Roof Replacement in Newmarket, NH – Owens Corning Duration Shingles in Sierra Gray

What did this Newmarket roof project involve?

A roof replacement in Newmarket that turned out to be more involved than the surface showed — which is common on older New England homes. When our crew stripped back the old system, we found rotted plywood and decking that needed addressing before anything new went on. What started as a shingle replacement became a more thorough structural repair and ventilation upgrade, and the homeowner came out with a significantly better roof than a simple like-for-like swap would have produced.

What shingles were used, and why Sierra Gray?

The homeowner chose Owens Corning TruDefinition® Duration® shingles in Sierra Gray. Sierra Gray is a warm, mid-tone gray with enough variation in the blend to give the roof depth and dimension rather than reading as a flat color. It is a color that ages well on older New England homes — subtle enough to work with a range of exterior colors and distinctive enough to improve the look of the house from the street. TruDefinition® Duration® shingles back that up with Owens Corning’s SureNail® Technology for better wind attachment, which matters on a home exposed to Seacoast-influenced weather patterns.

What hidden problems did the tear-off reveal?

Once the old roof came off, we identified two issues in the deck that needed to be fixed before any new material went on:

• Rotted plywood in sections where moisture had been getting in — we cut out the compromised areas and replaced them with new structural-grade sheathing
• Decking that needed re-nailing throughout — over decades, the original nails had backed out or lost holding power, leaving the deck loose and able to flex under load. We re-nailed the full deck to bring it back to a solid, stable surface

Neither of these repairs shows in the finished product, but both significantly affect how long the new roof will perform and how well it will hold up under heavy snow loads.

What did the ventilation upgrade involve?

Proper attic ventilation requires both an exhaust point and an intake point. On this home, we installed new vented soffits to provide the intake airflow the system needed. Vented soffit panels have perforations that allow outside air to enter the attic space along the eaves — that air then rises through the attic and exits at the ridge vent. Without adequate soffit intake, the ridge vent has limited effectiveness because there is no airflow to exhaust. Together, the system keeps the attic temperature regulated year-round: cooler in summer to protect shingle adhesive, and cold enough in winter to prevent the snowmelt cycle that causes ice dams.

Why wrap the fascia boards in aluminum?

We wrapped all of the fascia boards in durable aluminum trim as part of this project. Fascia is the first place rot tends to appear on an aging roofline — it catches water off the shingles and backs up from overflowing gutters, and painted wood eventually loses the battle. Aluminum-wrapped fascia eliminates that maintenance problem entirely. It will not rot, does not need painting, and holds up through decades of New Hampshire freeze-thaw cycles without degrading.

Grace Ice and Water Shield: what does it protect against?

We installed Grace Ice and Water Shield in the critical areas: eaves, valleys, and around every penetration. Grace’s self-adhering membrane sticks directly to the deck and seals around fasteners, forming a secondary waterproof barrier in the exact locations where ice dams and wind-driven rain most commonly force water under shingles. Combined with Ultimate Pipe Boots at the plumbing penetrations, the underlayment system on this Newmarket roof is built to handle decades of New England winters.

Roof replacement in Newmarket, NH

Newmarket is in the heart of the Seacoast region, where roofs face humidity, heavy snow loads, and the occasional coastal storm. If your home needs a replacement — especially if it is older and may have hidden deck issues — a thorough inspection before signing off on the scope matters. See the Newmarket service area page or read about our roof replacement process. Call 603-219-1523 for a free estimate.