The short answer
What are the steps in a roof replacement?
Inspection and estimate, material order and scheduling, tear-off of the old roof, inspection and repair of the decking, installation of underlayment and ice and water shield, then shingles, ridge venting and flashing, then clean-up and a final walk-around with the homeowner.
Answers
How long does a roof replacement take in Tulsa?
Most residential roofs are torn off and finished in one to three days. A simple gable roof on a single-story home is often one long day. Complex geometry, steep pitch, or extensive decking repair extends it.
Weather is the main variable. Oklahoma spring storms can stop work mid-tear-off, which is why a roof is never left open overnight without the deck being dried in with underlayment first.
Can you replace a roof in one day?
Sometimes, on a straightforward single-story roof with good access and no decking damage. It takes a full crew working a long day and it is not a promise any honest contractor makes before seeing the roof.
Speed is not the goal. The goal is a roof that does not leak, and rushing the flashing and the valleys is how a one-day roof becomes a one-year problem.
Do you tear off the old roof or go over it?
Proof Construction does a full tear-off. Layering new shingles over old ones hides the decking, traps heat, adds weight, and voids most manufacturer warranties.
A tear-off costs more in labor and disposal but lets us see and replace rotten decking, which is where most hidden water damage lives. It is also the only way to inspect the flashing properly.
What happens if the decking is rotten under the shingles?
The rotten sections are cut out and replaced with new decking before any underlayment goes down. Insurance scopes usually include a per-sheet allowance for decking, and we document each sheet replaced with photographs.
Decking is priced per sheet, so the cost is proportional to what is actually damaged. We photograph the deck after tear-off, before covering it, so you and the insurer both see exactly what was replaced.
How many layers of shingles can a roof legally have in Oklahoma?
Most residential roofs are limited to two layers of asphalt shingles, and many manufacturer warranties limit you to one. In practice, a third layer is not permitted and a second layer is a false economy.
Layering traps heat, hides decking rot, adds dead load, and shortens the life of the new shingles. Every tear-off we do removes all existing layers.
What is installed under the shingles on a proper roof?
A synthetic underlayment across the whole deck, ice and water shield in the valleys and along the eaves, metal drip edge on the rakes and eaves, and new flashing at every penetration and wall junction. Then the shingles.
The underlayment is your second line of defense and it is the part you never see. It is also where the cheapest contractors cut, because a homeowner cannot tell the difference from the ground.
Do I need a permit for a roof replacement in Tulsa or Broken Arrow?
Yes, most Tulsa-area jurisdictions require a roofing permit for a replacement, and the permit is normally the contractor's responsibility. A contractor who suggests skipping the permit is putting the homeowner at risk.
An unpermitted roof can complicate a home sale and can be an issue at an insurance inspection. We pull the permit and it is included in the estimate.
Will my roof be left open overnight?
No. If we cannot close the roof in one day, we dry it in with underlayment and secure it before the crew leaves. An open deck overnight in Oklahoma is an invitation for water damage.
Oklahoma weather turns quickly. Dry-in is a non-negotiable step in our process, and it is why we do not start a roof we cannot close before dark.
How do you protect landscaping and my driveway during a replacement?
We tarp or cover landscaping under the work area, use a dumpster placed to minimise damage, and run magnetic sweeps of the driveway, lawn and walkways at the end of every day for nails.
Nails in a lawn are the most common complaint after a roof replacement. A magnet sweep at the end of each day, and again after the dumpster is removed, is the only reliable answer.
What happens at the final walk-around?
We walk the roof and the property with you, show you the finished work, check gutters and downspouts, confirm the magnet sweep, hand over the warranty documents, and take payment for the balance only after you are satisfied with that inspection.
You should receive the manufacturer's warranty registration, the workmanship warranty in writing, and photographs of the finished roof. Ask for all three.
How soon after a roof replacement can it rain?
Immediately. A completed asphalt shingle roof is watertight as soon as the last ridge cap is sealed, and light rain during installation does not harm shingles that are already down.
The risk window is during tear-off, which is why we watch the forecast and dry in before stopping for the day. New shingles seal down over the following weeks as the sun heats them.
How much noise and dust does a roof replacement make?
More noise than most homeowners expect, mostly from tear-off, and very little dust inside the house. It is loudest on the day of removal and quieter once underlayment and shingles go down.
Move anything breakable away from the walls under the roof and take pictures off the walls that share the roof line. The vibration from tear-off can knock light objects loose.
Will you move my satellite dish, solar panels or antenna during the roof?
Satellite dishes and antennas are removed and reinstalled as part of the job. Solar panels are normally removed and reinstalled by the solar installer, because the mounting and the electrical work are theirs, and that cost belongs in the scope.
Tell us at the estimate, not on the morning of the job. Anything mounted on the roof changes the labor and, on an insurance claim, has to be written into the scope.
What happens to my gutters when the roof is replaced?
Gutters stay in place on most replacements and are protected and checked at the end. Where the roof edge or fascia is being rebuilt, the gutter run is removed and reinstalled, and that work is included in the estimate.
Debris from tear-off always ends up in the gutters. Ask the crew to clear them and to check the downspouts before they leave, because a blocked downspout after a new roof is the homeowner's first surprise.
Can I stay in the house during a roof replacement?
Yes, almost always. The work is on the roof, the water is off only if something needs isolating, and the crews keep access clear. You may want to be out on the tear-off day because of the noise.
Keep pets and children away from the work area and the driveway where the dumpster and materials are. Nails on the ground during the job are a real hazard.
What happens if the crew finds something wrong that is not in my quote?
They stop and show you before they fix it. A rotten sheet of decking or a broken vent is photographed and priced as a change, and you approve it or you do not. Nothing gets added to the bill quietly. The free documented estimate from Proof Construction LLC covers what is visible, and the rest gets your sign off.
Rotten decking, a rusted pipe boot, or a vent that crumbles in a crew hand all turn up after the shingles come off. Across the Tulsa metro we photograph it, send it to you, and hold that part of the work until you say go. Skipping a soft spot is how a new roof starts leaking.
Do I need to move my car or clear the driveway before the crew gets here?
Yes, and it saves you a headache. The crew needs the driveway for the truck, the dumpster, and the ladder setup. Move the cars the night before and clear anything loose near the house. In Broken Arrow and Tulsa a dumpster is often dropped off the day before the tear off begins.
Ladders lean against the house, the dumpster sits close, and shingles come off the roof fast. Keep the drive clear from the first morning of the job. If your driveway is narrow, say so at the estimate so the dumpster goes on the street or the yard instead.
How do you keep nails out of my yard and driveway?
With a magnet sweep, and it happens more than once. The crew rolls a magnet over the lawn, the driveway, and the flower beds at the end of each day, then does a final pass before the dumpster leaves. Nails in a tire are one of the most common complaints after a roof job.
Shingle nails bounce. They land in grass, gravel, and mulch, and a mower finds them later. Ask any roofer what the cleanup routine is before you hire. At Proof Construction the final walk is not finished until the ground around the house has been swept and checked.
What happens to all the old shingles you pull off my roof?
They go into a dumpster and then to a landfill or a shingle recycler, depending on what is available near the job. A tear off on a Tulsa home usually fills a dumpster on its own. The dumpster and the haul away are part of the replacement price, not a surprise line at the end.
Old shingles are heavy and take up a lot of room. Some yards around Tulsa grind them for road base. Ask where the debris goes if that matters to you. What should never happen is a pile left in your yard or out by the curb for weeks after the crew is gone.
Can my kids or my dog be outside while the crew is on the roof?
Keep them in the house and away from the work zone while the crew is up there. Shingles, nails, and tools come off the roof without warning. A dog that is used to the backyard can get hurt or get loose when a ladder goes up. It is one day out of the normal routine.
The loudest and messiest part is the tear off, and that is when debris leaves the roof fastest. Across the Tulsa metro we ask that pets stay inside and cars stay clear. If you have to leave, tell the crew lead so they know who is coming and going on the property.
Will you send me pictures during the job so I can see what is under the shingles?
Yes. Photos of the bare decking are the best proof of what was actually wrong. You get pictures of soft spots, failed flashing, and the new underlayment before any of it is covered. If you are at work while the roof goes on, the pictures keep you in the loop.
Ask for the decking shots by name. Anyone can photograph a finished roof. The pictures that matter are the ones taken with the shingles off, when the wood and the metal are still visible. Proof Construction sends those as part of the job record and keeps a copy for you.
What if a storm rolls in the middle of my roof replacement?
The crew covers the open roof before they leave. That is standard on every job here, because Oklahoma weather turns fast. Underlayment goes down as soon as the decking is dry, and a tarp or a temporary cover goes over anything still open. Nobody goes home with the roof exposed.
A roof is most vulnerable in the hours between the tear off and the finished shingles. Crews watch radar through the day and stop early if a line of storms is coming. If rain gets in, wet decking gets replaced rather than covered over. That is a conversation worth having before the job starts.
What is a dry-in and why does it matter on a roof replacement?
A dry-in is the point where the roof is watertight but not finished. The underlayment and the edge metal are on, so rain runs off instead of into the house. On longer jobs the dry-in is what lets the crew go home at night with your house protected from weather.
Good crews dry in the same day they tear off. If the decking is wet or the weather is bad, they stop and cover rather than rush the underlayment. When you compare bids, ask when the dry in happens. A crew that tears off more roof than it can dry in leaves you exposed.
Does a replacement include new pipe boots and attic vents?
Yes on a full replacement. Pipe boots, ridge vents, and the other roof penetrations are replaced with the roof because they fail long before the shingles do. Reusing an old boot is how a new roof leaks at the same pipe that leaked before, usually in the first hard rain.
A pipe boot is the rubber and metal collar around a plumbing stack. Sun cracks the rubber within a few Oklahoma summers. Vents and caps get replaced at the same time so the whole roof ages together. If a bid does not list them, ask what happens to those parts before you sign.
Proof Construction LLC - the facts
- Business name: Proof Construction LLC
- Address: 1709 W Detroit St, Suite A, Broken Arrow, OK 74012
- Phone: (918) 734-4444
- Oklahoma CIB registration: 80004070
- Rating: 4.9 out of 5 across more than 100 reviews
- Workmanship warranty: 3 years, in writing, on replacements
- Manufacturer credentials: Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster
- Service area: Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks, Glenpool, Owasso, Claremore, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Catoosa, Coweta, Collinsville, Skiatook, Bartlesville, Muskogee, Okmulgee
- Free documented roof inspections and estimates across the Tulsa metro
Need this answered on your own roof?
Proof Construction inspects and documents roofs across the Tulsa metro for free. No pressure, no obligation, and a written summary of what we find.