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General Roofing Questions

All too often, roof problems are discovered after leaking or other serious damage occurs. Periodic (twice-a-year) inspections can often uncover cracked, warped, or missing shingles, loose seams and deteriorated flashings, excessive surface granules accumulating in the gutters or downspouts, and other visible signs of roof problems. Indoors, look for cracked paint, discolored plasterboard, and peeling wallpaper as signs of damaged roof areas.

Yes, we do, however, we refer to these as transaction estimates. For further explanation, you may view and download our “Roof Inspection, Certification, and/or Estimates” form. For more information or to book your appointment please call us Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. You may also fill in the form and email it to customerservice@theroofingcompany.com with SUBJECT: Transaction Estimate in the email. One of our associates will contact you.

You have two basic options. You can choose a complete replacement of the roof system, involving a tear-off of the old roof, or a re-cover over the existing roof, involving only the installation of a new membrane and surfacing. If you’ve already had one recover over your original roof, check with a professional roofing contractor to see if your deck can support a second recover.

Not necessarily. Leaking can result because some flashings have come loose or because a section of the roof has been damaged. A roof failure, however, is generally irreversible and results from improper installation or choice of materials, or from the installation of a roof system inappropriate to the building.

Most work should not be do-it-yourself. Professional roofing contractors are trained to safely and efficiently repair or replace a roof. Novices can harm a roof with improper roofing techniques and severely injure themselves by falling off or even through a roof in need of repair or replacement. Homeowner maintenance should be confined to roof inspections in both the fall and spring to check for cracked or curling shingles, and for cleaning rain gutters filled with dead leaves and other debris. If you must see the roof for yourself, use a firmly braced or tied-off ladder equipped with rubber safety feet. Wear rubber-soled shoes and stay on the ladder (and off the roof) if possible.

The condition and lifespan of your roof will depend on the type of roof you have, the effects of your local environment and the maintenance which the roof has received. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, asphalt shingles generally last 15-20 years; wood shingle/shakes, 10-40 years; clay/concrete tiles, 20+ years; slate, 30-100 years; metal roofing, 15-40+years. Roofing product manufacturers offer a variety of warranties on their products. Take a close look at those warranties to see what responsibilities and financial obligations they will assume if their products fail to reach their expected lifetimes.

The price of a new roof varies widely, depending on the material selected, the contractor doing the work, the home itself, area of the country, local labor rates, time of year, and more. To get a good idea of the cost for your roof, get two of three estimates from reputable contractors in your area. Keep in mind that cost is only one factor, and it must be balanced against the quality of the materials and workmanship. For each roofing material there are different grades – and corresponding prices. Plus, there are a variety of styles and shapes. You need to look at the full product range and make a choice based on your budget and needs. Within the roofing profession there are different levels of expertise and craftsmanship. Pick a contractor who is committed to quality work.

When mulling over your roofing options, the following formula may help:

Total Cost (materials and labor)/Life Expectancy of Roof (in years) = Annual Cost

Buckingham® Slate

A: Yes, our slate craftsmen can install a new VELUX® skylight in your slate roof. We also recommend installation of the factory-made copper flashing kit from VELUX.

A: No. It’s not uncommon to have a few slates “shed” off your roof over a long period of time. The repair is easy if the slate repairs are performed by trained slate roofing mechanics.

A: In most cases, this is just another way for a roofer to get you to take off a permanent roofing product and put on some imitation product that will have to be replaced every 20 years or less. Slate is one of the very few permanent roofing solutions. Don’t let yourself be talked into taking off a roofing system that has proven to last longer than 150 years and put on something that has an average life cycle of 20 years!

A: Roofing manufacturers and roofers have chased the holy grail of roofing, slate, for a very long time. We hear from roofing manufacturer salespeople all the time, “We’ve got a product just like slate only better” – and so far, they have all failed. Just in the Hampton Roads area, there are so many issues. All you have to do is look around. Universities, police departments, banks and numerous residential properties all have “lifetime” asphalt shingles or fake slate products that have failed. Call us and we can give you several addresses so you can look and decide for yourself if you really want that type of product on the roof of your property.

A: Yes, over the past couple of years we have installed many jobs using genuine Buckingham or Vermont slate for high-wind, lightweight real slate applications.

TPO Roofing

Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) is a synthetic rubber compound designed to be as durable as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer {M-class} rubber). Unlike other materials of its type, however, TPO can be fused together, which eliminates the need for tape systems. When bonded, TPO creates a monolithic homogenous structure that covers your entire roof, creating a stronger and more durable roofing system.

When it comes to roofing, the seams are often the weakest link. Knowing that you won’t have to worry about them is one of the reasons many residential and commercial property owners are replacing their Chesapeake roofing with TPO membranes.

As TPO membranes have hot air welded seams, its seam strength is three times stronger than conventional rubber roofs that use tape systems. It is also about six times stronger than those with glued seams.

  • Its membranes are more flexible than other roofing materials and is easier to install
  • TPO roofing can resist UV radiation and ozone exposure effectively
  • It can help reduce your property’s solar heat gain
  • TPO roofing can help reduces your home’s energy consumption, as it is manufactured using energy-efficient, high performance construction techniques​

TPO is more popular for mechanically attached roofs; however, you can also use it in fully adhered and ballasted roofing systems.

Do you want a more durable and energy-efficient roof? The Roofing Company offers high quality products that meet your needs. Get in touch with us for more information on TPO roofing and other replacement options.