Roof Replacement & Re-Roofing, what is involved
- Complete tear-off to the deck
- Deck inspection and rot repair
- Ice-and-water membrane at eaves and valleys
- All new flashings and drip edge
- Corrected intake and exhaust ventilation
- Permit, cleanup and written warranty
Tear-off, not roof-over
Layering new shingles over old is cheaper on the day and worse in every other respect: the deck cannot be inspected, the new shingles run hotter and fail earlier, flashings get reused rather than replaced, and the additional dead load is carried by framing that was never designed for it. Complete tear-off is the standard for a reason.
What older Pennsylvania homes hide
This state has some of the oldest housing stock in the country. Tear-off routinely reveals spaced plank decking rather than plywood, brittle felt, a previous layer that was roofed over, or rot at the eaves from years of ice damming. None of that is a disaster, but a quote with no allowance and no unit price for deck repair is a quote that will grow.
Ventilation is part of the job
A roof with exhaust at the ridge but blocked intake at the soffits is not ventilated; it just has a hole at the top. Correcting intake ventilation during a replacement is what keeps the new roof from cooking itself and what most reduces future ice damming. Ask specifically how intake will be handled.
What belongs in the written quote
Shingle brand and product line, underlayment type, ice-and-water membrane locations, drip edge, all new flashings (not reused), ventilation work, deck repair allowance with a unit price, debris removal and magnet sweep, the permit, the workmanship warranty in years, and the payment schedule. In Pennsylvania a home improvement contract over $500 must be in writing, and you generally have three business days to cancel one signed at your home.
Keystone Storm Roof Network is an independent directory and referral service. We do not perform this work: we connect you with independent Pennsylvania contractors who do.