Your roof is near the end of its life, or a storm settled the question for you, and now a new one is on the calendar. Most people worry less about the shingles or panels they’ll see than about everything under them, and whether the crew will do that hidden part right. Knowing how a roof installation in Palm Coast should go makes it much easier to pick a roofer and to trust the work once it’s done.
You’re about to spend real money on something you can’t easily inspect yourself. It makes sense to want every step explained.
APC Roofing has installed roofs since 2017. We’re GAF Certified, licensed in Florida (CCC1337030) and insured, and your inspection and estimate are free.
Before the work starts
Picking the roof
Most Palm Coast homes get one of three roofs. Architectural shingles are the most common and the most budget-friendly. Metal, especially standing seam, holds up well to coastal wind and sun. Concrete or clay tile suits many Florida home styles and lasts a long time, though the underlayment beneath it wears out first. Any low-slope section, like a porch or addition, gets a flat roof membrane instead. You can compare them on our shingle roofing, metal roof installation and tile roofing pages.
Permits
A roof replacement generally requires a permit and a final inspection by the local building department. When the job’s finished, keep the permit and inspection records. Insurers and future buyers often ask for them.
Getting your home ready
Move cars out of the driveway and garage, and take pictures or mirrors off walls that share the roofline, since tear-off can shake the house. Pets are usually happier away from the noise. Clear patio furniture and potted plants away from the walls.
Tear-off and the deck
The old roof comes off down to the wood deck. This is the moment that matters most, because it’s the only time anyone can see the deck. Soft, rotted or water-stained plywood gets cut out and replaced. Loose decking gets re-nailed so it holds against wind.
Laying a new roof over an old one skips this step, which is why tear-off is the better choice on most homes. Rot under the old roof doesn’t stop because it’s covered up.
Underlayment and water barrier
On a Florida roof, the layer under the roofing is your backup if wind ever strips off shingles or tiles. A self-adhering membrane often goes along the eaves, in the valleys and around penetrations, and on many homes across the whole deck, with synthetic underlayment over or in place of it depending on the system. Its job is to keep water out of the house even when the top layer is damaged.
Edge metal and flashing
Drip edge goes along the eaves and rakes so water drops into the gutter instead of running behind the fascia. Wherever the roof meets a wall, step flashing or a wall flashing piece is installed in the right order with the roofing so water sheds over it. Chimneys get new flashing and, on the uphill side, a small peaked cricket so water doesn’t pool. Old pipe boots are replaced, since their rubber is usually worn out by the time the roof is.
Valleys, where two roof planes meet, carry more water than any other part of the roof. They get extra underlayment and are finished either open with metal showing or closed with the roofing woven or cut across them.
The roof itself
Shingles go on over a starter strip at the eaves and rakes, nailed in the pattern the manufacturer calls for in high-wind areas. Metal panels are fastened with clips or screws as the system requires. Tile is set with the fasteners or adhesive its installation method calls for. The ridge gets its cap last.
Many residential projects are finished in a single day. Larger, steeper or more complex roofs, and most tile and metal roofs, take longer, and you’ll get a realistic schedule with your estimate.
Weather and scheduling in Palm Coast
Summer afternoon storms build fast along the coast, and hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. A good install is planned around the forecast so the roof isn’t left open to a storm, and if rain moves in, the work pauses.
Cleanup and final inspection
When the roof is done, the crew cleans up the job site before leaving. The building department does its final inspection. You get the paperwork, and the roof is ready for the next storm season.
How it works
- Book your free inspection. Call 386-259-8425 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We look at the whole roof, check for soft decking from the attic and the roof surface, walk you through material choices and give you photos and a written estimate. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- Your roof gets installed and the site gets cleaned up. The work goes as described above, and the crew cleans up before leaving.
Putting off a roof that’s at the end of its life usually costs more in the end. Leaks that start in a worn roof can soak the deck and attic insulation, and a deck that’s rotted adds to the cost of any replacement.
Roof installation questions from Palm Coast homeowners
How long does a roof installation take?
Many residential projects are finished in a single day. Bigger or more complex roofs take longer, and weather can push the schedule. You’ll get a realistic timeline before the work starts.
Do I need to be home during installation?
Not necessarily, but someone should be reachable in case the crew finds rotted decking or another issue that needs your OK. Keep pets and kids clear of the work area.
Should I replace my gutters at the same time?
It’s often a good time to look at them, since the roof edge and fascia are already being worked on. We can look at the gutters during your inspection.
Will insurance pay for my new roof?
If a covered storm damaged your roof, your policy may pay for part of the replacement. You file the claim and pay your deductible. We document the damage, provide a written estimate and work with your adjuster.
Book your roof installation in Palm Coast
Call 386-259-8425 to book your free inspection, or start your estimate online. You’ll get a roof that’s been built right from the deck up, the paperwork to prove it and a house that stays dry through the next storm season. For the bigger picture on replacing a roof here, see our Palm Coast roof replacement page.
