What happens on roof replacement day

Most single-family asphalt roofs in the Hartford area are replaced in one or two working days. Here is how a typical job runs, so nothing on the day comes as a surprise.

The day before

• Clear the driveway for the dumpster and material delivery. In Hartford and other dense neighborhoods, ask whether a street permit is needed for a dumpster.
• Move cars out of the garage and away from the house.
• Move patio furniture, grills and planters away from the walls.
• Take down wall hangings on the top floor; hammering on the roof shakes walls.
• Cover things in the attic with old sheets. Dust and debris will fall through gaps in old board decking.
• Tell your neighbors, especially if the dumpster or ladders will be near their property line.

Replacement day, step by step

1. Arrival and setup. The crew lays tarps over plantings and the yard, leans plywood over windows and AC units, and sets up ladders and a debris chute.
2. Tear-off. Old shingles, underlayment and flashing come off down to the deck. This is the loudest part, and it usually starts early.
3. Deck inspection. With the roof bare, rotted or soft boards are replaced. This is when you may get a call about extra decking work, which should be handled as a written change to the contract.
4. Drip edge and eave membrane. Metal edge goes on, and the ice-barrier membrane goes down along the eaves and in valleys.
5. Underlayment. The rest of the deck is covered, which makes the house watertight even before shingles go on.
6. Flashing. New step flashing, chimney flashing and pipe boots are installed as the shingles go up.
7. Shingles and ridge vent. Courses go on from the eaves up, finished with ridge vent and cap shingles.
8. Cleanup. Debris goes into the dumpster, and the crew runs magnetic sweepers over the driveway, lawn and beds to pick up nails.

After the crew leaves

• Walk the property with the foreman and look for missed nails and debris.
• Check the attic after the next rain.
• Get the paperwork: the final inspection or closed permit, the product details and the contractor's workmanship terms in writing.
• Pay the final installment only when the work is complete and the inspection, if required, has passed.