What to Expect During a Roof Replacement: Day by Day

Most homeowners have never watched a roof get replaced. Here's exactly what happens — so there are no surprises, and you know what a professional crew looks like versus a sloppy one.

Before day one: prep

Move cars out of the driveway, cover items in the attic with tarps (dust falls through), take pictures off walls (vibration), and let your neighbors know — it'll be loud. We handle permits and dumpster placement.

Day 1: tear-off

Crew arrives early, tarps go over landscaping. Old shingles come off in sections — this is the loud, messy day. Decking gets inspected as it's exposed; any rotted sheets are replaced (you approved the per-sheet price in writing beforehand). By end of day, underlayment is going on.

Day 2: install and finish

Drip edge, underlayment, starter course, then shingles — bottom to top, valley to ridge. Flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights is replaced (not reused). Ridge vent and caps go on last. Then the part that separates pros from everyone else: full magnetic sweep of your yard for nails, gutters cleaned, everything hauled away.

How to judge the crew

Did they tarp your landscaping? Did a supervisor walk the job? Did they magnet-sweep twice? Did they show you photos of the decking before covering it? If yes to all four, you hired right.

Common questions

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