Getting a new roof is one of the most significant and important investments you can make in your home. It’s a decision that protects your family, your property, and your peace of mind for decades to come. But the period between signing the contract and admiring the finished product can feel like a mystery. What exactly happens on installation day? Will it be loud? What should you prepare for? Here is your Installation Guide for that day.
At Nailed It Roofing, we believe a transparent process leads to a happy homeowner. We want you to feel confident and informed every step of the way. That’s why we’ve created this detailed installation guide to demystify the asphalt shingle roof installation process. From the initial prep work to the final nail, here’s exactly what you can expect when our professional team arrives at your New Jersey home.
Installation Guide, Phase 1: The Preparation Before We Arrive
This installation guide with help create a smooth installation day begins long before the first shingle comes off. This foundational phase ensures that we, and you, are fully prepared.
1. The Consultation and Material Selection: It starts with our initial meeting, where we assess your current roof, discuss your needs, and provide a detailed, no-surprise estimate. This is also when you’ll make the exciting decision about your new shingles. We’ll guide you through the various styles (like architectural or 3-tab) and a wide array of color options to perfectly complement your home’s exterior. We’ll consider your home’s style, your budget, and the specific demands of New Jersey’s climate.
2. Scheduling and Permitting: Once you’ve made your choice, we’ll schedule your installation. We handle all the necessary logistics, including securing any required permits from your local New Jersey municipality. This is a crucial step that ensures your new roof is fully compliant with local building codes—a detail that protects you and your home’s value.
3. A Homeowner’s Prep Checklist: To ensure the safety of your property and our crew, we’ll ask you to do a few things before we arrive:
- Clear the Perimeter: Please move any vehicles from the driveway and away from the house. Relocate patio furniture, grills, planters, and any valuable garden ornaments to a safe distance.
- Protect Valuables Inside: The installation process, particularly the tear-off, can create vibrations. We recommend taking down any pictures, mirrors, or delicate items from your walls and shelves, especially on the top floor.
- Cover Items in the Attic: Dust and small debris can sometimes find their way into the attic space. Covering any stored items with tarps or plastic sheeting is a wise precaution.
- Inform Your Neighbors: A quick heads-up to your neighbors is always a courteous gesture. Letting them know about the upcoming work and potential for noise can go a long way in maintaining good relations.
- Plan for Pets and Children: For their safety and comfort, it’s best to have a plan to keep children and pets indoors and away from the work area throughout the day.
Phase 2: The Main Event – Your Roof Installation Guide
This is where the transformation happens. Our team operates with a systematic approach designed for efficiency, quality, and safety.
Step 1: Site Arrival and Protection Our crew will arrive early and begin by meticulously preparing the site. This is a non-negotiable step for us. We lay down heavy-duty tarps over your landscaping, shrubs, and along the sides of your house to protect them from falling debris. Your property will be treated with the utmost respect from start to finish.
Step 2: The Tear-Off This is often the loudest and most dramatic part of the process. We will systematically remove every layer of your old roof, right down to the wooden decking. While some contractors may offer to lay new shingles over old ones (an “overlay”), we strongly advise against it. A complete tear-off is the only way to properly inspect the roof deck for damage and ensure your new roofing system performs as it should.
Step 3: Decking Inspection and Repair With the old roof gone, we conduct a critical inspection of the roof’s wood decking (the plywood or OSB sheathing). We look for any signs of water damage, rot, soft spots, or delamination. In New Jersey’s climate, with its humid summers and snowy winters, this step is vital. If we find any compromised sections, we will replace them with new, solid sheathing. This creates a sound, secure foundation for your new roof and is essential for its longevity. We will always communicate any necessary repairs with you before proceeding.
Step 4: Installing the Weather Shields Now we begin to build your new roofing system from the deck up. First, we install a drip edge, a metal flashing that directs water away from the fascia and into the gutters.
Next comes the ice and water shield. This is a specialized, self-adhering waterproof membrane installed along the most vulnerable areas of your roof—the eaves, valleys, and around chimneys and skylights. This provides a critical secondary layer of protection against ice dams in the winter and wind-driven rain during a summer nor’easter.
Step 5: Laying the Underlayment Over the rest of the roof deck, we roll out a high-quality synthetic roof underlayment. This acts as another layer of water resistance, protecting the wood decking from any moisture that might find its way past the shingles. Modern synthetic underlayments offer superior tear resistance and longevity compared to traditional asphalt felt paper.
Step 6: Installing Your New Asphalt Shingles This is where you see your vision come to life. Our skilled installers begin laying the new shingles, starting from the bottom and working their way up. We use a precise, code-compliant nailing pattern to ensure every shingle is securely fastened and can withstand New Jersey’s high winds. We pay meticulous attention to detail, ensuring straight lines and a uniform, beautiful appearance.
Step 7: Flashing and Ventilation Proper flashing is key to a leak-proof roof. We install new, custom-fit metal flashing around all penetrations—chimneys, vent pipes, and skylights. This metalwork is expertly integrated with the shingle layers to create a watertight seal.
At the same time, we ensure your attic has proper ventilation by installing a ridge vent or other appropriate vents. A well-ventilated attic helps regulate temperature, reduces moisture buildup, and can lower your energy bills while extending the life of your new roof.
Installation Guide, Phase 3: The Final Touches and Impeccable Cleanup
Our job isn’t done until your property is pristine.
1. The Meticulous Cleanup: We take cleanup as seriously as the installation itself. All debris from the old roof and installation process is loaded into a dumpster and hauled away. Our crew will then perform a thorough cleaning of your entire property. The most important part of this is a magnetic sweep of your lawn, flower beds, and driveway to find and remove any stray nails.
2. The Final Walkthrough: Once the cleanup is complete, our site foreman will conduct a final inspection of the roof and your property. We will then walk you through the finished project, ensuring you are 100% satisfied with our work and answering any questions you may have.
Choosing to install a new roof is a major decision, but the process doesn’t have to be stressful. By understanding each step and working with a professional, communicative team like Nailed It Roofing, you can feel confident that your investment is in good hands. Call us today, and we hope this installation guide will help you during this process.
