You’ve accepted that the old roof is done. Now you’re about to hand someone a big check, and you can’t see most of what you’re paying for. Once the new shingles are on, the deck, the underlayment and the flashing all disappear. If you’re planning a shingle roof installation in Overland Park, the parts you can’t see are the ones that decide whether it holds up.
You don’t have to take anyone’s word for it. Knowing what a proper install looks like, step by step, makes it easy to spot a shortcut in a quote.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified contractor, licensed and insured, in business since 2017. Your inspection and estimate are free. Call 913-398-5020 and a roofer will walk your roof and your attic and lay out exactly what the job includes.
Before the first shingle comes off
A good installation starts with a good inspection. The roofer should check the roof surface, the flashing around chimneys and walls, and the attic underneath, where old leaks show up as stains or soft spots on the roof boards. That’s how you find out ahead of time whether decking is likely to need replacing.
You’ll also pick your shingle. Most Overland Park homes get architectural shingles, and impact-rated shingles are worth a look in a metro that sees hail most springs. Our page on asphalt shingle roofing in Overland Park compares the options.
Re-roofing usually requires a permit from the city. Make sure whoever you hire pulls it.
Tear-off or layover?
Building codes often allow one new layer of shingles over an old one. It saves a tear-off, but it hides the deck, adds weight and can leave the new shingles lying over every bump and curl in the old ones. A full tear-off down to the deck is the better choice for most roofs, because it’s the only way to see and fix what’s underneath.
How a shingle roof goes on
1. Strip and check the deck
The old shingles and underlayment come off. Then the roof boards get checked, and any soft, rotted or delaminated sections are cut out and replaced. Shingles nailed into mushy wood won’t hold in the first big wind.
2. Drip edge and ice protection
Metal drip edge goes along the eaves and rakes so water drips clear of the fascia. Along the eaves and in the valleys, a self-adhering ice-and-water membrane goes down. Kansas winters make this matter. When snow melts on the upper roof and refreezes at the cold edge, it forms an ice dam, and the water behind it backs up under the shingles. The membrane seals around every nail so that water stays out.
3. Underlayment
Synthetic underlayment covers the rest of the deck. It’s a second line of defense if a shingle is ever damaged, and it keeps the deck dry during the install.
4. Starter strip and shingles
A starter course along the eaves and rakes gives the first row of shingles something to seal to, which helps keep wind from catching the edge. Then the shingles go on in courses, each one nailed in the manufacturer’s nail line with the right number of nails. Nail placement is one of the biggest factors in whether shingles stay put in a storm.
5. Valleys, walls and chimneys
Valleys carry more water than any other part of the roof and get extra attention. Where the roof meets a wall, step flashing is woven in with each course of shingles. Chimneys get step flashing and counter-flashing, and plumbing vents get new boots.
6. Ridge cap and cleanup
Ridge cap shingles finish the peaks. Then the crew cleans up the yard, the driveway and the gutters before they leave.
Installing shingles in cold weather
Each shingle has an adhesive strip that bonds it to the one above once the sun warms it. Shingles installed on a cold day may not fully seal until warmer weather arrives. Following the manufacturer’s cold-weather guidance, which can mean hand-sealing, helps them hold against wind until then. Winter installs are possible; they need a little more care.
How it works
- Book your free inspection. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll get photos of your roof and attic and a written estimate that spells out tear-off, decking, underlayment, flashing and the shingle you’ve chosen. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof goes on and the site gets cleaned up. Many residential installs are finished in a single day, and the crew cleans up before they leave.
Holding off on an old roof can cost more later. Once water gets through worn shingles, it soaks the deck, and that’s wood that has to be replaced during the install.
Shingle roof installation questions
How long does it take to install a shingle roof?
Many homes are done in one day. Bigger or steeper roofs, or roofs with a lot of rotted decking, can take longer. You’ll get a realistic timeline with your estimate.
What happens if rotten decking turns up during the tear-off?
It gets replaced before shingles go on. A good estimate explains up front how decking replacement is handled and billed, so there are no surprises.
Do I need to be home during the install?
Not usually. It helps to move cars out of the driveway, take fragile items off walls inside, and keep pets indoors or away from the work area.
Should I replace my gutters at the same time?
If they’re damaged or pulling away, it’s often easier to do it during the roof job. We install rain gutters too, so it can be one project.
Plan your shingle roof installation in Overland Park
Call 913-398-5020 or book your free inspection online. If you’re comparing replacement options, see roof installation in Overland Park or the full list of shingle roofing services.
When it’s done, you’ll have a new roof you understand from the deck up, a clean yard, and a house that stays dry through whatever the next Kansas season brings.
