Re-Roofing Process

Before the re-roofing process starts, all of the paperwork needs to be completed to protect both parties. This includes signing a contract, receiving the construction lien notices, finalizing the shingle selection for the homeowner’s home and setting up an estimated project start date.

Prior to the project starting, depending on the complexity of the roof, your roofing contractor should have a discussion with the homeowner to prepare them and may opt to have the materials and “staged” on top of your roof a few days before the project starts. Ask for this date, if you’re unaware or if it is an inconvenience for whatever reason.

Roofing Project Steps

1. Preparation Work

Before any tear off starts, we protect your home and make our work area safe for the team; by protecting landscaping and plants, installing safety boards if the roof is steep, installing guard rails and scaffolding, moving yard furniture, protecting siding from scratches and damage, etc.

2. Tools and Material Transport

Transport tools, mobile dump bin, have a crane lift new materials onto the roof strategically (to avoid them from falling off or damaging the roof trusses).

3. Tear Off Old Roof

Remove a section of old roofing materials and debris, dispose of it in the dump bin. Depending on the weather, we use tarpaulins to protect the exposed roof from absorbing excessive water.

4. Inspect Roof Deck

Check the plywood deck is in good shape; replacing any plywood that has mold, is soft due to water damage, nailing in any loose plywood, etc. Ensuring that the roof deck is acceptable for nailing new shingles, while avoiding existing damage to the roof from worsening and unsightly bumps in the roof appearing weeks later (usually 1-2 weeks after work is done).

5. Install Underlayment

Once the roof deck is in good shape, roof underlayment is installed with added water and ice shielding to roof valleys and penetrations to avoid excess moisture to run-off. Cover the roof with roofing felt, which acts as a barrier between the shingles and the roof deck so that the shingles don’t stick. Clean up any debris and material waste, dispose of in the dump bin.

6. Install Roof Flashings and Shingles

Once the underlayment is ready, the starter shingles, regular shingles and at the end, ridge and hip cap shingles are installed. During this step, to prevent future water issues and air circulation issues, roof flashings and venting components are installed. This involves properly fitting and sealing any plumbing, air vents, valleys, adjacent walls, skylights, etc. Cleaning up any debris and materials and disposing of in the dump bin.

7. Repeat Steps 3-6 for one section of the roof at a time.

Allowing for the roof to remain fully protected from wetter weather from damaging the roof at any time.

8. Final Clean Up

Dispose of any remaining roofing materials and use a magnetic roller to capture any remaining nails, staples or metal debris are completely removed. Leaving your home and roof cleaner than when we arrived.

In the case of a cedar roof conversions, there is no roof deck, so the skip-sheathing will require repairs and a new roof deck will need to be installed.

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