Rodney's Roofing & Home Remodeling replaces residential roofs in Chicago. A roof replacement strips the old roof to the wood deck, repairs any bad boards and builds a new roof on top: underlayment, flashing and shingles. Call (773) 676-3830 to have yours looked at.
How a roof replacement goes, step by step
The steps always run in the same order, because each layer has to lap over the one below it.
- Tarps go over the plants and along the walls, and a dumpster is set near the house.
- The old shingles, felt and nails are stripped off, starting at the ridge.
- The bare wood deck is checked, and soft or split boards are cut out and replaced.
- Drip edge goes on at the eaves, then an ice barrier along the roof edge, then underlayment over the rest.
- Flashing is fitted around chimneys, vent pipes and walls.
- Shingles are nailed on in courses from the eave up, and the ridge cap closes the peak.
- The yard, the walks and the alley are swept with a magnet for nails, and the dumpster goes.
The front page of this site runs the same job against a clock: a roof replacement, hour by hour.
When a roof is past repairing
Asphalt shingle roofs commonly last roughly 20 to 30 years, and less when the attic runs hot or the roof drains badly. Age alone is not the test. These are stronger signs.
- Shingles curling, cracking or going bald over most of the roof.
- Leaks in more than one room, or leaks that come back after a repair.
- A roofline that sags, or a deck that feels soft underfoot.
- Two layers of shingles already on the house, which leaves a tear-off as the only way forward.
If the trouble is in one place, a roof repair may be enough.
What changes the price of a new roof
No two roofs cost the same, so this site does not print a price. A quote is built from these parts.
| Part of the quote | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Size, in squares | A square is 100 square feet of roof. Bigger roofs take more material and more labor. |
| Pitch | Steep roofs are slower to work on and need more safety gear. |
| Layers to remove | Two old layers take longer to strip and fill more of the dumpster. |
| Deck repairs | Rotten boards cannot be counted until the old roof is off. |
| Chimneys, valleys and skylights | Every interruption needs flashing and careful cutting. |
| Shingle choice | Heavier, longer-lasting shingles cost more per square. |
Ask for the quote in writing, with the price of deck repairs spelled out per board or per sheet, since that is the part nobody can see in advance. To get a feel for the size of your roof first, use the roof size calculator.
Replacing a roof in Chicago
Chicago is hard on roofs. Winters bring freeze and thaw cycles and ice at the eaves. Summers bring heat, hail and sudden heavy rain. Wind arrives in every season.
The working season for shingles runs from spring into late fall, because the sealing strips on asphalt shingles need warm days to bond. Winter replacements happen, but they wait for dry, mild days.
Roof work in Chicago can need a building permit from the city. Before the job starts, ask who is checking that and who is applying for it.
Roof replacement questions
How long does a roof replacement take?
Many single-family shingle roofs are stripped and replaced in one to three working days. Size, pitch, the number of old layers, deck repairs and weather all change that. Ask for the expected schedule along with your quote.
Can new shingles go over the old ones?
Building codes sometimes allow one new layer over one old layer. It saves the cost of a tear-off, but it hides the deck, adds weight and can shorten the life of the new shingles. A tear-off lets the wood be checked and repaired.
How many bundles of shingles does a roof need?
Shingles are sold in bundles, and most take three bundles to cover one roofing square of 100 square feet. A 15-square roof needs about 45 bundles, plus an allowance for cutting.
What time of year is best for a new roof in Chicago?
Late spring through fall. Shingles seal best in warm weather and there are more dry days to work with. If a roof fails in winter, a temporary repair can often hold it until conditions are right.