What to Expect During the Roof Replacement Process

When it comes to a roof replacement, where do you start? It is important to understand what goes into the roof replacement process so that you can hire a quality roof replacement contractor who will get the job done right. Not only is it important to hire a quality contractor, but it is essential to make sure that they will only use the highest quality materials and provide a warranty.

Identifying the Right Roof Placement Contractor

1. Identify Potential Contractors

Ask your family, neighbors, or friends for a referral. Search for local contractors near you. Or ask for local recommendations in a Facebook group. Once you have a few potential contractors, take a look at how they represent themselves online. Look at their Google Business, Facebook, and other profiles for reviews and see what their customers are saying. Take a look at their website to see what they offer, why you should choose them, and work samples. Also, make sure they are licensed and insured. If everything looks good and there are no red flags, it’s time to schedule an estimate.

2. Schedule Estimates

Schedule a few estimates with different contractors so that you can make an educated decision and ask various professional questions. A reputable roof replacement contractor will schedule a time to meet you at your home and conduct a thorough inspection. The inspection should examine the roof’s interior and exterior components including shingles, flashing, vents, chimney, and structural components.   An inspection may also include your attic.

During the estimate, you can always discuss what look you are going for, weigh the pros and cons of different shingles, get a better understanding of what materials will be used, and warranty. We think of shingles as good, better, & best (how to choose the right shingle for you). At PK Contractors, we provide the highest quality roofing systems that utilize the entire brand of products. Our preferred manufacturer is CertainTeed. CertainTeed provides proven technology, enduring performance, and easy installation. When we use the entire suite of CertainTeed products, the roof is designed to work together better because the individual components are all engineered to work together.

3. Obtain Proposals

After the inspection, you will want to obtain a written, detailed proposal on what is included in the roof replacement. The proposal should be transparent and itemize the specific materials and scope of labor. For materials, look for the type and brand of shingles, the type of underlayment, and ice and water shield. For the scope of labor, make sure you understand what is and what is not included. Definitely, make sure clean up and removal of all debris is included. Sometimes there make be stipulations. For example, our proposals often state, “Re-nail any loose wood. If bad or rotten wood is discovered, it will be replaced at a price of $ per sheet.” When quoting we cannot anticipate every possibility that may lie underneath the shingles, but we will inspect and notify you of any issues that need to be addressed before installing new shingles. If you have any questions, reach out.

4. Approve Proposal

When you have selected the right proposal, reach out to the contractor to let them know you want to move forward. Now it’s time to order materials and then get the job scheduled.

The Roof Replacement Process

The roof replacement process involves the following steps.

1. Property Prep

The roofing crew will survey the property and make efforts to protect your landscaping, siding, and windows with tarps.

2. Roof Tear Off & Deck Inspection

The crew will begin by carefully removing the old shingles and roofing materials. Now, the roof desk will be fully exposed and visible for inspection. The contractor will inspect the deck for any rot, damage, or soft spots. Any bad or rotten wood will be replaced to ensure a solid foundation for the new roof.

3. Install the CertainTeed Integrity Roof System™

The CertainTeed Integrity Roof System™ combines all the key elements for a well-built roof with long-lasting performance.

1. Waterproofing underlayment is installed at vulnerable areas of your roof to prevent leaks.

2. Water-resistant underlayment provides a protective layer over the roof deck and provides a secondary barrier against leaks.

3. Starter shingles are installed to work in tandem with the roof shingles above for optimal sealing and performance.

4. Shingles available in a variety of good-better-best styles to complement any design & budget.

5. Ventilation allows the roof to breath with ridge vents, intake vents, etc.

6. Hip & ride caps provide a distinctive finishing touch.

It is important that all manufacturer specifications are followed to fall under warranty and maximize performance and longevity.

4. Site Cleanup

The crew will leave your property better than when they arrived. There is a new roof after all! All jokes aside. Your property should be in the same state it was in before the roof replacement. No debris or trash laying around. No damage to landscaping.

Roof Warranty

Roof warranties usually include the manufacturer’s warranty that covers the roofing materials and workmanship warranty that covers the contractor’s work.

Be mindful of the length of the manufacturer’s warranty as it is an indicator of value & performance. Make sure to review what types of defects are covered and if there are any exclusions or limitations. Certainteed warrants that its roofing shingles will be free from manufacturing defects, while most other shingle brands' stipulate that only defects which cause leaks or affect performance are covered.  Most of our roof replacements include a Certainteed SureStart™ Warranty. SureStart covers 100 percent of material and labor costs during the applicable period (three, five or ten years) and is not prorated or otherwise reduced. The warranty is transferable from original to subsequent homeowners.

For the workmanship warranty, most contractors offer anywhere from one to five years. PK Contractors warranties our work up to five years. You will want to make sure your contractor will call you back and fully intends on standing behind their workmanship.