Roof Replacement Made Simple

It’s perfectly normal and understandable to feel some anxiety when considering a roof replacement. The roof installation process can seem overwhelming when thinking about everything that goes into the process. We at Odyssey Contracting aim to have all our Raleigh Durham area customers aware of and comfortable with what is about to take place. If you are considering a roof replacement and want more clarity, here are the nine steps that you can expect to see during the process.

1. Deciding to replace – As much as we’d love to have your business, sometimes the time is not right. If some shingles blew off in a storm, but the majority of the roof is in good condition, a repair could be all that’s needed. This is especially true if the roof was only installed 15 years ago or earlier.
2. Selecting a roofer – Once you’ve determined to replace rather than repair, it’s time to select an experienced, trustworthy roofer to get the job done. We also are happy to enter the process even earlier when you are trying to decide whether to repair or replace. Regardless, at a minimum, you should try to find a roofer with a good reputation who is insured, licensed and offers competitive prices.
3. Picking the roofing materials – Your roofer will help you with this decision based on your needs, budget and style preferences. There are many types of roofing materials, the most common being asphalt shingles. Other options are wood shake, stone slate, metal, and clay tile.
4. Eliminating the old roof – Before you can start installing your new roof, you’ll need to have us remove the old one. We take everything off down to the plywood underneath. This includes not only the shingles but the tar paper.
5. Inspecting wood for leaks and rotting – Now that we’ve stripped everything down to the plywood, we can get a good idea of what the condition of the underlying framing is. If there are rotten boards or holes and gaps, these will need to be fixed before proceeding with the roof installation.
6. Installing important barriers – Once the plywood layer has been inspected and is in good condition, certain moisture barriers will need to be put down before the shingles are laid on the roof. An underlayment, like synthetic felt, will need to cover the entire roof surface. Flashing also needs to be placed along seams to prevent leaking. Upgrades could include a drip edge and ice and water shield for extra protection.
7. Putting down new shingles or other roofing material – Seven steps in and we’re finally ready to put the shingles or other roofing down. A “starter course” is placed along the rakes and eaves before the rest of the shingles are installed. Laying the shingles can be a quick process as our experienced installers snap chalk lines, attach the roofing and secure it in place.
8. Adding the finishing touches – After the shingles are down, a few last details need to be taken care of. One example, ridge vents, are placed along the peak to allow for proper ventilation.
9. Cleaning up and breaking down – Once these last touches are done, it’s time for us to make sure we aren’t leaving nails or trash like shingle packaging around the property. Then we pack up our tools and equipment and step back and admire our work.

Hopefully, you found these 9 steps helpful in your roof replacement process.

Odyssey Contracting provides roof replacements in the Triangle

We would be honored to help walk you through these steps. It can be daunting to realize you need to have the roof torn off of your home and replaced, but we work hard to make it a comfortable and easy process. Odyssey Contracting serves Clayton, Fuquay-Varina, Raleigh, Garner, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest, but also as far west as Greensboro and as far east as Fayetteville. Don’t forget to follow us on social media for our latest deals and specials & events!