Roof Installation

A standard residential asphalt-shingle replacement on a 25- to 35-square home (2,500 to 3,500 sq ft of roof) is one to three days: tear-off and inspection day one, underlayment and shingle install day two, ridge cap and cleanup day three. Metal, tile, and complex multi-slope roofs run longer. We schedule around weather windows — if a forecast shifts to rain or snow during install, we cover any open decking with synthetic underlayment and tarp before leaving, and the project pauses until the next dry day.

Both work in Colorado; the right answer depends on how long you plan to own the home, your HOA, and your insurance carrier's metal-roof position. Class 4 impact-resistant architectural asphalt is the most common choice — proven in Colorado hail, qualifies for an insurance discount with most carriers, and matches HOA requirements in nearly every neighborhood. Standing-seam metal pays back over the second roof cycle and is the right call for long-term-hold homes, mountain properties, and fire-zone areas where the Class A fire rating matters. Tile is excellent in Colorado climate but heavy and expensive, suited to homes designed for tile load.

Most Denver-metro jurisdictions (Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Centennial, the unincorporated counties along the Front Range) now require a full tear-off for residential re-roof permits, regardless of how many layers are currently up there. The exception is small detached structures or jurisdictions that still allow a single overlay on a one-layer roof. Even where overlay is allowed, we usually recommend tear-off because hidden decking damage from previous hail or moisture is the most common root cause of premature roof failure — and overlay locks that damage in.

Class 4 is the highest rating in the UL 2218 impact-resistance test, which fires steel balls of increasing size at shingle samples and grades the result. A Class 4 shingle survives a 2-inch steel ball impact without fracturing. For Colorado homeowners the practical case is two-fold: the roof is more likely to survive a typical hail event without needing full replacement, and most homeowner carriers offer a 20 to 30 percent discount on the wind-and-hail portion of the policy for Class 4 roofs (verify your specific carrier's discount before installing). The up-charge over standard architectural shingles typically pays back in 3 to 5 policy years.

If the slope has hail or wind damage that meets the carrier's threshold (commonly 8 to 10 hail-strikes per 10×10 test square on the ITEL or HAAG industry standard), most carriers in Colorado will pay to replace the affected slopes; many will replace the entire roof if matching is impossible or if the policy includes a matching-shingles endorsement. We meet the adjuster on the roof, walk the damage with you, and document everything in writing so the scope-of-loss matches what gets installed. Code-upgrade items (drip edge, ice-and-water shield, decking) are usually covered under the ordinance-or-law endorsement if your policy carries it.

A manufacturer warranty (Owens Corning, GAF, CertainTeed, Malarkey, etc.) covers material defects in the shingle itself — granule loss, blistering, premature failure — and runs 30 years to lifetime depending on product class. It almost never covers labor for a re-install. A workmanship warranty is the contractor's promise to fix install defects (leaks at penetrations, improper underlayment, missing flashing) for a specified period, typically 2 to 10 years. Manufacturer-certified contractors can offer extended-coverage manufacturer warranties (Platinum-level or equivalent) that combine material and labor under one warranty. We always quote both warranties on every proposal.

Yes, every Denver-metro jurisdiction requires a building permit for a roof replacement. Permit fees are usually a percentage of the construction cost or a flat fee plus a percentage. Inspections include a mid-installation deck inspection (after tear-off, before underlayment) and a final inspection after install. We pull the permit, post it on site, and coordinate the inspector visits — homeowners do not need to be home for either inspection.

Ask for installation photos at four checkpoints: full deck after tear-off, underlayment and ice-and-water shield laid, mid-shingle install showing the underlayment seams, and the final ridge with the ridge vent. Verify the manufacturer's certification on the proposal (Owens Corning Platinum, GAF Master Elite, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster — these require ongoing training and audited installs). Confirm the workmanship warranty is in writing on the contract, with the specific terms — duration, what's covered, what's excluded, and the process to file a claim. Walk the final roof with the project manager before signing the completion paperwork.