For most DuPage County homeowners, a roof replacement is a first-time experience. It's a big job — loud, messy during the day, and a significant investment. Knowing what's coming makes the process much less stressful.

Here's a complete walkthrough of what to expect from the moment you sign your contract to the day the crew drives away.

Before the Job Starts

Permit

For most roof replacements in DuPage County municipalities, your contractor will pull a building permit from your local village or city. This is normal and required — don't hire a contractor who skips permits. The permit process typically takes a few days to a week. Some municipalities have same-day or next-day permit availability.

Material delivery

A few days before your scheduled replacement, the roofing materials will be delivered. Typically this is a flatbed truck with a mechanical lift (called a "boom" or "crane truck") that stacks bundles of shingles directly on your roof. The delivery usually takes 30–60 minutes. You'll need your driveway accessible.

If you're home during delivery, keep kids and pets inside and away from the driveway area.

Day-before confirmation

Your contractor should call or text the day before to confirm the scheduled start time and ask about any access issues. If there's a weather concern that might delay, they'll communicate this.

Replacement Day — Hour by Hour

Early morning (7–8 AM): Crew arrival and setup

Expect the crew to arrive early — 7:00 to 7:30 AM is typical. They'll bring a dump trailer or dumpster and position it in your driveway or alongside the house for debris.

The crew will lay protective tarps or catch cloth around the perimeter of your home to catch falling shingles and nails. They'll also cover any AC units, landscaping, and other items they can't move. Move vehicles away from the house — falling debris can cause damage, and the crew needs working room.

Morning (8 AM–noon): Tear-off

This is the loudest part of the job. Workers pry up old shingles with roofing shovels and slide the debris off the roof into the dump trailer. On a standard DuPage County home, tear-off takes a 4-6 person crew about 2–4 hours.

You'll hear:

This is as loud as it gets. If you have a baby, small children, or work from home, plan to be elsewhere or in a part of the house away from the work.

Decking inspection (during tear-off)

As sections of the roof are cleared, the crew leader will inspect the wood sheathing/decking. They're looking for soft spots, rot, delamination, or other damage.

If they find damaged decking, they'll contact you before replacing it — this is additional material and labor, typically priced per board or sheet. A good contractor will show you the damaged area before proceeding.

Midday (noon–1 PM): Lunch break

Most crews take a 30–45 minute lunch break. This is a good time for you to walk around the perimeter and see the bare decking. You can ask the crew leader about any areas they've identified for repair.

Afternoon (1–5 PM): New roof installation

The installation sequence:

  1. Drip edge — metal strips installed along the eaves and rakes to direct water away from the fascia
  2. Ice and water shield — self-adhering waterproof membrane applied at the eaves (minimum 24 inches past the exterior wall), in valleys, around penetrations, and at any other vulnerable points
  3. Synthetic underlayment — covers the rest of the roof field as a secondary water barrier beneath the shingles
  4. Starter strip — a special first course at the eaves that seals the shingle tabs from wind
  5. Shingles — installed in overlapping courses from the bottom up
  6. Ridge cap — special cap shingles installed at the peak(s)
  7. Flashing — step flashing at walls, counter flashing at chimneys, pipe boots at penetrations

Late afternoon (4–6 PM): Cleanup

When the last shingle is down, the crew shifts to cleanup:

Walk the property with the crew leader before they leave. Point out any areas of concern. Check the gutters, downspouts, and perimeter for debris and nails.

After the Job

Inspection

Many DuPage County municipalities require a building inspection for roofing permits. Your contractor schedules this and should be present. The inspector checks for proper underlayment, flashing installation, and code compliance.

Manufacturer registration

Many shingle manufacturers require product registration to activate the full warranty. Ask your contractor if they register jobs on your behalf, or if you need to register directly.

Your workmanship warranty

Get your contractor's workmanship warranty in writing. This covers installation defects (improper flashing, improper nail placement, etc.) separate from the manufacturer's material warranty. A reputable contractor offers 5–10 years on workmanship.

Common Questions on Replacement Day

Can I go on my roof to watch? No. Stay off the roof while work is in progress — it's dangerous and gets in the crew's way.

What if it starts raining? Experienced crews monitor weather closely and work quickly to keep the roof protected if weather threatens. They carry tarps for emergency coverage. If rain starts during installation, they'll cover exposed areas immediately.

What do I do with my pets? Keep them inside, away from exterior doors. Crew members will be coming and going frequently and noise will be stressful for animals.

Will they damage my landscaping? Professional crews are careful, but some incidental contact with plantings near the house is hard to avoid. Most damage is cosmetic and temporary. If you have especially valuable plants or features near the foundation, mention them to your contractor before the job starts.

Looking for licensed DuPage County roofing contractors to handle your replacement? Get free estimates here — we'll connect you with up to 3 pre-screened local pros within 2 hours.

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