What a complete roof replacement includes
A roof is a system, not just shingles. A replacement that only swaps the top layer misses the parts that cause most early failures. Our standard scope includes:
- Full tear-off down to the deck. We do not layer over old roofing, so we can see and fix the deck.
- Deck inspection and repair: soft or delaminated sheathing replaced, with any replacement itemized on your estimate.
- Self-adhered ice-and-water membrane at eaves, valleys and around penetrations, where ice dams and wind-driven rain get in.
- Synthetic underlayment across the rest of the deck.
- New drip edge and flashing at walls, chimneys and skylights, replaced rather than reused.
- Ventilation review: balanced intake at the soffits and exhaust at the ridge. Poor attic ventilation shortens shingle life and contributes to ice dams.
- Finish roofing installed to the manufacturer's instructions, so the warranty stays valid.
- Clean-up and magnetic sweep for nails in the driveway, lawn and beds.
- Roof deck: plywood or OSB sheathing on the rafters. Soft or rotted sections are replaced during tear-off.
- Drip edge: metal edge that steers water off the deck and into the gutter.
- Ice-and-water membrane: self-adhered waterproofing at the eaves (and valleys) where ice dams and wind-driven rain get in.
- Synthetic underlayment: secondary water barrier over the rest of the deck, lapped over the membrane.
- Architectural shingles: installed to the manufacturer’s nailing and exposure specifications so the warranty stays valid.
- Ridge vent: lets warm, moist attic air escape at the peak.
- Soffit vents: let outside air into the attic under the eaves.
- Attic airflow: balanced intake and exhaust keeps the deck cool and dry, extending shingle life and reducing ice dams.
Choosing a roof replacement material
| Roof type | Best for | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural asphalt shingles | Most pitched-roof homes; the best balance of cost, appearance and wind resistance | Shingle roof replacement |
| EPDM, TPO or modified bitumen | Flat and low-slope roofs, porches, additions, rowhouse and mid-century rooflines | Flat roof replacement |
| Commercial low-slope systems | Retail, office and mixed-use buildings | Commercial roofing |
Many homes here have more than one roof type, for example a shingled main roof with a flat-roofed addition or porch. We replace both as one coordinated project so the transitions between them are flashed correctly.
When replacement is the right call
- Leaks in several places, or the same area leaking again after repairs
- Shingles curling, cupping or losing granules across whole slopes, not just one spot
- Soft or spongy spots underfoot, which suggest deck rot
- Widespread storm damage. See storm damage roof repair for how we document it.
- Planned work that depends on a sound roof, such as solar, new skylights, new gutters or new siding
Not sure which side of the line you are on? Start with a roof inspection. We will tell you if repair is the better value.
Permits, historic districts and HOAs
Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services lists replacing a roof covering among home projects that most likely do not need a county permit. Exempt work must still meet the building code, and the county guide does not cover municipal or homeowners association rules. The same guide lists exterior work on historic property as requiring a permit.
That matters in Chevy Chase. Properties in the Chevy Chase Village Historic District go through the Historic Preservation Commission's Historic Area Work Permit (HAWP) process for many exterior changes, including roofing material changes. Several Chevy Chase municipalities and many North Bethesda HOAs also have their own requirements. We confirm what applies to your address before the job is scheduled.
Your contract and your protections
Maryland requires home improvement work to be contracted through an MHIC-licensed contractor. Homeowners who contract with a licensed contractor can file a claim with the MHIC Guaranty Fund for actual losses from poor workmanship or failure to perform, up to the amount paid to the contractor and capped at $30,000. Before signing with any roofer, look up their license number in MHIC's public search. Our licensing and insurance details are on our About page.
What a tear-off actually looks like on a local street
A roof replacement in Bethesda or Chevy Chase is as much a logistics project as a roofing one. Many of these streets are narrow, with on-street parking on both sides, short driveways, mature trees overhanging the only approach, and a neighbor's house close enough that debris control matters. Before we schedule, we walk the property and settle the practical questions: where the dumpster or dump trailer sits, where material is staged and hoisted, how we protect plantings, patios, condenser units and window wells, and whether the container has to occupy the public right-of-way. In the incorporated Chevy Chase municipalities and the Town of Garrett Park, that last question can involve the municipality rather than the county, so we confirm it rather than finding out on the morning of the job.
Weather drives the schedule too. Summer here means pop-up afternoon thunderstorms, so we tear off and dry in the roof in sections rather than opening the entire deck at once, and we leave the site watertight at the end of every day. We also plan around HOA notice requirements and neighborly working hours, which matters in dense blocks and townhouse communities. If the deck turns out to be soft or you have multiple layers to remove, we show you that before it becomes a change order; a prior roof inspection usually tells us in advance.
The other thing worth planning is everything else that is easier to do while the roof edge is open and crews are already set up. Replacing the roof is the right moment to install new gutters and drip edge as one integrated edge detail, to swap out tired or leaking units during skylight replacement so the flashing is woven into fresh courses, and to rebuild chimney and sidewall flashing rather than reusing it. If siding or trim is also near the end of its life, coordinating that with vinyl siding work avoids paying twice for access and avoids cutting new flashing into finished walls later.
Roof Replacement across Bethesda, North Bethesda and Chevy Chase
We provide roof replacement throughout southern Montgomery County, including Bethesda, MD (20814, 20816, 20817) , North Bethesda, MD (20852) , and Chevy Chase, MD (20815) . Each area page covers the housing types, permit considerations and storm history particular to that community.
Recent Montgomery County storms
These recorded events show the kinds of weather local roofs need to withstand. See the full Montgomery County storm history.
January 22–23, 2016 Blizzard
The National Weather Service recorded 38.5 inches of snow near Potomac, the highest total reported in Maryland, and 35.2 inches near Gaithersburg.
Roof takeaway: Snow loads that deep stress older framing and low-slope roofs. Melt and refreeze cycles afterward build ice dams at the eaves, pushing water under shingles and into ceilings.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a roof replacement take?
Most single-family shingle roofs are torn off and dried in within one working day, with finishing work sometimes spilling into a second. Larger homes, steep pitches, multiple roof types or significant deck repair add time. Your estimate gives a planned schedule.
Will you install new shingles over my old roof?
No. We remove the old roofing so we can inspect and repair the deck, install ice-and-water membrane correctly, and replace flashing. Layering over old roofing hides problems and adds weight.
Will my homeowners insurance pay for a new roof?
Policies typically cover sudden damage from covered events such as wind or a fallen tree, not age-related wear. We document storm damage with photos and measurements for your claim. Under MHIC rules a home improvement license does not authorize anyone to act as a public adjuster, so negotiating the claim stays between you and your insurer.
Do I need to be home during the replacement?
No, but we ask for attic access to check for daylight and moisture, and we recommend taking fragile items off walls in top-floor rooms because tear-off causes vibration.