Industry News – Andrews Roofing

When it comes to keeping a sparkling clean home, you probably focus on keeping the floors mopped, the surfaces dusted and countertops disinfected. But there’s one giant area of your home that probably isn’t getting enough cleaning attention: your roof. As a crucial part of your home’s structure and one of its primary protectors from the elements, it’s really important to keep your roof well maintained so that it can perform to your expectations.

Over time, your roof can accumulate dirt, debris, moss, and algae, which not only affect its appearance but also its longevity. Think about your carpet – if you never vacuumed it, never cleaned spots off of it or gave it a shampoo every once in a while, it would deteriorate and be unusable (not to mention unsightly) long before its lifespan should be over. The same is true of your roof.

Here are just a few important reasons why you should keep your roof clean and tidy:

Reduces Repairs and Prolongs Roof Lifespan: A clean roof is a healthier roof. The accumulation of debris, moss, and algae can damage your shingles by lifting them up or causing them to deteriorate, leading to leaks and water damage. Regular cleaning can extend the lifespan of your roof, potentially saving you thousands in replacement costs.
Enhances Curb Appeal: A clean roof significantly improves your home’s curb appeal. Whether you plan to sell your house or simply want to enjoy a well-maintained home, a clean roof can make a big difference. We’ve all seen the one roof in the neighborhood that’s stained, missing a few shingles or with trees growing out of the gutters. Don’t be that house!
Increases Energy Efficiency: Algae and moss on your roof can trap moisture, making it harder for your home to regulate temperature. A clean roof can improve energy efficiency, reducing your heating and cooling costs.
Protects Your Whole Home’s Health: Algae and moss growth can create an environment for harmful organisms like mold and mildew. These can infiltrate your home, potentially affecting your indoor air quality and health.

So, by now you’re convinced that your roof could use a good cleaning, but what’s the best way to go about that? It can be dangerous to try and get up on the roof yourself for this chore, so here are some safe suggestions.

Professional Roof Cleaning: Hiring a professional roof cleaning service is often the most efficient and safest way to clean your roof. These experts have the knowledge, equipment, and experience to remove dirt, debris, algae, and moss without damaging your roofing materials. Before hiring a professional, make sure they come with a stellar reputation, and are licensed and insured.
Ask About Soft Washing: Soft washing is a popular method that uses low-pressure water combined with specialized cleaning solutions to remove stains and growth from your roof. This method is gentle on your roof while effectively eliminating algae and moss. There are professional companies who specialize in this service, which is less intense than pressure washing, therefore safer for roofing materials.
Schedule Regular Maintenance: Preventive maintenance is key to a clean and healthy roof. Consider scheduling annual or biannual inspections to identify and address any issues before they become major problems. Regular maintenance can also include gutter cleaning, which helps prevent debris buildup.
Use Preventative Measures: To prevent algae and moss growth in the first place, talk to your roofing contractor about having zinc or copper strips installed along the ridge of your roof. Rainwater running over these metals inhibits the growth of these organisms.

Maintaining a clean roof is crucial for the longevity, appearance, and health of your home, so make it a regular part of your annual cleaning and maintenance routine. By doing so, you’ll not only protect your investment but also ensure a safe and comfortable living environment for you and your family.

If you have concerns about the cleanliness or condition of your roof, contact Andrews Roofing today. We’ve been in the roofing business in Hampton Roads for over 25 years, and we have the knowledge and know-how for the very specific types of issues homeowners in southeast Virginia experience.

Finishing off an attic is a popular way to squeeze more livable square footage out of an existing home. There are challenges to this type of renovation, however, and a lot of systems within the house should be considered, not the least of which is your roof. Since attics abut your roofing system, it is the most susceptible to poorly designed or constructed finished attics, so always make sure to use an experienced, licensed contractor. While we recommend having a professional do all the associated work for this type of project, here are a few things to consider ahead of time or to make sure your contractor addresses.

Ventilation
The number one most important thing to ensure during a finished attic project is maintaining proper ventilation. When an attic is unfinished, the system has space to breathe, while well-installed insulation and vents keep temperatures optimal to avoid condensation. But when drywall is put up, insulation is moved around and vents are covered, this can affect how the roof reacts to temperature changes. If not done correctly, this can cause condensation to build up between the roof and drywall, causing rot and mold to both surfaces.

If insulation is being reinstalled between the rafters behind the drywall, it’s important that air space is left between the insulation and the roof sheathing. There are special foam baffles that are made specifically for this purpose that should be used. There should also be a plenum (or connected air space) built into the design. You may notice that most finished attic rooms have a flat portion of the ceiling at the top (as opposed to an A-frame ceiling). That area above the flat ceiling is the plenum – it allows air from between rafters to move laterally as necessary in order to reach the roof vents.

If these design details are not incorporated into your project, rot will occur on your roof sheathing, drywall or both. The problem is that once an attic is finished off, it’s very hard to know these issues are happening until it’s too late and rot, mold and mildew have appeared. So be aware and discuss these details with your contractor ahead of time.

HVAC
For many homes, much of the HVAC system’s ductwork lives in their unfinished attic. Whether mounted to the rafters or lying across the floor of the attic (or both), all of it will need to be repositioned and worked around. This may require some creative designing to allow space for ductwork to go above and behind the drywall with enough space for insulation and air flow. This means you may need to call in an HVAC company in addition to your general contractor.

If your new finished space is going to tap into your central air system, then the ductwork will need to be reconfigured by an HVAC specialist. It would be wise to work in access panels for key parts of the HVAC unit so repairs can be done without having to rip out drywall. If you don’t plan on tapping into the main system, consider something like a mini split AC unit that is efficient, can be used when needed, and can help with maintaining reasonable temperatures in the space to help decrease any chance of condensation.

Plumbing
Although less likely, there is a chance that some key plumbing elements are housed in your attic that will also need to be worked around or reconfigured by a licensed plumber. The most common issue arises with homes that have hot water heaters in the attic. Space will need to be carved out for housing it, typically in a small closet so there is still easy access for repairs and replacement.

If you do decide to finish your attic space, discuss all of these concerns with your contractor, and also keep a close eye on your finished room after it’s complete. Check for mold or mildew on drywall and address it as soon as you see it. Make sure the room stays a reasonable temperature and investigate any damp or dank smells that may occur. If you have any concerns that a finished attic space may have caused damage to your roof, please contact Andrews Roofing immediately and we will send an experienced, licensed and insured professional to your home for an inspection and estimate before the issue gets worse.

Category: Industry News

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