How a Full Tear-Off and Rebuild Works
Roof replacement starts with a tear-off. We strip the asphalt shingle, roofing felt, and tar paper down to the roof deck, and a dumpster in the driveway takes the debris away by the square.
An overlay or recover is cheaper and faster, but it traps heat and hides soft sheathing underneath. We only recommend overlay when the existing shingle lies flat and the decking is sound.
Crews set a starter course along the eave and rake, then run staggered courses up the field, fastening each one with ring-shank nails from a nail gun. Overdriven fasteners tear the mat and void the warranty.
Scaffold and ladders go up first, and everyone on the rooftop wears a safety harness. We pull old nails with a pry bar and blow the deck clean with an air compressor.
Materials We Install and Why
- Architectural shingle from the GAF Timberline HDZ, Owens Corning Duration, or CertainTeed Landmark line carries a heavier mat and a better wind rating than a three-tab shingle.
- Synthetic underlayment goes over the whole roof deck, replacing roofing felt and tar paper that wick moisture and rot out early.
- A self-adhered ice-and-water shield covers every eave and valley, the two places an ice dam pushes meltwater back up under the shingle.
- A new drip edge keeps runoff off the fascia and soffit instead of letting it wick into the sheathing behind them.
- Ridge vents and soffit vents work as a pair, pulling attic heat out at the ridge; an attic fan only helps when the intake at the soffit is open.
- On a low-slope section, a TPO, EPDM, or PVC membrane beats shingles, and a modified bitumen or built-up roof is still common on older flat decks.
- A standing-seam panel or corrugated panel in metal roofing lasts decades, but each screw needs a sealed washer and the right fastener length.
What an Inspection Turns Up
A roof inspection is where an estimate gets honest. We check the substrate, the flashing, and the attic before anyone quotes a number.
- Soft spots in the roof deck mean water has been seeping for a while; OSB crumbles and plywood delaminates, and neither holds a fastener after that.
- Granule loss in the gutter and bald patches on the shingle face point to end-of-life wear, not a cosmetic issue.
- Curled, buckled, or missing shingles after a nor'easter signal wind uplift and a systemic leak waiting on the next hard rain.
- Rust, corrosion, and flaking sealant on the flashing say the metal is aged past the point where caulk alone will hold.
- In the attic we look at truss, rafter, and joist ends for staining, and at the vapor barrier and insulation for moisture the deck has been holding.
Roof Shapes and the Details That Leak
Every roof shape fails in its own place. A gable, a hip, and a mansard shed water differently, so the metal details change with them.
- On a gable, the verge and rake edge take the wind first, so the apron flashing and starter course there have to be fastened to spec.
- On a hip roof, the ridge cap and each hip carry the most wind uplift; a batten or counterbatten changes how a metal panel locks down.
- A dormer adds a wall-to-roof joint that needs its own step flashing and counter-flashing, and that is where we find the most hidden leaks.
- Chimney flashing, counter-flashing, and a boot flashing at each pipe boot are the spots we hand-seal with mastic and roof cement.
- A parapet, scupper, or coping on a flat section needs its own membrane and waterproofing, and a canopy or awning over a doorway needs a snow guard above it.
Timelines, Cost Drivers, and Insurance Claims
A straightforward gable roof on a single-family house usually takes one to two days. A steep pitch, a second layer to tear off, or heavy trim work adds a day.
Cost moves with the number of roofing squares, the pitch, and what the deck looks like once the old shingle is off. A line-item roof estimate shows tear-off, underlayment, flashing, and disposal separately.
- Adding gutter installation, a downspout, or a skylight during the job costs less than coming back for it later.
- When damage traces to a storm date, our insurance claim assistance handles the adjuster inspection and the supplemental claim paperwork.
- We build to local building code on ventilation and fastening, and we register the manufacturer warranty on the new system.
