1. Reduce and Reuse by Recycling!
   • In most cases, a roof is composed of several thousands of pounds of material, most of which can be recycled by your contractor. Otherwise, the great amount of material (equivalent to the weight of several years’ worth of trash) will pile up in landfills. Simply asking for your old roofing system to be recycled is a little thing that goes a long way in saving the environment!
2. Have an Energy Audit Performed
   • A home or business energy audit is an evaluation provided by a professional that points out the best ways to improve a property’s energy efficiency. There could be ways to conserve energy that you never thought of before!
   • The best time for an energy audit is at the beginning of a roofing project so roofing installers can make the required changes to the roof’s structure. It’ll be much easier for contractors to improve attic air barriers, seal around lights and fans, and prevent wind wash around soffit vents when the roof is off.  In most cases, home and business owners find themselves saving double-digit percentages on utilities after making energy efficient changes to their property.
3. Ensure Your Attic is Property Ventilated
   • As a basic rule of thumb, attics should be the temperature of the weather outside. Having a steady flow of moving air through vents along the eaves prevents your attic from heating while eliminating moist air that seeps through the celling.
   • More often than not, homes weren’t designed with enough ventilation space in the attic. Despite this, taking active measures to increase the air flow in your attic not only makes your roofing system stronger, it also improves the overall energy efficiency of a home or business as well.
4. Look for the “Coolest” Roofing Materials
   • By choosing “cool” roofing materials (such as shingles, for example), one can still have an attractive looking roof on their home or business, while reflecting more heat away from the property than traditional systems. As they’re designed to keep a home or business cooler, using these materials will help one save money in energy costs and help to reduce urban heat island effect!
5. Install the Most Durable Roofing System Available
   • At the end of the day, the most important job of a roofing system is to protect a home or business from the elements and keep it dry. Although it may be tempting to take the cheapest option, it’s like putting a Band-Aid on a broken bone—it won’t fix your problems. Instead, investing in an entire roofing system (leak barriers, underlayment, shingles, etc.) is important because all of these components work together to protect a property. Taking the initiative to make these home repairs will increase energy efficiency, while saving you money in the long run!

Last but not least, it’s always important to work with an experienced and knowledgeable roofing contractor on your home improvement projects. Not only are the professionals trained to install roof and siding systems properly, they will be able to answer all of your energy efficiency questions as well.  (With over three generations of experience in the industry, Style Roofing is here to help you!) By using our tips listed above, your property will do its part to save the environment and keep the green in your wallet!

Take it from Style Roofing, the top roofing installers in Northern Virginia, choosing which windows to buy can be just as taxing as the installation process itself. Regardless of which models are chosen, every buyer will face a trade-off between cost and energy efficiency—over time, windows designed to be more efficient can make a significant difference in your energy consumption, saving you money!

Because many homeowners aren’t sure what to look for when purchasing new windows, Style Roofing gives the following advice:

• NFFC Label

  Only buy windows that have the Energy Performance Ratings label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). The information on this label not only certifies that the window is energy efficient under federal regulations, but it will provide more information about the window specifications—ultimately assisting buyers in making a more informed decision.

• Insulation

  The Insulation (“U Factor”) of a window determines how resistant it is to allowing heat to pass through. Ranging from 0.20 to 1.20, the lower the U Value, the better a window is at preventing heat flow. Ideally, a homeowner looking to retain heat would want to buy windows with the lowest U Value, within budget.

• Temperature

  By checking the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), one can determine how much solar radiation is permitted through a window. Windows with a lower solar heat gain coefficient allow less solar heat to transmit through a home.

• Draft

  Often times, heat loss and gain happens because air leakage, due to racks in the window assembly. Windows that have a lower air leakage level are more likely to prevent air from flowing through it—keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, all while minimizing energy costs!

When it comes time to replace the windows for your home, keep these simple but important suggestions in mind. Style Roofing knows how stressful home improvement projects can be, and encourage homeowners to purchase the right materials the first time. The aforementioned tips will not only make the buying process easier, it will save mon

Because repairing or installing a siding and roofing system can be both time-consuming and costly, it is essential to make sure that the company working on your home or business has the experience and skill needed to solve structural issues, not create additional ones. To save time, aggravation, and money, Style Roofing has compiled a list of important things for all home and business owners to keep in mind before hiring a roofing contractor.

1. Immediately following a storm, check with your insurance company to find out each and every detail of your policy coverage, as well as the specific filing requirements. This, along with saving all receipts, will save unnecessary delays in getting your siding and/or roofing project started.
2. Style Roofing recognizes how stressful it can be when the external structure of a home or business is in disarray. Despite the anxiety to return a property to its original state, don’t allow your emotions to get the best of you. Making a hasty and uneducated decision in hiring roofing installers can come back to bite you, particularly as it is a choice that carries a long-term impact.  Because of this, it is vital to take the time to compare the prices of at least three or four companies that are licensed to work in your area, based on the same specifications and materials.  (Especially for larger repairs!) Neglect to do this, and you run the risk of having an insufficient contractor create further damage, ultimately taking more time and money out of your pocket!
3. The second a door-to-door siding or roofing contractor comes to your home or business, automatically be suspicious. Generally, workers who show up on your doorstep or are without a permanent company address need a solicitation permit to conduct business. Without it, a contractor is illegitimate and likely trying to scam you. This also applies if workers knock on your door claiming that your home or business is structurally unsafe. For these matters, only trust the word of an experienced engineer, architect, or building official—they’ll be the ones who can determine how much damage really exists on a property.
4. Before officially hiring any roofing installing service, require a written contract agreement including the company’s name, address, license number, and phone number. Never sign a blank contract agreement and always demand that you receive a copy at the time of signature.
5. Make sure to read the entire contract agreement, including the fine print. Several illegitimate roofing installers use a clause imposing significant cancellation fees or liquidation damages if the home or business owner decides not to use the contractor after an insurance claim is approved. Sometimes, a customer could be required to pay the full agreed price if service is cancelled after a three-day period. Whatever the case may be, if you find anything in your estimate or contact confusing, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions!
6. When choosing a roofing installation company, think local. Contractors that are in your area and are highly reviewed by others are always the best choice. There should never be any pressure on a home or business owner to make a quick choice in hiring a contractor—remember, any and all legitimate companies will allow you as much time as you need to decide whether you want to hire them or not.

It’s unfortunate, but scam artists have made storm chasing a multi-million dollar industry, all at the expense of the customer. In the end, it’s important to use common sense in choosing a roofer. Like most things in life, if a company provides an estimate that sounds too-good-to-be-true, it almost always is. Sure, these “contractors” may have below-cost bids that sound attractive, but they also are usually the ones that are uninsured and perform substandard work using substandard materials—making additional repairs and costs necessary.

With generations of experience in the siding and roofing installing industry, Style Roofing is greatly disheartened that anyone would attempt to take advantage of home and business owners in such a way. Should you have concerns regarding structural repairs needed on your property, we welcome all questions. Our Virginia roofing experts are trained and ready to provide the answers and installation solutions needed, when it’s needed most.

It is important to keep your gutters free from leaves and other debris. If your gutters aren’t cleaned out regularly, they will clog and overflow with water potentially causing the gutter to pull loose from the house. If the gutter doesn’t overflow but collects water is could cause wood gutters to rot and metal ones to rust.

If your roof has a low slope you can consider using a leaf blower to blow out leaves and debris. If you use this method be sure to wear goggles and a dust mask to prevent injury.

Below is the more conventional way to clean gutters. You will need a ladder, bucket to collect debris and be sure you have on thick gloves, goggles and non-slip shoes. Also, be sure the roof isn’t wet or icy and the weather conditions aren’t windy.

1. Clear out the leaves and loose debris:
Start at the drain outlet at the lower end of the gutter and clear the debris. If the debris is too wet then it’s best to use a small garden tool to clear it away. Have a bucket there to dump the debris to help make clean up easier.

2. Use a garden hose to rinse the gutter:
Once you have finished cleaning out the gutter use a garden hose with an attachment that has an on/off switch and preferably one with different speeds to rinse the gutter. Make sure you start at the opposite end of the drain outlet to make sure water flows properly.

3. Clear any obstructions in the drain pipes:
If you find when you’re doing your rinse of the gutters that water slows down or gets stuck in the drainpipe there could be something stuck in there. Use the hose to directly run water through the drainpipe to free the obstruction or you may have to use a plumber’s auger (snake) to free the debris.

Mansard Roof

This type of roof is made up of four slopes, two on each side of the home. The lower slope is a steeper, more vertical slope than the upper slope. The upper slope may or may not be visible from the ground. This French style of roof allows for additional living space or storage space at the top of the house.

Gambrel

This type of roof is very similar to the Mansard Roof but is Dutch inspired. The core differences are that the gambrel has vertical gable ends and the roof hangs over the facade of the home whereas the Mandrel roof does not.

Saltbox

It is an asymmetrical long pitched roof with one short side and one very long side. Often times this result in a home that is one story in height on one side of the building and two stories on the other side.

Pyramid Roof

As the name suggests, this is a type of roof that is shaped like a pyramid. This type of roof is most commonly used on small structures such as a garage or pool house.

Hip Roof

This roof is very similar to the pyramid roof. The difference is that instead of coming to a point at the top the four sides meet at a ridge or a flat spot. This is architecturally more practical.

Bonnet Roof

This type of room is similar to the pyramid roof or hip roof. The difference is that two of the slides slope out at an angle. The most common purpose for this is to cover a veranda or outdoor porch area.

Flat Roof

This type of roof is obviously easy to identify! The benefits of a flat roof include that it’s easier to construct, safer if you’re going to stand on top of it and generally more accessible. The main drawback is that this type of roof requires more maintenance than other roofs in large part because debris will gather on the roof with nowhere to go.  Especially in regions that have snowy winter months.

Cross Gabled Roof

There are many types of gabled roofs (roofs that essentially look like triangles from the front of the home). The cross gabled roof is the most popular and is used in homes with extra wings so that each portion of the home has its own triangular gabled roof.

Arched Roof

The arched roof is typically only used on a portion of the home but definitely adds a great aesthetic touch the architecture of the house.

Skillion Roof

This type of roof is a single sloping roof surface. You can think of it as just one half of a triangular roof or you can think of it as a flat roof that has been inclined slightly. It is often used on just a portion of the home. One modern architectural option is to use skillion roofing on a multi-level home to create unique shapes and patterns for the home’s exterior.

It is that time again when Northern Virginia will be facing harsh winter conditions and dealing with snowstorms. The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has provided guidance on how home owners can protect their home from harsh winter conditions, such as roof collapse due to heavy snow.

The IBHS Guidelines To Determine The Weight Of Snow Are:

• Fresh snow: 10-12 inches of new snow is equal to one inch of water, or about 5 lbs per square foot of roof space, so you could have up to 4 feet of new snow before you need to worry.
• Packed snow: 3-5 inches of old snow is equal to one inch of water, or about 5 lbs per square foot of roof space, so anything more than 2 feet of old snow could be dangerous.
• The total accumulated weight of two feet of old snow and two feet of new snow could be as high as 60 lbs per square foot of roof space, which is getting toward the design limits of even the best designed roof.
• If there’s ice, it’s much heavier, with one inch equaling about a foot of fresh snow.

The snow weight risk of a roof depends in large part on the age of the home. Older roofs can suffer from corrosion which can reduce the ability to resist high snow loads. In addition, homes with lightweight roofs, such as metal buildings, typically have less capacity to handle a high snow load. For flat roofs, the step-down area between roof sections presents a problem due to the tendency for ice and snow collection.

How Much Weight Can My Roof Handle?

According to IBHS, most roof designs can support at least 20 pounds per square foot. However, design loads can range from 10 pounds to 20 pounds per square foot in Mid-Atlantic states. Of course there are many factors to consider here such as the roof’s condition and age. You should always discuss with a Style Roofing professional whether or not your roof can handle a harsh winter storm.

Flat roofs are susceptible to different kinds of damage that can be caused by anything from intense weather to people walking on them. When you are thinking about replacing your home’s flat roof, you need to think long-term. Don’t opt for inexpensive flat roof materials. The experts at Style Roofing will help guide you through this process. We have experience with flat roof replacement all over Northern Virginia making us your #1 roofing replacement source.

How To Tell If Your Flat Roof Needs Replacement

Finding a leak on a pitched roof is challenging enough; attempting to find a leak on a flat roof is nearly impossible unless you are a trained flat roof specialist. For example, on a pitched roof, water will run down. But, on a flat roof, water runs everywhere, which is why it takes the keen eye and experience of a professional flat roofing contractor, like Style Roofing, to locate your leak and make the necessary flat roof repair.

Flat Roof Replacement Options

There are many different types of flat roof replacement options at the homeowner’s disposal. A Style Roofing specialist will outline the different options to the homeowner and discuss the Pros & Cons of each so the homeowner can make the right decision for their budget and lifestyle.

Flat Roof Material Options:

• Single-ply
• Multiple-ply
• Modified Bitumen
• Flat-seamed Metal
• Roll Asphalt

Contact the Style Roofing experts for a FREE Consultation on your Flat Roof Now!

Ceiling or roof insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways of controlling the outside elements. Ceiling insulation will reduce the amount of radiant heat that enters the home in summer by up to 97% and will also provide some winter thermal protection. Insulation will keep heat inside in the winter as warm air rises. Using the right kind and the right amount of insulation will reduce the amount of energy required to heat and cool your home. This can allow you to run your heating and cooling systems less making them last longer and can potentially reduce the HVAC equipment size required thereby saving additional money.

Properly installed ceiling/roof insulation can also reduce the potential for condensation occurring on interior surfaces causing mold, mildew, rot and dripping. Combining ceiling insulation with adequate ventilation is recommended.

Proper Insulation Layer

A proper design for a roof’s isulation layer is two or more layers of insulation with staggered and offset joints and a cover board layer to separate the primary thermal insulation layer from the membrane. Mechanical fasteners only should be used to secure the bottom layer(s) of insulation, not the top layer. For more information about maximizing your home’s energy, please contact the Style Roofing Team HERE

2011 Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency

As part of the US Government’s, Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency, If you have a metal or asphalt shingle roof, replace it to meet the US Government’s Energy Star Guidelines and receive a 10% tax credit up to the roof replacement cost (Up to $500).

Tax Credit Parameters:

• 10% of expenditures, up to $500 for the year.

• Install a relevant roof by Dec. 31, 2011.

• Save roofing receipts and labels.

• For roofs, installation isn’t covered.

• Not all roofs qualify (Call Style Roofing for more details)

• Must be an existing home & your principal residence. New construction and rentals do not qualify.

Contact Style Roofing to see if your home qualifies for the 2011 tax credit!