Laurie M. and her partner were not dealing with an urgent roofing problem at their Ann Arbor, MI home. In fact, our assessment indicated their existing roof likely still had several years of useful life remaining. They preferred to take a proactive approach, replacing the roof on their timeline rather than waiting for leaks or other problems to develop. Laurie was also referred to RoofAdvisor by her next-door neighbor, Randy, who had previously trusted our team with his own roofing project.
Replacing the Roof Before Problems Developed
Not every roof replacement needs to begin with a leak, storm damage, or an immediate failure.
Laurie’s roof was still serviceable, and we were upfront that replacement did not need to happen immediately. That gave Laurie and her partner the opportunity to consider their options without the pressure that comes with an emergency roofing problem.
After comparing RoofAdvisor with another contractor and considering what made the most sense for their home, they decided to move forward proactively.
A Complete GAF Roofing System
For Laurie’s approximately 45-square roof, we installed GAF Timberline® Natural Shadow Lifetime Architectural Shingles.
The new roofing system included:
- GAF Timberline® Natural Shadow architectural shingles
- Synthetic roof deck underlayment
- GAF Pro-Start® starter shingles along the eaves and rakes
- Ice and water protection through the valleys
- GAF Cobra® SnowCountry® Advanced Ridge Vent
- GAF Seal-A-Ridge® shingles on the hips and ridges
- New aluminum drip edge along the eaves and rakes
- Two new plumbing boots
- A replacement bath vent
- Ice guard protection extending six feet at the eaves and protecting sidewalls and penetrations
- New wall and step flashing as necessary
These components work together to protect vulnerable areas of the roof while providing a complete system rather than treating the shingles as the only important part of the replacement.
Addressing Ventilation and Roof Details
A roof replacement is also an opportunity to address the components that help the entire roofing system perform properly.
We installed 95 linear feet of GAF Cobra® SnowCountry® Advanced Ridge Vent to provide exhaust ventilation along the roof ridge. The existing bath vent was also replaced and connected to the existing ductwork where available.
The project included new flashing at wall intersections, protection around penetrations, and new drip edge around the roof perimeter. Paying attention to these details during replacement helps protect the areas where water intrusion problems commonly develop as a roof ages.
Long-Term Protection for Laurie’s Ann Arbor Home
Laurie’s new roofing system is backed by the GAF System Plus Warranty with a 50-Year Up Front 100% Coverage Period, along with RoofAdvisor’s 25-year workmanship warranty.
Most importantly, Laurie and her partner were able to make the decision on their terms. They did not have to wait for an aging roof to become an emergency before taking care of it.
By planning ahead, they were able to compare contractors, understand their options, and replace the roof before leaks or other roofing problems forced the decision.