When a repair stops being worth it
Most roofs give you warning before they fail outright. The question is usually not whether the roof can be patched again, but whether patching it is still the cheaper decision over the next five years. A few signs that it isn't:
- The shingles are curling, cupping, or losing granules. Granule loss is the shingle's sunscreen wearing off. Once it goes, the asphalt underneath ages fast.
- You are on your third or fourth repair in the same area. Repeated leaks in one spot usually mean the underlying decking or flashing detail is the problem, not the shingle.
- The roof is past twenty years. A standard three-tab roof in Tennessee sun rarely makes it much beyond that, and insurers start reducing what they will pay on an older roof.
- There are soft spots underfoot. That is decking that has taken on water, and it has to be replaced before anything new goes over it.
We will tell you honestly if a repair is the better call. Selling someone a roof they do not need is a fast way to lose a reputation in a market this size.
What a full replacement includes
Every quote we write covers the whole job, not just the shingles. That means:
- Complete tear-off down to the decking — we do not shingle over an existing roof
- Inspection of every sheet of decking, with rotten or soft sheets replaced
- New synthetic underlayment and ice-and-water shield in the valleys and around penetrations
- New drip edge, pipe boots, and step flashing — the parts that actually cause most leaks
- Ridge vent or the appropriate ventilation for your attic, so the new roof does not cook itself
- Magnetic nail sweep of the yard, driveway, and flower beds before we leave
- A written workmanship warranty on top of the manufacturer's material warranty
Choosing a material
Architectural asphalt shingles
What most Middle Tennessee homes get, and for good reason. They handle our mix of summer heat and winter freeze-thaw well, come with long manufacturer warranties, and look considerably better than the flat three-tab shingles they replaced.
Standing seam and exposed-fastener metal
More money up front and a much longer life. Worth a serious look if you plan to stay in the house, if you have a low-slope section that asphalt struggles with, or if you like the look on a farmhouse or a modern build.
Tile and specialty
Less common here, but we install it where the architecture calls for it. Tile is heavy, so the structure has to be checked first.
What it costs, honestly
Anyone who quotes you a price per square over the phone is guessing. The number depends on the footprint, the pitch, how many layers are coming off, how much decking is bad underneath, how many valleys and penetrations there are, and whether a truck can get close to the house. That is why the estimate is free and why it comes in writing with the material options priced separately, so you can see exactly what changes the number.
If the timing is hard, we work with Acorn Finance so you can check monthly payment options without affecting your credit score.
How long it takes
Most residential roofs in our area are torn off and finished inside one to two days, weather permitting. Larger homes with complex rooflines run longer. We give you the timeline before we start and we tell you if weather is going to move it, rather than leaving you to notice the crew did not show up.
Where we replace roofs
We cover Nashville and the towns around it:
Common questions
Do I need a permit to replace my roof?
In most Middle Tennessee jurisdictions a roof replacement requires a permit. We handle the permitting as part of the job so you do not have to deal with it.
Will you shingle over my existing roof?
No. We tear off to the decking every time. Layering over an old roof hides rot, voids most manufacturer warranties, and adds weight the structure was not designed for.
What happens if you find rotten decking?
We show you the damage, usually with photos, and price the replacement sheets at an agreed rate that is written into your estimate up front so it is never a surprise.
What warranty do I get?
You get the manufacturer's material warranty on the shingles plus our own written workmanship warranty covering the installation.
Do you really wash the house afterwards?
Yes. Tearing off a roof is filthy work, so once your roof passes final inspection we come back and soft-wash the siding, trim and gutters and pressure-wash the driveway and walkways at no charge. The washing is done by our sister company, Southern Pro Exteriors, who do this work all day every day.