Roofing Process from Start to Finish

The Roofing Process

Tear Off - Our crews use various techniques and tools to remove the existing shingles. The deck surface, and any other wood, will be inspected and according to Iowa and Illinois building code any damaged or rotten wood must be replaced. Keep in mind that many reroofs will require tearing off more than 1 layer of shingles.

Mold / Rot Inspection - there are many different stages of rot. Once rot has started it can be stopped by proper ventilation (unless it is past a certain point). Mold cannot survive in a dry, cool environment so the dryer and cooler your attic the better for mold remediation and the better for the temperature of the decking (which allows the shingles to last longer). If your attic maintains a hot moist environment the wood decking and rafters will not last long, but if you properly ventilate the attic the moisture and heat will have a place to escape, and the shingles won't "bake" from the high temperatures in the attic. Ice Dams are also prevented by proper ventilation and insulation of the attic. A hot attic allows the snow on your roof to melt unevenly and freeze at the eves, water will then dam and wick up the shingles, eventually leaking into your attic.

Pre-Shingle Installation - Shingling requires a proper nail surface, once that has been established with decking we will start the install. First we will install an Ice and Water shield two feet into heated air space (1-3 rows up the eves) and up each valley; once exposed to proper heat, this material seals around every nail and to the deck in order to prevent ice dams. The next step in the installation process is to install either 15# or 30# felt depending on the pitch of your roof. This material is a secondary water barrier, felt is also protection for the shingles as certain wood saps can blister the shingles. Felt also helps your roof maintain a Class A fire rating.

Shingle Installation - With most roofing installations we will need to replace metal flashings such as drip edge, wall flashings, and chimney/skylight flashings...so these will be done in conjunction with the shingle install. The shingle installation starts at the eves and our crews work their way up the ridge. On almost all of our reroofs we recommend a shingle over ridge vent which allows for the maximum attic air flow. Shingles are only one part of a roof that is why we call it a system, all of the pieces put together make a roof last the life of the warranty. Please call today if you have more questions about EIC's shingling process.