What to Expect on Roof Installation Day: A Step-by-Step Guide for NH Homeowners

Getting a new roof is one of the biggest and most sound investments you’ll make in your home. And while it might feel like the hard part is choosing the right contractor and materials, for many homeowners the real anxiety kicks in the night before installation: What’s going to happen tomorrow? How long will it take? Do I need to stay home?

At Jasmor Roofing & Contracting, we believe a well-informed homeowner is a confident homeowner. We let you know what’s going to happen ahead of time, and after 20+ years installing roofs across Concord, Loudon, Laconia, and Central New Hampshire — and more than 5,000 successful projects — we’ve walked thousands of families through exactly this process. Here’s what a typical installation day looks like when you work with our team.

The Night Before: How to Prepare Your Home 

A little preparation goes a long way. Here’s what we recommend doing the evening before your installation: 

• Move vehicles out of the driveway and away from the garage. Our crew will need clear access and will be staging materials close to your home. 

• If you have pets, plan for them to be indoors and away from exterior doors throughout the day. Job sites can be unsettling for animals. 

• Clear your deck or patio of outdoor furniture, planters, or grills if they’re directly below the roofline. Falling debris is inevitable during a tear-off. 

• Let your neighbors know. It’s a courtesy they’ll appreciate, and it sets expectations for the noise and foot traffic. 

You don’t need to be home for the entire installation, but we’ll always make sure someone is reachable by phone, and we’ll keep you updated throughout the day. 

Jason Rule and his company made replacing a roof a simple process. They did both our house and our garage in 2020 and were in and out in a day including clean up. I had an issue with part of my roof with leaking because of the water getting caught in the gully of the roofline and since Jasmor did the work there, we have not had 1 single problem with leaking. {Heidi Crockett – Click here to View Review}

Morning of Installation: What Happens When the Jasmor Crew Arrives 

Our team typically arrives early — often between 7:00 and 7:30 AM. We move fast, but the first thing we do before a single shingle comes off is protect your property. 

You’ll see the crew: 

• Lay down plywood boards and tarps over shrubs, flower beds, AC units, and anything else along your foundation that could be damaged by falling debris. 

• Set up a dumpster or debris trailer (usually in the driveway or close to the home) to catch the old roofing material as it’s stripped off. 

• Stage materials (such as bundles of shingles, underlayment, and accessories) on the ground near the home or loaded directly onto the roof using a shingle hoist. 

We treat your property like it’s our own. You’ll see that in our reviews: cleanup is something our customers consistently call out, and that process starts from the moment we pull up. 

Step 1 — The Tear-Off: Removing Your Old Roofing 

The tear-off is the loudest part of the day. Our crew uses roofing shovels {outbound link to supplier} and pry bars to strip the old shingles, underlayment, and any damaged flashing down to the wood deck below. 

In New Hampshire, most older homes were built with multiple layers of shingles. Even for repairs (let along full roof replacements), we always tear down to bare wood — never roof over an existing layer. Here’s why: 

• Roofing over existing layers traps moisture and heat, which dramatically shortens the life of your new roof. 

• Your warranty — including the industry-leading Owens Corning warranty we provide — requires a clean deck installation. 

• It lets us actually see what’s going on with your roof deck, rather than covering up hidden damage. 

The tear-off on a standard NH home typically takes 1–3 hours depending on the size and pitch of the roof. 

Step 2 — Deck Inspection & Repairs  

Once the old roofing is off, your crew foreman will walk the entire deck — every inch of it — looking for rotted, soft, or damaged sheathing boards. 

This is one of the most important steps in the process, and it’s something we take seriously. Soft spots in the deck can compromise the structural integrity of your installation and void your warranty if they’re not addressed. 

If we find damaged sections, we’ll replace them on the spot using new OSB or plywood sheathing. We’ll walk you through what we found, show you the damage, and explain the repair before we proceed. There are no surprise charges here — our estimators account for deck repairs in your quote wherever possible, and we communicate transparently when unforeseen issues arise. 

Step 3 — Ice & Water Shield and Synthetic Underlayment  

New Hampshire winters are brutal on roofs. Before a single shingle goes down, your roof deck gets a critical layer of protection — and this is where our process differs from contractors who cut corners. 

We install: 

• Ice & Water Shield along all eaves (the lowest edge of the roof), valleys, and around penetrations like chimneys and skylights. This self-sealing membrane is your last line of defense against ice dam leaks — a major cause of water damage in NH homes every winter. 

• Synthetic underlayment over the rest of the deck. Unlike traditional felt paper, synthetic underlayment is tear-resistant, moisture-resistant, and provides a stable walking surface for our crew throughout the installation. 

Every product we use is an Owens Corning system component, which is how we maintain your full system warranty — not just a shingle warranty. 

Step 4 — Installing Your New Owens Corning Shingles  

This is where it all comes together. As an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor — an invite-only designation held by fewer than 1% of roofing companies in North America — our team is trained and certified to install Owens Corning products to the highest standard. 

We start at the bottom of the roof (the eaves) and work upward in overlapping courses. Every shingle is nailed through the SureNail® Technology strip — an engineered fabric reinforcement zone built into the shingle that provides a significantly stronger nail hold than standard asphalt shingles. In a region that sees 70+ mph wind gusts, that matters. 

Key things happening during this phase: 

• Starter strips are installed along all eaves and rakes to seal the roof edge and prevent wind-driven rain intrusion. 

• Shingles are staggered in an offset pattern to eliminate water channels between courses. 

• Hip and ridge areas are handled with purpose-built ridge cap shingles — not cut-up field shingles — for a clean, durable finish. 

Want to see your color choice on your home before installation day? Visit our Shingle Showcase page or use our Design Eye-Q visualizer to preview Owens Corning shingle styles on your actual home. 

Step 5 — Flashing, Ridge Cap & Ventilation Details  

The final installation phase is where experience really shows. Flashing — the thin metal installed around chimneys, skylights, vents, and wall intersections — is one of the most common sources of roof leaks when it’s done wrong or skipped altogether. 

Our crew replaces all flashing as part of a full roof installation, including: 

• Step flashing along any walls or dormers where the roof meets a vertical surface. 

• Chimney counter flashing and base flashing, sealed properly to prevent water infiltration. 

• Drip edge along the eaves and rakes to direct water away from your fascia boards and into the gutters. 

We also verify that your ridge vent or box vents are functioning properly. Attic ventilation is directly tied to how long your roof lasts — a poorly ventilated attic can trap heat and moisture that shortens shingle life and leads to premature wood rot. If we spot a ventilation issue during your installation, we’ll flag it. 

Step 6 — Final Cleanup & Walkthrough  

We don’t consider the job done until your property looks better than it did when we arrived. After the last shingle goes down, here’s what happens: 

• All old roofing material is loaded into the dumpster or trailer and hauled off the property — you won’t be left managing disposal. 

• We run a large commercial magnet across the entire lawn, driveway, and around the foundation to collect every nail and metal fastener. 

• Tarps and plywood protection are removed, and your landscaping, furniture, and outdoor items are put back in place. 

• Your foreman will do a final walk of the roof and the grounds before leaving. 

You’ll also receive a walkthrough with your foreman — they’ll show you the completed work, point out anything notable (like a repaired deck section), and answer any questions you have before they drive away. 

Read any of our Google reviews and you’ll see a pattern: our customers specifically mention the cleanup. It’s not an afterthought for us — it’s part of the standard. 

Great experience start to finish! Shawn came out and gave us a detailed estimate the day after I called to inquire, was communicative about their schedule and products, and Shane and the crew did an awesome job giving us a new roof in no time at all. They did a thorough job cleaning up and we’re very happy with their work! Home projects can be a headache sometimes but our experience with Jasmor was the opposite- quick and easy for a very fair price. Thanks again guys!

After the Install: Your Warranty, Documentation & Next Steps  

Within a few days of your installation, you’ll receive your warranty documentation. As an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, Jasmor is authorized to register your roof for the Owens Corning Platinum Protection Limited Warranty — one of the most comprehensive warranties available in residential roofing, covering both materials and workmanship. 

Here’s what to do after your new roof is installed: 

• Save your warranty documentation somewhere safe — your real estate attorney or home file is a good place. 

• Take photos of the finished roof for your own records. 

• Notify your homeowner’s insurance company that you have a new roof — it often results in a premium reduction. 

• Schedule your next inspection 3–5 years out. We recommend regular inspections to catch minor issues before they become expensive ones.

Frequently Asked Questions About Roof Installation Day 

How long does a roof replacement take? 

Most residential roof replacements in New Hampshire are completed in a single day. Larger or more complex homes — steep pitches, multiple dormers, extensive flashing — may take two days. Your Jasmor estimator will give you a realistic timeline during your free estimate. 

Do I need to be home during the installation? 

No — you don’t need to be home all day. We do ask that someone is reachable by phone in case questions come up about unexpected deck damage or material decisions. Your foreman will call or text if anything needs your attention. 

What if it rains on installation day? 

We monitor weather closely and will contact you to reschedule if conditions aren’t safe for installation. Starting a tear-off on a day with significant rain in the forecast isn’t something we do — we protect your home and our work quality above all. 

Will my gutters be affected? 

We work carefully around gutters during installation. Drip edge is installed over the existing gutters at the eaves as part of the standard process. If we notice your gutters are damaged, loose, or improperly pitched during the install, we’ll let you know. 

How noisy is it? 

Roof installation is loud — there’s no way around it. The tear-off is the noisiest phase and typically lasts 1–3 hours. Expect hammering and foot traffic on the roof throughout the day. Most homeowners find it manageable by spending time away from home during peak hours. 

Ready to Get Started? Schedule Your Free Roof Inspection.  

Jasmor Roofing & Contracting serves Concord, Loudon, Laconia, and all of Central NH. We’re an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor with an A+ BBB rating and 20+ years of experience. Our estimates are always free, always honest, and usually scheduled within 24 hours.  

Call (603) 961-0335 or request your free estimate HERE.