You’ve decided it’s time for a new roof. Now every contractor tells you their shingles are the best, and the estimates list parts you’ve never heard of. What you really want to know is simple: will this roof hold up to Kansas hail, wind and ice, and how can you tell a careful installation from a rushed one?

Roofers installing underlayment during a roof replacement

A roof installation in Overland Park is only as good as the parts you’ll never see once the shingles are on. Most early roof problems trace back to installation details, not the shingle brand. This page walks through what goes on your roof, in order, so you know what to look for in any estimate.

APC Roofing is GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and we’ve been in business since 2017 with a Kansas City-area office in Shawnee. Estimates are free. Call 913-398-5020 to have your roof measured.

Roof installation in Overland Park, from the deck up

The deck

The deck is the layer of plywood or OSB boards everything else is fastened to. After the old roof comes off, every board should be checked. Soft, rotted or delaminated sections get replaced, because nails driven into weak wood don’t hold, and a new roof can’t be better than what it’s nailed to.

Drip edge

Drip edge is the metal strip along the eaves and rakes. It directs water off the roof edge and into the gutter instead of letting it soak the fascia. A lot of older homes were built without it.

Ice barrier

An ice barrier is a self-sealing waterproof membrane that goes along the eaves and in the valleys. In Kansas City winters, ice dams can push water up under the shingles at the roof edge. This membrane seals around each nail and keeps that water out of the house. It should run far enough up the roof to reach past the warm wall line inside.

Underlayment

Synthetic underlayment covers the rest of the deck. It’s a second line of defense if wind ever gets under a shingle, and it protects the deck during installation. It should be lapped so water always runs over a seam, never into one.

Starter strip

A row of starter shingles goes along the eaves and rakes. It gives the first course of shingles something to seal to, which is a big part of how the roof edge holds in high wind.

Shingles and nailing

Where the nails go matters as much as how many. Shingle makers specify a nail line and a nail count, and some call for extra nails in high-wind areas. Nails placed too high, too low or driven crooked are one of the most common reasons shingles blow off.

Flashing

New flashing goes wherever the roof meets something: walls, chimneys and dormers. Step flashing is woven in with each course of shingles along a wall. A kickout at the bottom of a roof-to-wall joint sends water into the gutter instead of down behind the siding. Reusing old, rusted flashing to save time is a common shortcut.

Pipe boots and vents

Every plumbing vent gets a new boot. Old ones are usually cracked or close to it, and the boot is an inexpensive part next to the leak it prevents.

Ridge cap

Ridge cap shingles finish the top of the roof and the hips. They take more wind than any other shingle on the roof, so they need the same care with nailing and sealing as the field shingles.

Installing for Kansas City weather

A roof here has to handle several kinds of stress in one year. Hail and severe thunderstorms in spring and summer. Long stretches of heat. Then winter freeze-thaw and ice at the eaves.

That’s why the ice barrier, wind nailing and sealed edges matter so much here. Shingles also need warmth to seal down fully. When a roof goes on in cold weather, the shingles may need to be hand-sealed so they don’t lift in the first windstorm. If hail has cost you a roof before, ask about impact-resistant shingles.

Roofing materials we install

Most homes in Overland Park get architectural asphalt shingles. We also install metal roofing, including standing seam, corrugated panels, metal shingles and stone-coated steel. See metal roof installation in Overland Park for that side. Low-slope porches and additions get a membrane system instead of shingles, covered on our flat roof installation page.

Questions to ask any roofer before installation

These are worth asking whoever you hire, us included:

  1. Will you tear off down to the deck, and how are deck repairs handled and priced?
  2. How far up the roof does the ice barrier go, and is it in the valleys?
  3. Is the flashing new or reused?
  4. Are the pipe boots and drip edge new?
  5. Which shingle line are you installing, and what nailing pattern does it call for?
  6. Who pulls the permit, if one is required?
  7. How will my yard, beds and driveway be protected and cleaned up?

A good roofer will answer all of these in writing without hesitating.

How it works with APC Roofing

  1. Book your free estimate. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free online estimate.
  2. Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We measure every slope, check the attic and deck, and give you a written estimate that lists each part of the roof system.
  3. Get your new roof installed and the site cleaned up. Many residential projects are finished in a single day, and the crew cleans up when it’s done.

Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.

Roof installation questions

How long does a roof installation take?

Many residential projects are finished in a single day. Large or complex roofs, or a lot of deck repair, can take longer.

Can a new roof be installed in winter?

Often, yes, on milder days. In cold weather, shingles may need to be hand-sealed because they won’t seal on their own until it warms up.

What’s the difference between roof installation and roof replacement?

They describe the same job on an existing home: removing the old roof and installing a new one. If you’re still deciding whether you need a new roof, see our roof replacement in Overland Park page.

Will you replace my gutters at the same time?

We can. If your gutters are old or undersized, putting new ones on with the roof lets the roof edge and gutters work as one system.

Get a roof installed right the first time

Shortcuts on a roof installation hide under the shingles for a few years, then show up as leaks, blown-off shingles or rotted decking.

Installed carefully, layer by layer, your new roof keeps the house dry through hail season and the deep freeze. You’ll know exactly what’s up there. Call 913-398-5020 to book your free estimate.