Some of the most common types of home and commercial
roofing in Hampton Roads is asphalt roofing. Its popularity is
due to the fact that this roofing product is easy to install,
lasts long, comes in many colors, shapes and textures, and is
priced well.
Nine out of 10 homes in Hampton Roads is roofed with
asphalt shingles.
Benefits of asphalt shingles
• They perform well in all temperatures and in areas where
wind and water are prevalent.
• Many asphalt shingles carry a "wind resistance"
label that means they have been tested and can handle acceptable
resistance to the high-winds frequently seen in Hampton Roads
and throughout Virginia.
• Asphalt roofing requires no regular upkeep like other
types of roofing.
• Asphalt shingles are easy to repair when damaged.
• Asphalt roofing is flexible and strong, and works well
with many different roof designs.
• Asphalt shingles are easy and affordable to mass produce
and ship, and many roofing companies pass those savings to the
customer.
When to think about a new home roof
Asphalt roofing is designed to last for decades. But it is usually
a good idea to start thinking about a new roof after 20 years
of wear and tear and weathering. After this amount of time,
small roofing problems that you cannot easily see can cause
tremendous damage to your home’s structure.
Start with the inside of your house or business. Go through
every room and look for water spots on the ceilings and walls.
Take a flashlight and look inside closets and behind furniture
for water damage or mold. And remember, there is no harmless
watermark. You need to figure out where the dripping is coming
from. If it’s a roof problem, that small watermark could
eventually lead to dry rot, mold or pest infestation. Better
to fix this small problem now, before it becomes a budget busting
problem.
Inspect your attic. Be careful where you walk so you don’t
bust through the ceiling. Take a flashlight and inspect the
ridge beams, rafters and sheathing for water damage. Mark any
spots you see with chalk to determine if they’re growing.
If so, determine exactly where the water is leaking through
the roof and repair it.
Inspect the roof from outside. From a distance, assess the
condition of your roof’s surface, flashing and eaves.
Make sure all parts of the roof are straight and smooth. Any
sagging indicates a structural problem. Sometimes it’s
simply because a beam was put in the wrong way, other times
it a bigger problem. This may be a little tricky for the average
home or business owner to fix.
Inspect the roof close-up. The less you walk on your roof the
better, but doing a close-up inspection will alert you to broken
or missing shingles; worn down flashing around the chimney,
plumbing vents and attic vents; and any damage to gutters and
downspouts. All of these items need to be water-tight to prevent
leaks.
Know when you’re in over your head. You’ll be able
to fix a majority of small roof repairs, but you should think
twice before taking on bigger, more complex jobs where you could
cause more damage. If you know someone who is mechanically inclined,
ask them for an opinion. If it appears that you may need a professional
roofing company to fix the job, gather a few estimates from
reputable roofing companies in your area and fix the problem
while it’s still small.
Commercial asphalt roofing
The most popular choice of roofing on commercial, industrial
and institutional buildings in Hampton Roads is Built-Up Roofing
(BUR). Builders like this form of roofing because of its reliability
and longevity – sometimes up to 40 years of service.
Asphalt BUR roofs offer:
• Layers of bitumen and bitumen-saturated felts that form
a watertight barrier capable of providing years of reliable
protection from the elements.
• Reduced heating and cooling costs.
• High fire code standards.
• Long-term protection against extreme wind conditions.
Whether you’re roofing a home or a business, asphalt
roofing is one of the best, all-around products on the market.
