A roof replacement is the largest exterior project most homeowners will ever pay for, and almost none of it is visible once the last shingle is down. This page walks through exactly what happens on a First Response job, in the order it happens, so nothing on your property is a surprise.
Before we start
1. Inspection and measurement
We get on the roof. We photograph what we find — granule loss, lifted or creased shingles, hail bruising, failed pipe boots, rusted flashing, soft decking underfoot — and we show you the photos. If the damage looks like a storm event, we tell you then, because that changes who pays.
If you would rather see a ballpark number first, our instant roof estimate measures your roof from aerial survey data and prices it in about sixty seconds.
2. A written, itemised price
You get a fixed written price before anyone schedules anything. It lists the shingle or metal system, tear-off, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, cleanup and disposal. If we expect decking replacement we say so up front and give you the per-sheet rate, because nobody can see under the shingles until they come off.
3. Insurance, if it applies
If the damage is storm related, we work the claim with you from the first adjuster meeting to the final invoice. We are a Class A licensed contractor in Virginia and West Virginia and we deal with adjusters constantly. One thing we will never do is offer to waive or absorb your deductible — that is insurance fraud in Virginia, and a contractor who offers it is telling you what kind of company they are.
4. Materials, colour and scheduling
You pick the product and the colour. We order it, book the dumpster and the crew, and give you a date. Weather moves dates — we will not open a roof we cannot dry in the same day.
How we protect your property
This is the part most homeowners worry about, and rightly so. A tear-off drops several tons of debris off a roof and drives thousands of nails. Here is what we do about it.
- Tarps and plywood over landscaping, shrubs, walkways and anything below the eaves — not just a tarp thrown down, but boards where debris will actually land.
- Windows, siding and gutters shielded where the fall line runs. Gutters take the worst of a tear-off if nobody thinks about them.
- Vehicles moved and the driveway kept clear. We will tell you the night before exactly what needs to move.
- Satellite dishes, solar and antennas documented and detached properly rather than worked around.
- Attic covered where it matters. Tear-off shakes decades of dust loose; if you have stored belongings or an open attic, cover them or tell us and we will.
- Magnetic sweep of the entire property at the end of every working day, not just the last one. Lawn, driveway, flower beds, street.
- Debris hauled the same day where possible. No dumpster sitting on your driveway for a week after we finish.
If something does get damaged, we fix it. That is what being licensed and insured actually means, and it is worth asking every contractor who bids your roof to show you their certificate.
The replacement itself
Tear-off
Every layer comes off down to the bare deck. We do not roof over existing shingles. A layover hides rot, voids most manufacturer warranties, adds weight your framing was not designed for, and costs you the entire job again in a few years.
Deck inspection
With the roof open, we walk every square foot of decking. Soft, delaminated or rotted plywood gets replaced — this is the one line item that can move after work starts, which is why we quote the sheet rate up front instead of surprising you with it.
Ice and water shield
Self-adhering membrane in the valleys, around chimneys and penetrations, and along the eaves. In the Shenandoah Valley, ice damming at the eave is a real winter risk, and this is the layer that stops water that backs up under the shingles from reaching your deck.
Synthetic underlayment
Over the rest of the deck. Synthetic rather than felt: it does not tear in wind, does not wrinkle when it gets wet, and is far safer for the crew to walk on.
Drip edge, starter and flashing
Metal drip edge at eaves and rakes, starter strip along the bottom course, and new flashing at every wall, chimney and penetration. Reusing old flashing is one of the most common corner-cuts in this trade — it is also where most leaks start.
Shingles or standing seam
Installed to the manufacturer’s nailing pattern, which is what your warranty actually depends on. We install TAMKO, GAF and CertainTeed shingle systems and 24-gauge standing seam metal with 17-inch pans.
Ventilation
Ridge vent and correct intake at the soffit. A roof without balanced ventilation cooks its own shingles from underneath and shortens their life by years. If your intake is blocked, we will tell you.
Cleanup and final walkthrough
Magnetic sweep, gutters cleared of debris, and then we walk it with you. You should not have to find anything after we leave.
What to expect as a homeowner
- How long: most residential roofs are a one to two day job. Larger or steeper roofs, and anything with significant decking replacement, can run longer.
- Noise: it is loud. Tear-off is the loudest part. If you work from home or have a baby napping, plan around the first morning.
- Pets: keep them inside. The noise and the crew moving around the perimeter unsettles most animals.
- You do not need to be home, but you do need to be reachable in case we find something in the decking.
- Weather: we will reschedule rather than open a roof we cannot close. A contractor who tears off into a forecast is gambling with your ceilings.
Warranty
You get two separate warranties: the manufacturer’s on the material, and ours on the workmanship. Ask any contractor bidding your roof for both in writing. Material warranties are only valid when the system is installed to spec, which is why the nailing pattern and the ventilation matter as much as the shingle you picked.
Ready to start?
Get a free inspection with photo documentation and a fixed written price — no obligation, and no pressure if the answer turns out to be that your roof has years left in it.
Call or text (540) 252-2440, see your numbers with the instant roof estimate, or request an inspection online.