The Roof Replacement Process: 8-Step Guide For Homeowners

Your home is a valuable investment that requires regular upkeep and maintenance to ensure safety and to keep your home looking visually appealing. 

Roof replacement is a home improvement project that needs to be tackled at least every 15 years or sooner, depending on several underlying factors, such as the type of shingles, the area of your home, and the climate where you live. 

Before starting the roof replacement process, we have composed an 8-step guide for homeowners to follow to make installing a new roof as simple as possible.

8-Step Guide For Homeowners

Roof replacement can seem like an overwhelming task for homeowners, but it doesn’t have to be. If you have determined that the issues with your roof require a replacement instead of repairs, the next thing you will need to understand is the roof replacement process. 

This process is fairly straightforward, though there may be some variation depending on the roof size or the materials. However, in all cases, you should know where to start, who to contact, what you can do to help the process, and the overall timeline. 

Here is our 8-step guide for homeowners interested in getting a roof replacement. 

Step 1: Choose a Contractor

The first step in roof replacement is to find a contractor to do the job. When choosing a contractor, do your homework to ensure you pick a reputable company. 

Finding a trustworthy contractor can be tricky. Some factors to consider before settling on a contractor and to avoid home improvement scams include:

• The estimate of costs for roof replacement
• Customer reviews and the reputation of the company
• Years of experience and length of time in business
• Availability of the roofing company and wait times for service

Once you’ve chosen a contractor, they can inspect the roof and provide you with an estimate of how long the replacement will take to complete and how much it will cost. 

Step 2: Decide on Roofing Type

Now that you have chosen a reputable company for your roof replacement, it’s time to decide on the materials and colors. Each contractor will have several options for roofing materials with varying prices, depending on various reasons, such as:

• Warranty of materials, some brands offer a 10-year warranty, whereas others may offer a 25-year warranty
• The thickness of the materials
• The type of roofing material, for example, tin roof, or shingles

Because you are replacing the roof and not repairing it, you can choose to go with the same kind of material your current roof is made from or go for a new material altogether. 

Step 3: Get Ready for Supplies

Once you have decided on the material of choice, the roofing company will have the roofing supplies delivered to your home. 

Beforehand, it is ideal to have a dry location ready for the roofing supplies, such as under a tarp in the driveway or in your garage, where they can stay dry until the work begins. 

Moving vehicles and other items that risk being damaged from falling debris once roof replacement starts are essential. 

Step 4: Set Up

Before starting a roof replacement job, reputable contractors will protect your home by placing a tarp that extends from the roof to the ground and covers a large area for debris to fall to the ground without damaging or littering your property. 

Reputable contractors will also cover flowerbeds, shrubs, and detailed landscaping to prevent damage and ensure easier clean-up of falling debris.

Step 5: Remove Old Roofing and Apply New Materials

Now it is time for the contractors to remove the old roofing materials, such as shingles or tin. Starting at the back of the roof and working towards the driveway, the contractors remove the old roofing materials in sections. 

Other workers apply the new roofing materials to sections of the roof where the old roofing is gone, such as underlay. 

This process usually takes a day to complete, depending on the roof size. If the job takes longer than a day, workers must protect the uncovered roof from the weather until they can complete the job. 

Step 6: Roof Replacement Installation 

After contractors have removed the old roofing materials from your roof, the underlay is in place, and they have cleaned excess debris from the roof surface and the gutters, it is time for the installation of your new roof to begin. 

Workers will install flashing around joints and surface areas more prone to leaking. Manufacturers often make flashing from galvanized steel or aluminum to prevent water seepage around vents, chimneys, and roof fixtures. 

After the flashing installation, the roof workers will apply an outdoor sealant around the edging for extra protection against leaks.

Next, the roofing company will install the new roof coverings in sections, similar to the roof covering removal process. 

Step 7: Clean Up

After your new roof installation is complete, the contractors will begin cleaning up the area to ensure the removal of all tarps and debris. Workers will blow the roof off, clean debris from the gutters, and sweep the grounds below to ensure the area is clean. 

When the job is complete, the grounds should look just as clean as it was before the workers arrived on the job site.

Step 8: Inspection

After the new roofing installation is complete, the contractors will inspect the finished product to ensure it meets all safety standards and is intact. 

Roofing contractors will also ensure no leaks around fixtures, such as chimneys, skylights, and ventilation systems on the roof. 

Final Thoughts

Maintaining your roof is an important part of keeping up the quality of your home. Of course, no one wants a faulty roof, and repairs or replacements can seem like a stressful process. However, now that you’ve learned the roof replacement process, you can take the next step on your own roof replacement without worry. 

Reputable roof replacement contractors pride themselves in work that upholds local building codes. They also offer a product guarantee and provide stellar results on completed projects. So, choosing the right contractor for you in your area is a great place to start.