Roof Replacement in DuPage and the Chicago Suburbs

Signs you may need roof replacement

• Shingles that are curling, cupping or cracked, or granules collecting in the gutters
• Leaks showing up in more than one room, or coming back after earlier repairs
• A roof past 20 years old with patched areas that no longer match
• Dark stains, frost or daylight on the underside of the attic sheathing
• Ice dams forming at the same eaves every winter
• A visible dip or sag between rafters

What every ALTA roof replacement in DuPage and beyond includes

Our reroofing is always a full tear-off, never a layer over the old shingles. Each item below is its own line in your estimate, so you can hold our scope up against any other bid:

• Tear-off to the deck. Every existing layer comes off. Only a bare deck shows soft or delaminated plywood, and many manufacturer warranties require one.
• Deck repair, priced per sheet. We walk every sheet and re-nail or replace what fails. The per-sheet price is written into the estimate, so rot found during tear-off never turns into an open-ended bill.
• Ice barrier at the eaves and valleys. Self-adhering membrane runs from the eave edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line, the minimum in building codes based on the International Residential Code, and it lines every valley.
• Synthetic underlayment over the rest of the deck, with new drip edge along the eaves and rakes.
• New flashing, never reused. Step flashing along sidewalls, counter-flashing at chimneys and a new boot on every plumbing vent.
• Balanced ventilation. We match intake at the soffits to exhaust at the ridge, because a hot, damp attic shortens shingle life and feeds ice dams.
• Ridge cap, cleanup and a magnetic nail sweep of the driveway, beds and lawn at the end of each day.

Ice dams and freeze-thaw: why the eaves get extra attention

Chicago-area roofs usually fail at the edges first. Heat escaping from the house melts snow on the upper roof. The water runs down, refreezes over the cold overhang and backs up under the shingles. That is an ice dam, and it is why the lowest few feet of your roof matter more than the rest.

A replacement lets us attack the problem three ways: a continuous ice barrier under the shingles at every eave, attic ventilation that keeps the deck closer to the outdoor temperature, and a look at the attic floor for thin insulation or unsealed gaps around light fixtures and chimneys. If insulation or air sealing is the real culprit, we will say so plainly. A new roof cannot fix that on its own. Our ice dam prevention guide covers the seal, insulate and ventilate order in more depth.

Shingles, metal or synthetic: choosing the new roof

Most suburban homes we re-roof get architectural asphalt shingles: dimensional, wind-rated and offered in dozens of colors by manufacturers such as GAF. If your block files hail claims year after year, price Class 4 impact-resistant shingles too, and ask your insurance agent whether your carrier credits them on your premium. Synthetic slate or shake and standing-seam metal, which commonly lasts 40 years or more, are also options, each with its own cost tier and climate fit.

Stuck on color? Try combinations on a model house in the exterior visualizer, then ask us to bring physical samples. Shingle colors read very differently in daylight than on a screen.

Tear-off to ridge cap: a typical replacement day

1. Before we arrive: a confirmed start date, a permit posted if your village requires one, and a dumpster or trailer set where it will not damage the driveway.
2. Morning: tarps over the landscaping, plywood guards against siding and windows, then tear-off one section at a time.
3. Midday: deck repairs and dry-in. Each section gets ice barrier and underlayment before the crew moves on, so a pop-up storm cannot reach the house.
4. Afternoon: shingles, flashing, vents and ridge cap.
5. Wrap-up: cleanup, the magnet sweep, and a walkthrough with photos of the layers now hidden under your new shingles.

Most homes are finished in one or two working days.

Manufacturer and workmanship warranties on a new roof

Two different warranties protect a new roof. The manufacturer warranty covers defects in the shingles and accessories; we register it for you and give you the confirmation. Some manufacturers also offer enhanced system warranties, available through contractors the manufacturer has certified, and we tell you exactly which coverage applies to the products in your estimate. The workmanship warranty covers the installation itself, and that one comes from us. Our warranty page sets out the terms.

What it costs

Price depends on roof area, pitch, the number of layers to remove and the shingle line. As a reference point, a two-story home on a 2,000 sq ft footprint with architectural shingles typically comes to about $16,400–$24,300. Run your own numbers in the roof cost calculator, which shows every assumption it uses.

Roof Replacement questions

Is rotted roof decking replaced during a roof replacement?

Yes, wherever it fails. Nobody can see the deck until the old shingles are off, so the estimate lists a per-sheet price for replacement plywood or OSB. We photograph every damaged sheet before replacing it, and you approve the count at the walkthrough.

Do roofers need to get into the attic during a replacement?

Briefly, if you allow it. The underside of the deck shows leaks, ventilation problems and insulation gaps that cannot be seen from the roof. During tear-off, cover anything stored up there, because some dust always falls through.

What happens if it rains during a roof replacement?

We open only as much roof as we can dry-in before the crew leaves, and we watch the radar throughout. If weather moves in, exposed areas get ice barrier or underlayment before the rain arrives, which keeps water out until the shingles go on.

Can you match my HOA's approved roof colors and materials?

Yes. Send us the association's approved product list or architectural guidelines. We quote only compliant products and provide the spec sheets your board needs to sign off.