Shingle roofing installation is something every homeowner will eventually need to go through. Whether your shingle roof has been damaged by weather or aged to the point where it’s just deteriorated beyond repair, it will eventually need to be replaced.
Installing a new roof is a serious undertaking and one that very few homeowners will (or should!) tackle themselves. Because of the critical role your roof plays in protecting your home, this is a job that’s best left to your local roofing contractor experienced with the ins and outs of the roofing replacement process.
If you’ve never gone through the re-roofing process, it may seem a bit overwhelming and you may not know where to start. But, no worries. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned homeowner, we’ll show you the steps to tackling shingle roof installation the right way!
Shingle Roofing Installation: Get It Done Right!
Installing a new shingle roof is a huge commitment, so understanding the entire roofing replacement process from start to finish can be highly beneficial to you as a homeowner. From questions about the cost involved to knowing the installation pitfalls to watch out for, there’s a lot of information that you need to familiarize yourself with if you want a successful replacement with no costly surprises along the way.
1. Selecting a Roofing Contractor & Getting an Estimate
The most important part is researching and selecting the right roofing contractor for your replacement. When choosing a roofer, be sure to select an experienced, licensed and insured company that’s local to your area. Pick a few contractors and collect multiple estimates you can compare.
Remember, while total project cost is an important consideration, it’s certainly not the only thing you need to keep in mind. In fact, many homeowners make the mistake of going with a particular contractor simply because they’re the cheapest, only to learn later that shoddy workmanship and inferior materials led to unsatisfactory results.
All quality roofing estimates should include:
- Estimated project duration
- A detailed description of work, including roofing materials, flashing locations & underlayment type
- Type of sealant used to weatherproof flashing and nail holes
- Cleanup expectations
- Total project cost:
- Building material costs (roofing material, fasteners, flashing)
- Labor costs, broken down by man hours or listed as a project bid
- Additional expenses, such as sheathing repairs, tear-out of old shingles, etc.
2. Tear-off, Inspection & Replacing Underlying Materials
Roofing replacement will start differently, depending on whether you’re tearing off the old shingles or adding a top layer of new shingles to the existing roof. Most likely, however, your contractor will remove old shingles and underlying roofing materials completely in order to inspect the wood decking. Any soft or rotted wood decking will be removed and replaced as well—this will provide a solid base for your new shingles.
Next, a drip edge will then be installed at all edges of the roof. The drip edge prevents rain and snow from getting underneath your shingles around the roof’s perimeter.
Finally, your roofer will install an “ice and water shield” which is a special type of roofing underlayment. This is installed at the bottom few feet of the roof and around all roof penetrations, such as chimneys and pipes. Prior to installing the shingles, the remainder of the roof is covered with roofing felt (sometimes called “tar paper”), which prevents shingles from sticking to the wood & offers additional protection.
At this point, the roof is ready for a new layer of shingles to be installed.
3. Shingle Roofing Installation & Final Inspection
Working from the bottom of the roof toward the top, the roofing crew will install your choice of asphalt shingles.
The two most important things to look for in a quality asphalt shingle are its performance characteristics and its warranty. To get the most for your money, make sure that you consider life span, durability, weather resistance, and quality when you select your new roof shingles, not just the price tag. Choose roofing shingles with a lengthy, comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty since high-quality shingles come with warranties of up to 25 years or more. Also, look for roof shingles that complement your siding or brick.
After shingles are laid out, step and/or counter flashing, ridge vents, and ridge capping installation follow. A thorough clean-up of the job site is next, while any old roofing materials are hauled away. On that note: many homeowners choose to recycle old asphalt shingles rather than send them to a landfill, so if your contractor offers that option, be sure to consider it.
Every roofing replacement process should end with a thorough post-installation roof inspection!
One additional aspect of roofing installation worth mentioning is warranty information—material, system, and workmanship warranties come in many flavors. This is a critical and often overlooked factor—ensure that you’re adequately protected for years to come by selecting wisely.
Shingle Roofing Installation Done Right, The First Time!
Roofing replacement is a costly project you want to be done right the first time, so finding a skilled contractor at a fair price should be your top priority.
If you’re looking for a contractor with shingle roofing installation expertise, consider All Roofing Solutions. We are a family-owned & operated roofing contractor with 25 years of experience in roofing, siding, gutter, and windows installation. Fully licensed & insured, we service Delaware and neighboring Pennsylvania counties.
Backed by our expertise, we offer a 30-year workmanship guarantee and a complimentary extended material warranty on all of our full roof replacements!
For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 302-725-ROOF (7663) in Delaware or 610-551-ROOF (7663) in Pennsylvania. We offer Free Estimates and honest service, never take shortcuts, and ensure every step is done right!
Why Choose All Roofing Solutions
Family-owned and operated contractor- Fully licensed and insured for your protection
- Over 25 years of experience with roofing & siding installation and repair
- A+ rated BBB member
- Complimentary Extended Material warranty
- 30-year workmanship guarantee on full roof replacements
- Lien Waiver to protect the homeowners from material liens
- Own crew—no subcontractors!
- Full-service roofer handling all types of residential and commercial roofing, windows & siding projects.
- Most re-roofing projects are completed in one day.
- Because we are efficient we are able to offer very competitive prices compared to large contractors with bigger overhead.
- Each roofing/siding project includes a meticulously performed, post-roofing inspection. We want to make sure that your roof replacement is done correctly and that it meets your complete satisfaction.
- The company owner supervises all projects to ensure high-quality workmanship.
- Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed!