When it’s time to get a new roof installed, you may have a lot of questions for your roofer. You may be unsure of how long it will take, or what will happen if they uncover more damage than was first seen. Thankfully, by becoming more informed about the roof installation process, you can relax and know that your roof is in good hands.

Roof Installation Timeline

From the time that you call to schedule your roof installation, to the time that the job is done is roughly 1 to 14 days depending on factors such as the size of the job and the type of shingles needed. This timeline can fluctuate further depending on whether things need to be ordered and the time of year.

Once the job begins you can expect your new roof to be on within two to four days. As with scheduling, this may fluctuate due to unforeseen circumstances, such as problems encountered during tear off or with additional work needing to be done.

The Tear Off

The tear off involves stripping your roof right down to the deck. We start at the top at the ridgeline and work our way down. Only the amount of shingles that can be replaced within that day are removed so you are not left with an uncovered portion of roof at the end of the day.

We attempt to make the of roof installation process as clean and unobtrusive as possible to make sure that no debris ends up in your home or yard. Occasionally tarps will be used to help haul away the debris; care is taken to ensure that the tarps do not sit for too long on grass or other impressionable areas.

Problems Found During Roof Installation

While every attempt is made to discover a problem before the tear off begins, sometimes issues cannot be spotted until the shingles are off. When this happens, all options for repairing the problem are discussed with you in detail before anything is done. This includes things like rotting or sagging decking that may not have been apparent from below the shingles.

Felt Paper and Underlayments

What you may not realize is that before the shingles are laid, the decking is first covered with a layer of felt paper. This underlayment is used as a vapor barrier, helping to keep out things like condensation. It is not a water barrier, and cannot stop the rain in the event of a missing shingle, but it does offer some protection to the decking. 15-pound felt is generally what is used on most roofs, but if your roof has a steeper pitch, 30-pound felt may be used.

Chimneys, Skylights, and Roof Penetrations

Anywhere there is a penetration or break in your roof, you have a potential for leaks. This is true of chimneys, skylights, stack lines, and other penetrations. Therefore, it’s important that each one be treated individually with proper felt paper, flashing, caulking, lead, and ice dams. Because each chimney could be made of different materials, each one needs to be evaluated separately. Regardless of how it is treated, however, felt paper followed by flashing, and ice dam and/or lead should be installed two feet up the sides of each one to help protect your home.

Valleys

Valleys are another area that has a higher potential for leaks that must be treated accordingly. To help protect this area from the water rushing in at different angles, a metal diverter shaped like a “W” is run down the middle. The diverter is interlaced with shingles to help channel the water through the area, rather than letting it sit and potentially leak.

Ridge Options

When it comes to your ridge caps, you have options for how it can be handled. A standard ridge row is cut from 3-tab shingles and lays flush with your roof for the most economical solution. High Profile Ridges are designed to enhance and highlight the shape of your roof, and can make a handsome edition to the home.