Terra Nova Roofing & ConstructionThe Roof Replacement Process, Step by Step — What Happens Each Day
Knowing what happens on your roof makes the job easier to live through. Here's exactly how Terra Nova Roofing & Construction replaces a roof in North Jersey — from the free inspection to the magnet sweep — and why each layer goes where it does.
Licensed & insured • NJ Lic. #13VH13824700 • Locally owned in Garfield, NJ • Free inspection & written estimate with photos • Hablamos español
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What is the roof replacement process?
Terra Nova Roofing & Construction's roof replacement process is: free inspection and written price, yard protection, full tear-off to the deck, deck repairs, drip edge, ice & water barrier and synthetic underlayment, new flashing and pipe boots, balanced ventilation, shingles to manufacturer specs, then cleanup, a magnet sweep and a final walkthrough. Most homes take 1–3 days. NJ Lic. #13VH13824700. Call or text 973-200-1617.
Roof replacement timeline at a glance
A typical Terra Nova roof replacement moves through nine stages, and most homes finish in 1–3 days:
| Stage | When | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspection & estimate | Before the job | Roof, attic and flashing checked; photos; exact written price | No surprises on scope or price |
| Prep | Day 1, morning | Tarps over plants, dumpster placed, materials staged | Protects the yard and house |
| Tear-off | Day 1, by section | Old shingles, felt and worn flashing removed to the deck | Lets us see and fix the wood |
| Deck repair | As each section opens | Rotted or soft plywood or boards replaced | Nails need solid wood to hold |
| Edge, barrier & underlayment | Same day as tear-off | Drip edge, ice & water barrier, synthetic underlayment | Section is dried in before the crew leaves |
| Flashing & boots | After underlayment | New step, counter, skylight and vent flashing; new pipe boots | Where most leaks start |
| Ventilation | With the shingles | Soffit intake and ridge exhaust balanced | Keeps the attic cool and dry |
| Shingles & ridge | Final day | Shingles to manufacturer specs, ridge cap and ridge vent | Keeps the warranty valid |
| Cleanup & walkthrough | End of every day / last day | Debris cleanup, magnet sweep, walkthrough, warranty registration | You see the finished roof with us |
What happens before a roof replacement starts?
Before any roof work starts, Terra Nova inspects the roof for free, gives you a written estimate with photos and the exact price, and schedules the job around the weather.
- Inspection. We walk the roof where it's safe, check every chimney, wall, skylight and vent, count the layers, and look in the attic for staining, daylight, mold or damp insulation.
- Written estimate. Scope line by line: tear-off, deck repair allowance, underlayment, ice & water barrier, flashing, ventilation, shingle line, disposal and cleanup.
- Choices. Shingle color and line, whether to replace skylights or gutters at the same time, and any ventilation upgrades.
- Prep at home. Move cars out of the driveway, take fragile things off walls on the top floor (hammering vibrates the framing), and cover anything stored in the attic.
How is the old roof torn off?
The old roof is torn off one section at a time down to the bare wood deck, and only as much as can be dried in that same day is opened.
The crew starts by protecting the house: tarps over shrubs and beds, covers by doors and windows, and the dumpster set close so debris goes straight in instead of across the lawn. Then shingles, old felt, nails and worn flashing come off with roofing shovels. If the house has two layers, both come off.
Why tear off instead of layering over? Because the deck has to be seen to be trusted, and ice & water barrier has to go on bare wood to seal around nails. We don't do layovers. See can you put a new roof over an old roof?.
What happens if the roof decking is rotted?
If the decking is rotted, we show you, cut out the bad sections and replace them with new sheathing before anything else goes on.
Soft decking usually shows up around old chimney and skylight leaks, at the eaves where ice dams sat, and under valleys. It can also be spread across the roof when the attic has been damp for years. Once the old shingles are off, the crew walks the deck and checks for soft spots, delaminated plywood and gaps in old board sheathing.
- New nails need solid wood: shingles fastened into rot are the ones that blow off.
- A sagging or uneven deck shows through new shingles.
- Rotted decking is extra, and your estimate explains how it's priced.
More: roof deck rot repair.
What goes under the new shingles?
Three layers go under the shingles on every Terra Nova roof, and each one handles a different kind of water:
Drip edge
Metal edging at the eaves and rakes. It carries water off the roof into the gutter and keeps it off the fascia and soffit.
Ice & water barrier
Self-sealing membrane at the eaves, in the valleys and around chimneys, skylights and walls — where ice dams and wind-driven rain push water uphill. See ice and water shield.
Synthetic underlayment
Covers the rest of the deck. It sheds water if a shingle is ever lost, and it lets the section be dried in the same day.
Installed in order
Laid from the bottom up so each layer overlaps the one below, like shingles on a bigger scale. Order is what makes water run off, not in.
North Jersey winters bring freeze-thaw and ice at the eaves, which is why the ice & water barrier at the edge matters so much here.
How are chimneys, walls, skylights and pipe boots flashed?
Every place something comes through the roof or meets a wall gets new flashing on a Terra Nova replacement, because these joints are where most roof leaks start.
- Chimneys. Step flashing woven with the shingles up the sides, counter flashing set into the masonry over it, and a cricket behind wide chimneys to split the water.
- Sidewalls and dormers. Step flashing at every course where the roof meets siding, tucked behind the siding or housewrap so water stays on the roof side.
- Skylights. New flashing kit sized for the unit; we'll recommend replacing older skylights while the roof is open.
- Plumbing vents. New pipe boots. Rubber boots crack in the sun, and a new roof with an old boot is still a leaking roof. See roof vent boot repair.
- Roof-to-flat transitions. Where a shingle roof meets a flat porch or addition, the membrane and shingles are tied together with the right flashing.
How is attic ventilation set up during a roof replacement?
During a roof replacement we balance attic ventilation so cool air comes in low at the soffits and warm, moist air leaves high at the ridge, which protects the new shingles and the deck.
A poorly vented attic bakes shingles from underneath in summer and collects condensation in winter. That moisture feeds mold and rot, and the warm deck melts snow that refreezes into ice dams at the eaves.
- Intake: soffit vents opened and kept clear of insulation.
- Exhaust: a continuous ridge vent cut in along the ridge, or solar attic fans where a ridge vent won't fit. See ridge vents.
- No mixing: we don't leave competing exhaust vents that short-circuit the airflow.
- Bath and dryer vents should exhaust outside, not into the attic.
More: attic ventilation.
How are the shingles installed, and how is the job cleaned up?
Shingles go on to the manufacturer's nailing and exposure specs, then ridge cap and ridge vent, then a full cleanup with a magnet sweep and a final walkthrough with you.
- Starter strip at the eaves and rakes so the first row is sealed down against wind.
- Shingles nailed in the manufacturer's nail zone, with the right number of nails, so they hold in a storm and the warranty stays valid.
- Valleys and ridge finished cleanly; ridge cap over the ridge vent.
- Daily cleanup. Debris goes in the dumpster every day, not left on the lawn overnight.
- Magnet sweep. A rolling magnet over the driveway, walks, lawn and beds to pick up stray nails.
- Walkthrough. We go over the finished roof with you, with photos of the work, and register the manufacturer warranty where it applies.
New shingles can look slightly wavy for a few warm days until the sealant strips set.
Do I need to be home, and what if it rains or it's winter?
You don't need to be home during a roof replacement, rain is handled by only opening what can be dried in the same day, and roofs can be replaced in winter on suitable days.
Being home. Many people go to work. It is loud inside, especially on the top floor, so pets and anyone working from home may want a quieter spot. We need the driveway clear and access to an outdoor outlet.
Rain. We watch the forecast and schedule around it. If a shower comes mid-day, the open section already has underlayment, or it's covered with tarps before the crew leaves. Weather can push the schedule; it doesn't change your written price.
Winter. Shingles need warmth to seal and are more brittle in deep cold, so we pick milder days and take extra care.
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Tell us about your roof and send photos if you can. We'll inspect it, photograph what we find and give you an exact written price before any work.
What you get
- Free on-site inspection and attic check
- Photos of what we find
- Exact written price, line by line
- Full tear-off, flashing and ventilation done right
- Daily cleanup and a final walkthrough
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Roof Replacement Process Questions
How long does a roof replacement take?
Most residential roof replacements take 1–3 days. Big roofs, steep pitches, two layers or lots of chimneys and skylights take longer.
Do I need to be home during the roof replacement?
No. You just need the driveway clear and an outdoor outlet available. We'll do the final walkthrough with you when it's done.
What happens if it rains in the middle of the job?
Open sections are dried in with underlayment the same day, or covered with tarps before the crew leaves. Rain can shift the schedule but not your written price.
Will my house be open to the weather overnight?
No. We only tear off what can be dried in the same day.
What happens if you find rotted wood?
We show you, replace the damaged decking and keep going. Rotted decking is extra, and your estimate explains how it's priced.
Will the work damage my landscaping?
We tarp beds and shrubs, place the dumpster close and clean up daily, finishing with a magnet sweep for nails.
Do you replace flashing and pipe boots?
Yes. New flashing at chimneys, walls and skylights, and new pipe boots, on every replacement.
Can a roof be replaced in winter?
Yes, on suitable days. We pick milder weather and take extra care so the shingles seal properly.
Does insurance pay for a roof replacement?
It may if the damage came from a sudden event like wind or a fallen tree. Only your insurer decides; we can document damage and meet the adjuster.
Is financing available?
Yes, financing is available for larger projects like a full roof replacement.
What does the estimate include?
Inspection, photos, and a written scope with the exact price: tear-off, decking, underlayment, ice & water barrier, flashing, ventilation, shingles, disposal and cleanup.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Licensed and insured, NJ Lic. #13VH13824700, locally owned in Garfield, NJ. Hablamos español.
Updated November 2026 by the Terra Nova Roofing & Construction team, Garfield, NJ • NJ Lic. #13VH13824700