What Happens During a Roof Replacement?

Knowing the sequence makes the day far less stressful, and it makes it easier to tell whether the work is being done properly.

Before the crew arrives

• Move vehicles out of the driveway and away from the house.
• Take down wall hangings and mirrors on upper floors. Hammering shakes the structure.
• Cover items stored in the attic. Debris falls through the sheathing gaps.
• Clear patio furniture, grills and potted plants from around the perimeter.
• Plan for noise. If you work from home or have small children or pets, arrange somewhere else for the day.

Day of work

• Protection goes up: tarps over landscaping, plywood against siding and windows, a dump trailer positioned near the house.
• Tear-off. Old shingles and underlayment come off, usually one slope at a time so the roof is never fully exposed longer than necessary.
• Deck inspection. Soft or rotted sheathing is identified and replaced. This is when surprises show up and should be shown to you.
• Underlayment and ice-and-water shield at the eaves, valleys and penetrations.
• Drip edge, starter course, then the shingle field, then flashing, then hip and ridge caps.
• Ventilation is installed or corrected, commonly ridge vent cut into the peak.

Finishing up

• Debris cleanup and a magnet sweep of the yard, driveway and beds for nails.
• A walkthrough with you, ideally with photos from the roof.
• Final paperwork: invoice, workmanship warranty and any manufacturer warranty registration.
• Municipal inspection, if a permit was pulled.

Reasonable things to expect

It is loud. Some debris will end up in the yard before cleanup. Weather can push the schedule. What is not reasonable: leaving the deck exposed overnight without protection, skipping the walkthrough, or ignoring nails in the driveway.