You’ve decided the old shingles have to go. Maybe hail finished them off, or they’ve been curling and dropping granules for a few years. Now you’re facing a big project, and the hard part isn’t picking a color. It’s knowing the shingle roof installation in Denver you’re paying for will be done right, on the parts of the roof you’ll never see.
That’s a fair worry. Two roofs can look identical from the street, and one will hold up through years of hail, wind and snow while the other starts leaking at the first ice dam. The difference is in the steps.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified roofing contractor, licensed and insured, and in business since 2017. We install shingle roofs on homes and garages across the Denver metro, and many residential roofs are done in a single day. Your inspection and estimate are free. Call 720-902-6940 to get started.
What happens during a shingle roof installation in Denver
Here’s what a proper installation looks like, in order. Use it as a checklist when you’re comparing estimates.
1. Tear-off
The old shingles, underlayment and worn flashing come off down to the wood deck. Tarps protect the yard and the sides of the house from falling debris.
2. Deck check and repair
With the deck exposed, soft, rotted or delaminated boards get found and replaced. This is the one step you can’t see once the roof is finished, which is exactly why it matters.
3. Ice-and-water barrier
A waterproof membrane goes along the eaves, in the valleys and around chimneys and other openings. On Denver roofs this is important. When snow melts and refreezes at the cold roof edge, the ice dam pushes water back up the slope, and this barrier is what keeps it out of the house.
4. Underlayment and drip edge
Synthetic or felt underlayment covers the rest of the deck as a second line of defense. Metal drip edge at the eaves and rakes guides water into the gutters and protects the edges of the deck.
5. Starter strip and shingles
A starter row at the edges seals down the first course so wind can’t get under it. Then the shingles go on, each one nailed in the spot the manufacturer specifies. Nails set too high, too low or driven crooked are a common reason shingles blow off in strong mountain winds.
6. Flashing
New flashing goes in at walls, chimneys and valleys, and new pipe boots go on the plumbing vents. Reusing old, bent flashing or covering gaps with caulk is a shortcut that leads to leaks.
7. Ridge cap
Thicker ridge shingles finish the peak, where wind hits from both sides.
8. Cleanup and final walk
The crew clears the old roofing, sweeps for stray nails and walks the finished roof. You should get a look at the result before the crew leaves.
Choosing the right shingle
Most Denver-area homeowners choose architectural shingles, which are thicker and handle wind better than older three-tab styles. In a place where hail comes through most years, impact-resistant shingles are worth a look too. Our asphalt shingle roofing page compares the options.
Timing your installation around Denver weather
Shingles have a heat-activated seal strip that bonds each course to the one below. On cold days that bond is slow to form, and shingles are stiffer and easier to crack. Installations can still happen in winter on mild days, but they take extra care and sometimes hand-sealing in spots that need it.
After a big hailstorm, a lot of homes in the same area need roofs at once. If your roof was hit, getting the inspection done early helps you get on the schedule and makes the damage easier to document while it’s fresh.
Do you need a new roof, or a repair?
Not every leak means a full replacement. If the problem is a few torn shingles, a cracked pipe boot or loose flashing on a roof that’s otherwise sound, a shingle roof repair may be all you need. A roof inspection gives you photos and a straight answer before you spend anything.
If storm damage is behind the replacement and you choose to file an insurance claim, you file it yourself and pay your own deductible. APC Roofing documents the damage, provides a written estimate and works with your adjuster.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 720-902-6940 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll see photos of your current roof and get a written estimate with shingle options.
- Your new roof goes on and the site gets cleaned up. Many residential roofs are installed in a single day, and the crew cleans up before leaving.
If you’d like to spread out the cost, financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Shingle roof installation questions
How long does a shingle roof installation take?
Many residential shingle roofs are installed in a single day. Larger or more complicated roofs, or ones with a lot of deck repair, can take longer. You’ll get a realistic timeline with your estimate.
Do I need a permit for a new roof?
In most cities around the Denver metro, a full re-roof needs a building permit. Ask any roofer you’re considering who pulls the permit and when the inspection happens.
How should I get ready for installation day?
Move cars out of the driveway and garage, take fragile items off walls and shelves on the top floor since hammering can shake them, and keep pets inside or away from the work area.
What happens if rotted decking turns up during tear-off?
Damaged boards get replaced before the new roof goes on. You’ll be shown what was found, since a new roof over soft decking won’t hold nails well.
A new roof you can count on
Putting off a worn-out roof usually means paying for repairs on a roof you’re about to replace anyway, and every season of hail and snow adds to the risk of a leak.
Done right, a new shingle roof means a dry house, no surprise bill and one less thing to watch every time a storm builds over the mountains. Call 720-902-6940 to book your free inspection, or see our Denver metro roof replacement page.
