By StazOn Roofing — Protecting DFW Since 1980
—
A full roof replacement sounds like a massive project. And it is — but it doesn’t have to be chaotic. When you know what to expect, the whole process goes smoother.
We’ve replaced thousands of roofs across DFW since 1980. Here’s the step-by-step reality of what happens when you get a new roof.
Before Installation Day
The Pre-Installation Meeting
A few days before your install date, your project manager should walk through the details with you:
- Start time (most crews start between 7:00–8:00 AM)
- Estimated completion time (most residential roofs in DFW are completed in 1–2 days)
- Material delivery — materials usually arrive 1–2 days before installation
- Where the dumpster will be placed
Any special considerations (solar panels, satellite dishes, skylights)
Prep Your Home
There are a few things you should do before the crew arrives:
- Move vehicles out of the driveway and away from the house
- Take down or secure wall decorations — the vibration from tear-off can shake things loose inside
- Cover items in your attic with a tarp or sheet (dust can come through during tear-off)
- Make sure pets have a quiet room away from the noise
- Clear your yard of furniture, grills, and anything that could get hit by falling debris
Installation Day — What Actually Happens
Step 1: Tear-Off
The crew starts by stripping the old roofing material down to the deck — the plywood sheathing underneath your shingles.
This is the loudest part. It sounds like a construction zone because it is one. Most tear-offs take 2–4 hours depending on the roof size and how many layers are being removed.
During tear-off, the crew inspects the decking for damage. Rotted or soft plywood gets replaced before anything new goes on top. This is why quality matters — a crew that skips this step is covering up problems, not fixing them.
Step 2: Deck Prep and Underlayment
Once the deck is clean and any damaged sections are replaced, the crew installs underlayment — a waterproof barrier that goes between the decking and your new shingles.
In DFW, we use synthetic underlayment on every job. It handles the heat better than felt paper, lays flatter, and provides superior water resistance if a shingle ever gets blown off during a storm.
Ice and water shield goes around critical areas: valleys, eaves, around skylights, and anywhere water tends to collect or flow.
Step 3: Flashing and Drip Edge
Metal flashing gets installed around every penetration — pipe boots, vents, chimneys, skylights, and wall-to-roof transitions. Drip edge goes along all eaves and rakes.
Flashing is where cheap roofing jobs fail. If the flashing isn’t right, water finds a way in — and it usually finds it at the chimney or a wall junction. This is a detail-intensive step and it’s where experience shows.
Step 4: Shingle Installation
Now the new shingles go on. The crew starts at the bottom edge (eave) and works up to the ridge, overlapping each course according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Proper nailing matters more than most homeowners realize. GAF requires specific nail placement — in the nailing strip, not above or below it — for their warranty to be valid. As a GAF Master Elite contractor, our crews are trained and audited on this.
The ridge caps go on last — those are the thicker shingles that cover the peak of your roof.
Step 5: Ventilation
Proper attic ventilation is critical in Dallas. Summer attic temperatures can exceed 150°F without adequate ventilation, which cooks your shingles from the inside and shortens their lifespan.
During replacement, we assess and upgrade ventilation as needed — ridge vent along the peak, soffit vents at the eaves, creating a balanced intake/exhaust system that moves hot air out efficiently.
Step 6: Cleanup
This is where you separate professional crews from amateur ones.
A proper cleanup includes:
- Magnetic nail sweeps of your entire yard, driveway, and sidewalks — multiple passes
- Gutter cleaning to remove debris
- Removal of all old materials and dumpster
- Landscape check for any damage from ladders or debris
- Final walk-around with the homeowner
You should be able to walk barefoot in your yard after we leave. That’s the standard.
After Installation
The Final Inspection
Your project manager does a final walk-around with you to review the completed work. This is your chance to ask questions, point out anything that looks off, and confirm you’re satisfied.
If your roof was an insurance claim, your contractor handles the final documentation and any remaining supplements with your insurance company.
Your Warranty
As a GAF Master Elite contractor — a designation held by only the top 2% of roofing contractors nationwide — StazOn can offer GAF’s strongest warranties, including the Golden Pledge Limited Warranty, which covers both materials and workmanship.
This isn’t a warranty you can get from just any roofer. The manufacturer has to certify the contractor. That’s why certification matters.
How Long Does It Take?
Most residential roof replacements in DFW:
- Single-story home, standard shingle: 1 day
- Two-story home or complex roof lines: 1–2 days
- Steep-pitch or multi-material roofs: 2–3 days
- Standing seam metal or specialty materials: 3–5 days
Weather is the biggest variable. We don’t start jobs when rain is in the forecast — your deck should never be exposed to weather during installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to be home during the replacement?
A: You don’t have to be, but we recommend it — especially for the pre-start walkthrough and the final inspection. If you can’t be there, designate someone who can make decisions on your behalf.
Q: Can I stay in my house during the work?
A: Yes. It’s noisy, but it’s safe. Most homeowners stay home during the replacement. Just keep kids and pets away from the work area.
Q: What if it rains during my roof replacement?
A: We monitor weather closely and won’t start tear-off if rain is expected. If an unexpected storm rolls in mid-job, we have emergency tarping procedures to protect your home until work can resume.
Q: How do I know if my roof really needs replacement or just repairs?
A: That depends on the extent of damage, the age of your roof, and whether repairs would actually extend its useful life. We cover this in detail: https://www.stazonroof.com/roof-repair-vs-replace-dallas/.
