumen, single-ply (rubber, E.P.D.M., TPO , P.V.C.) membrane roofs, and ballasted roofs.

A good leak repair or service tech can find and fix leaks on all of these different roofing surfaces. So if you need a leak fixed, not just any roofer, roofing company or contractor will do. Find a company that has special leak experience. Find one that has a service department.

We have both the equipment and staff to address issues on all of these roofing surfaces.  We have moisture reading equipment and do water tests when necessary. We have a repair specialist  named Don who can see a leak in a membrane roof seam 20 ‘ away. I am serious. You want a guy like him who has 30 years of experience. He’s as good as they get because leaks can be very tricky. He and other techs like him are successful about 98% of the time. Sometimes it requires a second visit but they always get it then. Man, this is fun. Good luck!

Robert Andrews ll, Pres.                                                                                                  robert@andrewsroofing.com

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Synthetic Slate Roofs

I’m telling you, I really like this stuff.
We prefer the EcoStar brand, Majestic Slate. It looks like slate, is less expensive and weighs less. We have tried several brands over the years and stopped looking after the first time we did one of these. It is high quality and looks great. We have never seen it leak.

Our men had to get on job training by the EcoStar inspector to certify us as a Gold Star Applicator, which makes us able to get a 50 year workmanship and material EcoStar Gold Star warranty. They send an inspector to pass the job after completion. Their specs are tight. No wonder they don’t leak! Also, it comes with up to a 100 m.p.h. wind warranty. We must shuffle and flex all tiles before installation to avoid color issues. It makes for a slow process, but the results are very pleasing.  We use stainless steel 1-1/2″ ring shank nails. It is the best and comes in 11 colors, which can actually be mixed to your liking.

These tiles are made 80% of recycled rubber and plastic. We use all EcoStar products when installing one so that warranty issues are clear and we provide a 10 year workmanship warranty too. Go to our gallery here on our site or go to ecostarLLC.COM to see some nice looking roofs. Lesser warranties are also available. Metal or copper valleys and flashings, special underlayments, and ice shield are used so they last as long as the roof.

THANKS to all! Good day.

Robert Andrews II                                                                                                             robert@andrewsroofing.com

 

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Roofing Employment Hampton Roads WANTED. NOW HIRING

If you are very skilled technically in various types of roofing, Andrews Roofing wants you. We need men with skills in all types of roofing. At our company you must be able to handle any roofing situation-not just one or two. You must be a roofer who knows shingles, flat, metal, shakes, tile, slate, single-ply, modified bitumen, built-up, tar and gravel, roof coating, steep, etc. or at least be well versed in several of these.  We do residential and commercial, E.p.d.m., TPO, CertainTeed asphalt shingles, Englert standing seam, 24 gauge steel panels, Enviroshake, Ecostar, Aluminum,  slate, tearoffs, retro-fit roofs, and Firestone work.

We service the following areas: Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Smithfield, The Peninsula, Newport News, Hampton, Richmond, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Outer Banks, for North Carolina and Virginia.

Our Scope of work includes: new work, roofing, roof replacements, repairs, inspections, roof consultations, reroofs, industrial, safety, OSHA, VOSH, steeple, church roofs, office buildings, shopping centers, roof curbs, pitch pockets, and flashing.
Robert Andrews ll , president

You must also have a good driving record. Safety and equipment and technical certifications help too. We do a lot of white TPO membrane and are an authorized Firestone installer, so we have a high standard of workmanship. We do all work as per manufacturers’ specifications. We do shingles, flat and metal roofs every day and many roofing and leak repairs in addition to service and maintenance. We get our 40+ hours and have great benefits and pay.

If you are very qualified and need a good, long term career please contact us at:

Robert Andrews: Robert@AndrewsRoofing.com  or 757-286-7400

A resume helps. We will pay you what you’re worth. We especially need responsible leaders, foremen and mechanics who own their job.  You take care of us and we take care of you.

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The Best Warranty: Single-ply Membrane Roof Warranty

The best warranty in the construction industry is a single-ply membrane roof warranty (TPO or thermopolyolefin  , E.P.D.M., P.V.C., Modified Bitumen).

Firestone Building Products is leading in this area with their “edge to edge” roof warranty which covers all the roofing accessory products installed (membrane, roof insulation such as poly – iso board, fasteners, flashings, metal drip edge or coping or gravel stop, etc. These are on commercial flat or low slope roofs with positive drainage.

Of course one can get just a material or a membrane only warranty, ( residential or commercial) accompanied by the roofing contractor’s labor warranty, but I am speaking of a workmanship (labor) and material warranty by a multi-billion dollar company. Firestone even inspects the roof to be sure it is installed as per their specifications. A contractor must be certified by them to obtain one of these warranties which means you are sure you have picked a good roofer.  Any roofer can get a material warranty.  Only the best are Firestone certified.

These warranties are non pro-rated, have a no dollar limit, and are available in duration of 5, 10, 15. 20, 25 and 30 year increments. Yes, they can guaranty a roof against leaks and other defects for 30 years! They do this because they know their roof system will perform and last.

You know what non pro-rated means. No dollar limit means that 29 years from now, on a 30 year roof, inflation doesn’t matter. If a repair costs 20 times more than it does now, they still have to provide material and labor to do it. And most of the time these warranty repairs are made in just a few days because we make them for Firestone and Genflex Roofing Systems and they pay us to do so.

I would say that these roof system warranties may even be the best in any industry and not just in roofing or construction. Can you get one like it on a car or a microwave oven? Nope. I don’t think so.

Robert Andrews ll , President Andrews Roofing                                                              robert@andrewsroofing.com

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Installing a Walkable Vinyl Membrane Roof System

Do you have a flat or low slope roof you would like to cook out on? People used to build wood decks on top of built-up roofs, E.P.D.M. (rubber) roofs, TPO membrane roofs, modified bitumen roofs, and even shingle roofs. These methods do work but are expensive and are difficult to deal with in cases where leaks pop up after installation.

To find and repair a leak, one must remove parts of the wood deck. This takes time and money. Also, puddles, moisture, and ponding water under the deck on top of the roof can cause fungus and vegetation growth which can damage the roof and deck. Never trap moisture!

An alternative to this old method is to install a walkable vinyl membrane roof system. The brand I recommend and have used for many years is Dec-k-ing. It serves as a waterproofing system, a roof, and a roof top patio. It is designed to handle regular abuse of people and pet traffic, furniture, grills, etc. It looks good too – coming in a variety of colors with a slip resistant textured surface.

Because of hot air welded seams, I have never seen one leak. If a vinyl membrane roof is damaged or cut, it is easy to repair by installing a patch which blends in pretty nicely for aesthetics. It can be installed on plywood or concrete smooth surfaces. This Dec-k-ing traffic roof membrane system should last 20 years. After that, a new membrane can be fully adhered right on top of it – no new disposal of old roofing will be necessary.

Make sure you hire a qualified roofer to install it. The technicians must be very skilled and able to not only put on a roof, but to install a vinyl floor as well. It must go down on a properly prepared surface so that characteristics of the substrate don’t telegraph through it, giving it a rough appearance. Substrate must have a slope to run water off. A one in twelve inch fall is fine. It comes in 40 and 60 mil thicknesses and is considered a fully adhered  single – ply membrane roof system.

Visit globaldecking.com for more info.
I like this stuff. I really do.

Robert Andrews II, President/Andrews Roofing                                                              robert@andrewsroofing.com

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Roofing Work Safety

Most work related deaths are caused by falls or being run over or hit by heavy equipment, as per an O.S.H.A. inspector I talked to last month. The rule is that when working six feet or above the ground one must have fall protection. So, this would include pretty much all roofers all the time. The most common type used is a full body harness. Any good roofing contracting company will have a written safety program which thoroughly covers fall protection. Think about it, even a 1 story residential shingle roof has a 12-14 feet high eave. At the ridge it may be 25 feet or more. A fall from these heights would do some serious damage to the body. There are times when fall protection is not required. One could work on a flat or low slope roof even 50 feet high without it if the parapet wall is 42 inches tall for example.

Bottom line is this: whether a contractor is going to do shingles, metal, flat, single-ply membrane, built-up, commercial, residential,  industrial, roofing replacement or roof repairs for you, make sure they have a written safety program and they have workers’ compensation insurance in case something does happen.

Just about every other year I hear of a local roofer falling to his death. It happens. Be sure it doesn’t happen on your property.

Robert Andrews ll, President                                                                                               robert@andrewsroofing.com

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