What Really Happens During a Roof Replacement

A new roof is a big job, but it does not have to be a mystery. Most homeowners have never watched one go in, so they are not sure what to expect. Here is how a roof replacement usually goes here in East Tennessee, from the day we pull up to the day we pull out.

Getting Ready Before We Arrive

Before the first shingle comes off, do a little prep. Move your cars out of the driveway and away from the house so we have room for the dump trailer and easy access to the roof. We will be carrying heavy loads up and down all day.

Inside, take a walk through the attic and the upstairs rooms. Roofing shakes the house, so pictures on the wall and anything on a shelf can rattle loose. Take them down for the day. If you have pets, plan to keep them inside, because the noise gets to them.

Tearing Off the Old Roof

A real roof replacement starts with a full tear-off. We strip the old shingles down to the bare wood deck. Some crews try to save time by laying new shingles over the old ones. We do not do that. Going over old shingles hides problems and voids most warranties.

The tear-off is loud and it is fast. A typical home comes off in a morning. We set up tarps to catch the debris as it falls, then haul it straight to the trailer.

Checking the Wood Underneath

Once the deck is bare, we can finally see what the old roof was hiding. This is where a lot of East Tennessee homes surprise people. Years of small leaks and poor attic ventilation can leave soft, rotten spots in the plywood.

We walk the whole deck and mark any bad wood. Rotten boards get replaced before anything new goes down, because new shingles are only as good as what is under them. We show you what we find and talk it through before we swap anything out.

Putting the New Roof On

With a solid deck, the new roof goes on in layers. First an ice and water barrier along the eaves and in the valleys, where our heavy rains like to back up. Then a synthetic underlayment across the rest of the deck for a second line of defense.

After that comes the drip edge, the starter strip, and finally your architectural shingles, nailed to the pattern the manufacturer calls for. We are GAF Certified, so it gets done to the standard that keeps your warranty solid.

How Long the Whole Thing Takes

Most single-family homes here are a one to two day job. A simple roof can be done in a day. A steep or cut-up roof with lots of valleys and dormers takes longer, and we would rather take the extra time than rush it.

Weather runs the schedule. We watch the forecast close, because East Tennessee can turn a clear morning into an afternoon storm. If rain moves in, we get the roof dried in and covered before we stop. We will never leave your home open to the sky overnight.

Cleaning Up and the Final Walk

Cleanup matters as much as the roof itself. Nails end up everywhere during a tear-off, so we run magnetic rollers over the yard, the driveway, and the flower beds. We want your kids and your bare feet safe.

Before we leave, we walk the property with you. We point out the new work, answer any questions, and make sure the site looks like we were never there, except for the new roof over your head.