A roof replacement is one of the biggest home improvement projects you’ll undertake — but it doesn’t have to be stressful. At NorthWest Construction, we’ve been replacing roofs in Dearborn and throughout the Detroit Metro area for over 20 years. Here’s exactly what you can expect when you hire us, from the first call to the final cleanup.
Before the Job Starts
Material delivery usually happens the day before or the morning of your installation. You’ll see bundles of shingles, underlayment rolls, and flashing materials arrive at your home. If possible, clear your driveway for the delivery truck and move vehicles away from the work zone — materials are typically staged on the roof or in the yard close to the house.
You do not need to be home during the replacement. Many of our customers go to work as normal. We’ll communicate with you by phone or text throughout the day. That said, if you’re working from home, expect noise — it’s unavoidable.
Day of Installation
Step 1: Tear-off Our crew removes all existing shingles, felt paper, and any damaged decking. This takes a few hours depending on the size and pitch of your roof. We use tarps to protect your landscaping and catch debris.
Step 2: Deck inspection and repair Once the decking is exposed, we inspect every board for rot, soft spots, or damage from previous leaks. Damaged sections are replaced before anything else goes on — cutting corners here leads to premature roof failure.
Step 3: Underlayment installation We install synthetic or felt underlayment across the entire deck. This is your roof’s second line of defense against water. In Michigan, we also install ice and water shield along the eaves and in valleys — this is critical for preventing ice dam damage.
Step 4: Flashing Flashing around chimneys, skylights, vents, and walls is installed or replaced. Flashing failures are the most common cause of roof leaks, so we take this step seriously.
Step 5: Shingle installation Shingles are laid from the eaves up, with each row overlapping the one below. Proper nailing placement — not too high, not too low — is critical to wind resistance and warranty compliance.
Step 6: Ridge cap and finishing details The ridge cap seals the peak of the roof. We also install proper ventilation components (ridge vents, off-ridge vents) as needed to protect your attic and extend the life of your new roof.
Cleanup and Final Walkthrough
Our crew uses a magnetic roller to pick up nails from your lawn and driveway. All debris is loaded into our dump trailer and hauled away — you won’t be left with a pile of old shingles in your yard.
Before we leave, a project manager will walk the perimeter with you, confirm that all areas are properly sealed, and answer any questions. We want you to feel completely confident before we drive away.
How Long Does It Take?
Most residential roof replacements in the Detroit Metro area are completed in one day. Larger or more complex roofs — steep pitches, multiple dormers, extensive decking replacement — may run into a second day. We’ll give you a realistic timeline when we estimate the job.
Questions before you get started? Call NorthWest Construction at (313) 277-7676. We’re happy to walk you through the process before you commit.