Roof Replacement in Fort Myers, One Crew Start to Finish

Roof replacement in Fort Myers is a bigger job than it looks from the driveway. The shingles or tile are the part you see, but the work that decides how the roof does in a hurricane happens underneath: how the deck is nailed, how its seams are sealed, how the underlayment is laid and how the edges and walls are flashed. We do all of it with one crew, and the crew lead who prices your roof is the one standing on it while it goes on.

What gets replaced

A full re-roof here means taking everything down to the deck, the plywood or planks the roof is built on. Here’s what happens after that, in order:

1. Deck check. Every sheet gets looked at once it’s bare. Soft, rotted or delaminated wood is cut out and replaced, and we photograph it first so you see why it’s on the invoice.
2. Re-nailing. The deck is fastened to the current code pattern. On many older Lee County homes this is the single biggest strength upgrade in the whole job.
3. Sealing the seams. Florida’s code calls for a secondary water barrier on re-roofs, so water that gets past the roof covering in a storm still can’t run through the gaps between deck sheets.
4. Underlayment and edges. New underlayment across the whole roof, new drip edge, and new flashing at every wall, chimney, vent and skylight. We don’t reuse old metal.
5. The roof itself. Shingle, concrete tile or metal, fastened to the manufacturer’s instructions and the product approval for wind, not to whatever is quickest.
6. Ridge and vents. Ridge caps, ridge or off-ridge vents and new pipe boots, so the attic breathes and the pipes don’t leak.

Choosing a material

Architectural shingle is the most common roof in Fort Myers and Cape Coral and the lowest price per square foot. Good shingles are rated for high winds when they’re installed with the right nail count and starter strips, and that installation detail matters more than the brand name on the bundle.

Concrete tile is the look on a lot of the newer neighborhoods and the gated communities toward Estero. It’s heavy and long-lived. Tile itself rarely wears out; the underlayment beneath it does, which is why an older tile roof can leak while the tiles look perfect. Replacing a tile roof usually means new underlayment and resetting or replacing the tile.

Standing seam metal sheds water fast, shrugs off the afternoon heat better than dark shingle and holds up well in wind when the clips and fasteners match its approval. It costs more than shingle and less than many tile jobs.

We don’t push one over another. If your house would be fine with any of them, we tell you that and let you choose on looks and budget.

The written price

You get one page, broken into lines: tear-off and disposal, deck repairs at a set price per sheet, re-nailing, the sealed deck, underlayment, the roof covering by name, flashing, vents, the permit and cleanup. The only thing that can change is the number of deck sheets that turn out to be rotten, and the per-sheet price is on the page before you sign, so even that isn’t a surprise. If you’re holding quotes from more than one roofer, our guide to reading a roofing estimate shows how to line them up.

No deposit is due until the permit is issued.

Permits and inspections

Every re-roof needs a permit from the building department that covers your address. Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Estero each handle their own, and unincorporated parts of Lee County go through the county. We work out which office applies before the price is final, file the permit and book the inspections the job needs while it’s underway and at the end. When it’s done, you get copies of the permit, the inspection results and the product approvals. Keep them with your house papers; your insurer may ask for them.

How long it takes

For most single-family homes the work on the roof takes a few days for shingle or metal and longer for tile. Afternoon storms in the summer can stop work early, and we’d rather lose an afternoon than open a roof with lightning on the way. Before that, the permit has to be issued, which can take anywhere from days to a few weeks depending on the office and the season. After a big storm, every office slows down at once. We tell you where the permit stands while you wait, so you’re not left wondering.

Why one crew matters

Roofing companies often sell the job with one person and send whoever is free to build it. That’s when details get lost: the soft spot by the chimney that was mentioned at the inspection, the vent you asked to move, the gate that has to stay closed for the dog. With us, the crew lead who walked your roof is the one running the job, with the same crew from start to finish. They know what was promised because they’re the ones who promised it.

Clean-up

Tear-off is messy, so we lay tarps over the plants and the pool cage, and we put the dumpster where you want it, not where it’s easiest for us. At the end of each day the crew sweeps the driveway and the yard with a magnetic roller, and again on the last day before the final walk-through with you.

Is it time?

Not every old roof needs replacing. If the problem is one leak, a few lifted shingles or a cracked pipe boot, roof repair is the smaller bill and we’ll say so. If a storm just went through, start with a hurricane damage inspection, and if an insurer is involved, our claim paperwork page explains what we provide. We replace roofs across Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Estero.

Roof replacement by town

• Roof replacement in Fort Myers, FLOlder shingle roofs near McGregor, block homes off Colonial and the neighborhoods still rebuilding after Ian and Milton.
• Roof replacement in Cape Coral, FLSingle-story canal homes with shingle or concrete tile, lanais and pool cages tied into the roof edge.
• Roof replacement in Estero, FLConcrete tile in gated communities, re-roofed to the association's approved colours and the Florida code.

Guides

• Preparing for a Roof Replacement: A Homeowner's ChecklistPreparing for a roof replacement in Estero or Fort Myers. What to move, who to tell, how to keep pets, cars and the pool safe, and what each day looks like.
• Reading a Roofing Estimate Line by LineReading a roofing estimate without guessing. What each line on a re-roof quote should say, where prices hide, and how to compare two quotes fairly.

Questions about roof replacement

• Shingle, tile or metal, which should I pick?

  It depends on the house, the budget and how long you plan to stay. Architectural shingle costs least up front. Concrete tile is heavier and lasts longer, but the framing has to be able to carry it. Standing seam metal sits in the middle on price and handles wind well. We price the options you're weighing side by side so you can compare.

• Why does the price include re-nailing the deck?

  When a roof comes off down to the plywood, Florida's code calls for the deck to be fastened to current standards before the new roof goes on. Older homes were often nailed far more loosely than that, and the deck is what holds the whole roof to the house in a hurricane.

• Can you replace a tile roof with shingles or metal?

  Usually, yes. Going lighter is rarely a structural problem. If you have an HOA, check its rules first, because many communities around Fort Myers and Estero approve roof materials and colours. We can put the paperwork together for the approval.

• Do I have to be home while you work?

  No. We need access to the driveway, the yard and power for a few tools, and we'd like to walk the finished roof with you at the end. Most people go about their day and come home to a cleaned-up yard.