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Reroof Estimates & Inspections

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

Tag: Architectural Shingles

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Architectural Shingles, Residential Roofing, Roof Insulation, Roof Warranty, Roofing Information, Roofing Innovations

Traditional vs. Architectural Shingles

Asphalt shingles have long been the most popular roofing materials in residential structures, but the shingle itself has changed over time.

These days there are two basic types of asphalt shingles to choose from: the older, 3-tab style shingle and the newer architectural shingles. While architectural shingles are a newer style, they have become more widely used in new roof construction and roof replacements. Despite both being made from the same basic material, there are several key differences between the two styles.

  1. Appearance: Architectural shingles, also known as dimensional or laminate shingles, have a more textured, three-dimensional look compared to standard 3-tab shingles. They are designed to mimic the appearance of natural materials like wood or slate and can enhance the curb appeal of a home. 3-tab shingles lie flat against the roof decking with little to no variation or texture.
  2. Thickness and Weight: Architectural shingles are generally thicker and heavier than 3-tab standard shingles. They are composed of multiple layers of asphalt and have a fiberglass mat core. The added thickness and weight contribute to their durability and longevity.
  3. Durability and Warranty: Due to their multi-layered construction, architectural shingles tend to be more durable and have a longer lifespan than standard 3-tab shingles. They are more likely to withstand harsh weather conditions such as the heavy rain, wind, and other severe storm conditions we often see in Southeast Virginia.Architectural shingles also have better wind resistance compared to 3-tab shingles. The multiple layers and the heavier weight help them stay in place during strong winds. They are often rated to withstand winds of 110 mph or more, while standard 3-tabs may be rated for lower wind speeds. Many architectural shingles come with warranties ranging from 30 to 50 years, whereas standard 3-tab shingles usually have shorter warranties.
  4. Cost: Architectural shingles are typically more expensive than standard 3-tab shingles due to their enhanced appearance, durability, and longer lifespan. However, in the Tidewater Roads region, based on the average size of homes, architectural shingles are typically only about $100-500 more per job, making them well worth the value for the additional years you can expect to get from them.
  5. Installation: The basic approach to installing architectural shingles is not that much different than traditional 3-tab shingles, but they are heavier and have a layered design that requires professional installation by a licensed roofing contractor. Always make sure any roofing professional you use is licensed and insured before signing any contracts or work agreements and get all warranty information on both the material and workmanship in writing.
  6. Availability: Standard 3-tab shingles have been widely used for many years and are readily available in various colors and styles. However, as architectural shingles have gained popularity over time, they are also now widely available and manufacturers are offering a wide range of options and colors to suit different architectural styles and preferences.

If you’re building a new home or considering replacing your roof, take some time to consider the materials you will be investing in. Of course, you have to balance a budget, but it’s also just as important to consider the durability of your investment in the storm and hurricane-prone area in which we live in addition to the look you want your home to have.

If in doubt, give Andrews Roofing a call. We can sit down with you and provide our expertise from decades in the roofing business in Hampton Roads as well as physical samples of different materials and even an online design tool with digital renderings of your home so you can see exactly what your choices will look like before committing. Contact us today.

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Architectural Shingles, Homes, Residential Roofing, Roof Installation

Why Architectural Shingles Are So Popular 

If you are researching having your roof replaced and are becoming confused or overwhelmed by all the different options, you’re not alone.
There are a myriad materials and styles available, but living in a beachside region like Hampton Roads creates an additional requirement of roofing materials being storm and weather resistant. If you’ve done any research, you’ve no doubt run across asphalt shingles and “architectural shingles” as popular options. But what is the difference, and which is right for your home? Let’s start from the beginning.

What are asphalt shingles?
Asphalt shingles refer to a large category of roofing materials that have been used for steep-slope structures for over 100 years. This category of material is the most popular type of residential roofing because it is the most cost effective, easiest to install and easiest to repair or replace. Most asphalt shingles are made up of a fiberglass mat, top and bottom layers of asphalt and mineral granules that protect them from weather and UV damage. From there, asphalt shingles start to differentiate themselves based on how they’re manufactured, installed and therefore the final look.

Asphalt “3-tab” shingles refer to the three cutouts or tabs along the lower edge of the shingle that make it appear to be three different pieces when installed. It is the most cost-effective asphalt option and it provides a flat, uniform look. This style has been popular with homeowners for decades and is therefore available in a wide variety of colors and by many different manufacturers.

Architectural shingles are a variation of this 3-tab design and are manufactured in multiple layers. They were designed to mimic wood shake or slate roofing, so that rather than lying flat in a single layer, their variations of thickness create a more natural, contoured look. Because they have become increasingly popular, they are also now available in many different colors by many different manufacturers.

How durable are architectural shingles?
The contoured look of architectural shingles isn’t just aesthetic. The variable thickness actually increases their durability and wind resistance as well as their long-term life cycle. Because of this, architectural shingles usually have extended manufacturer warranties and longer lifespans.

On average, traditional 3-tab asphalt shingles have 20, 25 or 30 year warranties at most. Architectural shingles generally have a minimum warranty of 30 years and can be expected to last beyond that time frame – up to twice as long as traditional asphalt shingles. Architectural shingles can tolerate up to 130 mph wind gusts, 3-tab shingles are only rated for up to 60 mph gusts.

The long-term durability of architectural shingles means that even though the initial investment only slightly more than 3-tab, their value over time is much higher resulting in a bigger bang for your buck. This is particularly true in hurricane and storm ridden areas such as Tidewater, since they provide higher wind resistance.

One added benefit of asphalt shingles – regardless of the type – is that they are recyclable. According to the National Asphalt Pavement Association, millions of recycled asphalt shingles are used to pave roads across the country every year. So if you’re looking to replace your aging asphalt shingles, you can feel good about the waste from the project not going into a landfill, but maybe into a pothole!

Andrews Roofing Can Help
If you’re considering replacing your old asphalt roof and aren’t sure which material or style is best for you, your home and your budget, Andrews Roofing can help. We’ve been repairing and replacing roofs in the Hampton Roads region for decades, and we know what works best for homes in this area and what has stood the test of time. Contact us today to schedule your estimate and learn more about your roofing options.

You can find many examples in our residential roofing section. Here are some links as well:

 

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Completed Projects, Residential Roofing, Roof Installation

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

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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Category: Andrews Roofing, Homes, Residential Roofing, Roof Installation, Roof Insulation, Roof Maintenance

Hurricane Season is Coming: Does Your Home Need a New Roof?

Hurricane season starts June 1st, and Hampton Roads residents know that the key to surviving hurricane season is preparation. If you’re a new homeowner in the Tidewater region, don’t assume that Virginia Beach residents are the only ones who need to be concerned about potential storm damage. Homes in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News and even as far west as Suffolk and Isle of Wight are all susceptible to hurricane force winds, storm surge and torrential rain.

Just as you would put together a hurricane preparedness plan and kit, you should prepare your home for the inevitable storms as well. The time to find out you need a new roof is not in the middle of gale-force winds and power outages. Fortunately relatively simple inspections and research can help you determine whether your roof is as hurricane ready as you are.

Research Roof Materials and Age

If you didn’t have your home built or if you haven’t had the roof replaced yourself, you may need to do a bit of detective work to determine its age and the materials that were used. If the previous homeowners didn’t leave any records, ask around the neighborhood and see if anyone knows the last time it was replaced. If the home is less than 20 years old, you can likely assume the roof is original. Regardless of its age, the materials and workmanship behind them is probably the biggest factor when it comes to whether reroofing is needed. Here are some rules of thumb when it comes to the lifespan of residential roofing materials:

  • Asphalt Shingles: the most common residential roofing material used on about 80% of homes generally lasts 15-30 years.
  • Architectural Shingles: a specific type of thicker, premium asphalt shingle that usually lasts 25 to 30 years.
  • Wood or Cedar Shake Shingles: less common, but sometimes used on beach homes, these roofs can last up to 30 years, but only if they are annually maintained and split shingles are repaired.
  • Clay Tile Roofing: a fairly uncommon material in Hampton Roads, these tiles can last as long as 50 years or more, which is good since they can be very expensive to replace and repair.
  • Metal Roofs: their lifespan depends on the gauge of the metal used. The higher the gauge, the thinner the metal. So a high-end 22-24 gauge metal roof can easily last more than 50 years, while a thinner gauge (26-29) can have a lifespan of 20-25 years.

Inspect Your Roof’s Condition

A visual inspection can also help you determine if an expert roofer needs to be brought in. If you’re concerned about the safety of doing this, call a licensed roofing contractor to inspect for you. Here are the most common red flags to look out for.

  • Shingle Deterioration: Do you see any shingles that are curled, split, or that seem to be crumbling away? These are signs of old shingles that need to be replaced. This kind of deterioration can cause structural rot and interior damage and will only get worse with time.
  • Flashing Deterioration: Leaks are often caused not by the roof itself, but by the flashing around it. Flashing should be strong and tight around chimneys, vents, skylights, and roof junctions, or water can enter, causing damage to walls, ceiling, insulation and even electrical wiring. A great time to inspect your flashing is when you’re cleaning the gutters. Make sure everything is secure and no pieces are missing.
  • Missing Shingles: Coverage is key. Wherever a shingle is missing, the effectiveness of the entire roof is compromised. The problem is also likely to spread – once one shingle is gone, the others around it are more vulnerable to wind. And while those missing shingles may not necessarily mean you need a whole new roof, they should be repaired and replaced as soon as possible.

Call a Professional

If you identify any of these issues, or are able to pinpoint the last time your roof was replaced and are concerned about its age, it’s time to call in a professional. Roofing repairs are not a safe DIY project, and the consequences of doing it incorrectly can be dire to both you and your home’s well being. Research roofers thoroughly and find a licensed and insured certified contractor. If they are a trustworthy, quality company, they will have these licenses and certifications in place and will provide a free estimate of the repair or replacement.

If you live in the Hampton Roads region and need an expert to help you determine if you need a new roof or roof repair, call Andrews Roofing. We have been serving Southeast Virginia for over two decades and have worked on hundreds of residential and commercial roofs. We are experienced in the exact types of roofing damage common in the Tidewater region and can give expert advice on the best materials and approach to providing a long-lasting, beautiful new roof for your home.

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