Roof Replacement Process

Intro

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When going to replace your roof, being informed can help you choose the right contractor and avoid headaches in the long run. The cheapest roofer may also be using the cheapest labor and components available, which can set your roof up for failure and a short life span. You may save a few dollars in the short term, but long term the damage to your home from a faulty roof could get very expensive. 

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This article outlines our process for roof replacements at Allied Restoration Contractors. It should give you a solid understanding of the roof replacement process, and help you make a more informed decision when hiring a contractor. You can ask contractors about their process and what makes them unique, and how they ensure that the roof replacement is high quality.

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At our company, each roof replacement is personally supervised by the owner, George Musa. This is done to ensure that our customer service, craftsmanship, and professionalism are top notch for every customer we help. We also offer up to 50 year workmanship warranties (depending on the materials used.)  We offer roof replacement services in Tinley Park, Orland Park, and surrounding areas.

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We hope this article helps you understand the roof replacement process and helps you make a good decision when hiring a contractor.

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Initial Inspection

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We always do a thorough inspection before replacing a roof. We do this to find out the extent of the damage, and to make sure that you actually need a replacement. Some issues (nail pops, for example) can cause leaks but only require minor repairs. The inspection will tell us what is truly needed.

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This inspection is also important for the purpose of insurance coverage. If your roof was damaged from an “act of God” like a hail storm or wind storm, and you are eligible for insurance coverage, a thorough inspection will help you get as much of the bill covered as possible.

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Choose Roofing Material

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We offer a variety of roofing materials for you to choose from. We’ll hear what your preferences are, and after discussing your budget, we’ll give you the best recommendations we can. Here are the different types of roofing materials we offer:

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Standard Shingles

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We offer a variety of standard shingle styles for maximum water resistance, durability, and budget-friendliness. There are a variety of different styles and colors available for you to choose from. The right color can add flourish and curb appeal to your home. The vast majority of Illinois homeowners choose shingle roofs, and most standard asphalt shingles last between 

15-30 years.

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Premium Designer Shingles

We offer a premium selection of designer shingles for homeowners who are looking for something with a little more glamor. The cost for luxury designer shingles is higher. However, typically designer shingles are thicker, which means some of the cost is recouped due to higher durability and a longer-lasting roof.

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Cedar Shake

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Cedar shake roofs serve the same function as asphalt roofs, but are made of natural cedar materials, giving the roof a more traditional and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Typically cedar roofs last between 30-50 years with proper maintenance. If you have the budget, cedar roofs are a beautiful option!

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For commercial buildings, we also install TPO single ply, EPDM single ply rubber, and modified bitumen.

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Project Setup

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Before we start on your roof replacement, we’ll get the job ready. This includes making preparations for everything we will need to complete your project - having materials delivered, setting up a dumpster for convenient waste disposal, and more. Once all is ready, we can begin to tear off the old roof.

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Remove Old Roof Materials

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The first step in replacing your roof is to tear off all the old roofing materials. We’ll scrape the old shingles off, remove the flashing, vents, underlayment, ice and water shield, and anything else until we get down to the roof decking.

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Inspect Roof Decking

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Roof decking (also known as sheathing) is the bottom layer of your roofing system. It is usually made from plywood or OSB. The underlayment, shingles, and everything else sit on top of your decking. Once the old shingles and other materials are taken off of your roof, we will be able to inspect the roof decking for damage. 

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If it’s still in good condition, we can get started on installing your new roof right away. However, if there is considerable damage to the roof decking, you will need to replace it. Rotted roof decking can severely limit the lifespan of your roof. Once we get down to this layer, we will let you know what we find!

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Install Drip Edge or Gutter Apron

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The first part of your new roof that we will install is the drip edge (or gutter apron, if your gutters are being replaced.). Drip edge is an angled metal sheet that is designed to carry water past the edge of your roof and allow it to drip into your gutters. Without drip edge, water wouldn’t flow out past the edge of the roof, and moisture would more easily get underneath the shingles in this area. Gutter aprons also work in a similar way.

Install Ice & Water Shield

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Ice and water shield is a waterproof membrane that is installed around key areas of the roof (like penetrations and valleys), and helps protect your roof decking in case water gets underneath the shingles. It is an extra layer of protection that goes beneath the underlayment.

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Install Underlayment

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Underlayment is a thin water-shedding barrier that goes on top of the roof decking and ice and water shield. Normally underlayment is an asphalt-saturated felt paper. Sometimes it can be made out of synthetic or rubber. Since moisture that comes into contact with the wood in your roof decking can lead to wood rot and leakage, underlayment serves as an extra layer of protection. It helps shed any water that gets underneath your shingles.

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Install Starter Strip

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After the underlayment is installed, we install starter shingles at the edges of your roof. Starter shingles (also called starter strip) serve a few different purposes. First, they are designed to create a watertight seal at the edge of your roof to help water to run off seamlessly. Secondly, they provide a solid base underneath the shingles at the eaves, which helps prevent shingles from blowing off during strong winds. Not installing starter shingles, or using the wrong kind of starter shingle, puts your roof at more risk of leaks and wind damage.

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Install Shingles

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The next step is to install the shingles. Our roofing crew, made up of certified professionals, is thoroughly trained on the correct way to lay shingles. This includes how to space shingles, spacing between nails, how to line up shingles so they form a perfectly straight row, and more.  

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Proper installation is important to prevent shingles from easily blowing off in the wind or letting water through. We make sure that your shingles are installed in a way that leaves your roof looking great, and protecting your home as well as they can for years to come.

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Install Roof Vents

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Roof vents are important as they allow the hot air in your attic to escape and help prolong the life of the shingles on your roof. At this stage of the process, we will install your roof vents. 

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Install Roof Flashing & Pipe Jacks

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At this stage, we’ll install the roof flashing and pipe jacks.

Flashing is a thin sheet of metal that goes around key areas of the roof. Flashing helps water run off the roof instead of getting underneath your shingles or getting through openings like skylights, chimneys, vents, etc. Flashing helps preserve the quality of your roof and help it last as long as it can. 

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Pipe jacks are specially designed to vent air from bathroom fans, dryer vents, and other areas of your home. Sometimes these are referred to as plumbing vents. If you have plumbing vents through your roof, we’ll install pipe jacks to properly vent the exhaust air. 

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Install Final Shingles

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After all vents and other accessories have been added to the roof, we’ll install the final shingles, including the hip cap and ridge cap shingles. These final shingles either go on top of ridge vents or go overtop all of the shingles up to the peak of the roof. This prevents moisture from getting underneath your shingles and directs water to run off of the roof.

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Post-Completion Clean Up

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Congrats! Your new roof is installed! After each roof installation, we finish by thoroughly cleaning up your property. This includes using a leaf blower to clean off the roof and clean out the gutters. We also run over your lawn with roller magnets to pick up any nails that may have fallen during the installation process.

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Conclusion

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That concludes the process for roof replacement at Allied Restoration Contractors. We strive to ensure that every roof we do is done with care and is built to last. If you are looking for a contractor to replace your roof, give us a call or use the button below to get a free roof inspection and quote.

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Also, need help choosing the right contractor? Here’s an article on how to choose the best roofing contractor.

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We wish you the best of luck with your roof replacement project!

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