Replacement
Re-roofing in the snow belt
A new roof here has two jobs: keep water out, and keep snow from turning into ice at the eave.
We tear off to the deck, check it, and rebuild from the eave up. Every job gets an ice barrier past the warm wall line, intake and exhaust vents that match, and flashing that is carried up the wall, not smeared on.
What goes on every roof
Tear-off to the deck, with a per-sheet price for bad decking
Self-sealing ice barrier along eaves and valleys
Soffit intake and ridge exhaust sized together
Flashing at chimneys, walls and dormers, replaced and not reused
The job
How a replacement goes, day by day
Most houses take one to three days. Winter can stretch that, and we tell you before it does.
- 01
Step 1: Before the first day
We order, pull the permit where the town needs one, and call you the night before with the plan. Cars move out of the drive; snow gets cleared from the work area.
- 02
Step 2: Day one: tear-off and deck
The old roof comes off in sections we can dry in the same day. Bad decking is replaced at the per-sheet price on your estimate.
- 03
Step 3: Day one or two: barrier and underlayment
Ice barrier at the eaves and valleys, underlayment over the rest, drip edge and flashing.
- 04
Step 4: Day two: roofing and vents
Shingles or metal go on. In cold weather we hand-seal tabs and edges, since strips seal best in warm sun. The ridge vent goes on last.
- 05
Step 5: Cleanup and walk-through
Magnets sweep the yard for nails. We walk the roof, the vents and the attic with you and hand over the warranty papers.
Before you decide
Re-roofing questions
Can you put a new roof over the old one?
Sometimes, but we rarely would here. Code limits a re-cover to one layer, and snow load, ice damage and wet insulation under an old roof are all easier to see with it off.
Do I need a permit?
Almost always for a full replacement. We pull it when your town needs one and note it on the estimate.
Can you roof in the winter?
Yes, on days when the deck is dry and the crew can work safely. Shingles seal slowly in the cold, so we hand-seal them. Some jobs wait for a thaw, and we'll say so.
What if it snows during the job?
We tear off only what we can dry in the same day and tarp the rest. If the forecast turns, we stop and cover the open deck before we leave.
How long does a roof last here?
Ranges are on the services page. Ventilation, the ice barrier and how much snow sits on the roof move the number.
Ready for a look at your roof?
We come to the house, go up if it's safe, look in the attic and write the estimate down.