We recently completed a Birmingham roof replacement on a beautiful home on the west side of town, just off 14 Mile Road. The project included approximately 20.5 squares of roofing on the house and another 8 squares on the detached garage. The homeowner chose CertainTeed Landmark PRO shingles in Moire Black.
That’s roughly 2,850 square feet of roofing between the two buildings. This project also gives us a great opportunity to show something homeowners don’t always think about when hiring a roofing contractor: how we protect your property while we’re working.
A roof replacement is a major construction project. There are shingles coming off, materials going up, ladders being moved, and plenty of activity around the house. We take protecting everything below the roof seriously.
A Birmingham Roofing Project Near 14 Mile Road
This home is located on the west side of Birmingham, Michigan, near 14 Mile Road. The house has several roof sections, dormers, and different elevations. There’s also a separate garage behind the home.
For this project, we replaced approximately 20.5 square on the house (2,050 square feet) and 8 square on the garage (800 square feet). That makes 28.5 square total, or about 2,850 square feet of roofing.
If you’re unfamiliar with roofing measurements, one square equals 100 square feet of roof surface. Having multiple roof sections means we need to pay attention to how the different areas come together. It also means we have to think carefully about where materials and debris will go during the tear-off.
Protecting Your Property During a Roof Replacement
One of the biggest concerns homeowners have about getting a new roof is what happens to everything around their house. And that’s a fair concern.
Roofing crews work above your landscaping, windows, siding, gutters, walkways, and outdoor living spaces. When we remove an old roof, a lot of material can come off the building. Without proper preparation, that material can damage the property below.
Using Tarps to Protect Landscaping and Outdoor Areas
Take a look at the photos from this Birmingham roof replacement. You’ll notice large blue tarps surrounding the front of the house and extending across the landscaping.
We use these tarps to help catch falling debris and keep roofing materials away from the surrounding property. This is especially important around established landscaping.
Bushes, shrubs, flower beds, and decorative plants can take years to grow. We don’t want a roof replacement to undo all that work. The tarps also make collecting debris easier as the job progresses.
Rather than letting old shingles scatter throughout the yard, we work to keep everything contained.
Protecting Windows, Doors, and Siding
Landscaping isn’t the only thing that needs protection. On this Birmingham project, we also used large sheets of OSB as temporary protective panels around vulnerable areas of the home.
You can see these panels in the photos near the rear windows and doors. These boards create an additional barrier between the house and construction debris.
A falling shingle might not seem like a big deal, but roofing materials can be surprisingly heavy. Old shingles also contain nails and sharp edges. Protecting windows and other exterior surfaces helps reduce the chance of accidental damage.
It’s a relatively simple precaution that can make a big difference.
Keeping Debris Contained
You’ll also notice the large dump trailer positioned near the house. During a roof replacement, we need somewhere to put all the old roofing materials.
Keeping a debris container nearby helps our crew manage the tear-off and move materials off the property efficiently. The goal is to keep the work area as organized as possible throughout the project.
Of course, roofing is still construction. There will be noise, debris, and plenty of activity. But taking time to prepare the property makes the process much easier to manage.
Why We Used CertainTeed Landmark PRO Moire Black
For both the house and garage, the homeowner selected CertainTeed Landmark PRO shingles in Moire Black.
Moire Black is one of those colors that works well with almost any exterior. On this home, the dark shingles provide a nice contrast against the grey siding and white trim. They also give the house and garage a consistent appearance.
Landmark PRO is an architectural asphalt shingle with several features that make it a popular choice for Michigan homeowners.
- Max Def color technology: Creates a dimensional appearance with a blend of shingle granules.
- Architectural construction: Gives the roof a more textured appearance than traditional three-tab shingles.
- StreakFighter algae resistance: Helps protect against algae-related discoloration.
- Manufacturer warranty coverage: CertainTeed provides warranty protection under its published terms and installation requirements.
You can read more about the product on CertainTeed’s Landmark PRO page. For homeowners who prefer a dark roof, Moire Black is a great color to consider.
Why Roof Preparation Matters Just as Much as Installation
A good roofing project starts before the first shingle comes off. Our crew needs to consider where ladders will go, how materials will reach the roof, and which parts of the property need extra protection.
Every home is different. Some houses have wide-open yards with very little landscaping. Others have mature trees, tight driveways, patios, or windows directly below the roofline.
This Birmingham home had several areas that needed attention. The front porch, landscaping, side yard, and rear windows all influenced how we prepared the job.
It’s not just about getting the roof finished. It’s about taking care of the homeowner’s property while we’re there.
What Happens Underneath the Shingles?
Another important part of a roof replacement is checking the condition of the wood beneath the existing roofing. You can’t always tell whether roof decking has damage until the old materials come off.
If we find damaged or deteriorated decking, we address it so the new roofing system has a solid surface.
We’ve covered this topic in more detail in our guide to roof decking types, including OSB, plywood, and plank boards.
A roof is only as good as the system underneath it. That includes the decking, underlayment, flashing, and proper ventilation.
We also recently explained how to calculate attic ventilation and why the right balance of intake and exhaust matters. These are details homeowners might never see from the street, but they matter over the life of the roof.
Roofing Services in Birmingham, Michigan
At Level Up Improvement, we’re a family-owned exterior remodeling company serving Birmingham, Oakland County, and the surrounding Metro Detroit area.
We work on everything from smaller bungalow roofs to larger homes with multiple roof sections and detached garages. Whether you’re replacing an older roof or simply trying to figure out how much life your shingles have left, we’re happy to take a look.
We believe in giving homeowners straightforward information without spending hours at their kitchen table or pressuring them into making a decision.
Sometimes a roof needs replacement. Other times, a repair might be the better option. Our article about roof repair vs. replacement in Michigan explains how we approach that decision.
You can also learn more about our roofing services or contact us for an estimate.
Taking Care of the Whole Property
This Birmingham roof replacement is a good example of why we pay attention to more than the shingles. Between the house and garage, we had approximately 28.5 squares of roofing to replace.
But the landscaping, siding, windows, and everything else around the home deserved our attention too. Our job isn’t just to put a new roof on your house. It’s to treat your property with respect from the time we arrive until the job is finished.
Do it right!