Leaks & Service Repairs

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

Reroof Estimates & Inspections

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

Get a Quote

Leaks & Service Repairs

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

Reroof Estimates & Inspections

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

News

  1. Homepage
  2. Blog
By |
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments are closedComments are closed
Category: Andrews Roofing

How Removing a Chimney Affects Your Roof

Does your home have a chimney and fireplace that you never use? Or maybe you’ve converted your fireplace to gas and no longer require the chimney for ventilation? Traditional wood burning fireplaces and chimneys can be difficult to maintain and often go unused when gas and electric options are so readily available in a variety of styles.

If you’ve decided to nix your wood burning fireplace and you have concerns about the safety and maintenance of it, you may want to consider removing it altogether. An unused and unmaintained chimney can be susceptible to leaks, animal entry and reduced energy efficiency. Of course, solving this problem isn’t as simple as slapping a cover on it, so here’s what you need to know about what goes into removing a fireplace or chimney from your home.

Have Your Chimney Professionally Inspected

Even though you’re having it removed, your chimney should still be inspected by a professional to ensure there are no cracks in the mortar inside the walls of your home as well as any structural damage or water penetration. Based on what they find, they can give their expert opinion on how to move forward with removal and if any internal repairs are needed first.

Make a Construction Plan

Depending on how much of the chimney you want removed – the entire column through to the hearth inside or just the chimney stack above the roofline – a construction plan will need to be made with a licensed contractor. If you’re converting the current fireplace to a gas or electric insert, you may only need to remove the chimney stack from the roofline up, but it’s something you should take the time to discuss with your contractor.

If you are wanting to close up the opening where the fireplace currently exists, it will require additional interior work such as light framing and drywall repairs. If the chimney is located in a shared wall, the construction will be a bit more complicated as demolition and repair work may be needed on both sides.

Use a Professional Roofing Company

Once it is time for the chimney stack opening to be covered up on your home’s roof, make sure a licensed, experienced roofing company is used for the roof repair portion of the project. They will ensure that the chimney is properly capped off using the method that makes the most sense for its location, material and the style of your home. Once the opening is capped, they will install roof sheathing and a roofing material that blends in with the rest of your existing roof.

Getting the right match and blending the new materials in an inconspicuous way takes talent and experience, so ask your roofing contractor if this is something they’ve done before and if they can give you any examples of their work.

Andrews Roofing Can Help

If you’re considering removing a chimney and/or fireplace from your home in the Hampton Roads region, contact Andrews Roofing. We have decades of experience in roofing repairs and materials and we can help you make a plan that will improve the look of your home and your enjoyment of it.

 

read more
By |
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments are closedComments are closed
Category: Andrews Roofing, Residential Roofing, Roof Leak, Roof Maintenance, Roofing Information, Roofing Repairs

How to Know When to Request a Service Call for Your Roof

For some things in life, it’s very easy to know when it’s time to call in a professional. If your car breaks down on the highway, it’s time for a mechanic. If you break your leg, it’s time for a doctor. But there are some things that are a little less obvious. For instance, knowing exactly when to call in someone to service and inspect your roof can be tricky for some homeowners. A lot of your roof may not be visible to you, and from the ground it can be difficult to spot some of the tell-tale signs of decay or damage. But there are a few good ways to tell if it’s time to call in a roofing professional, so here are some signs to look out for.

Soaring Energy Bills
Your energy bill may be soaring lately because of rate increases, but pay attention to the actual kilowatt hours you’re using each month. If that number has started to rise over time and you haven’t made any changes or added any new electrical elements to your home, that can be a sign of a roof that needs service. That’s because your roof is one of the main temperature control elements of your house. A leaky roof lets water in but it also lets warm or cold air out. Don’t pay money to air condition the outside, call a roofing company instead and see if any repairs are needed that will help make your energy bill (somewhat) more reasonable.

Sagging
A sagging roofline – usually a gentle slope down toward the middle of a roofline, or drooping at the edge of an eave – is a sign that there are problems with the underlying structure. This could mean that the rafters, roof decking or both have started to deteriorate. This can happen due to age, but it can also happen if moisture is coming in through the roof, causing the wood beneath to rot or invite termites. In any of those cases, a professional roofing company and potentially a general contractor and pest company may be needed to address this issue. Left unchecked, a sagging roof can cause massive and extremely expensive damage to the core structure of your home.

Dark Spots
Leaks don’t always present themselves as a steady stream of water or even a drip directly from the ceiling. In slow leak cases, a dark spot on in the interior will appear and start to grow in the area where the water is penetrating the roof. This is often in the corner of rooms that are along the exterior of a home. The dark spots may appear on the ceilings, but they also can appear along and down walls, especially if water is entering the house along the roofline. As soon as you see a dark spot start to appear, call a roofing company. The longer you allow those spots to grow and exist, the more likely it is that mold, mildew, and other types of water damage will occur in areas beyond your home’s roof. Drywall, trim, window casings and even flooring may need to be replaced if leaks are not addressed quickly.

Debris
If you’re finding bits of asphalt shingles in your yard, especially after a weather event, this may be a sign that your roof needs to be replaced. While asphalt shingles are very durable, they do have a life expectancy of 20-30 years. This means that even homes built after the year 2000 may be due for a new roof. Another sign of shingle deterioration is asphalt grit in your gutters. Small, sandy bits of a shingle’s asphalt will start to slough off when they’ve reached the end of their lifespan, and very often this material will make its way into your gutters and even down the downspout. Again, this is especially noticeable after a weather event with heavy rain.

The Obvious
Of course, there are some obvious signs that it’s time for a roofing professional’s opinion. Missing shingles, clear water leaks, or a roof that’s older than 30 years most certainly requires a service call to your local roofing company.

If you’re experiencing any of these issues in your home, contact Andrews Roofing. We’ve been working in the Hampton Roads region for over 25 years and we know the common issues homeowners in Tidewater experience. We can help you determine the best next step for your roof, whether that’s a roof repair or total roof replacement.

read more
By |
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments are closedComments are closed
Category: Andrews Roofing, Rapid Rain Gutter System

Spring for Gutters

April showers might bring spring flowers, but they can also bring a lot of damage to your home if you’re not prepared.

Did you know that Virginia Beach and the surrounding Hampton Roads cities get an average of over 9” of rain during the spring season? And as the seasons change some of that precipitation comes in the form of severe weather, which can dump several inches of rain over the course of just a few hours. If you’ve lived in the Tidewater region long enough, you’ve surely been caught in one of those spring deluges.

Those same pop-up storms that can put a kink in your commute, delay your kids’ baseball games or ruin a nice day at the beach can also negatively impact your home. This is especially true if your home doesn’t have functional gutters.

Why Should Your Home Have Gutters?

Gutters play a critical role in protecting your home’s roof and foundation. When a roofline doesn’t have gutters, water sheets off the roof and straight down to the base of the house. This creates pooling water around your foundation which can cause long-term moisture damage. Moisture at the foundation level of your home can result in mold, mildew, termites and structural damage.

When water isn’t properly channeled off a roof, it can also cause water damage to the vertical surfaces of your house including walls and windows. Leaky windows, wood rot or discoloration can occur.

Gutters also protect your landscaping. By moving water through a downspout into a drain or appropriate area of the yard, you can help prevent erosion in your garden beds, losing costly topsoil, mulch or plants.

How to Maintain Your Gutters

Gutters should be cleaned annually or preferably semiannually. We always recommend using a professional company for this task as doing it yourself is dangerous and could result in serious injury.

When gutters are not cleaned out regularly, they can actually cause just as much damage as not having gutters at all. Water will sheet over a filled gutter, causing the same problems as we mentioned above. Clogged gutters can also cause water to back up toward the roofline, pushing water up underneath shingles and potentially damaging your roof’s decking.

In addition to having gutters cleaned out each year, make sure all gutters are securely attached to the roofline and all downspouts are secured to the corners or sides of your house. Check to see that the areas where the downspouts direct water is clean and cleared as well as directing water away from your home’s foundation.

Inspect gutters and downspouts from the ground for holes or punctures. These could cause water to leak onto the sides of your house or into your windows. If you notice a gutter has any damage, contact a local roofing company or other licensed contractor who is experienced in gutter installation and repairs.

What to Look for in a Gutter

Not all gutters are created equal. In precipitation-prone areas like coastal Virginia, high-capacity gutters can be particularly useful. If you’re installing or replacing the gutters on your home, look for a system like our Rapid Rain Gutter System™ that has a high-volume control of water flow but is designed to look like a traditional 5” gutter.

Pay attention to the metal quality and thickness – you don’t want anything that is so thin that you have to worry about punctures from trees or other debris during storms. You’ll also want something that is visually appealing next to the siding or brick on your home as well as your roof color, so look for a manufacturer that offers a wide variety of colors. Make sure the material is covered under a warranty, even for things like scratches, which can quickly become rusted and unsightly.

You may also want to look into some type of gutter guards, especially if your home is surrounded by trees or other vegetation. Our MicroGuard system has over 48 perforations per square inch to keep out the smallest debris while allowing water to flow through easily.

Where to Go for Gutters

Always use a licensed and insured contractor for gutter repairs and installation, and make sure their work and products are warrantied and that they have an upstanding reputation in your local community.

At Andrews Roofing, we provide installation and maintenance of our Rapid Rain Gutter Systems™, and we stand behind the product with a lifetime ScratchGuard™ guarantee and our reputation for quality and satisfaction. Installing gutters is a smart investment that can prevent costly repairs and help maintain the value of your home. Contact us today for more information about installing gutters on your home.

read more
By |
Tags: , , , , , , ,
Leave a commentLeave a comment
Category: Andrews Roofing, Residential Roofing, Roof Maintenance, Roofing Information, Roofing Repairs

Winter Roofing Concerns: Roof Rat Infestations

You’ve heard of bats in the belfry and skeletons in the closet, but there’s something much scarier and much more likely to be in your home – rats in the roof.

Roof rats, also known as black rats or ship rats, are a common problem in many parts of the United States, but especially in coastal and southern regions such as southeast Virginia. Their populations do particularly well in suburban and urban areas where they can find food and shelter easily and where the climate is mild. In other words – Hampton Roads is their ideal location. But even the Tidewater region can get chilly in the depths of winter, and right now is the time when roof rats and other rodents look for warm places to take up residence.

Since these agile rodents are known for their ability to climb, they can easily access elevated areas such as attics, trees, and sheds. Unfortunately, roof rats can cause significant damage to your roof and home, making it important to understand the signs of an infestation and how to effectively get rid of them.

Identifying Signs of Roof Rats

There are some telltale signs of roof rats that will help you determine if it’s time to take action. Even if you only notice a few of these signs, it’s still worth reaching out to a professional pest service before additional damage is done and even more professionals need to be called in.

Look out for:

  • Droppings: Dark, moist droppings near food sources or around your attic access may indicate a roof rat infestation.
  • Scratching or scurrying sounds: You may hear these in the walls, ceilings, or attic, especially at night.
  • Gnaw marks: Look for holes or gnaw marks on roofing materials, pipes, or electrical wires as well as potential food sources.
  • Nesting materials: Roof rats often use soft materials such as insulation, paper, or cloth to construct their nests. If you find loose material like this mysteriously lying around your house and especially in or near your attic, it may be from a roof rat attempting to transport it to their nest.
  • Unpleasant odors: Roof rats can produce a strong, unpleasant odor, especially when they are present in large numbers.

Roof Rat Damage to Address

If you have any of the signs listed above, then it is important to address the infestation promptly to reduce damage and the risk of disease transmission. Most likely some damage has already been done to your house when they gained access to your attic or other areas, but the longer they stay, the more damage is sure to be done. Here are the main types of damage you should check for:

  • Chewed wires and pipes: Roof rats have sharp teeth and are known to gnaw on electrical wires and pipes, which can lead to short circuits, fires, and leaks.
  • Damaged insulation: Roof rats may nest in insulation and chew through it, reducing its effectiveness and increasing energy costs.
  • Gnawed roofing materials: Roof rats can chew through roofing materials such as shingles and flashing, creating holes that can allow water to enter the attic or home. Their access and movement can also lift shingles and flashing, allowing them to be blown around and water to enter a home.
  • Contaminated food: Roof rats are known carriers of disease, and they can contaminate food stored in pantries and cabinets. Look for droppings or gnawed packaging in your cabinets and pantry and if you see any signs of this, throw the food away immediately and sanitize the area.

Getting Rid of Roof Rats

If you’ve determined you do, in fact, have roof rats – or any other rodents and pests in your attic – there are several things you can do right away to help reduce the damage and eliminate the problem.

  • Remove attractants: Keep food, water, and trash in tightly sealed containers to eliminate sources of food and water for the rats.
  • Remove trees and branches: Roof rats use trees and other structures to climb up and access attics. If you have overhanging limbs near your roofline, it’s an easy way for them to make their way in. Trim back any trees, remove lattices or any other structures that give them an easy entrance.
  • Use traps or bait stations: Place snap traps or bait stations in areas where you have seen rat activity. Be sure to follow safety guidelines and recommendations for the use of traps and bait stations.
  • Hire a professional: If the infestation is severe or if you are unable to effectively manage the problem on your own, consider hiring a pest control professional who has experience with roof rat control.
  • Seal entry points: Do this only AFTER the pests have been removed. If you seal off their access while they are still inside your house, they will just continue to cause damage trying to get back out. Once they are gone, inspect the roof and attic for holes, cracks, and gaps that rats could be using to gain access, and seal these entry points with materials such as steel wool, caulk, or metal flashing.

Repairing Roof Rat Damage

As we said, if they’ve gotten into your home, damage has likely already been done. But if they’ve taken up residence for a while or if you’re noticing leaks, electrical issues or higher energy bills, then it’s definitely time to make some repairs. These types of repairs should always be done by a professional. If you’ve called in a pest service to remove the rats, they may be able to let you know what type of damage they observed, otherwise you’ll want to get up into your attic and take a look around.

  • Roofing: For any damage done to your roof deck, sheathing, flashing, shingles or attic ventilation, you should reach out to a qualified roofing contractor.
  • Electrical: If wires have been gnawed at or chewed through, contact a licensed electrician immediately – this can cause fires and other major issues.
  • HVAC: If ductwork has been chewed through or your air handler has internal damage, call your HVAC company and have them inspect the unit and make any necessary repairs.
  • Structural: In extreme cases, roof rats may have compromised some structural aspects of your home such as roof rafters and floor joists in the attic or framing in the walls. In these cases, a licensed general contractor is the best professional to reach out to for a solution.

Andrews Roofing Can Help

If you suspect you have roof rats, contact Andrews Roofing today. As a locally owned and operated company, we have decades of experience dealing with the very specific issues homeowners in Hampton Roads may have. We can help you identify if roof rats are the cause of the problem and provide estimates for any repair work that needs to be done. Don’t give roof rats free rent – call us today!

read more
By |
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Comments are closedComments are closed
Category: Andrews Roofing, Commercial Roofing, Flat Roof, Residential Roofing, Roof Installation

Under the Same Roof: How to Repair and Replace Shared Roofing Structures

If you live in a townhouse, condo or rowhouse situation in which you share a roof with your neighbors, you likely have legitimate concerns about ever having to repair or replace it.

A shared roof can pose unique challenges for homeowners living beneath them, especially when there are no condo or homeowner associations to manage the decision making. If your home has a shared roof, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Get to Know Your Neighbors
For many reasons, it’s a good idea to get to know your neighbors. But it’s particularly important if you share walls, fences, roofs, yards, etc. The better you know your neighbors, the more likely you are to have an amicable discussion about repairs and replacements when the time comes. You’ll also be more aware of their specific situation and whether they are ready and willing to invest money in their home.

It’s also a good idea to have frank conversations with your neighbors about where they stand on shared repairs so no one is taken by surprise when something comes up. These conversations are easier to have when there isn’t an emergency or dire need so people don’t feel pressured to make a decision.

Get Ahead of the Problem
An ounce of maintenance is worth a pound of repair. Talk to your neighbors about having your roof professionally inspected every few years, and work together to ensure the roof is maintained from the outside, keeping gutters clear and debris removed. Each of you should also be checking your attic spaces to check for moisture, leaks or ventilation issues, and keeping each other informed of what you find.

This is more important than you’d think, but we’ve personally seen neighbors suing neighbors because one person’s roof was causing a leak on the other homeowner’s side due to disrepair. Nipping these issues in the bud early can prevent a lot of headache and cost down the line.

Work Together
If and when the time comes for a roofing replacement, it is possible to work together with your neighbors to come to a solution. We have replaced roofs for multiple owners under the same roof who worked together to find the right contractor, material, color and installation schedule that worked for all of them. Don’t assume this is an impossibility. Give your neighbors the benefit of the doubt that they also want to make sure their home is well maintained and protected.

The first and most important thing to do is to discuss your budget and what each homeowner is reasonably willing and able to spend on the project. The next step is to decide who will be in charge of certain responsibilities. For instance, will one person be in charge of collecting all the estimates, or should each neighbor schedule and report back on a single estimate? Will one person be responsible for cutting the check and getting payment from everyone else, or will the contractor accept equal payments from each person directly? Does someone need to finance their portion? If so, then they may need to work directly with the contractor to set up a payment plan, while everyone else can pay their share in cash.

Finally, it’s critical to be flexible. Not everyone is going to agree on every single thing, whether it’s budget, contractor, material or color. Talk about your non-negotiables and try to find some common ground to reach a solution that meets everyone’s top needs. But don’t go into the situation assuming you will get every single thing you want on your checklist.

Last Resort: Go It Alone
It is possible in some cases to have a single portion of a shared roof repaired or replaced if you cannot get your neighbors on board for a full reroofing. It is by no means ideal, and it’s important to note that it can impact warranties and workmanship guarantees. But, if your roof is damaged or at the end of its life, you’re better off doing something now and avoiding further damage than waiting for all your neighbors to get on the same page.

If you have a shared roof situation and need an estimate, advice or inspection, give Andrews Roofing a call. We’ve worked with families in the Hampton Roads region for decades and we know this area’s specific types of housing scenarios so we can give you the best solution to your roofing problem. Contact us today.

read more
By |
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments are closedComments are closed
Category: Andrews Roofing, Commercial Roofing, Rapid Rain Gutter System, Residential Roofing, Roof Maintenance, Roofing Information

Four New Year’s Roofing Resolutions

It’s the beginning of a new year, and that means it’s time for resolutions.
Most New Year’s resolutions revolve around self-improvement, but the truth is, you’re great just the way you are. So instead, we suggest making some home-improvement resolutions that don’t require a scale, a short-lived gym membership, or eventual self-loathing. Here are a few that can improve not just your home, but your enjoyment of it as well.

Monthly Inspections
This resolution is easy to implement, only takes a few minutes and can help save your home from preventable damage. Once a month, do a visual inspection of the exterior of your home. Add it to your calendar, set a reminder on your phone, or whatever you use to keep track of recurring tasks.

From the outside of your house, walk the perimeter and look for any holes or damage to siding, loose flashing, loose or missing shingles, brittle or broken shingles, moisture around your foundation, debris that may have landed on your roof, mildew or algae buildup or anything else that seems out of place or damaged. From the inside, peek into your attic and make sure all the rafters and roof decking are dry, that the ventilation is working properly and that insulation is in place. Take a look out any windows that may give you a view of dormers or roofing valleys that aren’t visible from the ground.

If you spot any damage, take photos – especially if you believe the damage requires an insurance claim – and call in a licensed contractor to have a second look and give an estimate for repairs. Your visual inspection should only take a few minutes but could save you thousands of dollars and lots of headaches down the road. As they say in medicine, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Gutter Cleaning
Your monthly visual inspection may give you an idea of when your gutters need to be cleaned out, but you also may not be able to see all the debris in your gutters from the safety of the ground (which is the only place we recommend doing an inspection yourself). In Hampton Roads, the amount of foliage and storm debris increases the likelihood of needing a good gutter cleaning. While many websites and professionals will say cleaning your gutters twice a year is fine, we recommend once per season if you live in Southeast Virginia.

This year, resolve to have a professional gutter cleaning service come to your house every three months. You can schedule these cleanings in advance, so you don’t even have to think about it once you’ve made the initial call. The great thing about having a professional gutter cleaning is that it can reduce the likelihood of roof damage from water that builds up and pushes up under your roofing material when gutters are overfilled with debris. It also means there are professional eyes on your roof several times a year. A good cleaning company will alert you if they see any damage, debris or signs of aging that you should know about – all without you ever having to climb a ladder.

Make the Repairs
Maybe you already know your roof is in need of repairs. Perhaps you’ve seen the shingles fly off during a storm, or you can hear flashing or loose gutters banging around on a windy night. If so, then the new year is the perfect time to resolve to finally have it fixed.

Taking care of these types of repairs extends the life of your roof, saving you money and protecting your investment. A simple repair may have a small upfront cost, but in the long term it will be well worth it. Make sure to call in a professional, licensed roofing contractor to make the repairs. It may also be the case that the damage that needs to be repaired is under warranty, in which case you may not even have to pay out of pocket. If you think this is the case, find your original paperwork and reach out to the manufacturer or installer to make a claim.

New Year, New Roof
Lastly, if you know it’s time, then make this the year that you finally get that old roof replaced. Living under a roof that is past its recommended life span is just asking for trouble and interior damage that will not be covered by insurance. In the Tidewater region, the majority of residential roofs are asphalt shingles, which typically have a lifespan of 20-30 years. So, if your home was built before 1993 or if your home’s roof hasn’t been replaced since then, it’s likely time to make this a priority.

Roof replacements typically happen in the spring and fall, so if you know ahead of time that you will be needing a new roof this year, start vetting roofing companies now during the slower months. Gather several estimates and start researching your options for materials, colors, manufacturers, etc. Once you’ve made your decisions, get on your chosen roofing company’s installation schedule and get the materials ordered. Some materials are taking significantly longer to get in stock because of supply chain issues, so the sooner you can make your decisions and place orders, the better.

At Andrews Roofing we want to wish all of our Hampton Roads neighbors a beautiful, blessed 2023. If you find yourself in need of roofing repairs, replacements or inspections, we would be happy to help you determine the right course of action for your home so that you can enjoy it for many more years to come. Contact us today.

read more
© Andrews Roofing
Website built & maintained by Bull & Company MediaWorks