Question 1

Should my new Calgary roof get synthetic underlayment?

Accepted Answer

Synthetic underlayment is worth the upgrade on a Calgary roof, and most roofers here will quote it as their standard product. The cost difference over felt is modest, typically a few hundred dollars on a full replacement, and the performance gap in this climate is real.

Why Synthetic Makes Sense Here

Calgary's roughly 128 freeze-thaw cycles a year, combined with chinook winds that can lift and crease shingles, put underlayment under constant stress. Synthetic underlayment is lighter, tears fa

Question 2

Which is the right roof for a windy Cochrane hilltop?

Accepted Answer

Wind is the deciding factor on a Cochrane hilltop, and the roofing choices that hold up best are metal standing seam, high-wind-rated architectural asphalt shingles, and impact-resistant Class 4 shingles, roughly in that order of wind resistance.

What Wind Does to a Roof

Wind lifts shingles from the edges and rakes first, then works its way up the field. On an exposed hilltop above Cochrane, where chinooks and cold fronts funnel through the valley, that edge pressure is higher than on a shelt

Question 3

How do I know the new underlayment went on my Calgary roof?

Accepted Answer

Most homeowners never see the underlayment go on, because it disappears under the shingles within hours. Here is how to get reasonable confidence it was done correctly, without climbing onto the roof yourself.

What to look for before the shingles go on

The best window is the day of installation. If you can be home, walk around the perimeter while the crew is working. Underlayment is a large roll of material, typically a synthetic sheet or felt, and it covers the entire deck before a single sh

Question 4

Do I need to clear my Calgary attic before the roofers come?

Accepted Answer

For most Calgary re-roofing jobs, you do not need to empty your attic, but a few minutes of preparation up there will protect your belongings and help the crew work safely.

What actually happens in your attic during a re-roof

Tearing off old shingles sends vibration through the roof deck. Dust, dried caulk, old insulation fibres and the occasional nail or staple can sift down through gaps around light fixtures, bathroom fans, attic hatches and any penetrations that were never perfectly sealed

Question 5

Where should my car be parked during a Calgary tear-off?

Accepted Answer

Moving your car off the driveway entirely is the safest call on tear-off day, ideally to the street in front of a neighbour's house or around the block.

Here is why it matters more than most homeowners expect. A Calgary tear-off generates a fast, heavy stream of old shingles, nails, felt paper and sometimes rotted decking, all of it dropping from height into a dump trailer or onto a tarp below. Crews work quickly and debris travels. A shingle edge or a roofing nail landing on a hood or roof pan

Roof Replacement

Should my new Calgary roof get synthetic underlayment?

Which is the right roof for a windy Cochrane hilltop?

How do I know the new underlayment went on my Calgary roof?

Do I need to clear my Calgary attic before the roofers come?

Where should my car be parked during a Calgary tear-off?