Most homeowners get burned on a roof replacement in the same two places. The estimate is one number with nothing behind it, so nobody can tell what was included. Then the old roof comes off, the crew finds soft decking, and the price moves in a direction nobody discussed. That is what Blake and Craig built Loon Roofing & Construction to avoid. Blake climbs onto your roof himself, photographs what he finds, and writes an itemized estimate separating tear-off, decking, materials and labor, with the decking allowance agreed in advance so a surprise under the shingles is not a surprise on the invoice.
Our crew tears the old roof off to the deck, never layers over it, replaces anything soft, and installs a new CertainTeed system with the ice protection and ventilation this climate needs. Most homes are finished in one to two days, the yard is magnet-swept before we leave, and the work is backed by our 10-year workmanship warranty and Michigan license #262300660.
Not every tired roof needs replacing, and we say so when a repair will hold.
Our repair versus replacement guide goes deeper, and Blake gives you a straight answer on the inspection either way.
Age alone is reason enough to have it walked.
The surface is wearing through.
Often ventilation as much as age.
Isolated repairs stop being economical.
A decking problem, not a shingle problem.
A sign of heat loss and ice dam damage.
Catching these early is what seasonal maintenance is for. Once two or three show up together, a replacement usually costs less than another round of repairs.
A replacement is a system, not a bundle of shingles. Every layer below matters more here than it does downstate.
Architectural shingles
A
Architectural shingles
B
Architectural shingles
C
Architectural shingles
Our standard. A thick, dimensional laminated shingle that handles wind and looks right on a lake cottage or a home in town. As a CertainTeed Master Craftsman contractor we install to the manufacturer’s specification, which keeps the shingle warranty intact. See a finished job in our post on shingle roofing installation.
Porch roofs, dormers and low-slope sections often do better in metal. Our post on a metal and shingle combination shows where that pays off.
Michigan code wants an ice barrier from the eave to 24 inches inside the heated wall. We run it at the eaves and through every valley, and wrap it around chimneys and skylights.
Over the rest of the deck, a second layer of protection under the shingles. It lies flatter than felt and holds up if weather moves in mid-install.
Balanced intake and ridge exhaust keep the attic cold in winter, the best defense against ice dams. New drip edge on every eave and rake, and new step and counter flashing. We never reuse old flashing.
No honest roofer prices your roof from the driveway. Two houses the same size on the same street can be thousands apart once you see the pitch, the layers and the deck. What moves the number:
Size and pitch.
Layers to remove.
Decking condition.
Complexity.
Material choice.
Access.
This is where most replacement quotes go wrong. Nobody knows the deck’s condition until the shingles are off, so your estimate carries an agreed price per sheet. Sound deck, you pay nothing extra. Sheets needing replacement, you already know the number and you see the photos. Our complete roof replacement guide walks through the full scope.
You pay nothing extra.
Agreed price per sheet, with photos of every one.
Nothing is added without your approval.
A clear, structured approach so you always know what’s happening and what comes next.
Blake gets on the roof himself and diagnoses the real condition, with photos.
Tear-off, decking allowance, materials, labor and cleanup as separate lines.
The old roof comes off to the deck and we check what is underneath before anything new goes on.
Ice barrier, underlayment, flashing, shingles and ventilation, installed to manufacturer specification.
Debris hauled, the yard magnet-swept for nails, and the finished roof walked with you.
1–2 days for most homes
Most homes are finished in one to two days. Larger, steeper roofs and jobs with real deck repair run longer, and you are told which yours is before we start. There will be noise. Your landscaping, deck and siding are protected during tear-off, the site is cleared daily, and we never leave a roof open overnight.
Your new roof carries two separate protections. The manufacturer’s warranty covers the shingles, and it stays intact because we install to CertainTeed’s specification. Our 10-year workmanship warranty covers what manufacturers never do: how the roof was installed. Flashing, nailing, seams. If a problem traces back to our work, we come back and fix it.
Manufacturer warrantyKept intact by installing to CertainTeed’s specification.
Loon workmanship · 10 yrs
Flashing, nailing, seams. We come back and fix it.
Lake-effect snow sits on your roof for months. Freeze-thaw opens every gap. Meltwater backs up at the eaves, and wind off Grand Traverse Bay finds any shingle not nailed right. Extra ice and water shield, real ventilation and correct nailing are the difference between a roof that lasts 25 years and one that leaks in year eight.
We are not storm chasers. We live here, and we plan to be here when this roof is old.
Anything else? Call Blake at (231) 300-8445.
No, and be careful with anyone who does. Pitch, layers and decking condition all move the price and none are visible from the ground. The inspection and the itemized estimate are free.
Most homes are done in one to two days from tear-off to cleanup. Larger, steeper roofs and jobs with real deck repair take longer, and we tell you which yours is before we start.
Always a full tear-off. Layering over old shingles hides deck damage and shortens the life of the new roof.
Only by the amount you already agreed. Your estimate carries a price per sheet, you see the photos of anything we replace, and nothing is added without your approval.
No. The manufacturer covers the shingles; our warranty covers our installation, including flashing and nailing, for 10 years.
Call and we will tell you honestly. Shingles seal best in warmer weather, so most replacements run spring through late fall. In hard winter we prioritize repairs that stop water getting in, then book the replacement for the first good window.
A free inspection, photos of what we find, and an itemized estimate with no pressure attached. Call Blake at (231) 300-8445 or book your inspection.
Response within 24 hours · Inspection within 1 week
