Roof Replacement

Most roofs get replaced for one of two reasons: the shingles have run out of service life, or a hailstorm ended that life early. Either way, replacement is the part of homeownership people put off longest, usually because they don’t know what actually happens once the crew shows up.

Here is what happens.

What the work involves

A replacement is a tear-off, not a cover-up. The old roof comes off in full so the decking underneath can be seen. That matters, because a second layer laid over a failing first layer hides exactly the problems you are paying to fix — soft decking, rusted flashing, split boots around the plumbing vents.

Once the deck is exposed, we walk it. Anything soft, delaminated or water-stained gets cut out and replaced. Then the roof is dried in with underlayment, ice-and-water membrane goes into the valleys and around penetrations, new flashing is set at the walls and chimney, and the field shingles go on from the eave up. Ridge vent, ridge cap and pipe boots finish it.

Our crews have worked asphalt shingle, metal, tile, slate and flat systems. If your roof is something other than a standard three-tab or architectural shingle, say so when you call — it changes the crew, the material lead time and the schedule.

We replace roofs on both homes and commercial buildings.

What to expect on the day

Plan for a loud day. A typical single-family tear-off and re-roof is completed in one day, though a large or steep roof, a complicated cut-up, or weather can push it into a second.

Before the tear-off starts, the crew tarps landscaping, moves what needs moving, and sets debris chutes over a trailer or drop area. Nails and shingle fragments will end up in the grass anyway — that is unavoidable — so the last thing we do is run a rolling magnet over the drive, walkways and yard.

You do not need to be home. You do need to move vehicles out of the driveway and off the street in front of the house, and it helps to take pictures off the walls in rooms directly under the roof, since a tear-off shakes the structure.

When to call

Call if you can see cupped, curled or missing shingles from the ground; if granules are collecting in the gutters or at the bottom of the downspouts; if there are stains on an upstairs ceiling; or if a neighbor’s roof was just replaced after a storm and you have not had yours looked at.

We inspect the roof, take photos, and tell you plainly whether you are looking at a repair or a replacement. If it is a repair, we will say so.

Give us a call or send a message through the contact form, and we will get back to you the same business day.