Need advice on replacing an old leaky roof

NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF

I’d definitely echo the focus on skylights and valleys, but don’t forget to check the flashing around chimneys too - those sneak up on you. When I redid a roof last year, I found the color choice actually made a bigger difference than I expected. If you’re already investing, might as well pick something you’ll love looking at for years. Just my two cents...

Honestly, I think people underestimate how much hassle bad flashing can cause. When we moved into our place, the inspector missed a tiny gap by the chimney and it turned into a nightmare after the first big rain. I’d argue flashing is more important than skylights or valleys, especially if you’ve got an older home. As for color, I was skeptical but ended up loving the darker shade we picked - really changed the curb appeal. Don’t cheap out on underlayment either... learned that the hard way.

NEED ADVICE ON REPLACING AN OLD LEAKY ROOF

I totally get what you’re saying about flashing, but I’d actually put valleys at the top of my list for leak risks, especially on custom builds with weird roof lines. When we did our place, the valleys were basically the culprit for every minor drip we had. Here’s how I tackled it:

1. I mapped out all the valleys and intersections before demo.
2. Had the roofer install ice & water shield in those trouble spots, not just the underlayment everywhere else.
3. Went with open metal valleys instead of closed - less chance for debris to build up and trap water.

Color was a big debate here too - funny how much it changes the vibe. I went lighter, mostly for heat reflection, but I do get the appeal of darker shades for curb appeal. Just my two cents... sometimes the “less obvious” trouble spots like valleys can cause way more grief than you’d think.

Color was a big debate here too - funny how much it changes the vibe. I went lighter, mostly for heat reflection, but I do get the appeal of darker shades for curb appeal.

I’m with you on the color debate - lighter roofs are practical, but sometimes they just look... bland? I’ve seen a few clients regret going too light because it clashed with their exterior paint or made the house look washed out. If you’re leaning lighter, maybe test a few samples against your siding first. And yeah, valleys are sneaky troublemakers. I always tell people: if you think you’ve found every leak spot, check again.

Honestly, I’ve never been convinced that lighter roofs always make sense just for heat. Sure, they reflect more, but if the color throws off the whole look of the house, is it really worth it? Curious - has anyone tried those newer “cool” darker shingles? Supposedly they reflect heat too, but I haven’t seen enough real-world results to trust the marketing yet.