On roof install day, the crew arrives in the morning, protects your yard and home, tears the old roof off down to the deck, makes any decking repairs, installs the underlayment, flashing and new shingles, and cleans up with a magnetic sweep before leaving. It is loud from start to finish. To prepare: move cars out of the garage and driveway, take pictures off the walls, cover things in the attic, keep pets and small children away from the work, and turn off the sprinklers. The building department’s final inspection comes after the work is done.
The night before: your checklist
- Cars out. Move vehicles out of the garage and off the driveway; the dumpster or trailer and material drop need the space, and you may not be able to get out once work starts.
- Sprinklers off. Wet lawns make ladders and walkways slippery.
- Walls and shelves. Take pictures, mirrors and fragile items off walls and high shelves. Hammering and tear-off shake the house.
- Attic. Cover stored items with drop cloths or plastic. Dust and grit fall through, especially when old wood shakes come off.
- Patio and yard. Move furniture, grills, planters and toys away from the house. Cover the hot tub and pool, and turn off the pool sweeper; nails travel farther than you expect.
- Pets. Keep them inside in a quiet room, or arrange a day away. The noise is hard on animals.
- Kids. Explain the rules: no going near ladders or the drop zone, and use the door the crew tells you is safe.
- Work from home? Plan calls elsewhere. Conference calls under a tear-off do not work.
Install day, in order
- Arrival and walkthrough. The project manager confirms the shingle and color, reviews any upgrades, and walks the property with you. This is the time to point out sprinkler heads, septic lids, buried lines and anything delicate.
- Protection. Tarps and plywood go over landscaping, the AC condenser, decks and the area by the garage door.
- Tear-off. Old shingles, underlayment, valley metal, drip edge and pipe boots come off and go straight into the container. PPRBD requires removing all existing layers before new asphalt shingles go on.
- Decking check. Soft, rotted or delaminated boards are replaced. If spaced plank decking is found, it must be re-decked or overlaid to meet code.
- Dry-in. Drip edge, ice and water membrane at the eaves, valleys, walls and penetrations, then underlayment across the field. Crews only open what they can dry in before weather or dark.
- Shingles and details. Starter, field shingles, new pipe flashing, step flashing, ventilation and matching hip and ridge cap.
- Clean-up. Gutters cleared, yard picked up, and a rolling magnet run over the lawn, driveway and beds.
Every component on that list, and why it is there, is in the Integrity Roofing System.
After the crew leaves
- Wear shoes outside for a few days. Magnets catch most nails, but a stray one can turn up.
- Walk the roof line with your project manager and point out anything you want addressed.
- The final inspection. The permit holder schedules it; you do not need to be home for an exterior roof inspection in most cases.
- Paperwork. Keep the invoice, the permit card and the manufacturer warranty registration together. If insurance paid for the roof, your insurer may need the final invoice to release recoverable depreciation.
- Shingles look wavy? If it was cold, read when winter-installed shingles seal.
Questions to ask any roofer before you sign
- Who will be on site, and who is my one point of contact?
- Will you pull the permit before materials arrive?
- What do you do if you find bad decking, and how is it priced?
- How do you protect landscaping, the AC unit and the garage door?
- What is your weather plan?
If your house has wood shakes, also read why switching from cedar shake requires roof vents. Wondering about timing? See can you install roofs year-round in Colorado?
Schedule your Colorado Springs roof
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Our crews install to manufacturer specifications under superintendent oversight, with photo documentation along the way. Call (719) 488-2800, book a free roof inspection, or read about roof replacement in Colorado Springs. Financing is available if you want to spread out the cost.
Sources: Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Reroofing Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024) and Hail and Disaster Information.
