Roofing contractors in Maryland and Northern Virginia
Most of the difference between two roofing quotes is not the shingle. It is what happens underneath it, and what happens if the decking turns out to be soft.
What separates a complete quote from a cheap one
- Flashing — replaced, or re-used and sealed? Re-using it is the most common reason a new roof leaks in its first year.
- Decking — what is the price per sheet, and how many sheets are assumed? Nobody knows the real number until the old roof is off.
- Underlayment — does ice-and-water shield go at the eaves and in the valleys, or only where code requires it?
- Ventilation — corrected, or simply reinstalled? A hot attic shortens the life of whatever goes on top of it.
- Warranty — the manufacturer covers the material; the contractor covers the labour. The second is worth more.
The work
Why roofs fail in this region
Summer storms come down off the Blue Ridge with force. Hail is frequent enough in Loudoun, Prince William and western Maryland to drive a visible replacement cycle in the year after a significant event. Winters produce ice damming at the eaves. Add seventy-year-old tree canopy over the postwar suburbs, and most of what gets reported here is predictable.