Our quick “we’re getting a new roof” post on Thursday generated so many questions that we wanted to share the full story with before, during, and after photos. First, here’s what the old roof looked like up close:
It was a flat, grid-like, weathered roof — the kind that looks tired and lacks dimension. It had been on the house for about twenty years and was clearly near the end of its life; we were worried it could start leaking at any time.
And here’s the new roof (forgive the uneven lighting — we can’t control the sun):
We were proud to negotiate a good price and also arranged for the crew to haul away a pile of demolition debris and some old rotten wood that had been sitting in our garage. When the roofers were loading the old shingles into their dumpster, we asked if they could take our extra stuff as well. That saved us the time and expense of hiring a separate hauling service.
We also negotiated a modest price for two low-profile roof vents to replace the old metal whirly-gigs that stuck up noticeably from the back of the roof. The vents we chose are much lower profile and more modern in appearance. We considered adding a ridge vent for increased airflow, but based on advice from friends and neighbors and the fact that our home already has side and awning vents, we decided the two new top vents provided adequate attic ventilation.
For progress shots, here are the crew working on the roof during a hot day. They worked efficiently and professionally while we kept an eye on things from inside.
How did we save for the roof? We’ve been setting money aside for over two years because we knew replacement was coming. When we bought the house in 2007, the inspector estimated the existing roof had only three to five years left. We also noticed water collecting in the glass cover of a ceiling fan in the sunroom, which signaled compromised areas that needed attention. Saving in advance allowed us to act before hurricane season or heavy storms made the situation worse.
Did we get a discount because of our blog? We never mention our blog when we get estimates. We called local companies and those recommended by friends and family, and picked the best fit at the best price. While some contractors have told us they get business from our site, we did not receive special pricing or free work in exchange for publicity. On a couple of occasions we were offered a free roof but we declined; we prefer to hire as any homeowner would so there’s no expectation of preferential treatment. That approach helps ensure the work we receive is the same quality everyone else would get.
Why not DIY? We love many DIY projects, but we decided not to replace the roof ourselves. We had limited time before potential leaks could damage the house, and our sunroom’s flat roof proved tricky; even some professionals were stumped. After getting multiple estimates we chose a fully insured, family-owned local company with many years in the business. One estimate was nearly $10,000, while the company we selected quoted roughly half that, so shopping around paid off.
What kind of roof did we choose? We chose a 30-year dimensional shingle roof (GAF shingles) to add depth and durability compared to the previous 20-year shingles. Although 20-year shingles can save money up front, dimensional shingles are more popular, often improve curb appeal for resale, and can extend the time before the next replacement is needed. For color we selected Pewter Gray after looking at similar brick homes in our area and deciding it complemented our house best.
Why not a light-colored or white roof for energy efficiency? We researched reflective roofing options, but experts told us our lot is too shaded and wooded for a lighter roof to produce measurable cooling benefits. Light roofs in heavily treed areas also show stains and discoloration more readily, while darker shingles tend to hide that wear and help the roof look better longer. In our situation, the darker option was the more practical and sustainable choice.
Why not solar panels? The same shading issue that affected roof-color choice also rules out effective solar generation for our property. There simply isn’t enough consistent sun exposure across the roof to make solar panels worthwhile.
Why not metal or slate? We obtained quotes for metal and slate because we love their look, but they cost significantly more — often two to ten times the price of shingles — and would have been out of step with the neighborhood. Since most local homes have shingle roofs, a premium material would be unlikely to be recouped at resale. For those reasons it wasn’t the right decision financially for our house.
So that’s our new roof story: planned savings, careful contractor selection, a practical material and color choice, and a clean installation with debris hauled away. If you’ve recently tackled a roof project — DIY or hired — we’d love to hear how it went.