Leaks & Service Repairs

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Reroof Estimates & Inspections

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Category: Andrews Roofing

Why You Should Replace Rather than Roof Over Your Existing Roof

If you’ve been in the market for a new roof for your home, you have probably run across the option of roofing over top of your existing roof.

“Roofing over” is a method that leaves the current shingles and roof deck in place, and installs new shingles right over top of the existing ones. Alternatively, reroofing requires removing all existing shingles, doing any necessary repairs or replacement of the roof deck, membrane, and supporting structures beneath, before replacing the shingles with new ones.

Roofing over your roof requires that all the existing shingles are perfectly flat without any curling, that your roof deck be in perfect condition, that there are no leaks or ventilation issues that need addressing, and that the current roofing structure is able to withstand the additional weight of a second layer of shingles. However, if all of these things are true, you may not need a new roof at all. And even if those conditions are in place, a roof over existing roof can appear wavy and uneven. In most cases, a roof over does not make long term sense for homeowners, which is why we do not recommend this to our clients and do not guarantee this type of work.

We should note here that it is possible to roof over certain materials, like membranes that are in decent condition. This is done more often on commercial roofs depending on the core sample, decking, condition of insulation, etc. This type of project is only performed after careful inspection of the flat roof and an analysis and assessment of the materials and decking beneath the membrane.

Roofing over an existing roof is sold to homeowners as a cheaper alternative to replacing their roof. Often times, though, roofing over does not really solve the underlying issues the structure may have and can end up being a more costly option.  If you’re looking into replacing your roof, it’s likely because you’ve noticed leaks here and there, there’s damage to the shingles, shingles are missing or deteriorated or you’re noticing your energy bill is soaring. Putting new shingles overtop of existing ones doesn’t address any of these critical issues on the inside, which means damage may continue to occur. Putting another layer of shingles on top of existing ones that have issues also means it will take more time, money and material to get to and diagnose the problem, and more labor to repair the underlying issues.

Replacing your roof may cost more up front, but the return on investment is higher.

Over the long term, a new roof will look better, last longer, and protect your home better. When you allow a licensed roofing contractor to remove the existing shingles, they can properly assess any other repairs that need to be done to the roof decking, membrane, flashing, structural beams or ventilation systems. Having these issues addressed at that point means the overall lifespan of the roof will be longer. It’s also important to note that some roofing material manufacturers will not warranty a product that is put over existing shingles rather than onto a clean roof deck. While roofing over a roof may be cheaper upfront, the costs of uncovered warranty claims and an overall shorter lifespan don’t pan out in the long run.

Your roof is a major part of your home that you want to look good and function well. When you’re considering your roofing project, consider that your roof literally protects everything in your home beneath it. It’s not the place to cut corners. Before reroofing your home, research roofing contractors in your area, read up on their online reviews and ask around your neighborhood for recommendations. Get quotes from at least two to three reputable companies and research the materials they work with to ensure they are high quality and guaranteed with a manufacturer warranty.

If you live in the Hampton Roads region and your home needs a new roof, contact Andrews Roofing. We’d love to be one of the companies to provide you with an estimate. Our work is always guaranteed, we use some of the best products on the market, and we’ve been providing excellent customer service to Tidewater residents for years.

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How to Pick the Right Color for Your Roof

Picking a roof color is an important decision. Your roof is a major investment, and once the materials have been ordered, and especially once they’ve been installed, there’s usually no going back. Unlike a poorly chosen paint color, you can’t just buy another color and cover it up. So, before you make any final decisions when replacing your roof, take some time to consider your options. You will hopefully only need to reroof your house once, maybe twice, depending on how long you live there, so here are our tips for making sure your choice is one you’ll love for decades.

Don’t default to your current color.

There’s no rule (except perhaps in the case of a stringent HOA) that you have to replace your roof with the exact same color or material that’s currently there. This is your chance to spruce up your home’s curb appeal or modernize its look. Metal roofing, composite shake, or architectural shingles are all options you may want to consider, even if they’re not what your home currently has. Since you’ll likely only do this once, let yourself think outside the box for a bit.

Consider the architectural style of your home and neighborhood.

While you should definitely give yourself the opportunity to think outside the box, it is important to keep in mind the style of your home and neighborhood. It’s your home and you can certainly do whatever you’d like, but you will probably be happier with a material that compliments, rather than contrasts or competes with your home’s style. For instance, a brick colonial home likely won’t be done any favors with a modern, shiny metal roof. Conversely a sleek contemporary home probably isn’t going to look great with cedar shake shingles. An architect and even your roofing contractor can help you determine styles and materials to consider that will make your home look its best.

Consider your other exterior material colors.

If you’re not planning on replacing the exterior materials of your home, then you will certainly want to consider a roof color that compliments them. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few options, ask your roofing company for large format samples. When you get them, take them outside at different times of the day and in different lighting scenarios (a cloudy versus a sunshiny day) and see how they look against the other materials. Look at the samples against your house up close, but also from the curb or across the street.

How something looks in a brochure or on a different house doesn’t necessarily reflect how it will look on your home. You may love the sand-colored shingles on the brick home you saw in a brochure, but against your tan vinyl siding, they may look bland and dated. Also, remember that there are exterior elements that you may be able to change to coordinate better with your preferred roofing material. Painting your home’s trim to coordinate with your roof can help a lot without undergoing a major expense like replacing siding. Replacing or painting doors – including garage doors – can also help incorporate a roofing color that you like.

Use an online design tool.

There are several good online design tools that allow you to play around with the exterior materials and colors on different pictures of homes. We recommend our clients use CertainTeed’s free ColorView program, which allows you to change the roof color on a stock image of a home, as well as the siding, trim, doors and other materials. If you’d like to use this tool on a picture of your own home, they offer custom design services for a $15 fee. They’ll prepare a photo of your home within 3-5 business days, then provide you with a link to your photo that you can use in their visualizer. From there, you can play around with different roofing materials and colors that correspond to actual products they manufacture before choosing one. We think this cost is well worth the opportunity to truly visualize your home with a wide variety of options.

Need Help?

We have been installing and repairing roofs for homeowners in Hampton Roads for decades, and our team of dedicated professionals know what looks great on all the different styles of homes you’ll find in the Tidewater Region. Want to see what we’ve done or want to see a specific shingle color or type? We can show you installations done for our happy customers. You can also see completed projects here. If you’re ready to give your home a new look while improving its structure and value, contact Andrews Roofing today. We’d be happy to give you an estimate, provide samples and recommendations on products that will make your house look its best.

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Does a New Roof Increase the Value of Your Home?

A new roof is a major investment, and even if you’re getting ready to sell your home and move on to the next, it may still be worth considering.

That’s because a new roof can actually add quite a bit of market value to your home, increasing its likelihood of getting offers (or multiple offers in some real estate markets). The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) noted in their 2019 remodeling impact report that new roofs can provide a 109% return on investment. That same report states that 39% of realtors suggest that their sellers replace their roof before trying to sell their home, and 33% said that a new roof helped close a sale.

Even if a new roof does not give you a one-for-one return on investment, it can help with the marketing and quick sale of your home. New homeowners usually aren’t able to take on a major renovation right after spending money on the down payment and closing costs of their new home. For this reason, lots of new homebuyers are looking for a home that is “turn key” – in other words, one they can walk right into without having to do any work themselves.

When looking at two homes in the same price range, a home buyer is going to be more likely to make a generous offer on the one that has the most recent repairs and updates, because they know it will save them money in the long run. If they are looking at a house that clearly needs a new roof, buyers will mentally tack on thousands of dollars to the listing price.

Of course, if your roof is failing or has incurred damage, you will need to replace the roof before selling, regardless of the return on investment. In many states, it’s a legal requirement to disclose any damage or structural issues in a home to the buyer. Even if it’s not, if the buyer or mortgage lender requires a home inspection prior to closing, the issues will quickly be found and could dead-end a sale, wasting time and delaying your sale.

So how much should you invest in a new roof if you’re preparing your home to sell? This is a great conversation to have with your realtor, as they will know the market value of your home with and without a new roof, and guide you in how to choose materials that make the most sense for your budget. In most cases, installing a typical asphalt shingle roof is enough to make a buyer feel secure and good about the update. But some markets, neighborhoods or price ranges may require the homeowner to invest a bit more in architectural shingles, cedar shake, metal roofing, or a combination of materials for a higher-end look. Again, a realtor can help you make this decision based on comparable sales in your neighborhood and price range.

Even if you aren’t trying to sell your home, NARI’s research shows that 75% of homeowners report feeling “a major sense of accomplishment” after finishing a reroofing project and 49% say they have an increased sense of enjoyment when they’re at home. Your own happiness and comfort is definitely worth the investment.

If you’re preparing your home for the Hampton Roads real estate market and need a new roof, contact Andrews Roofing. We have decades of experience in the Tidewater region, and can help you choose the best materials and look for your budget, home design and style. We also offer a guarantee on our work and use materials with excellent transferable manufacturer warranties, to put your buyers’ minds even more at ease. Contact us today for a free estimate.

 

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Manufacturer Spotlight: Sentriclad Metal Roofing

Metal roofing has been used on homes for centuries, but has had a resurgence in popularity over the past several years.

There are many reasons for that, one of which is the durability of metal roofs, especially as manufacturers improve the materials and design. A metal roof can be expected to have a lifespan of 50 year or longer, if properly installed and maintained. This is 20-30 years longer, at minimum, than a traditional asphalt roof.

Another reason it has grown in popularity is because it works well with many different styles of houses. You might think of metal roofs traditionally on farmhouses, barns or industrial buildings, but with the improvements in aesthetic and functional design, metal roofs are now a popular option for modern homes, new craftsman style homes and as accents on transitional style homes.

As with most roofing materials, using a high quality product is key. At Andrews Roofing, we use the Sentrigard Metal Roofing System made by N. B. Handy, which has been a market leader in architectural sheet metal products and machinery for more than 100 years. Their extensive experience in this industry has allowed them to make major improvements in the design, construction and installation of metal roofing.

Sentigard produces architectural, structural and commercial roofing systems for a variety of building designs. Their system is flexible and allows us to adjust panels as needed on-site. This means if a small issue arises, we can avoid a major delay waiting for new materials to arrive. The ability to produce panels on site also means that panels of extreme length can be made on the spot as opposed to shipping larger panels, which is generally not practical or cost effective.

The Sentrigard Metal Roofing Systems uses their own Sentriclad™ Architectural Metals, and of the biggest benefits of this product is that it comes in 31 colors. This material is made from durable alloys of Galvalume® and aluminum, and are available with Kynar 500 finish. For homeowners, this simply means – there are many options, and you can be assured that their durability and color will last. The system panels meet stringent testing requirements and ensure long-term performance, which is critical in storm-prone areas like Hampton Roads.

If you’re considering reroofing your home with metal, contact Andrews Roofing today. We have extensive experience installing architectural metal roofing for homes all over the Hampton Roads region. We guarantee our work, and only use the highest quality materials with manufacturer warranties that you can trust. Contact us today.

 

 

 

 

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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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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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