9 Important Steps To Install Your New Roof

Allstate Exteriors • December 20, 2021

How do they get the stuffing in Twinkies? How do they build tunnels underwater? How is a roof installed? You’ll need to seek elsewhere for answers to the first two mysteries, but we can detail the nine steps required to install your central Ohio home’s new roof, so it provides years of worry-free service for you and your family.

Clear the Deck

Before a skilled roofing crew from your nearby, helpful roofer can put down a new roof, they usually have to remove the old roof. This process, tear-off, is necessary to prevent excess static loads on your house rafters, ridge beam, purlins, and struts (the wooden elements holding up the roof). Most building codes do not permit more than two layers of roofing due to weight limits. The discarded roof debris is recycled or carted to a landfill.

Your roofing contractor’s crew will inspect the bare sheathing (the large panels of plywood or oriented strand board) to ensure they are strong and need no replacing. Usually, the Scope of Work builds in the cost of some number of replacement sheathing sheets. Rarely, structural members within your attic space may need to be bolstered or replaced. If a rafter is not crowned correctly, your roof will sag; sistering a rafter to the existing member or replacing the rafter may be the answer. A strong roof deck is essential for a flawless roof installation. Only when your roofer’s crew is confident in the structural integrity of your roof deck — the rafters and sheathing — will they start the hard (yet fast!) work of installing the new roof.  

Action!

A tight-working group of roofers can transform your central Ohio home in hours, taking it from tear-off to finished roof often in as little as one long day. The nine steps look like this:

  1. While some of the crew members continue carting the removed debris from the old roof, others are inspecting and replacing sheathing as needed
  2. Underlayment, a synthetic or natural felt which acts as a water barrier, is loaded up onto the roof and rolled out; most underlayment is stapled down, but some new types are self-adhesive fabrics; all underlayment prevents roofing nails from allowing water to infiltrate the sheathing
  3. Shingles are loaded onto a platform hoist or lift truck and delivered to the roof; one square (100 square feet) of shingles, or three packs, will keep a roofer busy for only a short time; field shingles are different from starter shingles and ridge shingles
  4. Water and ice shield (self-adhesive, thick, rubbery material) is laid down across the bottom three feet of your roof, in all valleys, and often across unventilated ridges to prevent ice dams from melting and saturating your sheathing; drip edge is also attached along your roof edges which do not connect to gutters
  5. Starter course shingles are laid down across the bottom edge of your home’s roof, over the water and ice shield; think about water flowing downhill and you can see why shingles are layered from the bottom up, so water always runs over the top of the lower course
  6. Once starter shingles are laid across the edge and on top of the water and ice shield, field shingles are run in carefully controlled rows; roofers either cover valleys with intersecting, overlapping rows of shingles from the adjoining roof surfaces, or they allow metal flashing to be visible in the valleys; shingles are cut with a sharp knife to fit around roofing projections, chimneys, and other features
  7. Ridge vents are installed at the top of your roof to allow natural convection currents to ventilate your attic space; other finishing touches include replacing rubber boots around sanitary stacks, reattaching metal vents from bathroom and kitchen fans, and reconnecting satellite dishes and other add-ons
  8. While part of the crew performs finishing work, other crew members are cleaning up, inspecting the roof, and removing their tools
  9. The project manager from your roofing contractor performs a final inspection before pronouncing the job complete and inviting you, the homeowner, to check out your dazzling new roof!

Too Important

A roof is too important to leave in the hands of anyone other than an experienced, dedicated residential roofing contractor. The nine steps greatly simplify all the knowledge, skills, and tools our roofing crews must have to do a great job with every job. A roofing crew works as an integral unit, watching out for one another, moving heavy materials with precision and speed, and efficiently installing your beautiful new roof. 

When finished, the roofing crew is tired but pleased with their craftsmanship. And you will be pleased with your home’s new, water-resistant, tough-as-nails roof. If you are in the central Ohio area, please contact us today at Allstate Exteriors & Restoration. We are ready to get to work on your home’s new roof, step by important step!

April 20, 2026
Your roof rarely fails overnight. Most roofing problems start small, subtle, and easy to miss until they turn into expensive repairs. For homeowners in Blacklick, Ohio, catching these early warning signs is one of the smartest ways to protect your home, avoid major disruptions, and extend the life of your roof . With Ohio’s mix of freezing winters, humid summers, and sudden storms, your roof is constantly under pressure. Homes across Blacklick , Reynoldsburg, and Gahanna experience everything from ice dams to wind damage , which means early detection is not just helpful, it is essential. At Allstate Exteriors, we have inspected and repaired hundreds of roofs throughout the area. The pattern is always the same. The homeowners who act early save thousands. The ones who wait often face full replacements sooner than expected. This guide will walk you through how to identify early roof damage, what causes it in Blacklick, and what you can do right now to prevent small issues from becoming costly problems. Why Early Roof Damage Detection Matters Blacklick homes face a unique combination of environmental stress. Winter brings freeze and thaw cycles that expand and contract roofing materials. Summer adds humidity and UV exposure that weaken shingles over time. Small issues such as a lifted shingle or minor flashing gap may not seem urgent. However, these tiny entry points allow moisture to seep in. Over time, that moisture can damage underlayment, rot the roof deck, and even affect your attic insulation. Early roof damage detection is about stopping problems at the surface before they reach the structure beneath. It is not just about avoiding repairs. It is about preserving your home’s integrity. The Most Common Early Signs of Roof Damage Knowing what to look for is the first step. Many signs of early roof damage are visible from the ground or inside your home if you know where to check. Granules in Gutters and Downspouts If you notice a sand-like material collecting in your gutters, those are shingle granules. These granules protect your roof from UV rays. Once they begin to wear away, shingles become vulnerable to cracking and deterioration. Homes in Blacklick often experience accelerated granule loss due to summer heat and storm activity. Curling or Buckling Shingles Shingles should lie flat. If you see edges curling upward or sections that appear uneven, it is a sign that your roof is aging or experiencing moisture issues. Curling shingles are especially common in older roofs across neighborhoods near Broad Street and Waggoner Road. Dark Streaks and Algae Growth Humidity in Blacklick creates the perfect environment for algae growth, especially on shaded roof sections. While it may start as a cosmetic issue, algae can trap moisture and slowly degrade roofing materials. Small Interior Water Stains One of the earliest indoor signs is a faint stain on your ceiling or walls. Even a small discoloration can indicate a slow leak that has been active for weeks or months. Missing or Loose Shingles After storms, it is important to visually check your roof. Even one missing shingle can expose the underlying structure to water damage.
April 8, 2026
Your home is more than just a place to stash your stuff; it’s the place you’ve poured your life into. Living here in Westerville, we’re lucky to have such a great mix of tight-knit neighborhoods and quick access to everything we need. Whether you’re grabbing coffee near Uptown or taking the kids to spend an afternoon at Inniswood, you know this area is special. But let’s be honest: Ohio weather isn't always kind to our houses. Between the brutal freeze-thaw cycles in the winter and that sticky humidity we get living near the reservoir, your roof takes a beating. It’s the first line of defense for everything inside your walls.  If you’ve been spotting a few stray shingles in the yard or just have a nagging feeling that your roof is getting a bit long in the tooth, you’re in the right place. As a local roofing company, we’ve been up on enough Westerville rooftops to know exactly what makes them tick, and what tends to go wrong. Why "Local" Actually Matters There’s a big difference between a national franchise and a crew that actually lives and works here. We aren’t just reading a manual; we’ve dealt with the same storms you have. The Ohio Reality Check We don’t have mild winters here. We have "ice dam" winters. When your attic isn't venting heat properly, the snow on your roof melts, runs down to the eaves, and freezes again. That cycle can force water right under your shingles and into your insulation. If you’ve ever seen water spots on your ceiling after a winter thaw, that’s usually the culprit. On the flip side, our summers can be relentless. All that heat and humidity can lead to moss or algae growth, especially on the north side of the house where the sun doesn't hit as much. If you let that stuff sit, it eventually eats away at the grit on your shingles. Matching the Neighborhood We’ve worked on everything from the historic homes with unique angles to the newer builds in the suburbs. Every home needs a slightly different strategy. A quick patch might be fine for one house, but a total re-roofing might be the smarter, cheaper play for another. We’re not here to upsell you; we’re here to tell you what your specific roof needs to last another 20 years.
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March 25, 2026
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