A roof replacement sometimes turns into more than removing old shingles and installing new ones. On this home in Garland, TX 75044, the condition of the roof deck became one of the most important parts of the project.
The existing decking was very soft, something our inspection documented before work began. Once the roof was opened up, we re-decked the house before installing the new roofing system. The project also included several exterior carpentry repairs, some interior ceiling work, and a Class 4 impact-resistant shingle.
Why the Existing Roof Deck Needed Attention
A number of homes built during this period were originally decked with 3/8-inch plywood. That was commonly used in more economical residential construction, but it can feel noticeably flexible compared with the thicker decking generally used today.
After decades of service, that flexibility can become even more pronounced. In this case, the deck was soft enough that installing a new roofdirectly over it did not make sense.
The installation photographs show substantial areas of the old decking removed, exposing the rafters before new sheathing was installed across the roof. This gave the new roofing system a much more solid nailing surface and addressed the underlying structure instead of simply covering it with new shingles.
We have encountered a similar situation on other Dallas-area homes, including our [Queenswood roof decking project]. That is one reason checking the condition and thickness of the roof deck is an important part of a roof replacement, particularly on older homes.
IKO Nordic Class 4 Impact-Resistant Shingles
For the finished roof, the homeowner selected IKO Nordic ArmourZone shingles in Glacier. The material order shows approximately 27 squares of Nordic along with matching hip and ridge shingles, black drip edge, new plumbing vent covers and ventilation components.
Nordic is IKO’s polymer-modified Class 4 impact-resistant laminated shingle. Class 4 is the highest impact rating used for residential asphalt shingles under the applicable testing standard, although no asphalt shingle should be considered hail-proof.
For homeowners considering this type of roof, our [impact-resistant shingles page] goes into more detail about Class 3 and Class 4 products and what those ratings actually mean.
More Than a Roof Replacement
There were several other issues around the house that needed attention at the same time.
Our original inspection documented deteriorated fascia and soffit in several locations as well as water staining on interior ceilings. The scope therefore included fascia and soffit repairs, ceiling repairs, painting, and work associated with the home’s metal porch roof in addition to the primary roof replacement.
Handling these items together made sense because several of them were directly related to the roof and the areas being opened during construction.
Financing the Roofing Project
Another part of this project was financing. The homeowner chose to finance the work through Service Finance Company rather than paying the entire project cost at once.
Financing can be useful on projects like this because the final scope is not always limited to shingles. Decking, carpentry, interior repairs and other necessary work can turn a straightforward roof replacement into a substantially larger home repair project.
A Better Foundation for the New Roof
The most important part of this Garland project may be something that is no longer visible.
Once the shingles were installed, the new decking disappeared underneath the roofing system. But replacing the soft, undersized deck gave the new Class 4 roof a solid foundation rather than leaving an old structural weakness in place.
That is one of the reasons we inspect the roof deck during replacement instead of assuming everything underneath the shingles is suitable for another roofing cycle.
