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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)

Author: Andrews Roofing

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Rapid Rain Gutter System

Are Gutters Necessary for Your Home?

Gutters do much more than create a nice, neat visual frame for your home’s roof.

Gutters play an important role in diverting water away from your home. Why does this matter? Because when gutters are not in place, and those typical southeastern Virginia pop-up storms happen, rain is sheeting off your roof and directly down to your home’s foundation. Of course, moisture and foundations are not a great combination. Over time, moisture pooling around your home’s foundation can cause serious issues. For homes built on a slab, the constant flux of moisture then dryness causes the concrete to expand and compress, which over time can cause cracks and shifting. That in turn can lead to plumbing issues, wall cracks, bowed floors and more. For homes with a crawl space, that area may become damp if not properly ventilated, which invites mold, rot and termites. For the rare homes in the Tidewater region with basements, not having gutters can cause flooding and moisture damage there as well.

Perhaps if you lived in a dry, arid environment where rain only happened occasionally, foregoing gutters may be OK. But in the cities of Hampton Roads, the rainfall average is just over 47 inches – that’s almost 10 inches over the national average. Homes in this area without functional gutters are bound to have costly issues over time.

However, just having gutters in place doesn’t automatically mean you’ve avoided this issue. If your gutters are not functioning properly, you could wind up in the same boat. Gutters can stop functioning because of dents, structural damage, and of course – clogs. In this region, gutters should be cleaned out at least twice a year – the spring and fall. But it’s also good practice to check on them and do any necessary cleaning after any big storm systems that may have caused additional debris to land in them.

It’s also important to remember that not all gutter systems are created equal. While it’s better to have some sort of gutter than none at all, if you’re building a home or replacing your gutter system, it may be time to look into a high-quality brand that can stand up to the storms and heavy rain in Coastal Virginia. Rapid Rain™  Gutter Systems is a new product that functions unlike any other previous gutter product. That’s because it provides a higher capacity, but without the bulky look. It’s designed with architectural styling in mind and is available in a wide variety of colors.

The Rapid Rain™ system is made from 18.5% heavier metal than standard gutters, and is therefore erected with heavy duty hangers for stability and durability. It is coated with a patented ScratchGuard™ paint finish, and is backed by a lifetime warranty. It has also received the Good Housekeeping® Seal of approval.

For homeowners who prefer not to climb up on a ladder to clean their gutters every year, the RapidRain™ system can also be fitted with a patented MicroGuard. This cover has over 48 perforations per square inch so that it keeps out even the smallest debris, while still allowing water to flow through at a high volume. MicroGuard is also virtually invisible from the curb, so the entire system helps beautify your home inside and out.

If you’re considering installing or replacing your gutters, contact Andrews Roofing. Our team of licensed and insured professionals will install your gutter system, and we stand behind it with our workmanship guarantee. We have a long-standing reputation in the Hampton Roads region for quality work and customer service. Don’t let rain destroy your house from the ground up – contact us today.

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Residential Roofing, Roof Installation

When is the Best Time of Year to Reroof Your House?

For many homeowners, the choice of when to replace their roof isn’t up to them.

When a storm sends a tree through your roof, or built-up snow causes a cave in – the roof has to be replaced, regardless of the season. But if your roof is reaching the end of its lifespan and you want to replace it before a leak or damage occurs (which usually causes additional damage to the interior of your home), it helps to know the pros and cons of having your roof replaced during each season, so you can plan ahead.

Spring

Spring is an extremely popular time for roof replacements. As people begin fixing up their home for the spring, and the cold weather makes its way out, home improvement projects have a major uptick. For Hampton Roads homeowners, it’s also safely ahead of hurricane season, so if there is any fear that an older roof may not withstand another major storm, spring is the best time to replace it.

The downside is that spring weather can be finicky in southeast Virginia, so rain, spring storms, even late snow can delay progress of a reroofing project. But when the weather does cooperate, spring days can provide plenty of working daylight for your roofing contractor to get the job done. One other con to this time of year is how busy it generally is. It may be harder to get on a contractor’s schedule in the spring, which is why you should plan ahead and schedule your roofing project during the winter months to get ahead of the rush.

Summer

The summer months stay busy for roofing contractors as well, but in the Tidewater region, it’s a reasonably good time of the year to replace your roof. During the hottest parts of summer, however, roofing crews may need to work shorter days to avoid heat exhaustion or damage to the materials and tools.

Another thing to consider when scheduling a roof replacement during the summer months is how it will affect your outdoor space while the project is underway. Having your home reroofed is a major undertaking and having debris, materials, ladders and workers around your home for several days or weeks are just a part of the process. This means you may not be able to use your pool, patio, backyard, porch or other outdoor spaces while your roof is being replaced. If this puts too much of a cramp on your summer lifestyle, it may be best to schedule for another time of year.

However, if your roof is beginning to leak or fail in any other ways, it’s best to have it replaced prior to the most active part of hurricane season: late summer and early fall. So even if it means skipping the pool for a few days, it may be worthwhile to avoid further damage and costly interior repairs.

Fall

Fall can be a very busy time to try and get on a roofing contractor’s schedule, as people batten down the hatches for winter while also requiring emergency repairs due to storm systems. The weather in Tidewater in the fall can be volatile – hot one day, rainy the next, with hurricanes and tropical storms seemingly always on the radar.

If you’re set on replacing your roof in the fall, schedule it as early as possible. You should also be prepared to be flexible in case weather issues do pop up and cause rescheduling or delays in work. Otherwise, when the weather cooperates, the fall provides easy working weather and reasonably long days for workers to get the job done efficiently.

Winter

For many parts of the country, having a roof replaced in the winter isn’t even an option due to the freezing temperatures. Shingles require a thermal sealing in order to set, which could take days or weeks in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow and winter storm systems can cause major delays as well.

Fortunately, in Hampton Roads, extreme winter weather is not as much of an issue. While we do encounter the occasional winter nor’easter or snow storm now and then, it’s not a huge concern. And since our winter temperatures can be fairly mild, contractors usually work through the entire season with few issues. This is also a slower time of the year for contractors, so it may be easier to get on a roofer’s schedule. Another pro is that you’re likely spending less time outside and around your house in the winter, so the debris and work going on around it is less likely to impede on your daily activities.

We’re Here All Year

If you live in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk or any of the other surrounding cities of Hampton Roads, Andrews Roofing is available year-round for your roof repairs and replacements. Even if you’re not looking to replace your roof for a few more months, we’d be happy to talk to you about your needs and put together an estimate so you can make an informed home improvement plan. Contact us today.

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Financing, Residential Roofing, Roof Installation, Roof Warranty, Roofing Information

How to Pay for a New Roof

Reroofing your home is a major investment, and it’s not always one you were expecting or planning for. This can make it difficult to pay for a roof replacement out of pocket. So how are you supposed to fund a new roof without draining your bank account? Here are a few options that may be available to you.

Insurance Claims

If your roof was damaged during a storm or other catastrophic event, the replacement of it, or the repair costs, may be covered by your homeowners’ insurance. The amount that may be paid out and the process through which you receive this money is different from policy to policy. It’s a good idea to review your homeowners’ policy every year or so to make sure it is still providing the coverage you believe your home may need. For instance, in areas like Hampton Roads, it’s a good idea to make sure you have hurricane, high wind and flood coverage in your policy.

At Andrews Roofing, we work closely with our clients who are going through an insurance claim for roof repair or replacement, providing any necessary paperwork or information they may need to ensure their claims are accurate and paid accordingly.

Home Improvement Financing

If you are replacing your roof because your current roof has reached the end of its life span, you can expect to be paying for it in full on your own. This can be daunting, as new roofs are one of the largest home improvement investments you may make. Fortunately, there are home improvement financing options available. At Andrews Roofing, we work with GreenSky® financing, which offers a variety of different financing options to consumers. They offer financing up to 120 months with fixed rates as low as  9.99%. They also offer 12 month no interest, no payments options for those who qualify.

Applications may be done online quickly and easily, and once you are approved you are provided with a 16-digit account number, which you can then use like a credit card to make payments for the work being done. You have four months after you are approved to make your qualified purchases to the approved merchant, so it’s best to wait to apply until the project is ready to begin.

Home Equity Loan

Depending on the amount of equity you have in your home, another financing option may be to go through a bank or credit union for a home equity loan. The housing market and interest rates are in a great place for homeowners to take advantage of the equity they have in their home in order to make improvements on it. If you know your roof is reaching the end of its lifespan, you may consider taking out a home equity loan to replace it before there are leaks that may cause damage to the interior of your home.

A new roof can also increase your home’s value and make it more appealing to potential buyers if you’re considering moving any time soon. Home equity loans generally do not have strict rules about how long you have to use the money or what exactly it needs to be used for, so if you’re considering doing multiple projects around your house, or you just aren’t sure when you want to begin the work, a home equity loan may be a more flexible option for you.

Manufacturer Warranties

Most material manufacturers have a warranty of some length on their products, provided they are installed correctly by a licensed contractor. If your roof is still within its expected lifespan and warranty period, but you have experienced leaks or other damage, the repairs or replacement may be covered by your warranty. Even if you didn’t have the roof installed yourself, there may still be a transferred warranty from the person who did have it installed.

The best way to determine if the damage or leaks you’re experiencing are caused by the materials is to have a licensed roofing contractor come and inspect your roof. In addition to identifying the cause of the damage, they can also identify the materials that were used so that you can reach out to the manufacturer about a potential warranty. Keep in mind, however, that you will likely need to provide some sort of proof of the installation being completed by a qualified contractor and paperwork showing that the materials were purchased for that purpose.

We Can Help

At Andrews Roofing, we are happy to work alongside customers using a variety of methods of payment for their roof repair or replacement. Whether you’re paying out of pocket, filing an insurance claim or applying for some type of financing, we will help guide you through the process while providing excellent workmanship and products. All of our work is guaranteed, and we use some of the best materials on the market, all of which provide their own manufacturer’s warranty. Contact us today to get started.

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Residential Roofing, Roof Installation, Roof Warranty, Roofing Information

Manufacturer Spotlight: CertainTeed Shingles

Andrews Roofing can supply products from any manufacturer a customer desires. However, based on our extensive experience with roofing products, there are certain ones we recommend. One of those products is the Landmark® line of CertainTeed asphalt shingles. Please note that product availability industry-wide has varied greatly between manufacturers including CertainTeed.

The quality of the products we install is the most critical factor in our recommendations, however, we also have to balance that with budget and variety. CertainTeed asphalt shingles check all of these boxes, which is why they are one of the most popular materials we install.

The Landmark® line of shingles is made with a dual-layer design that creates the visual dimension to mimic true wood shake. These shingles are heavy weight and come in a wide variety of colors. In our residential roofing portfolio, you can see many homes that have been reroofed using the Landmark® shingles, and get a feel for how varied the colors and styles can be. Of course, CertainTeed manufactures many home building products, so homeowners who are building new construction or doing a major exterior renovation can coordinate their roofing materials with CertainTeed trim, siding, decking, fencing and more.

One of the things we appreciate about the Landmark® product is the attention they’ve given to the installation process. Their proprietary design provides a nailing area that is three times wider than a typical laminate shingle, which increases the efficiency and accuracy of installation. The shingles are also made with a specially formulated adhesive that is resistant to delamination, giving these products longevity and durability.

Roofs in Hampton Roads are apt to staining thanks to our hot, humid weather that fosters mildew and algae growth. To combat this, CertainTeed uses a technology on their shingles that repels algae with a granular blend of algae-resistant copper. This means your roof maintains its curb appeal and is less susceptible to deterioration caused by organic material that could otherwise cling to an asphalt shingle.

Finally, we appreciate a manufacturer who stands behind their product. Certainteed products come with a lifetime, limited transferable warranty. This includes a 10-year SureStart™ warranty (100% replacement and labor costs due to manufacturing defects), a 10-year StreakFighter® warranty against streaking and discoloration caused by airborne algae and a 15-year, 110 mph wind-resistance warranty. Customers can also choose to upgrade their wind warranty to 130 mph. This option is especially important for our customers along the oceanfront of Virginia Beach when hurricanes move into the region. It’s also important to keep in mind that manufacturer warranties are only valid if they are installed correctly by a licensed roofing contractor.

If you live in the Tidewater region, are ready to reroof your home, and need help choosing the right product for you, please contact Andrews Roofing. We’d be happy to discuss all the available options with you and help you make an informed decision based on our decades of experience in the roofing industry.

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Residential Roofing, Roof Installation, Roof Warranty, Roofing Information

What You Need to Know About Roof Damage and Insurance Claims

If you’ve had some damage to your roof, you may be wondering if you should make an insurance claim.

The first thing to note is that every insurance company and every policy is different. The key is hiring a roofing contractor who can work with you through the process regardless of what it looks like.

At Andrews Roofing, we are experienced in working with clients and insurance companies for roof damage that has been caused by the frequent storms we get in Hampton Roads. Not all roofing companies work the same way, but here’s a bit of insight into how we help our clients work through the damage, insurance claim and repair or replacement process.

Roof Repairs

Depending on the extent of your repair needs, we may send an estimator out to take a look first. If it’s a few blown off shingles or nail pops, we can likely give you an idea of the cost over the phone and then schedule a repair at that time. From there, you can file a claim with your insurance company. We will provide you with a detailed and professional invoice to submit with other required insurance paperwork.

If a repair is major or requires partial replacement, we may send an estimator out to take a look first. Armed with a written estimate, you can reach out to your insurance company first to see what may be covered under your policy. Although we generally do not need to get involved first-hand with your insurance representative, we are happy to do so if it helps with the process.

Roof Replacements

If it is clear that your roof needs to be replaced, we will send an estimator out before providing any quotes on work or pricing. Our sales department will schedule an appointment with you to inspect the inside and outside of your roof. They will discuss options and budget before providing a written estimate for you to review. At this point, we highly recommend reviewing this estimate with your insurance representative. Some companies may only pay for a one-for-one roof replacement. This means that if you choose a different material, it may not be covered. It’s also critical to know whether the insurance company will cover any portion of the replacement if your roof is older and beyond its predicted lifespan. They may determine that the roof failed due to its age, rather than damage that is otherwise covered.

Roof Warranty Claims

If your roof is fairly new and has sustained damage, it’s possible that you have a manufacturer warranty on the materials. Ideally your roofing contractor will have talked to you about the warranty of the materials you chose and provided you with information on making a claim. For instance, one of the products we offer to our clients are CertainTeed shingles, which carry a wind warranty of 110 to 130 mph. As long as they are installed property per the manufacturer specs, clients shouldn’t need to worry about paying for any storm damage out of pocket. Keep in mind, you may first need to reach out to the warranty provider, then contact your roofing contractor to perform the warranty or replacement.

The Bottom Line

Before you ever need repairs made to your roof, make sure you understand your homeowners insurance. Talk to your rep to ensure your roof will be covered in the case of a storm or other natural disaster. Understand what their claims process looks like. When damage does happen, reach out to your insurance company as soon as possible and document everything. And, of course, only use a licensed, insured roofing contractor who is experienced in both roof repair and replacement and who can provide a professional written estimate, manufacturer warranty information and great service.

If you’ve had damage to your roof and you live in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk or any of the other surrounding Hampton Roads cities, Andrews Roofing can help. Contact us today and we’ll help you determine the best course of action for getting your roof back in working order.

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Roof Maintenance, Roofing Repairs

Anatomy of a Roof Leak

No one wants to hear that dreaded “drip drip drip” that means you’ve got a roof leak. Or looking up and suddenly seeing a big dark spot on the ceiling. But when you do, your first thoughts are probably “how did this happen?” and “where exactly is this coming from?” Understanding the answers to these two questions is the key to getting your roof leak fixed quickly and efficiently and also to possibly avoiding them in the first place.

How do roof leaks start?

Typically, a leak will start one of two ways: damage or deterioration. However, there are many different types of both damage and deterioration that may have occurred and that might not be immediately obvious. Here are several that are common for homes in the Hampton Roads area.

Storm Damage

This likely is the most obvious source of a roof leak and also one of the most common in the Tidewater region. Thanks to hurricanes, nor’easters, snow storms and torrential rains, there are myriad ways a Hampton Roads roof can be damaged. But storm damage isn’t always as obvious as a giant tree falling through your roof. Sometimes damage can occur that isn’t noticeable right away. Hurricane force winds can blow flashing off a house, which can eventually lead to water damage and leaks. Winter storms can cause limbs heavy with snow or ice to drop onto a roof and cause a hole that you aren’t able to see or hear right away. Torrential rain can cause gutters to overflow and damage roof decking.

Your homeowners insurance may cover this type of damage, but you have to identify it and file your claim in a timely manner. This means that after each major storm, you should visually inspect your property for any damage on both the inside and outside of your roof. If you believe any damage may have occurred, you should call a licensed roofing company to come and physically inspect and provide any estimates needed for insurance purposes.

Clogged Gutters

Clogged gutters are a common cause of roof leaks, but they are also one of the most preventable. When gutters are clogged, water can build up on the roof, getting under the shingles and causing water damage that could eventually lead to a leak. If you notice dark spots on your ceiling near the outer edges of the house, this may be a gutter issue. Cleaning your gutters (or having them cleaned by a professional) 3-4 times a year is the best way to avoid this issue altogether.

Condensation

Believe it or not, a leak can start inside your home, without the exterior of your roof being damaged at all. That’s because condensation build up in an attic can cause interior leaks. This happens when there is not proper ventilation or proper insulation that would prevent extreme temperature changes – something that is not uncommon here in southeast Virginia. In addition to causing leaks, this condensation build up can also be the source of mold and mildew. Ensuring proper ventilation and insulation is installed in your attic and along your roof line is critical to avoid this type of leak.

Missing or Damaged Flashing

Flashing is just as critical to the integrity of your roof as shingles. Flashing is the metal that covers joints and seams on a roof, and when it is not installed and sealed properly, water can enter and damage the roof decking. If flashing isn’t well attached, it can move or get blown away during a storm. It also ages just like shingles, so corrosion or cracks in the metal could also allow water to enter your home. If some of your flashing is visible from the ground, inspect it after every major storm. However, some flashing may be difficult to see or access and in those cases, a licensed roofing contractor can inspect those areas if you believe there is an issue.

Deterioration

If your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, it may be deteriorating and causing leaks. Every roof has a lifespan, although that number can vary greatly depending on the material used. For traditional asphalt shingles, 20 years is usually the lifespan. Fiber cement shingles can last closer to 30 and metal roofing can last for 50 or more years. As roofing materials age, they can become brittle and shingles may crack or warp, allowing water to get underneath. They may also fall off more easily – even during a less than severe storm. If you know your roof is nearing the end of its life, it’s better to replace it before a leak causes interior damage, requiring you to repair multiple areas of your home.

What to do when your roof starts leaking

When a leak occurs, it’s time to bring in the professionals. Roof repair can be dangerous for the average DIY’er and if not done properly, can cause more damage or void material warranties. Instead, research your local roofing contractors and find one with a good reputation in your community. The sooner you contact them, the less damage the leak can cause, so don’t put this task off.

At Andrews Roofing, we’ve been helping homeowners in Hampton Roads repair or replace their roofs for decades. We have experience with the specific types of damage and leaks common in this area, and we have the knowledge, skills and experience to make it right, right away. Contact us today.

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