Our quick “we’re getting a new roof” post on Thursday generated a surprising number of questions, so we wanted to follow up with more details and before, during, and after photos. First, here’s our old roof:
Up close you can see it was a flat, grid-like, worn twenty-year roof with almost no visual dimension. It was clearly on its last legs and likely to start leaking at any time.
And here’s the brand-new roof (forgive the inconsistent lighting — we don’t control the sun):
One small win: we negotiated a good price and also asked the crew if they could haul away some demolition junk and a pile of old rotten wood that had been sitting in our garage. They agreed, which saved us the cost and hassle of hiring someone separately. If you can combine tasks while hiring a contractor, it can be worth asking — within reason — to bundle small jobs together. We did offer to carry the bags out and load them ourselves, and John even climbed a ladder to toss about twenty garbage bags into the crew’s dumpster.
We also replaced two tall, outdated whirly-gigs with low-profile roof vents. The crew installed them for $15 each, which modernized the look of the roof line for just $30 total. We considered adding a ridge vent for extra ventilation, but friends and neighbors who had them installed didn’t notice a difference in airflow. Our home already has side vents and awning vents, so with the two new top vents our attic ventilation is performing well.
We love a progress shot, so here’s the crew working on the roof in hot conditions while we kept an eye on things inside the house.
Now, answers to the questions you sent after our initial post:
How did we save for it? We’d been saving for over two years because we knew the roof would eventually need replacement. When we moved in back in 2007, our inspector estimated the roof had about three to five years left. We also found water collecting in the glass cover of a ceiling fan in the sunroom, which confirmed there were compromised areas that needed immediate attention. We prioritized the roof before hurricane season and other severe weather could accelerate damage.
Did we get a deal because of our blog? We were asked whether the company offered a discount because of our blog. In truth, we did not ask for or receive a special rate as a result of blog exposure. We were offered free roofs by two companies but declined. When we get estimates we don’t mention the blog; we call several local businesses and those recommended by friends and family, and we make a decision based on quality, price, and trust. We prefer to pay for services like any other homeowner would so the work we receive is the same service they provide to everyone. The contractor we chose is a fully insured, family-owned local business with decades of experience.
Why didn’t we do it ourselves? While we enjoy DIY projects, we decided this one was best left to professionals. Our roof was close to failing, and improper work could have led to leaks and damage inside the house. Additionally, our sunroom’s flat roof presented challenges that even some professionals found tricky during estimates. After getting multiple estimates, we chose a reputable, insured contractor who offered a fair price and the expertise to handle the project safely.
What kind of roof did you choose? We chose a 30-year dimensional roof using GAF shingles to add more definition and durability compared to the old 20-year shingles. Many experts recommended a dimensional roof for its appearance and demand in the resale market. While a cheaper 20-year flat option would have saved roughly a thousand dollars up front, the 30-year dimensional roof offers longer life and better long-term value. For color we picked Pewter Gray after driving around the neighborhood to find homes with similar brick and shingle combinations that we liked.
Why not a lighter or white roof for energy savings? We researched light-colored, reflective roofing options, but experts told us our heavily wooded, shaded property would not benefit enough from a reflective roof to justify the tradeoffs. Light roofs in wooded areas tend to show stains and discoloration from falling debris, while darker shingles hide stains better and can maintain appearance and longevity in shaded settings. In our case, the darker shingle was actually the more sustainable choice because it helps the roof look better and last longer.
Why not solar panels? Our lot is too shaded for solar panels to provide meaningful energy savings, so solar wasn’t a practical option for us.
Why not metal or slate? We received quotes for metal and slate because we love their look, but those materials were significantly more expensive — often two to ten times the cost of shingles. They would have also been out of step with neighborhood norms, making it unlikely we’d recoup the expense. Though beautiful, metal and slate were not right for our budget or our area.
There you have it: the story of our new roof and answers to your most common questions. If you’re planning a roof replacement, get multiple estimates, consider long-term value over the cheapest short-term option, and work with a reputable, insured contractor. Anyone else replacing a roof or brave enough to DIY one? We’d love to hear your experience.