Roofing
Inspection, repair and full replacement on asphalt shingle roofs across central Ohio. We photograph every slope, show you what we found, and write down what it will cost before anybody climbs back up with a nail gun.
Repair or replace
The honest answer is usually repair, and it is usually cheaper than the roof you were braced to pay for. A handful of wind-lifted tabs, a failed pipe boot or a length of step flashing that was never woven in properly will account for most leaks on a roof that still has years in it.
Replacement is the answer when the shingle mat itself has gone: granules stripped back to the asphalt across whole slopes, tabs that crack when you lift them, widespread hail bruising, or a roof already carrying two layers. At that point patching is money spent on a roof that will fail somewhere else next season.
We will tell you which one you have, in writing, with the photographs that support it. If it is a repair we will say so, and that is the whole business model: a roofer who says "repair" when it is a repair gets called back for the replacement four years later. What a replacement costs in Columbus if you already know that is where you are.
How the inspection runs
- Ground and gutter line first Granules in the gutters and downspout traps are the first honest signal that a shingle mat is giving up. So is a fascia line that has been wet.
- Every slope, photographed Drone or ladder depending on pitch and access. Each slope gets its own frames, so you can see what we are talking about instead of taking our word for the side of the house you cannot see.
- The penetrations, one by one Pipe boots, the chimney, valleys, step flashing, ridge vent. This is where leaks actually come from far more often than the field of the roof does.
- Inside, if there is any sign of water Attic decking and insulation tell you how long it has been going on, and whether the decking under the shingles is still sound.
- A written report, whether or not it is work for us What we found, what needs doing now, what can wait a season, and what it costs. Yours to keep and to get a second opinion on.
What we are looking for up there
What people ask before booking
How long does an asphalt shingle roof actually last here?
A standard architectural shingle is sold on a long warranty, but central Ohio weather is the thing that decides it: freeze and thaw cycles, summer heat, and the wind events that come through most years. What ends a roof early around here is almost always a storm, not age.
Can you put a new roof over the old one?
It is sometimes permitted and it is almost always a bad trade. A second layer hides the decking, so nobody finds the soft spot until it is a bigger repair, it holds heat, and it shortens the life of the shingle you just paid for. We tear off.
Do I have to be home?
For the inspection, no. We photograph everything and send the report either way. Most people would rather be there for the walkthrough afterward, and that part takes about fifteen minutes.
How long does a replacement take?
A typical single-family roof in this area is one day, occasionally two if the pitch is steep, the access is tight or we find decking that has to be replaced. You get told which before we start, not on the afternoon of day two.
Should I go through insurance?
If the damage came from a storm, usually yes, and the inspection is what tells you whether you have a claim worth making. See storm damage and insurance claims.
Find out what you actually have
A free roof check, every slope photographed, and a written report you keep whether or not it turns into work for us.