Most homeowners replace a roof once or twice in a lifetime. Here's the full sequence, so nothing on your project comes as a surprise.
Day 0 — The Estimate
We walk the roof, walk the attic where accessible, measure every plane, photograph problem areas, and ask about your goals (longest-life material? tightest budget? planning to sell in five years?). You receive a written, line-item estimate within 24–48 hours.
If you accept, we sign a contract and collect a deposit (capped by California law at 10% or $1,000, whichever is less).
Week 1 — Permit and Materials
We pull the re-roof permit from your jurisdiction — typically 3 to 10 business days depending on whether it's Permit Sonoma, City of Santa Rosa, City of Healdsburg, or City of Petaluma. While that's processing, we order materials and confirm a delivery window.
Day Before — Site Prep
A dump trailer or roll-off arrives at your driveway. We send a homeowner prep checklist a week in advance:
- Move vehicles out of the driveway and away from the eaves.
- Clear patio furniture, BBQs, and fragile yard items from a 10-foot perimeter.
- Take down anything wall-mounted in the attic that vibration could shake loose.
- Plan for dogs to be inside or boarded — tear-off is loud.
- Cover anything precious in the attic with drop cloths (we provide if needed).
Day 1 — Tear-off
Crew arrives between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. We tarp landscaping along the drip edge, set magnetic sweepers in the staging area, and start tearing off the old roof. On a typical 2,000 sqft single-story home, tear-off is a one-day operation.
Once the deck is exposed, we inspect every square foot for soft spots, rot, or damaged sheathing. Anything that needs replacement is documented (photos with measurements) and discussed with you before we install. No surprises on the final invoice.
Day 1 (afternoon) — Mid-Job Inspection
Most jurisdictions require an in-progress inspection after tear-off and decking repair, before underlayment goes down. We schedule it for the same afternoon to keep the job moving. Once it passes, we install ice and water shield in valleys and around penetrations, then synthetic underlayment across the entire deck.
If we can't complete underlayment that day (weather, schedule slip), we tarp the entire roof. Your home is never left exposed overnight.
Day 2 — Install
Drip edge along eaves, starter strip, then field shingles (or panels) from eave to ridge. Flashings get installed at every wall, chimney, skylight, and pipe. Ridge cap goes on last.
On a standard shingle re-roof, install is a single day. Metal standing-seam typically runs 2–3 days. Tile can run 3–5. Complex roofs with lots of dormers or hips add a day.
Day 2 (end-of-day) — Cleanup
Tarps come off the landscaping, the magnetic sweeper goes over the entire perimeter twice (once across the lawn, once across the driveway), tools and ladders get loaded up, and the dump trailer is hauled away the next morning.
We do a final walk-through with you before leaving. Anything you want addressed gets noted and resolved before final payment.
Week 2 — Final Inspection and Warranty Registration
Building inspector returns for final sign-off. Once they pass us, we register your manufacturer warranty (you receive a copy by email) and our workmanship warranty. Final payment is due at this point.
Total Timeline
- Estimate to contract: 1–7 days (your pace).
- Contract to material delivery: 7–14 days.
- On-site work: 2–4 days for shingle, 3–5 for metal, 4–7 for tile.
- Final inspection and warranty registration: within 1 week of completion.
From the day you call us to a fully warrantied roof: typically 3–5 weeks. Faster on an emergency, longer if we're booked into peak season (July–October).
Ready to start the process? Call (707) 232-8622 or request an estimate online — we'll have a written quote in your inbox within 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stay home during the work?
Yes, most homeowners do. It's loud — especially during tear-off — and there's vibration. If you work from home and need quiet, schedule a coffee shop day for tear-off morning.
What if I find a defect after the job is done?
Call us. Our written workmanship warranty covers leaks, blow-offs, and flashing failures for 10 years. We come back, no charge, no argument.
Do you clean my gutters?
We clean any debris from the re-roof out of your gutters as part of standard cleanup. We're not a gutter-cleaning service for general leaf buildup, but if your gutters need replacement, we'll quote that too.
Get a Free Roof Estimate
Talk directly to Eddy. Call (707) 232-8622 or request a written estimate online — no pressure, no salespeople, just an honest assessment of your roof.
