Residential Roofing Installation using Owens Corning Sierra Gray Shingles

What was the main challenge on this Goffstown roof replacement?

When this Goffstown homeowner contacted Compass Exteriors, the goal was straightforward: replace an aging roof with a new system that would restore protection and update the home’s curb appeal. The homeowners had chosen Owens Corning Sierra Gray shingles for a clean, modern look that complements the property without drawing too much attention to itself.

What elevated this project beyond a standard shingle swap was what the crew found after the full tear-off. The roof deck required both re-nailing and partial sheathing replacement before a reliable new roofing system could be installed on top of it. That kind of deck preparation work is invisible to a homeowner looking at the finished roof from the street — but it is exactly what separates a roof that performs properly for decades from one that develops problems within a few years.

What is deck re-nailing and why did it matter here?

Roof sheathing panels are fastened to the roof rafters below them. Over many years of seasonal temperature cycling, the wood in both the sheathing and the rafters expands and contracts. Over time, the fasteners holding the panels down can back out slightly from that movement, leaving the sheathing less rigidly secured than it needs to be for a new roofing system.

When sheathing panels are not firmly fastened to the framing beneath them, several problems can develop:

• Panel flex under load — a deck that moves when walked on creates an inconsistent surface for shingle installation and can cause fasteners in the new shingles to work loose over time
• Sheathing panel movement — loosely fastened panels can shift slightly at their seams, creating gaps or ridges in the deck surface that show through the finished shingles
• Reduced wind uplift resistance — the sheathing is part of the structural system that holds the roof together in a wind event; panels that are not well-fastened to the framing reduce that capacity

On this Goffstown project, the Compass Exteriors crew re-nailed the full deck before installation began, driving new fasteners through every sheathing panel into solid framing below. That process restored the deck to the rigid, secure base that the new Owens Corning system needed to be installed on properly.

What compromised sheathing areas were found and how were they repaired?

Beyond the re-nailing work, the tear-off inspection also identified areas of the sheathing where moisture had infiltrated over time and compromised the structural integrity of the panels. Soft spots, delamination, and sections where the wood had degraded past the point of reliably holding fasteners were found in several locations across the deck.

The repair process for compromised sheathing is straightforward but essential:

• Cut out the damaged panels — the affected sections are removed cleanly back to solid structural framing
• Install new sheathing — replacement panels are fastened into the framing at the correct spacing and pattern
• Confirm a solid surface throughout — the full deck is walked and inspected once repairs are complete before underlayment is installed

This is the step that most roofing contractors who do not perform a full tear-off simply cannot take. A re-cover job — new shingles over old — leaves every compromised section of decking hidden and continuing to deteriorate beneath the new shingles. On this Goffstown home, addressing the deck correctly before installation means the new system has a solid foundation it can depend on.

Why were Owens Corning Sierra Gray shingles a strong choice for this property?

Owens Corning Sierra Gray is a popular choice for Goffstown and the greater Manchester area because of its versatile, modern appearance. Sierra Gray has a cool-toned, dimensional profile that works well on a range of home styles and exterior colors. It provides strong visual appeal from the street without requiring a bold color commitment, and it holds its appearance well through New Hampshire’s seasons.

The shingles were paired with:

• Rhino Roof U20 synthetic underlayment — a premium synthetic product installed between the repaired deck and the shingles, providing a secondary moisture barrier and a stable, slip-resistant installation surface
• Ultimate pipe boots at all penetrations — replacing the standard pipe flashings with long-term leak protection that holds up better than traditional rubber boots through freeze-thaw cycling

The combination of a properly prepared deck, quality underlayment, and premium shingles is what defines a roof replacement that will reach its full expected service life rather than developing problems in the first several years.

What does proper deck preparation mean for the long-term performance of the roof?

Homeowners investing in a roof replacement are making a decision that affects the home for a long time. The shingles are the visible part of that investment — but the deck preparation determines whether the system actually performs as designed.

A new shingle on a re-nailed, fully solid deck holds its fasteners correctly, lies flat against the surface it is installed on, and sheds water the way it is engineered to. A new shingle on a soft, under-fastened, or uneven deck does not. The homeowner in either case sees the same finished exterior from the street. The performance difference shows up over time.

At Compass Exteriors, deck inspection and correction are not optional add-ons — they are part of every full tear-off roof replacement. We do not cut corners on the parts of the roof that homeowners cannot see, because those are the parts that determine how long the visible parts last.

For another example of our Goffstown roofing work, see the IKO Dynasty Emerald Green roof replacement in Goffstown, a project where a bold color choice combined with full deck preparation delivered a distinctive long-term result.

Roof replacement in Goffstown, NH

If your Goffstown home is ready for a roof replacement, the right starting point is an honest inspection that tells you what is actually going on with the deck — not just the shingles. See the Goffstown service area page for more on how we work in your area, and our roof replacement page for a full overview of the process. Call 603-219-1523 to schedule a free estimate.