The roof is the most important part of your home. Without it, your family would be in a world of hurt.
This may seem obvious, but it bears repeating because we too often neglect this crucial part of our homes. When it comes time to replace it, the temptation is to settle for subpar service or try to install it DIY style to save a few bucks. But this only leaves your home vulnerable to more costly problems in the future.
The most important part of your home deserves better than that. You need a proven roofing process from a diligent contractor to produce a beautiful and long-lasting roof.
Our experienced team has been performing this service throughout the Midwest for decades. What makes our work the best you can get? In this post, we’ll walk you through our roofing process step by step to show you why we’re a roofing company you can trust.
Step 1: A Free and Thorough Initial Inspection
A great new roof starts with an incredibly detailed initial inspection. At Renowned Building Solutions, we offer this service to our customers free of charge.
Now, we realize most roofing companies offer free estimates. However, the accuracy of the estimate depends on how thorough and honest the company is with you. For example, if a company were to take a quick glance and give you a ballpark price, that estimate likely wouldn’t be what you wind up paying.
Instead, at Renowned, our inspections are as in-depth as possible to set you up for success. Here’s what you can expect when we inspect your roof:
Looking for Damage from the Ground
Our inspection will begin at the ground level of your home. We’ll walk around your house’s exterior to check for evidence of damage from any recent storms. Marks on siding, windows, fences and outdoor furniture all indicate the possibility of hail damage. So, we’ll look closely and take photos of anything we find.
We’ll also ask if you’ve noticed any problems in the home, such as leaks or water stains. Finding out about these issues will help us know what to look for when we get up on the roof.
Examining the Roofing Materials
Next, we’ll get on the roof and check if it’s up to code. First, we’ll see how many layers of shingles are on the roof (hint: anything more than one layer is far too many). Another clear indicator of code violations is if your roof doesn’t have any ice and water shield on it.
Once we have a clear idea of the overall quality of the roof, we’ll take a close look at all the roofing system components. This includes checking for:
- Dents on flashing or vents from hail
- Impurities in the roofing material
- Worn-out or cracked caulking
- Signs of animal damage or feces
Our goal in this step is to know your roof better than anyone. We will take hundreds of photos and record videos if necessary to document everything we’re seeing up there. We’ll also measure the roof so that we’ll know how much roofing material is necessary for the repairs.
Helping You Understand the Situation
After we complete the inspection, we’ll go over our findings with you to paint a clear picture of your situation. We’ll give you our honest take on whether you need a few repairs or an entire replacement and if we think you could get insurance coverage for the project. We promise never to suggest more expensive repairs than what you need.
We also encourage you to ask any questions you have during this discussion. And if you’re intending to file a claim, let us know the details about any past claims you’ve filed. The more questions you ask and information you provide, the better we can serve you.
We’ll make note of and photograph all evidence of roof damage we find.
Step 2: Getting You Insurance Coverage
Part of our honest initial assessment is determining whether we think you should file an insurance claim. Our team has multiple decades of experience working with insurance companies, so we’re aware of what types of claims are typically successful. So, if we think you have a good shot at it, we’ll let you know. But we won’t stop there.
Instead, our team will help you file a claim and work hard to get you the coverage you deserve!
Our team will supply you with all the information you need and answer any questions you have about the claim filing process.
Once you file the claim, an insurance adjuster will come to your home to assess the damage, and we’ll be there to meet them. Using the information collected from our initial inspection, we’ll present the adjuster with all the evidence that supports your claim.
We’ve settled thousands of claims with insurance adjusters over the years, so we know how to handle these interactions. You can rest assured that our team will fight on your behalf to get you everything you’re entitled to.
After the adjuster meeting, you’ll receive the approved payment and scope of the covered work within 7-10 days. Then we can move on to the fun part: planning your roof replacement project!
Step 3: Discussing the Plan and Answering Your Questions
Of course, you may not want to file a claim or qualify for insurance for your roof replacement. In that case, we will give you an estimate, and if you choose to go with us, we will move on to this step.
So, whether the insurance company is paying or you’re paying out of pocket, you will enjoy this helpful planning stage.
To begin, our team will help you select the colors and materials you’d like for your new roof. You’ll be able to select from a wide variety of options from industry-leading brands like Certainteed, Owens Corning, IKO, GAF and Mulehide.
We’ll also discuss the timelines for the project and any extra work or upgrades you would like included.
After this, you’ll receive a detailed four-page contract covering everything included in the project. We’ll go through it with you and answer any questions you have so you’re clear on what to expect. You can take your time to review this contract and request any changes to it before signing.
Step 4: Detailed Preparation for the Installation
Once you’ve signed the contract, the project will move into the pre-production stage. During this stage, our team will go the extra mile to ensure that you’re ready for the project to begin.
We’ll schedule a date with you for the project to start. The typical wait period between the contract signing and the project beginning is two weeks. During this time, we’ll get your materials ready and prepare the roofing team for your build.
You’ll receive a call from our team the week of the project to let you know when we’ll drop off the materials. Usually, we drop them off the day before the project is set to begin. We encourage you to give us specific instructions for where you would like us to leave the materials (i.e., which side of the driveway/house).
We’ll also help you plan for what to do during the project. A typical roof replacement takes 1-2 days, and we recommend you be out of the home during construction. It’s perfectly safe to be inside while we’re building, but it probably won’t be the most enjoyable experience because of the construction noise.
Here are some other preparations we recommend making for the project:
- Move all lawn furniture, decorations and potted plants away from the home.
- Alert us of any important items you can’t move so we can protect them.
- Remove all cars from the garage and driveway so that we don’t block you in.
Our team will take special care to tarp over any plants and other items close to the home to protect them from falling debris. We can’t guarantee all items will be safe from damage, but we’ll be very intentional about caring for your property as if it were our own.
Step 5: Roofing Process Done the Right Way
When it comes time for the project itself, our team always follows the best roofing process step by step. We have quality control representatives who frequently visit each project to hold our teams accountable to this high standard.
Here’s a snapshot of our roof replacement process:
Remove the Old Roofing Material
Professional roof replacement starts with removing all old roofing material down to the decking. Don’t let any roofing company try to tell you otherwise. Some contractors will install the new roof over the old roofing materials to save time. But cutting corners like this puts the structural integrity of your roof at risk!
Removing all old roofing materials is also crucial for ensuring a new roof will look great. Roofing shingles look their best when installed on a flat, clean surface. That’s why our company always gets rid of everything to start from bare decking.
Inspect and Replace Bad Decking
Another reason to remove all old roofing material is it gives us the opportunity to inspect the quality of your roof decking.
Over time, the decking on homes can rot and deteriorate. If we find any of this on your roof, we will remove it and replace it with new decking for a strong and sturdy roof.
Install Drip Edge
Next, we will start installing the roofing system by putting in the drip edge. This thin metal barrier goes along the eaves of the roof to protect the underlying roof components and fascia from water infiltration.
Put Down Ice and Water Shield
Another important protective component that goes on next is the underlayment known as the ice and water shield. This sticky fabric lays flat over the edges and valleys of the roof to protect them from water sneaking beneath the shingles and leaking into the home. Ice and water shield is especially effective at preventing ice dams in the winter.
Our team takes great care to lay the ice and water shield as flat and straight as possible. It typically sticks to roofs on its own on hot days, but we can also ensure it stays put by nailing it if the weather is cold.
Add Roofing Felt
We next apply roofing felt over the rest of the decking to further protect it from water damage. This additional layer also helps protect the roof from damaging UV rays and wind and increases its fire rating.
Properly installing roofing felt is tricky because different types of roofs call for different installation techniques. For example, how much the rows of felt should overlay each other depends on the slope of the roof. Our team is aware of these best practices and will install your felt in the best way for your roof.
First, Install Starter Shingles
Once we’ve laid the roofing felt flush against the decking, the roof is ready for shingles. But before we can put the main shingles on, we must first add the starter shingles.
We install these thin strips of shingle material along the edges of the roof to provide enhanced water and wind protection. Starter shingles also help with the final appearance of the roof because they make it easier for us to lay the main shingles in a straight and orderly fashion.
Proper shingle installation requires straight lines and precise overlapping.
Next, Install Regular Shingles
Installing shingles is one of the easiest steps of the roof installation process. It’s much trickier to get the layers beneath the shingles right. So, this step feels like a breath of fresh air for our professional roofing team.
Still, installing shingles takes concentration and precision. Each layer of shingles must overlap the previous layer precisely, and we are careful to place the nails on the right part of the shingle. Slight mistakes could lead to improper installation and problems down the road.
Cap the Ridges with Special Shingles
After all the shingles are on, we cap off the project by putting special shingles over the ridges of the roof. These shingles are thicker to provide extra protection for this most vulnerable area. Because of this, we use extra long nails to ensure these shingles are firmly in place.
Install Flashing
Next, we’ll install metal flashing around all chimneys, windows, pipes and vents. This protective covering keeps water from getting into the gaps between these protrusions and the roof decking.
Seal All Exposed Nails
A final crucial task is to examine all shingles for any exposed nails. There usually aren’t many since we always install the shingles in the proper overlapping fashion to conceal all nails. However, if we find any, we cover them with strong sealant to ensure the roof is watertight.
Step 6: Leaving Your Property Better Than We Found It
Our step-by-step roofing process is not complete once the roof is installed. On the contrary, our team doesn’t consider the job done until you’re 100% satisfied with the final product.
For this reason, we’ll take great care to leave your property cleaner than we found it. We’ll also review the completed project with you to make sure you’re totally pleased. Here’s a snapshot of how each of these processes works:
Careful Post-Project Cleanup
When it comes time to clean up, our philosophy is to treat your property better than we’d treat our own. We hold ourselves accountable for this by taking a picture of a home before we begin a project and then making it look even better afterward.
There are several ways we do this, including:
- Using a leaf blower to clear out the gutters and all scraps from the roof
- Disposing of all roofing materials in a trailer and hauling them away
- Sweeping all debris off the deck and driveway
- Picking up loose roofing nails with a magnetic roller
- Moving any decorations and furniture back to their original spots
As a result, you will not only have a great-looking new roof you can enjoy but a clean yard to admire it from.
Review the Completed Project with You
Our quality control inspector will take photos of the completed project and review it with you to check that you’re totally satisfied. You can let us know if you see any issues, and we’ll make the necessary modifications. We won’t consider it done until you’re entirely happy with it. And if you experience any issues with it in the future, you can call us, and we’ll be back as soon as possible.
Want This Proven Process for Your New Roof?
As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into the professional roofing process step by step. At Renowned Building Solutions, we don’t cut any corners in this process because your satisfaction is our number one priority. So, you’ll receive trustworthy, hardworking service from us every step of the way.
Are you experiencing issues with your roof and suspecting it might be time for a repair or replacement? We provide this residential roofing service in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and North Carolina. Please call 844-736-6961 to get a free inspection and estimate.
