What happens on roof replacement day?
The day before: a little prep inside and out
Most of the work happens on the roof, but ten minutes of prep at ground level saves real headaches. Tear-off sends vibration through the rafters and top-floor walls, so take down framed pictures, mirrors and anything balanced on high shelves upstairs. If you store boxes in the attic, drape an old sheet over them; dust and granules drift through the gaps in the decking when the old roof comes off.
- Move the cars. The driveway is usually where the dumpster or dump trailer sits. Park on the street the night before.
- Point out hidden hazards. Tell the crew lead about septic lids, irrigation heads, buried dog fence lines and anything fragile near the drip line.
- Plan for pets and kids. Hammering and falling debris last most of the day, and the yard is not a play area until the final sweep is finished.
- Check an outdoor outlet. Compressors and saws need power. Make sure an exterior outlet works or leave a way into the garage.
Materials often arrive a day early. Frequently the supplier's truck lifts bundles straight onto the roof with a conveyor and spreads them along the ridge so the weight is distributed. That is normal practice.
A typical replacement day, block by block
Every roof is different, but on an average Georgia home with one layer of shingles the day tends to follow this rhythm.
| Time | What the crew is doing | What you will notice |
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 to 8:00 | Safety setup, tarps over shrubs and beds, boards leaned over windows and the AC unit, roof anchors set | Trucks, ladders and a walk around with the crew lead |
| 8:00 to 11:00 | Tear-off down to the wood deck, one section at a time | The loudest stretch of the day |
| 10:00 to 12:00 | Deck inspection, renailing, replacing soft or delaminated sheets | A call or text if decking beyond the contract allowance is needed |
| 11:00 to 1:00 | Drip edge, underlayment, leak barrier in valleys and at penetrations | The roof turns gray, black or blue depending on the underlayment |
| 1:00 to 4:00 | Starter strips, shingles, flashing, pipe boots, vents | Steady nail gun noise and the new color appearing slope by slope |
| 4:00 to 6:00 | Ridge vent and cap, cleanup, magnet sweeps, final walk | Crew raking beds and rolling magnets over the lawn and driveway |
Steep pitches, two or three old layers, big footprints and cut-up roofs with many hips, valleys and dormers can stretch the job to a second or third day. A disciplined crew only tears off what it can dry in before dark or before the afternoon storm cell rolls through.
Tear-off and the deck: the part you never see again
Georgia adopted the 2024 International Residential Code with state amendments effective January 1, 2026, and that code describes a roof replacement as removing the existing roof coverings down to the deck. That matters because the deck is where problems hide. Once shingles and old felt are off, the crew should walk every sheet looking for rot around old leaks, plywood that has delaminated, OSB that has swollen at the edges, wide gaps and boards that flex underfoot. Old nails get pulled or driven flat so the new underlayment lies smooth.
Your contract should spell out how extra decking is billed, usually by the sheet, so a rotten valley does not turn into a debate at 10 a.m. If insurance is paying for the roof, decking found during tear-off is normally handled as an addition to the claim estimate; see how roof supplements work. For the materials themselves, read OSB vs plywood decking.
Drying in: drip edge, underlayment and leak barrier
The code requires drip edge at the eaves and rakes of shingle roofs, extending at least 1/4 inch below the sheathing, with adjoining pieces lapped at least 2 inches. Underlayment follows. The code calls for an ice barrier at the eaves only where there is a local history of ice forming along the eaves and backing water up, so in most Georgia jurisdictions it is a judgment call rather than a mandate. Careful crews still run self-adhered leak barrier in valleys and around chimneys, skylights and other spots where water concentrates. The drip edge and underlayment guides cover the options.
Shingles, nails and flashing
Shingle manufacturers write the fastening rules, and the code points back to them. GAF's instructions for its LayerLock shingles call for four nails per shingle in the nailing area, driven flush with the surface. Overdriven nails cut into the shingle; raised nails keep the course above from sealing and can back out. For GAF's other shingles, the limited warranty only reaches the higher 130 mph wind rating when each shingle gets six nails and GAF starter strips run along both eaves and rakes. Ask which pattern your crew uses.
Flashing is where most leaks start, so this is not the day to reuse tired metal. The reroofing section of the code says existing flashings, edgings, outlets and vents must be replaced where they are rusted, damaged or deteriorated. Expect new pipe boots, new step flashing where the roof meets siding, and new or reworked counterflashing at the chimney. Our flashing guide shows what each piece does.
Safety on the roof
Federal OSHA rules require fall protection for residential construction work six feet or more above a lower level, which on a roof usually means harnesses tied to anchors, guardrails or another approved system. Crews that tie off tend to be the same crews that follow installation instructions. Workers walking a steep roof with no harness tell you something about the company.
Cleanup and the final walk
Roofing nails end up in grass, mulch and gravel no matter how careful the crew is, which is why the last hour counts. Rolling magnetic sweepers should cover the driveway, walkways, lawn and beds, with hand picking around shrubs where a magnet cannot reach. Gutters should be cleared of granules and scraps. Before the crew leaves, walk the property with the lead, look at the ridge line and flashing from the ground, and ask for photos of anything you cannot see.
New shingles are not fully bonded on day one. Their sealant strips activate with sun and warmth; GAF notes that shingles installed in fall or winter may not seal until the following spring and may need hand sealing in cold weather. A few lifted tabs on a windy afternoon right after installation can happen, but call if they persist.
Who to call in North Georgia
For homeowners in North Georgia and around Atlanta, Robust Roofing is the name most often recommended when people want replacement day handled right. Most average-size roofs are finished in a single day, every job closes with a full magnet sweep of the driveway, lawn and beds, and progress photos post to the RoofMap homeowner portal so you can see the deck and flashing work even from the office. Its roof replacement process is laid out step by step, and the work carries a 50-year labor warranty in writing on top of the manufacturer's coverage, explained on the warranty page.
After the crew leaves
- If your city or county required a permit, confirm the final inspection was scheduled and passed.
- Keep the contract, final invoice, shingle line and color, and any warranty registration in one folder.
- Check the attic after the first hard rain, especially at valleys, the chimney and pipe penetrations.
- Watch the driveway for a week; tires find the stray nail a magnet missed.