Tear-off and new roof
Roof Replacement in Norwalk, CT
Shingles curling, granules in the gutters, leaks in more than one spot? Call and you are put through to an independent contractor that replaces roofs in Norwalk.
Calls answered Mon–Fri 8:30am–7pm, Sat 9am–4pm ET
What a replacement includes
A replacement starts by taking the old roof off down to the wood deck. With the deck bare, the contractor can find soft or delaminated sheathing, replace it, and fasten the deck properly before anything new goes on.
Then comes the waterproofing layer. On a Connecticut house that usually means a self-adhered membrane along the eaves and in the valleys, where ice and wind-driven rain do their damage, with underlayment over the rest of the deck. Flashing at chimneys, walls and skylights, the drip edge, ventilation and finally the roof covering complete the job.
In Norwalk the contractor files a permit with the city's Building & Code Enforcement office before the work starts, and the job is finished when the permit is closed out.
Before you sign
Settle these before the first shingle comes off
Scope, line by line
Layers removed, deck repairs, membrane at eaves and valleys, underlayment, flashing new or reused, ventilation, and the roof covering itself.
Rotten decking
You can't see it until the old roof is off. Agree in writing how replacement sheathing is charged.
Chimney and wall flashing
Older Norwalk homes often have tired chimney flashing. Ask whether it is replaced or reused, and who repoints loose mortar.
Ventilation
Ridge and soffit vents, or what the attic has now. Poor airflow shortens a roof's life and feeds ice dams.
Permit and inspections
Who files the permit, when the inspection is booked, and that the permit is closed at the end.
Warranties
The manufacturer's material warranty and the contractor's workmanship warranty are separate documents. Get both.
Why Norwalk roofs wear out
Norwalk roofs go through freeze-and-thaw winters, summer heat and the salt air that comes off Long Island Sound near the shore. Snow that melts against a warm attic and refreezes at the eaves is the classic way a Connecticut roof starts to leak.
The city runs from shoreline neighborhoods to wooded streets inland, and the housing ranges from older colonials and capes to newer homes and condominiums. A good replacement plan starts from the house in front of the contractor, not from a template.
Questions
Roof Replacement: common questions
How long does a roof replacement take?
A typical house often takes a few days on the roof, more for slate, cedar or a cut-up roof with dormers. Permitting, material delivery and weather add time before and after. Ask for the whole schedule, not only the days on the roof.
Can new shingles go over the old ones?
Sometimes a single existing layer can be covered, but many replacements here are full tear-offs so the deck can be inspected and repaired. Slate, cedar and a roof that already has two layers generally have to come off. Ask the contractor what the code allows for your roof.
Do I need to be home?
Not usually, but stay reachable. Move cars, take fragile things off the walls of upstairs rooms and clear a path to outdoor outlets and the attic.
Roof types
Other roof types
- New RoofsAdditions, dormers and rebuilds: a roof framed, flashed and tied into the old one.
- Asphalt ShinglesThe everyday Connecticut roof: dimensional shingles over a proper ice barrier.
- Cedar RoofsShakes and shingles in natural wood, for shingle-style and older New England homes.
- Slate RoofsNatural slate for older homes: replaced by specialists, with copper flashing to match.
- Standing Seam MetalRaised-seam steel or aluminum panels that shed snow, often on farmhouses and porches.
- Low-Slope RoofsMembrane roofs for rear additions, porches, shed dormers and flat sections.
Planning the work?
Talk to a contractor about roof replacement
One call puts you through to an independent roofing contractor serving Norwalk, Westport, Darien, New Canaan and Wilton. Ask for an inspection and a written price for the new roof.
Replacing your roof? Talk it through with a local roofing contractor.
Your call is connected with an independent roofing contractor that takes on roof replacements and new roofs in Norwalk and nearby towns.
Call (855) 365-0164Calls answered Mon–Fri 8:30am–7pm, Sat 9am–4pm ET
Calls may be recorded. Read the referral disclosure and privacy policy.