What Actually Happens During a Roof Replacement
Most roofs go on in one or two days. Knowing the sequence tells you what good work looks like while it is happening, rather than after the dumpster has gone.
Before Anyone Arrives
A good replacement starts with a walkthrough that covers where the dumpster and materials will sit, how the crew will access the roof, which landscaping needs protecting, and where vehicles should not be parked. It also covers the things people forget: satellite dishes, solar, and anything hanging on interior walls that vibration can shake loose.
You should also know before the first nail whether a permit is being pulled and by whom, and what the plan is if the tear-off exposes bad decking. Deck replacement is priced per sheet and it is far better to agree that number in advance than to negotiate it with a crew standing on the roof.
The Order of Work
Protection and tear-off
Tarps and plywood go against the walls, over landscaping, and around the perimeter. Then the old roof comes off down to the bare deck — shingles, underlayment, old flashings, and the old drip edge. Everything comes off. A tear-off that leaves the old underlayment in place is not a tear-off.
Deck inspection
With the sheathing exposed, the crew checks for rot, delamination, and loose or missing fasteners, and re-nails as needed. Bad sheets are replaced now, and you should be shown what was replaced and why.
The water management layer
This is the part that decides whether the roof leaks in ten years, and it is entirely hidden by the end of the day.
- Ice barrier at the eaves. Ohio's residential code calls for a self-adhering polymer-modified membrane, or two cemented layers of underlayment, running from the lowest edge of the roof to a point at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line, measured along the slope. On steeper roofs the requirement extends further. Valleys and penetrations are also sensible places for it.
- Drip edge at eaves and rakes. Code specifies the profile and lap, and the sequence matters: underlayment goes over the drip edge at eaves, and the drip edge goes over the underlayment at rakes, so water is always directed outward.
- Underlayment across the remaining field.
- New flashings. Step flashing at sidewalls, counter flashing at chimneys, valley metal, and new pipe boots. Reusing old flashing is one of the most common corners cut, and it is where roofs leak.
Shingles and ventilation
Starter course at eaves and rakes, then field shingles up the slope with the manufacturer's nailing pattern, then ridge cap. Ridge vent is cut and installed as part of this, and intake at the soffits is confirmed — exhaust without intake does not ventilate anything.
Cleanup
Debris out, gutters cleared of the material that inevitably lands in them, and a magnet sweep of the lawn, drive, and beds. Then a final walkthrough with you.
What to Do the Day Before
Move vehicles well clear and keep them clear. Take pictures off walls on the upper floor, since tear-off vibration travels. Cover anything stored in the attic — dust and debris fall through the deck once the shingles are off, and it is unavoidable. Plan for pets to be somewhere quiet, because it is genuinely loud.
If you work from home, expect several hours where concentration is difficult. And if the forecast turns, expect a good contractor to postpone rather than open a roof ahead of weather. A crew that tears off into an incoming storm is taking a risk with your house, not theirs.
The Final Walkthrough Checklist
Before you sign anything off, walk it with the crew lead and confirm:
- Gutters are clear of nails and granules.
- The magnet has been run over the lawn, drive, and beds — more than once.
- Flashings at chimney, sidewalls, and valleys are new, not reused.
- Ridge vent runs where it should and soffit intake is unobstructed.
- Any deck replacement was documented and matches what you were told.
- You have the warranty paperwork, and system warranty registration has been submitted where applicable.
Keep the final invoice, permit, and warranty registration together. They are useful later for resale and for insurance, particularly where a carrier's terms depend on roof age.
Questions about your project before it starts? Call (877) 521-7171.
Not Sure Where Your Claim Stands?
We inspect the roof, document what is actually there, and tell you honestly whether you have a claim worth filing.
Common Questions
Most residential roofs are completed in one to two days. Complexity, steep pitch, multiple layers to remove, and weather delays extend that.
Not for the whole job, but being present for the pre-install walkthrough and the final walkthrough is worth arranging.
It gets replaced. Agree the per-sheet price in the contract beforehand so the cost is known rather than negotiated mid-job, and ask to see what was replaced.
Some dust and debris falling through the deck during tear-off is unavoidable. Cover or move anything stored up there before the crew arrives.
Requirements vary by jurisdiction across central Ohio. Confirm who is pulling it and make sure it is closed out, since an open permit can complicate a future sale.
Related Pages
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