Frequently Asked
Questions

You usually can't tell from the ground, which is why we offer a free storm damage inspection. Hail bruising is subtle: a dark spot where the impact knocked the granules off and broke the fiberglass mat underneath, often soft to the touch like a bruised apple. It's easy to confuse with blistering, which comes from inside the shingle and isn't storm damage at all. We photograph and document everything we find so you can decide what to do next. Schedule on our storm damage repair page or call (555) 123-4567.

No, the claim is yours to file and yours to control, and you should be cautious with any contractor who says otherwise. What we do is the legwork that makes your claim accurate: we inspect the roof, photograph and document the damage, give you a written repair or replacement estimate, and meet the adjuster on site so nothing gets missed. You make every decision and your insurer deals directly with you. Our insurance claim assistance page walks through the whole process.

No. Covering or hiding a homeowner's deductible is illegal in many states, and a roofer who offers it is showing you how they handle paperwork. Your deductible is between you and your insurer. What we can do is document the damage thoroughly, give you an honest written estimate, and offer financing on your portion of the work.

Yes, we'll meet the adjuster at your home if you want us there, and we recommend it. We walk the roof with them and point out everything we documented: hail bruises, creased shingles, damaged flashing, dented vents. The adjuster writes their own report and your insurer makes the call, but having the contractor who inspected the roof standing on it keeps the conversation specific. There's no charge for this.

Most asphalt shingle homes are torn off and reshingled in one to two days. A typical single-story ranch is one long day for a full crew; steep pitches, second layers, decking repairs, and complicated rooflines can push it to two or three. Metal and flat systems take longer. Whatever the schedule, we never leave your roof open overnight; anything exposed gets dried in with underlayment before the crew leaves. See our roof replacement page for the full process.

Usually we can (most codes allow a second layer), but we almost never recommend it. An overlay seals the old decking out of sight, so soft spots and rot never get repaired, the new shingles telegraph every hump in the old ones, and you pay for a double tear-off when this roof wears out. A full tear-off costs more up front and gives you a roof we can actually stand behind.

The age of the roof and the spread of the damage decide it. One leak at a chimney on a 12-year-old roof is a flashing repair, not a new roof. Granules collecting in the gutters, tabs that crack when you lift them, and a new leak every season on a 20-year-old roof mean you're patching a roof that's finished. We do far more repairs than replacements, and we'll tell you plainly which one your roof needs.

Architectural asphalt shingles typically run 22 to 28 years in a four-season climate, three-tab closer to 15 to 20, and standing seam metal 40 to 50. Attic ventilation is the quiet variable: a starved attic bakes shingles from underneath and can take years off any of those numbers. That's why we check intake and exhaust on every replacement we quote.

Two separate warranties, and the difference matters. The manufacturer's warranty covers the shingles themselves against defects (commonly 25 years to limited lifetime). Our workmanship warranty covers the installation: the nailing, the flashing, the details that cause most early roof failures. A defect claim won't help you if the problem is a flashing that was bent wrong, so ask every bidder how long they stand behind their own work, in writing. We put both warranties in your contract.

Most manufacturer warranties transfer once to the next owner, but only if the transfer is registered within a set window, often 60 days from closing. Workmanship warranties vary by contractor, so ask about it before you sign; we spell ours out in the contract. A transferable roof warranty is a real selling point, so keep the paperwork with your house documents.

The usual culprits are pressure washing, foot traffic damage, poor attic ventilation, and trades bolting things through the shingles (satellite dishes are a classic). Manufacturers can deny a defect claim if the attic doesn't meet their ventilation spec, which surprises a lot of homeowners. If your shingles have algae streaks, have them soft-washed through our roof cleaning service, never pressure washed.

It depends on the size and pitch of the roof, how many layers come off, the condition of the decking underneath, and the material going on, which is why we measure and quote your roof instead of guessing from the street. Every replacement estimate is written, itemized, and free. Two same-size houses can price very differently if one hides three layers of old shingles and rotten decking, so be wary of any roofer who quotes off a satellite photo alone.

Free estimates for roof replacements and new installations, yes, and storm damage inspections are free as well. For repairs, a standard trip charge applies which covers the roofer's visit and diagnosis. If we do the repair, we'll go over pricing before any work starts.

Yes. We partner with trusted providers to offer flexible financing options, including sample plans like 12 months at 0% interest or 60 months at 7.99% APR. Apply online or call us at (555) 123-4567 and we'll walk you through it.

Yes. Summit Roofing holds State Roofing Contractor License #000000, and the company has been family-owned since 1985. Every job is backed by liability insurance and a satisfaction guarantee, and our crews are background-checked before they ever set a ladder against your house.

Three tells: they knock on your door right after the storm, they push you to sign something on the spot so they can "handle your insurance," and they offer to eat your deductible. All three should end the conversation. A legitimate roofer gives you a written estimate, carries a license and insurance you can verify, and leaves the claim decisions with you. We've been here since 1985, and we'll still be here when your warranty needs honoring.

It matters most for the things you can't see from the driveway: nailing patterns, underlayment laps, flashing details. A license means the work meets code, permits get pulled when the job requires them, and there's someone accountable if it fails. Bad roof work surfaces at the worst times, at the home inspection when you sell, or when an insurer questions a storm claim because the shingles were installed wrong.

Usually that's condensation, not a leak. Household moisture drifts up into a cold attic, hits the underside of the decking, and condenses or freezes there; over time it rots decking and feeds mold from the inside. The fix is ventilation, balanced intake at the soffits and exhaust at the ridge, plus sealing the attic bypasses that let moist air up there in the first place. Our attic ventilation page covers how we size it.

More than most people expect. A clogged or back-pitched gutter holds water against the fascia and the bottom course of shingles, and that's exactly where we find rotted decking edges during tear-offs. Overflow also dumps water at your foundation instead of away from it. If your gutters spill over in an ordinary rain, have them looked at; gutter repair or properly pitched new gutters is cheap insurance for the roof edge.

Yes. Our maintenance plans include an annual roof inspection with photos, flashing and sealant checks, and discounts on repairs, with priority scheduling when something does come up. Catching a nail pop or a lifted flashing early costs a fraction of the stained ceiling it turns into. Call (555) 123-4567 or visit the maintenance plans page for details.

We cover Springfield and the surrounding region: Riverton, Lakeside, Cedar Grove, Maplewood, Fairview, and nearby communities. Use our zip code checker to confirm we serve your area.

Yes. We dispatch emergency repairs outside of normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. Call (555) 123-4567 and follow the prompts for emergency service. For an actively leaking roof we tarp and dry in the damage on the first visit, then schedule the permanent repair in daylight.