3 months ago
I had a great experience with Scarlet Roofing. Their team was extremely knowledgeable, professional, and easy to work with from start to finish. They took the time to answer my questions, explain the work being done,…
Roof Installation
A New Roof Is a System, Not Just Shingles
The shingles or metal you see from the street are only the final layer of your roof. Underneath, the deck, underlayment, ice and water shield, flashings and ventilation decide whether that roof lasts 25 years or starts failing in 10. Most premature roof failures we are called to fix trace back to installation shortcuts, not bad materials.
We install complete roofing systems across Surrey, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland: for new construction, working alongside your builder, and for full replacements where the old roof has reached the end of its service life. Every installation follows the same disciplined sequence and finishes to manufacturer specification, which keeps your material warranty valid.
This page covers what a proper installation includes, what it costs around here, how to choose materials for our coastal climate, and how the job runs from the first call to the final walkthrough.
What Professional Roof Installation Includes
Every layer installed in the right order, to the manufacturer specification.
- Deck preparation and repair. We inspect the sheathing and replace any soft or damaged sections before underlayment goes down. A new roof on a failing deck is money wasted.
- Synthetic underlayment. A high strength, water resistant layer across the entire deck, far tougher than the felt paper it replaces.
- Ice and water shield. A self sealing membrane at eaves, valleys and around every penetration. Standard on every Lower Mainland install, given our rain.
- Drip edge and starter course. Metal edge flashing plus a proper starter row, so wind driven rain cannot work under the first course of shingles.
- New flashings everywhere. Chimneys, skylights, vents and walls all get new metal flashing. We never reuse old flashing, the most common source of callbacks.
- Balanced attic ventilation. Intake and exhaust sized to work together, corrected on every installation. This protects shingle life and keeps the manufacturer warranty valid.
- Finished material to specification. Your chosen shingles, metal or membrane, fastened and laid out exactly as the manufacturer requires.
- Magnetic nail sweep and full cleanup. Every workday ends clean, with a final walkthrough before we call the job done.
Two Kinds of Install
New Construction and Full Replacement Installations
About half of our installations go onto new builds. We coordinate directly with your builder or general contractor on timing, because the roof needs to go on once the structure is framed and dried in, and before interior trades need a watertight building. Construction schedules shift; we stay flexible without cutting corners when the window opens.
The other half are full replacements, where the existing roof is stripped right back to the deck first. From that point the installation is identical to a new build: inspected deck, full underlayment system, new flashings, balanced ventilation, finished material to specification. If your current roof is at the end of its life, our roof replacement page walks through the tear off process in detail.
Either way, you get the same written itemized quote before work starts, the same daily cleanup, and the same warranty registration at the end.
Installation Quality
Why Proper Installation Matters More Than the Shingle Brand
Here is something the shingle brochures will not tell you: most premature roof failures we investigate trace back to installation shortcuts, not defective materials. Reused flashing that was already halfway through its life. Underlayment skipped to save a day. Nails driven too high, or too few per shingle. Ventilation left exactly as the last roofer found it.
A mid range architectural shingle installed perfectly will outlast a premium shingle installed carelessly, every time. That is why we are specific about our process, why we photograph the hidden layers for you, and why our quote lists each step instead of hiding behind a single lump sum. The brand on the wrapper matters far less than the hands that put it on.
If you are comparing contractors in Surrey, Vancouver, Richmond or Coquitlam, ask each one how they handle ventilation, whether flashings are new, and what their underlayment system includes. The answers will tell you more than any brochure. Then request our written quote and compare properly.
Materials
Materials We Install and How to Choose
There is no single best material for every home here. The right choice weighs your budget, your home style, how long you plan to stay, and how much maintenance you want to think about. Here is how the options we install compare in coastal BC, where rain, moss and the occasional windstorm do most of the wear.
| Material | Typical installed range | Lifespan in coastal BC | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural asphalt shingles | $9,000 to $15,000 | 20 to 25 years | Most homes. The best value per year of service. |
| Premium designer shingles | $15,000 to $24,000 | 30 years and up | A heavier, more finished look for long term homes. |
| Metal, standing seam | $20,000 to $40,000 | 40 to 60 years | Exposed and windy sites. Sheds rain fastest and resists moss. |
| Cedar shake | $18,000 to $30,000 | 20 to 30 years with maintenance | Heritage character. Needs regular care in our wet climate. |
| Flat membrane, torch on | $8,000 to $18,000 | 20 to 30 years | Low slope sections, garages and additions. |
These are general market ranges for a typical detached home in the Lower Mainland, covering a complete installation including underlayment, ice and water shield, flashings and disposal. They are guidance only, not a binding quote. Your written quote from us follows an on site inspection and lists every cost as its own line item.
A few notes from our experience. Architectural shingles remain the sensible default for most homes here; ask for algae resistant granules if you have a shaded north slope, where moss usually starts. Metal is the growing trend across the Lower Mainland, and the math works best if you plan to stay put for decades. Cedar suits heritage homes in South Surrey and parts of Vancouver, but go in knowing our wet climate demands regular maintenance. For flat or low slope sections, torch on membrane is the right system, and our flat roof page covers it fully.
Pricing Guidance
What Installation Costs in the Lower Mainland
The table above gives you the honest ranges. What moves your project within or beyond those ranges comes down to four things.
1. Roof size and pitch
Roofers measure in squares, where one square covers 100 square feet. More squares means more material and more labour days. Steeper pitches cost more because the crew moves slower, safety setup takes longer, and waste runs higher.
2. Complexity of the roofline
Valleys, dormers, skylights and multiple penetrations each add flashing work and slow the crew. A simple gable roof installs far faster than a cut up roof with the same square footage. If you are considering adding a skylight, our skylight page explains the options.
3. Access and storeys
Tight side yards, steep driveways and three storey walls add time for material handling and safety. We price this honestly upfront rather than discovering it on day one.
4. What comes off first
On replacements, the number of existing layers and the condition of the decking underneath move the price. The BC Building Code allows a maximum of two roofing layers, so a double layer means a bigger tear off.
Any quote that ignores these four is a guess, not a quote. Ours lists each one, so you can compare us fairly against any other bid.
Our Process
Our Installation Process From First Call to Final Walkthrough
01
Assessment and written quote
We inspect the roof or the build site, take photos, and talk through material options against your budget and timeline. You receive a written itemized quote, usually within one business day.
02
Scheduling and site protection
We book the job around your builder schedule or your own timing, choosing a sensible weather window. Landscaping, siding and driveways get protected before anything arrives.
03
Deck preparation
On replacements, the old roofing comes off completely and every sheet of decking is checked. Damaged sections are replaced now, not covered up.
04
Underlayment, shield and flashing
Synthetic underlayment across the field, ice and water shield at eaves and valleys, and new flashings at every penetration. Ventilation corrections happen at this stage.
05
Material installation
Your chosen roofing goes on to manufacturer specification, with quality checks as the crew progresses, not just at the end.
06
Final walkthrough and warranty registration
Magnetic nail sweep, full debris removal, then a walkthrough with you. The manufacturer warranty is registered in your name, and you receive our written workmanship warranty.
The Hidden Layers
Ventilation and Underlayment: The Parts You Never See
Ask us what separates a 25 year roof from a 12 year roof and we will point at the attic, not the shingles. Heat and moisture build up under the deck in every home. Without balanced intake and exhaust ventilation, that trapped air cooks shingles from underneath in summer and feeds condensation in winter. Poor ventilation is also one of the most common reasons manufacturers deny warranty claims.
That is why we correct attic ventilation on every installation: soffit intake paired with proper exhaust, sized for your roof. It is not an upsell. It is part of doing the job right.
The underlayment story is similar. The old felt paper many roofs still carry tears easily and wrinkles when wet. We use synthetic underlayment across the whole field, with self sealing ice and water shield at the eaves, in valleys and around penetrations, exactly where wind driven rain tries hardest to get in. You will never see these layers again once the shingles go on, which is exactly why they need to be right.
Warranty
Warranties on Labour and Materials
Two warranties protect your installation. The manufacturer warrants the roofing material against defects, and we register that warranty in your name so the paperwork is actually done. Separately, we warrant our own workmanship in writing: if anything we installed fails because of how we installed it, we come back and make it right.
A few honest notes on what can affect coverage. Ventilation problems void many manufacturer warranties, which is why we correct ventilation as standard practice. Laying new material over a failing old roof can reduce or void coverage too, which is why we tear off rather than overlay. And if another contractor later alters the roof, talk to us first so we can advise before the warranty is affected.
Roof Installation FAQs
Questions About Roof Installation
Most single family homes take one to three days of active work for the installation itself. New construction timing follows the build schedule, and full replacements add tear off time. Your written quote includes a specific timeline for your project.
For a typical detached home, architectural shingles generally run $9,000 to $15,000 installed, with metal and cedar higher. Those are general market ranges for the Lower Mainland, not a quote. Your price depends on size, pitch, complexity and what comes off first, all itemized in our written quote.
It comes down to budget, home style and how long you plan to stay. Architectural shingles suit most homes and budgets. Metal makes sense if you are staying for decades or face harsh exposure. We walk through the trade offs honestly at your quote, including what we would choose for our own homes.
Yes. We coordinate directly with builders and general contractors on timing, and we are used to construction schedules shifting. The roof goes on once the structure is framed and dried in.
Two: the manufacturer material warranty, registered in your name, and our separate written workmanship warranty. We explain exactly what each covers at the final walkthrough.
Yes. We correct attic ventilation on every installation, balancing intake and exhaust. It protects shingle life and keeps the manufacturer warranty valid.
Yes, with sensible scheduling. We watch the forecast, only open what we can make watertight the same day, and pause for heavy rain. Winter installations simply need a crew that respects the weather.
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