Home Remodeling & Construction Blog

Homeowners around the Virginia area and the east coast have been getting hammered by the winter weather this season. All the ice, heavy snow and moisture can wreak havoc on a home, especially the Virginia roofing. It’s important to know how to deal with ice dams and water damage that can occur during this season in order to protect your home.

Ice Dams & How To Prevent Them

Ice dams are thick accumulations of ice that form over the eaves of a house, and it’s extremely common on the east coast and the northeastern states. Water continues to collect behind the damn and backs up under the roof shingles through the constant freeze/thaw cycle Read more…

There is no season that takes its toll on the exterior of your home like the winter. In the case of your Virginia roofing, you are going to want to make sure that it is in good shape before the dead of winter comes and you find that the snow is making its way into your living space. The ounce of prevention that it takes to make sure that your roofing is in good shape will save you a lot in the long run when your roof is in good shape all year long.

The most common sign that people recognize as a clear indication that their roof has failed is a drip. This little leak might not seem like a big deal at first, but it is simply the first in a long series of problems that a poorly maintained roof will eventually begin to show. The most frequent causes of these leaks are cracks in the flashing around the chimney and vents, missing or old shingles that are past their life, or condensation that forms from improper attic ventilation.

Ice Damming: Winter’s Revenge on Your Virginia Roofing

An ice dam forms at the bottom of your roofline and in your gutters. The situation occurs when there is inadequate ventilation or insulation in your attic. When the warmth from your home melts the under layer of snow on your roof, it will begin to run down the slanted sides of your roof. When it reaches the bottom, there is typically much less heat there and the water refreezes forming a blockage of solid ice. From the ground, this is most notably seen as icicles which can be very pretty, but they also mean that you are having a big problem upstairs.

When you call your general contractor about the problem, they might discover that there isn’t anything wrong with your Virginia roofing after all, simply poor insulation and ventilation in the attic spaces. The general contractor or inspector will able to spot certain telltale signs that will let them know where the problem is actually occurring and the best way to fix it for the long haul.

Eye on the Prize                                                                                                                                     

Once you know that your roof is in good shape, you should have it inspected regularly, at least once a year, for potential problems. In a way this will help you extend the life of your roof because gauging the actual usefulness of the roof in person is always better than a manufacturer’s best guess at the longevity of their work pieces. You never know when a roof is going to outperform these estimations, so instead of replacing your roof in fifteen years based on a manufacturer’s suggestion, you might be able to get almost double out of it with regular inspections.

Even if you had your roof replaced in the last few years, an inspection now is probably a good idea, to make sure that there is proper ventilation and insulation. The expense incurred is far less than the potential risk to your roof and home. Your Virginia roofing can make all of the difference in keeping your house your home, so make sure it is well protected.

Whether you live in a residential Home or own a commercial building in Virginia, roofing advice is pretty much the same: the roof can be a big weakness if it is neglected. The roof takes the most beating from the elements, whether it is rain, snow, sun, or wind. If a roof is able to stand up to them, the other parts of your house will suffer less decay in the long run, saving you money in maintenance costs. Once the roof starts to go, however, the other parts of the structure aren’t far behind.

Today’s Modern Roof

The Green movement has really put a focus on the home’s energy efficiency, and that includes the roof. The goal with modern roofs seems to be creating a system that will help keep the home cool in the summer. The United States Secretary of Energy has urged all new “cool” roofing systems, and there is even a federal tax credit encouraging the use of cool roof technologies, and in some states there are utility company incentives as well.

The roof of a home does more than keep the weather out and cool the house, it also collects more of the sun’s rays that any other part of the house. The best quality roofing systems on the market today provide for the installation of solar panels to augment the energy used by the home, and in some cases, the very roof tiles themselves are little solar panels.

Advantages of Roofing with Metal

These advancements have brought back to the forefront a roofing material that some considered to be a thing of the past: metal. Ten years ago, metal roofing only held about 2% of the market share, today that has jumped to 10% and may still continue to climb. This is good news for our economy because most metal roofs used in the U.S. are also produced here from raw materials in our soil.

Everyone knows that a metal roof is just plain more durable than most other types of roofs. Other materials begin to deteriorate from the very moment they are installed, beginning a process that leads to brittle spots, soft spots, curled up edges, cracks, and wind damage. This is not the case when it comes to a metal roof. Metal roofs hold on to that “like new” quality that can add great curb appeal to a home.

Moreover, new metal roofs installed are often coated with reflective materials that add to the cooling capabilities of the roof. They send the sun’s rays right back into space, which has remarkable results in the upper floors and attic space. New roofing systems are also made to work with high efficiency ventilation systems for enhanced temperature control and energy savings. If you live in Virginia, roofing systems like these may actually save you money in the long run.

Having your roof inspected is the best way to know if it’s time to contact a Virginia roofing contractor or if you can play it safe for a little while longer. As a homeowner, you certainly don’t want to guess at it because you never know when even minor problems can turn into major issues with your roof.

If you’re a homeowner interested in buying a new home, a roof inspection can help you determine if you’re going to have to bring in a contractor shortly after making the purchase to have any roofing repairs done on the home – Knowledge of roof repairs can help you with price bargaining when buying a home.

The problem with many homeowners is they believe a roof inspection is only really necessary when a new home is being purchased or a home is changing hands. While it’s true that’s a perfect time to have an inspection done as stated previously, it’s also important to perform a roofing inspection anytime you’ve been through a serious storm or event that could have potentially damaged the roof or materials of the roof over your home. Read more…

Buildings all have one thing in common, four walls supported by a roof overhead. Building owners, whether their properties are residential or commercial, are responsible for the installation and maintenance of these components. When considering new residential Virginia roofing, commercial roofing, or roofing repair options, something that is efficient and cost effective is top priority. Maybe it’s time to consider a green or solar roof.

A green roof really has very little to do with color, although there are a few different uses for the terminology. Most commonly, green roofs are environmentally friendly roofing systems made from recycled materials. The life cycle of these roofs is much longer than that of traditional roofing systems. They also require much less work by way of maintenance requirements, and the materials used in the roofs can be recycled once they have reached the end of their life spans. Read more…

Virginia roofing has made a lot of improvements over the years in its own industry, in the way homes have come together over the years. From archaic mud to modern shingles, our own homes are marvels of modern science and architecture. Despite that modern design, we’ll all need to replaced and maintain our roof at some point.

One common material that we see used most often in the modern roof is the asphalt shingle. It may seem like that material belongs on the roads but there’s a reason it’s used there as well as on your roof. It’s long lasting, durable and weather resistant.

Those shingles create overlapping layers of protection that help curtail the efforts of the weather and storms to invade your home. They’re extremely effective at keeping the rain out and your home dry. Read more…

When purchasing a home, many lenders will actually require that the home be inspected by a professional in Virginia. Roofing is included in that inspection, and many lenders require that the roof be part of that inspection before the mortgage or loan is supplied to the home acquisition.

While most roofing installations can last a long time, even up to 20 years for a well built and properly ventilated roof, the roof may need maintenance and even replacement within 5 years if the home is in a region suffering from constant inclement weather – especially snow and rain.

While having a secure roof is important to the home, it’s also an extremely costly investment. The last thing you want to do is buy a home and find out shortly after you move in that the whole thing needs to be redone. Read more…

A common mistake the homeowners make when getting new Virginia roofing installed is that they fail to take the time to consider all their options. There’s actually a wide range of Virginia roofing shingles available to fit almost any home design and architecture.

Asphalt shingles are the most common and popular (as well as cost effective) option for Virginia roofing projects – they’re perfect for most budget jobs but if you have the means to dig around and play with your options so that your Virginia roofing project starts turning heads then you should look into those other options Read more…

So you have been in your house over 10 years now and like most home owners, you have put off as many home improvements as possible. But, everything has to come to an end and you now realize that the beautiful, faded roof on your house has now reached that fate. Roofs generally have a lifespan of about 15 years or so. Here are some signs to look for indicating that your roof needs replacing verses repair.

1) The majority of your singles have faded from the original color.
2) Parts of your shingles have expanded and contracted and are not flush with your roof line anymore.
3) Your interior walls are showing signs of moisture or water damage. Your paint chipping across the ceiling lines are a good indication of some type of water damage.
4) There is an extreme amount of heat at the highest point in your house. This could also just mean that you need a ventilation collar, which allows your roof to breath.
5) Your roof has reach about 15 years in age. This alone is a great reason to change your roof to prevent any major damage from occurring.

Now that you know you need new roof, shopping for the right roofing contractor can be a daunting task. One thing to keep in mind when selecting a new roof is the warranty, as a lot of shingles on the market offer warranties up to 30 years. Make this the first and last time you have to replace your roof. To search for a Northern Virginia Roofing contractor, click here.

Thanks for visiting the Northern Virginia Home Remodeling & Construction Blog. This blog’s primary focus will be discussing:
• Industry News
• Contractor Requirements in Virginia
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