Roof replacement in Rochester Hills

A roof replacement means everything comes off — every layer of old shingles and underlayment, down to the wood deck — and a complete new roof system goes on: repaired decking, ice and water shield, underlayment, flashing, ventilation and shingles. Done that way, it should be the last roof most homeowners ever have to think about.

What a full replacement includes

A roof is a system, not just shingles. The parts you never see are the parts that decide whether it lasts 15 years or 30.

• Tear-off to the deck. All old layers come off so the wood underneath can be inspected. Landscaping, siding and gutters are protected, and debris goes straight into a dumpster or trailer.
• Decking repairs. Soft, rotted or delaminated sheathing is replaced before anything new goes down. You’ll see exactly how much was replaced and why.
• Ice and water shield. A self-sealing membrane along the eaves and in the valleys — the places ice dams and heavy runoff push water uphill. Michigan’s residential code requires an ice barrier at the eaves in our climate, and it’s the single best defense against winter leaks.
• Underlayment over the rest of the deck as a second line of protection under the shingles.
• Drip edge and flashing. New metal at the roof edges, and new flashing where the roof meets walls, chimneys and skylights. Old flashing is the most common source of leaks on a “new” roof.
• Pipe boots and vents. Fresh boots on every plumbing vent, and new exhaust and intake vents.
• Ventilation. Balanced intake at the soffits and exhaust at or near the ridge. A lot of premature shingle failure in Southeast Michigan starts with a hot, damp, under-vented attic.
• Shingles. Architectural asphalt shingles are the standard for most homes here — heavier, more wind-resistant and longer-lasting than old three-tab. Impact-resistant shingles are worth a look if hail is a concern.
• Cleanup. Every nail and scrap picked up, with a magnetic sweep of the driveway, lawn and beds before the crew leaves.

Signs it’s time

You don’t need a new roof just because a house is for sale or a neighbor got one. You probably do if you’re seeing several of these:

1. The roof is 20 years old or more, or you don’t know how old it is.
2. Shingles are curling, cupping or cracking, or there are bare patches where the granules have worn away.
3. You’re finding granules in the gutters and at the bottom of downspouts.
4. Shingles keep blowing off in storms.
5. You’ve had leaks in more than one spot, or the same leak keeps coming back after repairs.
6. You can see daylight through the roof boards in the attic, or the roofline sags between rafters.
7. There are already two layers on the roof — the next one has to be a tear-off.

If it’s one isolated problem on an otherwise healthy roof, a repair is usually the better money. Our guide to repair versus replacement walks through how to tell.

How the job goes

1. Free estimate. We look at the roof itself (from on top when it’s safe), the attic, the ventilation and the gutters, and take measurements and photos.
2. Written estimate. Itemized, so you can see what you’re paying for: tear-off, decking allowance, ice and water shield, ventilation, flashing, shingles and cleanup. Compare it line by line with any other quote you get.
3. Permit and scheduling. The permit is pulled with your city or township, materials are ordered, and you get a start date. Michigan weather moves dates sometimes; you’ll hear about it before the morning of.
4. Tear-off and install. One section is opened and dried-in at a time, so the house is never left exposed. Most homes are done in one to two days.
5. Final walk-around. We walk the property with you, go over the work, and finish the cleanup. The final building inspection follows.

Roofs around Rochester Hills

Much of Rochester Hills, Troy, Shelby Township and Sterling Heights was built out between the 1970s and the early 2000s. A lot of those homes are on their second roof now, and some are already carrying two layers. Add Michigan’s freeze–thaw cycles, ice dams and summer hailstorms, and a roof here works harder than the warranty sheet assumes.

That’s why the details above matter more than the shingle color. If you’re budgeting, start with our Michigan roof replacement cost guide, and see architectural vs. 3-tab shingles for the material choice.

J&M Roofing replaces roofs across our whole service area — about 60 miles around Rochester Hills. Book a free estimate and you’ll have a written number for your house, not a ballpark.