Most roof calls are a leak, not a roof

The majority of roofing enquiries we take are one wet patch on a ceiling. Very often that is flashing, a boot around a pipe, a valley, or the point where the roof meets a wall or a chimney, and none of those need a new roof. Finding where the water is actually entering costs a fraction of replacing everything above it.

Sometimes the answer really is a replacement. Either way, the roof, the siding, the gutters and the chimney are one system for keeping water out of the house, and a problem in one usually shows up in another. That is why we handle them together rather than as three separate jobs.

What we look at before quoting

Where the water is showing inside, and where it is actually entering, which are rarely the same place
The condition of the shingles: granule loss, curling, cracking, missing tabs
Flashing at every penetration, valley, wall junction and chimney
Whether the deck underneath feels sound underfoot, and where it does not
Ventilation, because a roof that cannot breathe cooks its own shingles from below
Gutters and drainage, since a roof problem is frequently a water-disposal problem

The work, service by service

Roof repair covers leaks, flashing, pipe boots, valleys, wind damage and skylights. It is the first thing we look at, because a repair done properly buys years.

Roof replacement is a full tear off: the old roof comes off, the deck gets inspected, and everything from the ice protection at the eaves to the ridge vent goes back new.

Siding repair and replacement, with the trim, fascia and soffits that go with it. Soffits are half of the roof's ventilation, which is why siding and roofing are best planned together.

Gutters, downspouts and guards. A gutter is the top of a drainage system that ends at your foundation, so where the water goes after the downspout matters as much as the gutter itself.

Chimney repair: repointing, brick replacement, crowns, flashing, and rebuilds from the roofline up when the brick has gone too far to save.

Choosing who works on your roof

Ask every contractor who quotes you for four things in writing: the shingle product line, the underlayment, the flashing detail, and the ventilation plan. Those are where cheap roofing quotes get cheap, and all four are invisible from the ground once the job is done. Ask too how damaged decking will be handled if it is found, and what the cleanup includes. A contractor who will not put those on paper is telling you something.

Common questions

How much does a roofing contractor charge?

It depends on the job more than the contractor. Size, pitch, how many layers come off, the state of the deck, the number of penetrations and valleys, and access for a dumpster all move the number. We measure on site and give you a written price. Our pricing page explains what drives it.

Can you just repair it instead of replacing it?

Often, and we would rather. A leak at a flashing, a valley or a pipe boot is a repair. Widespread granule loss, curling across the field or a deck that has gone soft is a replacement. We will tell you which one you have.

How do I pick a roofing contractor?

Get the scope in writing, not just a price: the product line, the underlayment, the flashing detail, the ventilation plan, how rotten decking is handled, and the cleanup. Compare quotes on those, because two numbers for two different scopes are not a comparison.