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!

Most people don’t think of cedar as a roofing construction material,but it is a terrific siding material for your home’s roof. StyleRoofing has outlined below some of the benefits of having a Cedar Shake roof. If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact us at your convenience.

Cedar is one of the most durable softwoods, offering excellent noise abatement, insulation, and longevity.

Benefits of Cedar Shake Roofing Material

• Cedar is a very durable softwood offering excellent noise abatement, insulation, and longevity.
• Because of the density, less heat is transported through the wood, keeping heat from escaping in the winter and the cool air from escaping in the summer.
• Cedar wood has a natural acoustic barrier.
• Cedar Shakes comes in a variety of stains and textures.
• Most people choose cedar for it’s beautiful aesthetic style.
• Cedar has natural antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.
• Trees are a renewable resource, so the use of wood building products is an environmentally friendly choice.
• Cedar naturally resists bugs as well as UV damage.
• Durability: Cedar can withstand storm damage from wind to hail.
• Seasonal winter freezing and thawing will have less of an impact on cedar since it is a natural product.
• Unlike other roofing materials cedar shakes naturally insulate your home thus reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home throughout the year.

For more questions about Cedar Shakes are right for you, contact the Style Roofing team to set up your Free Roofing Consultation!

• Moss / Algae Growth On Shingles
• Damaged Roof Flashing
• Curling Of Shingles
• Ceiling Spots (Caused By A Leaky Roof)
• Buckling Of Shingles
• Blistering Of The Shingles (Moisture In The Shingles)
• Missing Granules
• Shake Roof: Missing Shakes
• Shake Roof: Shakes Splitting

If you are considering installing metal roofing for your home, then you probably already know the advantages of metal roofing. For those of you who do not know the advantages of Metal Roofing, we have outlines some advantages for you in this article. Here is a close look at some of the benefits of steel, aluminum, and other metal roofing.

Advantages of a Metal Roof:

• Properly installed, a metal roof should last as long as the house
• Metal roofing is affordable considering the fact that a Metal roof is permanent.
  
• Doesn’t deteriorate, crack, split, break, burn or blow off
• Engineered for strength
• Special coating process resists dirt
• Lightweight: less than 1/3 the weight of asphalt
• Environmentally correct – made from up to 50% recycled material and is 100% recyclable
• Energy efficient: Metal reflects radiant heat from the sun, minimizing midday heat gain.
• Many styles, colors and finishes to choose from
• Increases your home’s value
• Metal roofs are noncombustible, they’re given a Class A fire rating (the most resistant)