West Penn Exteriors
Roofing in Pittsburgh, PA
New roof installation and full roof replacement built to handle Pittsburgh's freeze thaw cycles and heavy snow loads.
A roof replacement starts on the ground before anyone climbs a ladder, with a walk around the house to check slopes, valleys, and how water has been draining off the old roof. On site the work goes in order: tear off the old shingles down to the deck, inspect the sheathing for soft spots or water damage, and swap out any boards that will not hold a nail properly. From there the deck gets covered, ice and water shield along the eaves and valleys, synthetic underlayment across the field, then new shingles starting at the bottom edge and working up.
When this work is rushed or done out of order, the problems do not show up right away. A deck that was not checked for rot will telegraph through the shingles within a few years. Skipping or skimping on ice and water shield at the eaves is one of the most common causes of winter leaks in this region, because ice dams push meltwater backward under the shingles instead of letting it run off. Poor attic ventilation traps moisture that rots the deck from underneath.
Before work starts, ask what is happening at the deck, what underlayment is being used at the eaves, and how the attic will be vented once the new roof is on. Those three answers tell you more about the quality of the job than the shingle color ever will.
How it runs
- Tear off Old shingles and underlayment are stripped down to bare decking so the crew can see the actual condition of the roof.
- Deck inspection and repair Any soft, delaminated, or water stained sheathing is cut out and replaced before anything else goes down.
- Ice and water shield A rubberized membrane goes along the eaves, valleys, and around penetrations where ice dams and pooling water do the most damage.
- Underlayment Synthetic felt covers the rest of the deck as a second layer of protection under the shingles.
- Shingle installation Shingles go on starting at the eave and working up, with the nailing pattern set to the manufacturer's spec.
- Flashing, ventilation, and cleanup New flashing goes in at chimneys and valleys, vents are checked, and the site is cleared of old materials and debris.