Re-roofing
A new roof on an old Erie house
Most of our re-roofs are asphalt shingles on houses built before the war: steep pitches, dormers, brick chimneys and decking that has seen a lot of winters.
The roof comes off to the deck. We look at every board, price the bad ones per sheet in your contract, and put on a roof built for snow.
When it is time
Signs the roof is nearly done
Any one of these is a reason to get a look at it.
Curling and cupping
Shingle edges lift or the middle of each tab dishes. The shingle has stopped lying flat.
Granules in the gutters
Shingles shed their gritty surface as they age. A handful in the downspout is a hint.
Daylight or stains in the attic
Light through the boards, or dark rings on the underside of the deck.
Ice at the eaves every winter
Icicles are a sign heat is leaking into the attic. It does not always mean a new roof, but it is worth a look.
What goes on
Materials we install and what to expect of them
Lifespans depend on the slope, the attic and the winters. These are the ranges we plan around, not promises.
- Often 20 to 30 years
Architectural asphalt shingles
The usual re-roof for an Erie house. Laminated, heavier than three-tab, and rated for the wind that comes off the lake.
Choose from several makers
Installed over ice barrier at the eaves
- Many decades, with upkeep
Slate
Original on many older blocks. We repair it, and re-lay it when the roof is sound underneath.
Copper or lead-coated flashing
Matched to what is already there
- Varies with care
Cedar shake
A repair material on older houses, and a replacement where the owner wants the look.
Fastened and ventilated for lake damp
Treated and untreated options
Tags are typical ranges, not a warranty. Your written warranty has its own terms.
The job
A re-roof, day by day
A typical house takes a few days of crew work, weather allowing.
- 01Section by section
Step 1: Day one: set up and tear-off
Tarps on the plants and the porch, roof jacks set, old roofing off to the deck in sections.
- 02Before anything goes on
Step 2: Deck check
Every board looked at. Rot found is shown to you and priced per sheet, as the contract says.
- 03Same day
Step 3: Dry-in
Ice barrier at the eaves and in the valleys, underlayment over the rest, flashing set.
- 04Last
Step 4: Shingles and finish
Shingles, ridge, vents and edge metal, then the cleanup and a magnet sweep of the yard.
Re-roofing
Before you sign
Do you tear off, or go over the old layer?
We tear off to the deck. A second layer hides the boards under it and adds weight to old framing, and we cannot check what we cannot see.
What if you find rotted boards?
The contract says what a replaced sheet costs before we start, so a bad board is a line you already agreed to, not a surprise.
My house was built before 1978. Does that change anything?
Yes. Federal rules on lead-safe work apply to many homes built before 1978, so the crew is trained and certified for it, and we protect the yard and the walls before tear-off. Tell us the year when you call.
Who pulls the permit?
Many Erie County towns want a permit for a tear-off. We tell you whether yours does, and we pull it when the town asks for one.
Do you ask for a deposit?
The terms are in your contract. Pennsylvania law caps the deposit on larger jobs, and the contract states exactly what is due and when.
Want a number for your roof?
The walk-around comes first, and the written estimate follows it. Your estimate says what is in it and what is not.