Roofing Tips & Guides
Expert Roofing Advice for Charlotte Homeowners
Learn from Charlotte's trusted roofing experts. Tips on maintenance, repair, replacement, and protecting your home from the elements.
Learn from Charlotte's trusted roofing experts. Tips on maintenance, repair, replacement, and protecting your home from the elements.
Planning a big exterior makeover for your Charlotte home? You're not alone. Every week, I get calls from homeowners who want to tackle multiple projects at once. They're excited about fresh siding, a new roof, maybe some new windows too.
But here's the question that stops most folks in their tracks: What order should I do these projects in?
The answer might surprise you. Do your roof first, then siding. Always.
I know it seems backwards. You might think, "James, won't the roof work mess up my beautiful new siding?" That's exactly why we do the roof first.
Think about it this way. Roof replacement is messy work. We're tearing off old shingles, sometimes replacing decking, and installing heavy materials. All that debris has to come down somehow.
If you've already installed gorgeous new siding, guess what's going to take a beating? Your brand-new investment.
"The golden rule in exterior remodeling is working from the top down," says Mike Stevens, technical director at the National Roofing Contractors Association. "You never want upper-level work damaging completed lower-level projects."
Here in Charlotte, we see this mistake all the time. A homeowner gets excited about their home's curb appeal. They install beautiful fiber cement siding first. Then six months later, they realize their roof needs work. By the time we're done with the roof replacement, they're calling siding contractors to fix the damage.
It's expensive. It's frustrating. And it's completely avoidable.
After twenty years in this business, I've learned there's a specific order that makes sense for Charlotte homes. Here's the sequence that protects your investment:
1. Roof Replacement
Start here. Always. Your roof is your home's first line of defense against our unpredictable Carolina weather. Plus, roof work affects everything below it.
2. Window Installation
Windows come next because they need to integrate with both your roof flashing and your siding. Installing them after the roof but before siding gives us clean integration points.
3. Siding Installation
Now we can install siding without worrying about roof debris or window complications. The siding can properly integrate with window trim and roof lines.
4. Gutter Installation
Gutters attach to your fascia boards and need to work with your siding. They're the final piece that ties everything together.
This order isn't just about preventing damage. It's about creating a weatherproof system where every component works together.
Our Carolina climate is tough on homes. We get everything: thunderstorms, hail, ice storms, and those surprise tornado watches that pop up each spring.
Last year, I worked with a family in Ballantyne who learned this lesson the hard way. They'd installed premium siding in March. Beautiful stuff. Then in May, we had that nasty hail storm. Their roof got damaged, but they waited until fall to replace it.
By the time we started the roof work, their siding had faded in spots from sun exposure. The roof replacement process caused additional damage. What should have been a straightforward roof job turned into a siding repair project too.
If they'd done the roof first, their new siding would have gone on after the roof was properly sealed and protected.
There's one big exception to the roof-first rule: emergency repairs.
If your roof is actively leaking, stop everything else. Water damage doesn't wait for your remodeling timeline.
I tell Charlotte homeowners to replace their roof immediately if:
Water damage spreads fast in our humid climate. A small leak can become a major structural problem before you know it.
Here's something most homeowners don't know: windows and siding work as a team.
When we install windows, we create flashing and water barriers around each opening. When siding goes on, it needs to integrate with those barriers. If you do siding first, then windows, you're essentially doing the flashing work twice.
"Windows and siding should be scheduled as close together as possible," explains Sarah Mitchell, a building science expert at North Carolina State University. "The weather barrier systems around windows need to integrate seamlessly with siding installation for optimal performance."
In Charlotte's climate, this integration is critical. We get driving rain from multiple directions. Poor integration between windows and siding creates the perfect entry point for water.
Let's talk numbers. The right project order doesn't just prevent damage – it saves real money.
Fiber cement siding is popular here in Charlotte because it handles our weather well. It also offers an excellent return on investment at 94.4% in our local market. But only if you protect that investment with smart project sequencing.
Here's what happens when you do projects in the wrong order:
Compare that to doing it right the first time. Yes, you'll wait longer to see the full transformation. But you'll save thousands and end up with a better result.
Charlotte's weather demands specific material choices and installation methods.
For roofing, we recommend architectural shingles rated for high winds. Our spring storm season regularly produces 60+ mph gusts. Standard three-tab shingles just don't cut it.
For siding, fiber cement performs well here, but it requires specific installation details around roof lines and window openings. These details only work properly when installed in the right sequence.
James Hardie, the leading fiber cement manufacturer, requires specific flashing details at roof-to-wall intersections. These details need to be coordinated between roofing and siding contractors. Do the roof first, and we can prepare the proper tie-in points for siding installation.
Most Charlotte homeowners want to complete exterior projects during our mild spring and fall seasons. That makes sense – it's more comfortable for workers and less disruptive for your family.
But here's what that means for project sequencing:
Spring Timeline (March-May):
Fall Timeline (September-November):
Similar sequence, but watch for early winter weather. November can surprise us with ice storms.
The key is starting with roofing when weather is most predictable. We can't control Carolina weather, but we can plan around it.
Here's something important: make sure your contractors understand this sequencing.
Some contractors will tell you it doesn't matter. They're wrong. Others will say they can do multiple trades simultaneously to save time. That usually creates more problems than it solves.
Look for contractors who:
At Best Roofing Now, we regularly coordinate with window and siding contractors. We know how to prepare roof lines for siding installation. We understand the flashing details that make everything work together.
Maybe you can't afford to do everything at once. That's normal. Most Charlotte families tackle exterior projects in phases.
If you're doing projects in phases, still follow the top-down rule:
Phase 1: Roof replacement
Phase 2: Windows (if needed)
Phase 3: Siding
Phase 4: Gutters and final details
Even if there are years between phases, this order protects your investments and prevents complications.
Here's something most homeowners don't think about: how project sequencing affects warranties and insurance.
Most roofing warranties require proper flashing installation. If siding work later damages roof flashing, you might void your roof warranty.
Similarly, siding warranties often require proper integration with existing roof systems. Installing siding before addressing roof problems can create warranty issues.
From an insurance perspective, doing projects in the right order shows you're maintaining your property properly. That can matter if you ever have a claim.
After two decades of working on Charlotte homes, I've seen every possible combination of project sequencing. The homes that look best and perform best long-term are the ones where owners followed the roof-first rule.
Yes, it requires patience. You'll live with your old siding a little longer while the roof gets done. But you'll end up with a better result that lasts longer and costs less overall.
Your home is your biggest investment. Protect it with smart project sequencing that works with Carolina weather, not against it.
Remember: roof first, then windows, then siding, then gutters. In that order. Every time.
Planning exterior work for your Charlotte home? Let's talk about the right approach for your specific situation.
We'll assess your roof condition, discuss your timeline, and help you coordinate with other trades for the best possible result. Our team has coordinated hundreds of multi-trade projects across Charlotte and Lake Norman.
Call us today at Best Roofing Now for a free consultation. We'll help you create a project sequence that protects your investment and delivers the results you want.
Your dream home exterior is possible. Let's make sure you build it the right way, in the right order, the first time.
Best Roofing Now
Charlotte's trusted roofing experts since 2019
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