NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
Couldn’t agree more about the ventilation—people overlook it until there’s mold or weird smells in the attic. I’ve had clients get all excited about “lifetime” shingles, then find out later the warranty barely covers anything they actually care about. Picking a solid color combo makes more of a difference on curb appeal than most folks think, too. You’re making smart moves by digging into the details now instead of dealing with headaches later. Keep at it—it pays off in the long run.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
Picking a solid color combo makes more of a difference on curb appeal than most folks think, too.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’d put color pretty far down the list compared to things like flashing details and underlayment. You can have the best-looking roof on the block, but if the installer cuts corners on ice & water shield or doesn’t handle valleys right, you’ll be back to leaks in no time.
Ventilation’s huge, yeah, but I’ve seen just as many issues from poor detailing around chimneys or skylights. People love to talk about shingle warranties, but those are mostly marketing fluff—what matters is the install crew and whether they actually follow specs.
If you’re replacing an old leaky roof, I’d focus on finding someone who obsesses over the boring stuff: drip edge, starter strips, proper nailing patterns. The rest is just window dressing if the basics aren’t right. Color’s nice, but dry ceilings are nicer.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
If you’re replacing an old leaky roof, I’d focus on finding someone who obsesses over the boring stuff: drip edge, starter strips, proper nailing patterns. The rest is just window dressing if the basics aren’t right. Color’s nice, but dry ceilings are nicer.
Couldn’t agree more with this. I’ve been through two roof replacements at different houses and both times, the crews that paid attention to the “boring” details made all the difference. First house, I went with a big-name company because they had a flashy sales pitch and a nice color selection. Looked great for about a year, then I started getting water stains around the bathroom vent. Turns out they’d skipped ice & water shield in a couple spots and didn’t bother with proper flashing around the vent pipe. Had to get it fixed out of pocket because, like you said, shingle warranties are basically useless for install errors.
Second time around, I got way more into the weeds—asked about underlayment types, watched them do the drip edge, even crawled up there to check nailing patterns (probably annoyed the crew, but whatever). That roof’s been solid for five years now, no issues at all.
I get why people care about color—nobody wants their house to look weird—but honestly, you’ll stop noticing it after a month. What you *will* notice is if you have to put buckets under your attic hatch every time it rains.
One thing I’d add: don’t skimp on attic ventilation either. If your installer doesn’t bring it up, that’s a red flag. Poor airflow can cook your shingles from underneath or cause condensation problems, especially if you’ve got a bathroom or kitchen venting into the attic (seen that mess before too).
Long story short: find someone who sweats the small stuff and doesn’t just talk about how “pretty” your new roof will be. Dry ceilings > curb appeal every time.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
What you *will* notice is if you have to put buckets under your attic hatch every time it rains.
That’s the nightmare scenario I’m trying to avoid right now. We’re in the middle of planning our first roof replacement and honestly, it’s a little overwhelming. I keep hearing about all these “must-have” features, but it’s hard to know what’s actually essential versus just marketing fluff.
I really appreciate the point about attic ventilation. That’s something I hadn’t even thought about until I started reading up on it here. Our builder mentioned ridge vents, but didn’t say much beyond that. Is there a way to tell if what they’re proposing is actually enough? I’ve read that too much or too little ventilation can both cause problems, but I’m not sure how to check what’s right for our house.
Here’s the step-by-step I’m planning so far, based on what I’ve learned (and please, anyone, jump in if I’m missing something):
1. Ask for details on underlayment and ice & water shield—where it’s going, what type, etc.
2. Make sure they’re using drip edge and starter strips, not just skipping to shingles.
3. Double-check the nailing pattern (I might not crawl up there, but I’ll at least ask for photos).
4. Get specifics on flashing, especially around vents and chimneys.
5. Confirm the attic ventilation plan—ridge vents, soffit vents, whatever they recommend, but with some kind of explanation.
I’m still a little stuck on how to compare ventilation options. Is it just a matter of square footage, or does roof shape play into it? And if you’ve got existing bathroom fans venting into the attic, is that something a roofer can fix, or do I need a separate contractor for that?
I get the appeal of picking a nice shingle color, but honestly, after reading these stories, I’m way more worried about waking up to a wet ceiling than whether the roof matches the shutters. If anyone’s got tips on how to double-check a contractor’s ventilation plan, I’d love to hear it.
NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF
Is it just a matter of square footage, or does roof shape play into it?
Roof shape totally matters—like, a steep roof moves air differently than a low-slope one. I’ve seen houses where the attic had hot spots just because the vents weren’t balanced for the space. If you’re worried about bathroom fans venting into the attic, that’s a big deal for moisture. Some roofers will fix it, but sometimes you need an HVAC or handyman type to reroute the duct. It’s worth asking both, honestly. The step-by-step you’ve got is super thorough—love that you’re asking for photos!
