Leaks & Service Repairs

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

Reroof Estimates & Inspections

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

Tag: expert

4 Risks of Putting Off Roof Leak Repairs

A leaky roof causes major problems for a home. While a small leak may not seem like an issue, putting it off could lead to these and other costly repairs. Don’t wait to contact a local roofing contractor if you find signs of a leaky roof. Here are four common risks that you face if you put off repairs.

  1. Electrical Damage

Moisture in your ceiling and walls can come into contact with your electrical wiring and outlets. Electrical damage can vary dramatically in scope. It may only cause your breaker to trip, or worse, it could cause an electrical fire, damaged appliances or personal injury. A prompt roof repair will minimize the amount of water that enters your home and could come in contact with your wiring.

  1. Reduced Insulation Efficiency

A roof leak can cause water to pool in your attic and walls, which can soak your insulation. Most homes use fiberglass insulation. This insulation, and many other popular types, clump and compress when exposed to water. Your home will lose a significant amount of energy efficiency if the insulation is soaked with water.

  1. Mold and Mildew

One common health risk in homes with water damage is mold. Mold and mildew growth can occur on nearly any surface in your home, from structural joists to drywall to insulation. Even a few days of water leakage from your roof can start mold to grow in warm, dark areas of your home. While not all molds are harmful to your health, many can damage the look and efficiency of your walls, ceiling and floors.

    1. Increased Roofing Damage

While you may think a minor leak isn’t worth repairing, small leaks can quickly turn into major headaches. A small amount of water begins to soak the wood of your roof. This creates soft spots that could cause more leaks, ice dams or even a collapsed roof. If your roof has a minor or major leak, don’t wait to contact us at Andrews Roofing for comprehensive, professional repairs. Call 757-296-0553 today for a quote!

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How To Protect Your Roof From Snow and Ice

During the winter you should always remove snow and ice around your property promptly. However, many homeowners neglect to remove snow and ice from the one place where it matters most: the roof. An abundance of snow might result in substantial damage that can cost thousands of dollars to repair. Here are simple ways to keep your roof safe during the winter.

Hire a Professional to Get Rid of It

It’s dangerous to get on a roof when you don’t have professional training. Any time your roof needs work done you should hire a professional roofer in your area to handle it. After a major snow storm a professional roofer removes the heavy weight of the snow safely. You do not want to make the mistake of removing the snow yourself with salt or chemicals as they can damage your shingles and possibly cause the gutters to erode. You could end up doing more harm than good when you use salt or chemicals to remove snow on your roof.

Remain Aware of the Signs of Roof Damage

After a snow storm it’s also possible that ice is building up on your roof without you being aware. This is common with the snow melting slowly during the day and refreezing at night. You’ll want to be aware of any signs that something is happening with your roof. Some interior structural symptoms you could experience if your roof is damaged from snow and/or ice include:

  • Cracked interior walls
  • Visible water leaks
  • Sagging ridgeline
  • Creaking sounds inside your house
  • Drooping ceilings
  • Jammed doors

Snow or ice damage on the roof can be prevented, you simply need to know who to call when a snow or ice storm comes. Homeowners should get in touch with our experienced professionals at Andrews Roofing. Fill out our contact us form or call us today at 757-296-0553 for a quote.

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Roof Inspections Always Pay Off

Roof replacement is an investment that you have to take seriously. You want the best roof that fits your budget and suits your needs. There is a large array of different types of roofing materials on the market. This makes choosing a new roof overwhelming for some building owners. To help ease your decision-making, professional roof inspectors can look at your roof and help you make an educated decision. Here are a few of the way that an inspection can help you.

You Get an Evaluation

A roof evaluation is one of the best assessments to have done. Roofers use a variety of tests to assess your roof’s condition. For instance, they may use infrared surveys, aerial photography, core tests and other scans. The point is to figure out what you can do to enhance your roof.

You Get a Quote

Whether or not an inspector works for a roofing company doesn’t matter, they can still help you with pricing. They will help you to understand what types of costs you’re looking at and how to get the best deal. They understand what type of roofing job you need done and can advocate for you.

You Get Material Advice

After a roof inspection, you’ll usually be told which materials would work best on your roof. The inspector looks at your environment, plus the architecture to determine what would suit you. There may be several options, of course. Still, after an inspection, take into account the different factors that help you decide on a material. For instance, weather, budget and architecture are important to deciding on a roof.

When it comes to installing a new roof, an inspection will help you save more money. Without it, you may not know the best material to use, much less what kind of roof repair you need.

Do you have a roofing need at one of your properties? Contact Andrews Roofing today by calling (757) 296-2897 or sending an email to ben@andrewsroofing.net to get a free estimate for your next project. To learn more about our roofing services, please click here.

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Our People: Joe Wicker, “The Detail Man”

Joe Wicker is definitely a valuable asset to us at Andrews Roofing. I would say that he is “the engineer type.”

He was born in 1963 in Dover, Delaware, but because his dad was in the Air Force he was moved around a little and ended up in Virginia Beach at age 5. He graduated with honors from Kempsville HS and went to work at his grand father’s roofing company that had been started in 1913.

He is an expert in various types of roofing because he has been in the business since then at every level from laborer, to roofer, to supervisor, to estimator and project manager. He is very familiar with roof types including shingles, slate, tile, and commercial flat and low – slope systems like built – up TPO, modified bitumen, and E.P.D.M. White TPO membrane and E.P.D.M. are examples of single – ply roofing membrane systems.

Here at Andrews, he is an estimator and project manager and sometimes sees up to 5 roofs per day. He is definitely a real hustler for us and we are very happy to have him around.

Joe is married to Colletta and has 3 boys. In his spare time he officiates football games with the South Eastern Football Officials Association because of his love of sports. By the way, he can build an electric guitar and of course plays them. He works with wood at home, making types of art such as bowls and pitchers, and even makes ink pens from wood and gives them to our staff at the office.

All this stuff is great, of course, especially the fact that he is a good husband and father. His strongest point as a team member at Andrews Roofing is that he is precise, hard-working and extremely dependable. We can always count on him to do what is right. Joe has been with us since October 2011 and we plan to keep him around for the long haul.

If you have a roofing problem or you need an estimate for a new roof, you can request Joe or one of our other consulting estimators. Just give us a call.

Thanks for reading.

Robert Andrews ll
757-286-7400
robert@andrewsroofing.com

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Our Roofing People # 1: Bob Andrews, Vice President / Estimator

bobandrews

We want you to know who we are so that you can put a face with a name.
This can actually help you determine whom you would like to communicate with based
on your roofing needs.

Over the next several months we will blog about “Our Roofing People.” They are definitely our most valuable asset and it took quite a while to assemble this Andrews Roofing team. Once we find ’em, we keep ’em!

Bob Andrews, my father, is the most senior member of our staff. He has recently taken a part-time position with our company and estimates one shingle roof a day. Bob has been with us since 2003 right after Hurricane Isabel hit Hampton Roads and O.B.X., causing some serious damage on many roofs. I had been trying, unsuccessfully, to recruit him for several years and this storm really made me realize what an asset he could be to the team.

When I finally got him on board, we started growing at a more rapid pace due to his
construction expertise and because he is so well connected with many members of the community.  He has extensive knowledge in all types of construction, having built houses as a general contractor for twenty years.

Bob got his start working at a fertilizer plant for a couple years and then started pouring concrete on the side.  Soon he left his job and started building room additions, renovations, ground up homes and small commercial buildings. After twenty years he went to work at Philbrick Heating and Cooling as an H.V.A.C. estimator where he stayed for eleven years until 2003. He nailed his first roof on over forty years ago.

As I said earlier, he is part time now, and looks at one shingle roof a day. Because of his thorough knowledge of construction and roofing, he is an excellent consulting estimator for residential and commercial roofing customers who have a lot of questions. He will take as much time as you need to figure out what you need and want.

I couldn’t have asked for a better dad, mostly because of his very high level of integrity. He has instilled this same level of integrity in me. At a young age, I would often get dropped off  at job sites for the day to clean up and do whatever else was necessary. He made sure I was exposed to most of the construction trades early on and is a very large part of the reason I am where I am today. Long story short, he is the best man I know and has been an absolute blessing to Andrews Roofing and my family.

If you want him to come consult with you on your residential, commercial, industrial, church fiberglass asphalt shingle roof or flat roof, just call and request Bob. I’d be willing to bet that you’ll like him and trust him to lead you in the right roofing direction.

One last note…I remember when I was a kid going to bed,  he would be at the dining room table looking at blue prints and figuring jobs. He is a good detail guy. He’ll take care of you. see his photo here on our site.

~The Andrews family owned a grocery store in Port Norfolk from about 1900 to 1963.  This building is five blocks from our current office on Mt. Vernon Ave and Bob worked there as a kid where he was paid “a dollar a day and all he could eat.” He graduated from Wilson High School in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1969 and  married his high school sweetheart, Sheila Tordoff, my loving mother.  He has been married for some 40 years, has two sons, six grandkids and lives in Chesapeake.~

Robert Andrews ll, President                                                                                              robert@andrewsroofing.com

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How to Begin Thinking About Your Roof

Hi! If you have a building, you have a roof and at some point you will have to repair, maintain or replace it…or even all three!

I am talking about your residential home roof or the one on your commercial office, church, etc. Whether your roof is residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, shingle, flat, metal, slate, cedar shake, tile, or synthetic, there is a proper and specific way to maintain or replace it.

There are options for every roof. Since a new roof is a 20+ year commitment, you might as well take your time and choose the best one. The internet may help, but nothing is better than consulting with a real, live roof estimator, consultant or salesman.

A good roofing expert has years of experience in the industry. He can help you figure out what kind of roof or roof repair you need, which will perform and look the best, and which will last the longest. He can even help you with colors. These guys are pros. So contact a reputable roofing company and ask them to send him out, especially if you have leaks, have an old roof, have a damaged roof, or if your roof just looks bad. Looking bad can mean it is one or all of the above.

Thanks,
Robert Andrews ll , President                                                                                    robert@andrewsroofing.com

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