What Happens During A Roofing Replacement: A Step-by-Step Guide For Homeowners

What You Can Expect From Your Roofing Contractors When They Are Replacing Your Roof

All houses will eventually need to have roof repair, whether that is a complete replacement or just a simple roof leak repair. The length of time that a roof lasts depends largely on the roofing maintenance and the roofing types used for the original installation, whether that be traditional asphalt shingles, cedar shakes, or slate roofing. No matter what, a homeowner can expect to have their roofs replaced at least once over the course of their time in a home. 

There are a few things that a homeowner needs to do to prepare, but most of the work is just staying out of the roofer’s way.

Step #1: Preparation

As a homeowner, you don’t have to do anything to your roof once you have made the decision to replace it. The biggest preparation for the members of the household is preparing themselves and getting the house ready. Though the roofing company will generally do its best to protect the landscaping, there may be a need to move or cover things up.

Below are listed a few basic tasks to be concerned with:

• Covering things in the attic, as it could be exposed when reroofing
• Moving patio furniture and yard toys away from the house to prevent damage
• Keeping children and pets indoors for safety
• Moving vehicles away from the house
• If you work from home, be prepared for noise or find an alternative location

Step #2: Roofing

When the roofers show up to do the work, there are a lot of steps that they have to go through to get the job done. Presumably, there has already been an initial inspection and estimate of what needs to be repaired and replaced, so they know basically what to expect when they take the roof off, but there can always be surprises. They will also use tarps and plywood to protect your valuables before they start work.

Let’s list the basics of what the workers will be doing to your roof:

• Removal: The old roof will be stripped down to the plywood decking. The decking will then be inspected for damage or rot. Any of the decking that is not considered viable will be removed as well.
• Replace and Secure Decking: This is the foundation layer and is vitally important to the life of your roof. It must be able to support the weight of the roofing materials, so the inspection of this layer will be quite thorough.
• Shielding: Special water and ice shields are placed around vents and chimneys to ensure water leaves the roof. A drip edge will also be installed to prevent water from getting under the bottommost layer of shingles.
• Underlayment: This is a tar-infused layer of heavy-duty felt that acts as an extra layer of waterproofing protection for the roof.
• Roofing: This is the step you have been waiting for. This is the point where the shingles or other roofing is put on.

Though this might seem like a final step, one more thing needs to be done.

Step #3: Inspection and Clean Up

The last part of the roofing job is clean-up and final roof inspection. This is the point when the roofing contractors double-check the premises and the roofing work to make sure everything is done properly. They should put everything back the way they found it and you are ready to go with a brand-new roof.

About Cobalt Exteriors, Inc.

Since 1989, Cobalt Exteriors, Inc. has provided excellent siding and roofing solutions to the people of Seattle and Woodinville, WA. Call or visit the website for a free quote.