1
Free Inspection
What a Roof Inspection Actually Covers
We walk the rooftop before we quote anything, because a roof that looks fine from the driveway often hides trouble at the flashing. You get a written roof estimate with photos, not a pressure pitch.
The roofer on your property checks shingle condition, granule loss, and the roofline where wind damage shows first. We read the decking and underlayment from the attic side wherever there is access.
Storm Damage, Hail Damage, and Water Intrusion
Late-spring hailstorms across Minneapolis bruise asphalt shingles in ways you cannot see from the ground. Those bruises crack, and water wicks into the felt and synthetic underlayment underneath.
We document hail damage, wind damage, and any active leak with dated photos, which is the packet an insurance adjuster expects to see.
- Drip edge and eave metal get checked for bends, which is where water damage usually starts on the fascia board.
- Step flashing and chimney flashing are inspected at every wall and masonry joint, since sealant there fails before shingles do.
- Pipe flashing and vent boots dry out and crack, so we flex each one by hand to test the rubber.
- Valleys, ridge caps, and ridge vents collect debris, and a clogged valley pushes water sideways under the field course.
- Gutters and downspouts are checked for the sag and pooling that pushes water back against the roof deck.
- Ice-and-water shield coverage at the eave is confirmed against building code, which matters in a freeze-thaw climate.
- Attic insulation and soffit vent airflow are checked, because poor ventilation cooks asphalt from below.
Every roof inspection ends with an estimate that lists materials, labor, and what we would do first if you are not ready to replace. If the roof has years left, we say so and tell you when to call again.
2
Written Quote
Roof Repair Materials We Match to Your Home
Cedar shake, clay tile, and slate each need different handling, and we will not slap an asphalt patch on a tile roof. We source matching profiles so the repair blends along the roofline.
Architectural shingle and three-tab shingle both repair cleanly when the substrate is dry, though three-tab tears faster in wind. Either way, we hand-seal the tabs we lift.
Flat Roofing and Low-Slope Systems
Flat roofs on Minneapolis porches, garages, and commercial buildings fail differently than pitched roofs. Ponding water on a membrane finds every seam, and freeze-thaw cycles pull those seams apart.
- TPO membrane is heat-welded at the seams, which holds better than adhesive on a roof that sees standing water.
- EPDM rubber is a common low-slope option, and we patch it with primer and a self-adhered cover tape.
- PVC membrane resists grease and chemical runoff, so it suits rooftops near restaurant exhaust venting.
- Modified bitumen and built-up roof systems get a repair coat with reinforcing fabric over any blistered area.
- Roof coating buys time on a sound membrane, and a finish coat can add years to a low-slope roof.
- Counter-flashing, parapet coping, and scuppers are the three places flat roofs leak, so we check all of them first.
Details That Decide Whether a Repair Lasts
Metal roofing repairs involve standing-seam panel and corrugated panel fasteners, which back out as the metal expands and contracts. We reseal each fastener with urethane and replace the washer.
On a hip or gable roof, the verge and rake edge catch wind first. Apron flashing at a dormer or chimney is the next most common leak point behind pipe boots, and a skylight gets a fresh boot flashing.
- Roofing felt and tar paper were standard underlayment for decades, and both crumble once they dry out.
- Tar and bitumen based flashings crack in cold, so we replace them with mastic, roof cement, and a self-adhered membrane.
- Batten and counterbatten framing under metal panels needs the substrate dried before new panels go on.
3
Certified Install
How a Full Roof Replacement Runs
Replacements start with a tear-off, not an overlay, because shingling over a wet deck traps rot and shortens the new roof's life. We set a dumpster and protect landscaping before the first pry bar hits.
Crews on a steep pitch wear a safety harness and work off ladder jacks or scaffold rather than walking the bare roof deck.
The Layers That Make a Roof System
- Self-adhered ice-and-water shield goes along the eave and valleys, where ice dams push meltwater uphill.
- Synthetic underlayment covers the field and replaces roofing felt on most roofs we install.
- Starter course along the eave and rake locks the first field course down against wind uplift.
- Ring-shank nails hold better than smooth shanks in plywood or OSB sheathing that has dried out.
- Staggered courses keep four fasteners in every shingle and avoid the vertical seams that leak.
- Ridge cap, ridge vent, and pipe boot flashing finish the system, and we hand-seal each one.
We measure the roof in roofing squares, pull old nails with a roofing shovel and pry bar, then run a magnet over the lawn. Debris leaves in the dumpster the same day.
Decking, Framing, and What Sits Underneath
Rotted sheathing gets cut out and replaced with new plywood or OSB, and we sister any rafter or truss member that has sagged. A ridge beam problem is rarer, but we will flag it.
Fascia, soffit, and overhang trim get repaired before new roofing goes back on, since hidden rot there spreads into the rake and eave. A mansard, gambrel, or small canopy roof over an entry needs its own detail work.
Waterproofing and weatherproofing details, from valley metal to chimney counter-flashing, are what separate a roof that lasts from one that leaks in year three.
4
Your Approval
Insurance Claims for Storm Damage
We meet your adjuster on the roof, hand over the same photo documentation, and walk the line-item estimate together. If the insurance scope misses decking or code-required ice-and-water shield, we file a supplemental claim.
You get copies of everything, including the proof of loss form and the claim deadline, so nothing lapses while you decide.
Gutters, Ventilation, and Energy Efficiency
- Gutter installation includes hangers sized for snow load and downspouts routed away from the foundation.
- Ridge vent and soffit vent work together to push attic heat out, which protects shingle life and lowers cooling costs.
- Attic insulation and a proper vapor barrier cut ice dam formation at the eave, where warm air meets snow.
- Snow guards above a doorway keep sliding snow off people and off your gutter run.
- Roof coating and reflective membrane help on flat commercial roofing, where surface temperature drives the utility bill.
Maintenance and Commercial Roofing
Twice-a-year maintenance is the cheapest roof repair you will ever buy. We clear debris from valleys and scuppers, reseal pipe boots, and check caulk lines before freeze-thaw cycles open them.
Commercial roofing clients get a service schedule and a written roof condition report each visit, covering membrane seams, drains, and rooftop equipment curbs.
Whether the work is residential or commercial, the standard is the same. We show you the photos, explain the failure, and tell you what happens next.
