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Reroof Estimates & Inspections

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Tag: Clogged Gutters

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Residential Roofing, Roof Flashing, Roof Leak, Roof Maintenance

Don’t Let Fall Get Your Roof Down

We’ve been doing business in Southeast Virginia for decades, which means we know very well that the seasonal beauty of fall comes with a fair share of potential roofing headaches.

Leaves, pine straw, and other debris may look harmless, but they can cause significant roofing issues if left to accumulate in key areas like valleys, gutters, downspouts, and sidewalls. Here’s a closer look at why these buildups can lead to bigger problems and what kinds of repairs you might need if they’re not properly addressed.

Valleys: The Perfect Catch-All

Roof valleys are especially prone to catching and holding onto leaves, pine needles, and other debris. These areas naturally channel water off the roof, so when clogged, water can’t flow properly. The buildup creates the perfect breeding ground for mold, moss, and mildew, leading to water pooling and potential leaks.

Repairs You May Need: If not cleared, debris buildup in valleys can lead to rotting shingles or underlayment, causing leaks and water damage. Left unchecked, this might require a complete valley reinstallation, including shingle replacement and underlayment repair.

Gutters and Downspouts: The First Line of Defense

Leaves and pine straw are notorious for clogging gutters and downspouts, causing water to back up. Especially in the fall, we see a lot of clogged gutters that can lead to roof and structural damage. When water can’t flow freely, it pools in gutters, and the overflow can back up into and under roofing materials, down into walls and eventually into your home’s foundation, which is a costly problem.

Repairs You May Need: Prolonged water overflow can damage fascia boards and soffits, leading to wood rot and, in extreme cases, structural weakening. In some cases, you may need gutter realignment or replacement, downspout extensions, or even partial fascia board replacement.

Sidewalls: An Overlooked Vulnerability

When debris builds up where the roof meets a wall, called the sidewall or step flashing, it can trap moisture. Pine straw and leaves left to rot here create a hidden damp area that erodes flashing over time, opening up the roof to leaks and seepage.

Repairs You May Need: Damaged flashing can lead to leaks that seep into walls, requiring not only flashing replacement but also repairs to affected shingles, woodwork, and insulation.

Roof Shingles: Your Shield Against the Elements

Though shingles are designed to protect your roof, heavy debris can compromise their effectiveness. Leaves and pine straw hold moisture, which can create “hotspots” on shingles, weakening them and promoting mold and mildew growth. In some cases, the weight of accumulated debris on weaker or older shingles can cause cracking or even partial shingle detachment.

Repairs You May Need: Minor issues might require shingle replacement or moss and mold treatment. However, if left untreated, the accumulation can lead to more extensive repairs, like partial reroofing to address compromised shingles and underlayment.

Our Tips for Preventing Roofing Problems in the Fall

  • Regular Gutter Cleaning.
    Clear gutters and downspouts at least twice during the fall. If you have a lot of trees nearby, consider installing gutter guards.
  • Roof Valleys Maintenance.
    Clear valleys of debris regularly to prevent buildup and water retention. To do so, use a roof rake or hire a professional – never get on a ladder and attempt to do this yourself.
  • Sidewall and Flashing Checkups.
    Inspect sidewalls and flashing areas (from the ground) whenever you’re working outside around your house or at least once a month to ensure there are no areas of accumulation.
  • Professional Inspection.
    Schedule a fall inspection with a trusted roofing professional who can catch and address minor issues before they lead to costly repairs.

Andrews Roofing Can Help

The cooler months ahead provide the perfect opportunity to prepare for winter by addressing any potential fall-related roofing issues. If you’re concerned about your roof’s condition, or just want to ensure your investment lasts for a long time to come, contact Andrews Roofing today. We’re here to ensure your home stays dry, safe, and ready to handle the Southeast Virginia weather all year long.

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Chimney Leak, Rapid Rain Gutter System, Roof Flashing, Roof Leak, Roof Maintenance

DIY Roof Maintenance Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Your roof is one of the most critical components of your home, protecting it from the elements day in and day out.

Regular maintenance can extend its lifespan and prevent costly repairs down the road. For serious roof repairs, a professional roofing contractor should be called in, as the work requires expertise and can be dangerous for a weekend DIYer. However, there are some essential roof maintenance tips that homeowners can do safely on their own to prevent damage and decay.

Make Inspections a Habit
Create a regular monthly or seasonal habit of visually inspecting your roof. You can time it with Easter, July 4th, Halloween and Christmas to make it easy to remember. Look for signs of damage such as missing or damaged shingles, cracked caulking, or rust spots on metal roofs. While we do not recommend tackling those repairs yourself, the earlier you identify them and get a professional involved, the less damage (and cost) you will incur.

Clean Gutters and Downspouts
Clogged gutters and downspouts can lead to water damage and roof leaks. Clear them of debris like leaves and branches to ensure proper drainage. This is especially important as fall winds down and again in the spring before summer storms begin. If you feel comfortable, you can use a ladder and gloves to remove the buildup manually, but always have someone nearby to steady the ladder and assist as needed. You may also want to invest in gutter guards for easier maintenance.

Trim Overhanging Branches
Overhanging branches from nearby trees on your property can scratch and damage your roof during windy conditions. Trim back any branches that come into contact with your roof to prevent this from happening. It will also reduce the risk of fallen branches causing severe damage during storms. If the branches or trees are very large, you don’t have the required tools or simply don’t feel comfortable tackling this yourself, call in a professional tree service, who can take care of it quickly and safely.

Check for Signs of Water Damage
Water stains on your ceiling or walls are clear indicators of a roof leak. If you notice any signs of water damage inside your home, inspect your roof immediately to identify the source of the leak. This can be done safely by inspecting your roof from your attic. Look for damp spots and moisture on the underside of the roof deck and even eroded insulation. Addressing leaks promptly can prevent mold growth and structural damage.

Repair Flashing
Flashing is the thin metal strips installed around roof penetrations such as chimneys, vents, and skylights to prevent water infiltration. Inspect the flashing for signs of damage or deterioration and repair or replace it as needed. Properly sealed flashing is essential for maintaining a watertight roof, and flashing damage is often the cause of a leak, rather than the roofing materials.

Andrews Roofing Can Help
Regular roof maintenance is essential for preserving the integrity of your home and avoiding costly repairs. By following these DIY roof maintenance tips, you can prolong the lifespan of your roof and ensure it continues to protect your home for years to come. Remember, safety should always be your top priority when working on your roof, so always take the necessary precautions and if a task ever feels like more than you can handle, contact Andrews Roofing. We handle all sizes of roof repairs as well as replacements. Our estimators can come out to your house and discuss the best approach to prolonging the life of your home’s roof.

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Rapid Rain Gutter System, Residential Roofing, Roof Maintenance, Roofing Information, Roofing Repairs

Spring Cleaning for Your Roof

Spring is here which means it’s time to throw open the windows, clear out the clutter and give your home a good spring cleaning.

Typically spring cleaning may look like purging your closet of items you haven’t worn in years, emptying and cleaning the fridge (and throwing out those ten expired salad dressings!) or even washing the windows, but there’s another part of your home that you probably don’t have on your list that could also use a good annual cleaning – your roof!

Particularly after a long winter, your roof needs some extra attention to ensure it is functioning optimally for all the spring showers and summer storms. Annual roof cleaning will extend the life of your roof as well, saving you thousands of dollars in the long run. Here are a few spring cleaning tips to keep your roof in tip-top condition.

Ditch the Debris
It’s not uncommon over the winter for leaves, sticks and other debris to build up on your roof, especially in any roofing valleys your home may have or around dormers. Removing the debris from your roof keeps anything from building up and causing mildew, or from damaging or even removing shingles. Debris can be removed from a roof while staying safely on the ground using a roof rake, which you can purchase online or at a hardware store for a small investment. If you are able to access parts of your roof from windows, you can use a roof rake or even a leaf blower while staying safely inside your home to remove debris from those areas. Whatever method you choose, just stay away from climbing on top of your roof on your own, as this is dangerous and better done by a professional with the appropriate safety equipment.

Trim the Trees
To keep additional vegetation and debris from building up on the roof once you’ve cleaned it, make sure the trees and other plants around your roofline are trimmed back. Tree branches that touch your roof can easily scrape up against shingles or flashing during a storm, removing or damaging them which can eventually lead to leaks. Call in a professional tree service for larger or taller trees so you don’t cause more damage to your home in the trimming process.

Clean the Gutters
Clogged or at least partially blocked gutters are nearly a given after the winter months. When gutters become clogged or obstructed, it can cause water to back up and seep under the eaves of your home, causing water damage and leaks. In the winter, clogged gutters can freeze and cause ice dams to form which can cause major damage to shingles and the gutter itself. Each spring it’s a good idea to call in a professional gutter cleaning service to remove any debris so that water can flow easily away from your roof and your home. It’s also a good idea to inspect the gutters, including downspouts to make sure that there are no punctures or other damage and that where the water exits the gutter is properly graded to move water away from your foundation.

Roof Cleaners
If your roof is plagued with mildew or dark stains, there are several different types of roof cleaning solutions available. Many of these cleaners come in containers that can be attached to the end of a standard garden hose, so you can spray the areas of your roof that are stained from the ground or a ladder (with assistance, of course). If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, there may be professional roof cleaning companies in your area that offer this service. If you choose to tackle this yourself, just be sure to carefully follow any manufacturer instructions that come with the product.

If you find any issues with your roof during the process of spring cleaning, contact Andrews Roofing. We’ve helped homeowners in the Hampton Roads region extend the life of their roofs through proper maintenance and repairs and we also provide gutter installation and replacement services. We are very familiar with the types of issues and concerns that arise in homes in southeast Virginia, and we have decades of experience in how to make them right. Contact us today.

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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.

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Category: Andrews Roofing, Rapid Rain Gutter System, Residential Roofing, Roof Installation, Roof Maintenance, Roof Warranty, Roofing Repairs

Common Roofing Storm Damage

If you watch the local news or even just tune in for the weather forecast, you know that we’ve reached peak hurricane season and that the tropics have been very active thus far.

Fortunately, the Mid-Atlantic coast including Southeast Virginia and Hampton Roads have been spared from any direct hits. But there are still two more months of hurricane season, and now is the time to be prepared for anything that may come our way. Not to mention that as soon as hurricane season is over, nor’easter and winter storm season will be upon us.

When it comes to your home and your home’s roof, there are plenty of things you can do in advance to avoid certain types of damage during storm season. But there are some things you simply can’t prevent from happening, and being responsive after the fact is the best you can do. Here are a few common types of roof damage to keep an eye out for as we weather hurricane season this fall.

Tree Damage

Tree damage isn’t always as obvious as an entire tree crashing through your roof and into your home. Some tree damage can go unnoticed until it causes interior damage – days, weeks or even months later. A stray limb with enough wind and force behind it can cause shingles to fly off, roof sheathing and decking to be pierced and make your roof vulnerable to leaks.

Tree damage can even come from overhanging branches that simply rub along shingles and cause unwanted wear and tear. It’s always a good idea to keep low hanging or potentially destructive branches trimmed back from the roofline where possible.

After a storm, visually inspect your roof as well as you can from the ground to see if any limbs, branches or even leaf buildups can be seen. If so, they should be removed immediately and the roof should be inspected to ensure no damage was caused. If damage was caused, a roofing contractor will typically be able to do a repair confined to that area without a major overhaul of your roof.

Loose or Missing Shingles

Perhaps the most common damage after a storm is loose or missing shingles. While it may not seem like a big deal if one or two shingles come off, their absence makes the shingles all around that area more susceptible to blowing off, and jeopardizes the roof sheathing beneath. Depending on when and how your roof was installed, the material manufacturer or installer may have specific warranties to cover shingle replacement. In any case, the shingles should be replaced as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

Loose or Missing Flashing

Flashing is the metal sheets that are used in roofing around joints in a roofline and around other roof penetrations such as pipes, chimneys and vents. They play an important role in protecting your roof decking and if jeopardized, major interior damage can occur. Loose flashing can actually cause quite a bit of damage to the rest of your roof, tearing up or removing shingles around it, especially in a wind event.

Missing flashing can allow water intrusion and will also make it easier for nearby shingles to be blown away. Some flashing you may be able to visually inspect from the ground, but if you have reason to believe that flashing may be loose in spots that you’re not able to inspect from the ground, call in a qualified roofing contractor to inspect for you – don’t risk causing damage to yourself to find damage on your roof.

Clogged or Broken Gutters

Particularly if you live near a lot of trees, storms can cause debris to fly off of nearby vegetation that can eventually land right into your gutters. This debris will cause your gutters to work less effectively, which means water will build up and potentially seep up underneath your shingles and sheathing, causing damage to the roof decking below, often seen as dark water spots in the corners and along the top of the walls in your home. Ideally, have your gutters cleaned before storm season so that they are cleared and ready to carry all that stormwater away from your home. But it’s also a good idea to check on them after a storm and make sure nothing has caused any clogs or damage to the gutter itself.

Broken or loose gutters are also common after a storm, and if you see evidence of that, call in a licensed contractor to fix the problem before the next rain event occurs. Broken gutters can funnel water into places it should not go including near your home’s foundation and onto walls and windows, causing even more damage. If you don’t have gutters, or your home’s gutters need to be replaced, you may also want to consider installing a Rapid Rain ™ gutter system which is designed for high capacity that comes with living in a storm prone area.

Contact a Local Roofing Contractor

This hurricane season, if your roof sustains any damage during a storm, contact Andrews Roofing. We are locally owned and operated and we are highly experienced in the issues that are unique to the Tidewater region. We know what to look out for and how to best fix and repair an issue to withstand future weather events.

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

Roof Maintenance Tips for Stand-Alone Structures

When you think about roof maintenance, your mind probably goes right to the largest roof you have to deal with – the one over your home.

But if you have any exterior stand-alone structures on your property, their roofs need to be inspected and maintained just like your home’s. This may include garages, sheds, pool houses, barns or workshops. It’s particularly important to keep an eye on these structures if they store expensive equipment or other important items to avoid any type of damage.

The roof on an outbuilding can experience additional challenges that your home’s roof may not have, and there are additional ways to inspect and maintain these structures. Here are a few of our tips for maintaining and extending the life of your stand-alone structure’s roof.

Regular Visual Inspections

Like your home’s roof, you should inspect the roofs of these structures on a regular basis and especially after storm events. Depending on the size of these structures, it may be a little easier to visually inspect their condition from the ground. Look for the same telltale signs that you would on your home’s roof: missing shingles, warped or algae covered shingles, loose or missing flashing, clogged or damaged gutters and of course – holes or other damage. Check the eaves for nests of any kind – birds, bees, wasps, squirrels or any other type of animal nest can cause serious damage.

Safely Clean Them from the Ground

Again, the roof line of these structures may be a bit lower which may make it possible to safely clean them off yourself. A buildup of leaves, moss, or a few sticks and branches may seem benign, but they can cause damage if left alone for too long. Moss and algae – which are common in the Hampton Roads region – can collect on areas of the roof that do not get much direct sunlight. If they aren’t dealt with, they can weaken your roof over time.

If the roof is low enough and you have a strong enough hose, the first cleaning approach may be to simply spray it down to remove debris and build up. If that doesn’t do the trick, you can invest in a soft bristled roof rake which can be used from the ground to rake off debris and even some mildew and algae. Make sure not to scrub too hard to avoid damaging any roofing materials.

Remove Potential Hazards

Make sure to keep any nearby trees or bushes trimmed back. Limbs and branches that lean or hang over your outbuilding could cause extensive damage over time from friction or in an instant during one of our regular southeastern Virginia pop-up storms. If the vegetation around the building is small and light enough, you can take care of it yourself, but if there are any substantial trees or branches that should be removed, always call a professional.

Check Inside for Pests

It’s important to check the interior of these structures regularly. Some roofing issues can’t be seen from the outside. So even if your barn or shed is full to the rafters, make it a point to inspect the interior at least twice a year and after major storm events. The most critical interior areas of these structures may be the corners where animals are most likely to have built nests or created pathways to access the inside. Birds, insects and rats or squirrels can wreak havoc on a roof, chewing through materials or causing damage to rafters and sheathing. If you find anything, get in touch with a professional pest control company or animal control.

Whatever type of outbuilding you may have on your property, it’s likely that it houses something important enough for you to protect. Make sure the roofing on these structures is doing its job as best as possible with regular inspections and maintenance. If you see any signs of damage and believe your structure needs roofing repair or replacement, contact Andrews Roofing today. We are experienced in the types of environmental issues that structures in the Tidewater Region experience and know the best types of materials and methods to prevent further damage.

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