What to Expect From a Roof Replacement in Western Montana

Most homeowners only replace a roof once or twice in their lives, so it makes sense that the process feels like a black box. Who do you call first? How long before you have a number? What do you have to decide, and when? And what actually happens on install day? These are the questions we hear most around Missoula and western Montana, so here is the whole thing laid out, start to finish.

Our process is built around one idea: a roof is too big a purchase to buy from someone you've never met. That's why a roof replacement with us runs the way it does — a phone call, a face-to-face visit, a written bid, a few decisions on your end, and then install day. Here's what each step looks like, and what you'll be asked to do along the way.

The short answer

If you're still deciding whether your roof needs replacing at all, start with the warning signs of a failing roof, or ask us to take a look — sometimes a repair is all a roof needs. If you're ready to move, read on.

Step 1: The first call

It starts when you call 406-616-ROOF or send us a message. We'll get you on the phone, take down the address, your email, and the best number to reach you, and ask what's going on: a leak over the kitchen, shingles in the yard after a windstorm, or just a roof that's getting old and a feeling that it's time. You don't need to know the right terms. Describe what you're seeing, and we'll set up a time to meet at the house.

Step 2: We meet you at the house

Even when a project might not strictly need a site visit, we schedule a face-to-face meeting. We look at the roof, talk through what you've noticed, and put a face to the name. A lot of what matters on a roof — how it has aged, how the valleys and flashing have held up, how complicated the roofline is — doesn't come through in a photo texted from the driveway. And it's your chance to size us up, too, before you trust us with the biggest thing over your head.

The walk-through is also where the material conversation happens. For homes, we install both shingle roofs and standing seam metal, and each suits a different house, budget, and set of priorities. If you'd like to read up first, our comparison of metal and shingle roofing covers the trade-offs.

Step 3: Your bid arrives by email

Within a couple of days of the visit, we email you a bid. Take your time with it. If it looks good, reach out and we'll get rolling. If we haven't heard from you in a few weeks, we'll touch base to see where you've landed and whether anything in the bid raised questions. For a sense of what drives the number itself, see what goes into the cost of a new roof.

One thing worth knowing as you compare quotes: our bid may not be the lowest number you see. We're trying to do roofing differently — a white-glove service from the first call to install day — and we believe the extra you pay for that makes a difference on your roof. We'd rather earn the job on quality than on price. If you're weighing more than one company, our guide to choosing the right roofer can help you compare.

Step 4: Choosing colors, signing the contract, and getting on the schedule

Once you're ready, we walk you through the first few steps: picking out your shingle color, signing the contract, putting down the deposit, and getting your project on the schedule. Color is worth a little time — the roof is a big part of what you see from the street, and you'll be looking at it for decades. If you have flexibility on timing, our post on the best time to replace a roof here is worth a read.

Step 5: Install day

Before we show up to roof, we reach out so you know when to expect us. No guessing, and no wondering when the trucks will appear in the driveway.

On a typical shingle replacement, the old roof comes off first. Tear-off exposes the wood decking underneath, which is the first real look anyone gets at what has been happening under the shingles. From there, underlayment goes down over the deck, and the new roof goes on over that.

Underlayment is the layer most homeowners never see, and in a place with long winters and a spring melt, it earns its keep. It sits between the deck and the finished roof as a second line of defense for whenever water finds its way past the shingles.

Metal is a different install with its own sequence, and on new construction there's no tear-off at all. A recent favorite: a standing seam metal roof on a very modern new build in Butler Creek, a high-end neighborhood. The roof turned out beautifully, and it's a good example of the quality of work we bring to high-end homes.

“Even when a project doesn't strictly need a visit, we meet you at the house. You should know who you're hiring before you sign for a roof.”— Western Montana Roofing

After the roof is on: what your warranty covers

A new GAF shingle roof installed by us carries GAF's 50-year non-prorated warranty on the shingles themselves, backed by the manufacturer. Install the same shingles yourself and that drops to a 40-year prorated warranty. On top of the manufacturer's coverage, our own 5-year workmanship warranty covers the installation. For a plain-language look at the fine print, see what a roof warranty actually covers.

The bottom line

A roof replacement with us comes down to five steps and only a few decisions on your part: tell us what's going on, meet us at the house, read the bid, pick your color and sign, and let us know you're ready. We handle the rest, and we tell you before we show up. It's a more hands-on way of doing roofing than most homeowners are used to, and that's on purpose.

If you're thinking about a new roof anywhere in Missoula and the surrounding communities, the first step is free. Call 406-616-ROOF or request a free estimate, and we'll set up a time to see your roof in person.