This page is about the whole roof and not the patch: when an asphalt shingle roof in Gilbert has reached the point of replacement, what goes into a new one, what the Town’s building code requires of it, and how asphalt compares with the tile on most of the houses around it. If your roof needs a repair and not a replacement, our page on asphalt shingle roof repair is the one to read.
We are Circle G Roofing, a family run roofing company working across the Phoenix valley. We install and replace asphalt shingle roofs with our own crew. Every job starts with a free roof inspection with photographs and a fixed price in writing.
We will not push you toward a new roof. If a repair will give you several more seasons, we will say so, and either way you get the reasoning and the price in writing.
Call us to book a free inspection and find out where your shingle roof stands.
Repair, rebuild a section, or replace
A leak does not mean a roof has failed. Our inspection puts a shingle roof into one of three groups, and the photographs show you why.
| Outcome | What the roof looks like | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| A lasting repair | Shingles still flexible, granules mostly in place, damage in one spot | Replace the failed shingles, flashing or vent boot |
| A section rebuilt | One slope or one valley worn or water damaged, the rest sound | Strip that section to the deck and rebuild it from the underlayment up |
| A new roof | Brittle across the whole surface, curled edges, bare patches, leaks in several places | Remove the old roof to the deck and install a new one |
A roof is at the end of its life when the failure is everywhere at once. On a roof like that a patch only moves the leak, because every shingle a boot touches cracks.
Signs an asphalt roof is near the end
You do not need to climb up to read these. An asphalt roof shows its age from the ground and in the gutters well before water gets inside.
- Granules collecting in the gutters, which means the shingles are losing their protection from the sun
- Shingles curling or lifting at the edges
- Bare patches where the black mat shows through
- Shingles missing after a storm
- Stains on ceilings or walls
- A roof more than about 15 years old that shows several of the signs above
How long asphalt shingles last in Gilbert
In Arizona an asphalt shingle roof typically lasts 15 to 30 years. Two things decide where in that range a roof lands: how much sun it takes and what is happening in the attic underneath. A shingle rated for 30 years somewhere mild is doing well to reach its twenties here.
The reason is heat. Gilbert’s average daily high is above 100 degrees from June through August, and a roof deck in that sun reaches about 160 degrees. Heat and ultraviolet light drive the lighter compounds out of the asphalt, the mat stiffens, and the granules that shield it come loose. Once enough granules are gone the edges curl, and monsoon wind gets under them.
What you can control is everything around the shingle: an attic that lets heat out, underlayment that stands up to heat, valleys and wall flashing that are formed in metal and not caulked, and nails driven to the right depth. Get those right and the roof reaches the top of its range.
What a new asphalt roof from us includes
- A free roof inspection with photographs
- A fixed price in writing before any work begins
- The old roof removed down to the deck, and the deck checked
- Soft or rotten decking replaced
- New underlayment across the whole roof
- Valleys, flashing and vent boots renewed
- Shingles nailed to the manufacturer’s pattern
- Nails swept up with a magnet and the site left clean
Install day, in order
- Strip and check the deck. The old shingles and underlayment come off. Any section of decking that is soft or rotten is cut out and replaced.
- Edges and underlayment. Drip edge goes on, then new underlayment, carried into the valleys.
- Metal and boots. Valleys, step flashing, headwall flashing and vent boots are renewed before the shingles reach them.
- Shingles and ridge. Shingles are laid and nailed in the nailing strip to the manufacturer’s pattern, and the ridge caps finish the roof.
- Cleanup and walk-through. The site is swept with a magnet for nails, and we walk the finished roof with you.
What Gilbert’s building code asks of a shingle roof
The Town of Gilbert enforces the 2018 International Residential Code with local amendments. The Town left the roofing chapter as written, so the requirements below are the ones a shingle roof here is held to. The table is a summary of the code sections we work to most often.
| Part of the roof | What the code requires |
|---|---|
| Slope | Asphalt shingles only on slopes of 2 in 12 or steeper. From 2 in 12 up to 4 in 12, a double layer of underlayment |
| Wind rating | Shingles tested for wind resistance and labeled with a classification that suits the ultimate design wind speed, which Gilbert sets at 115 mph |
| Nails | Galvanized steel, stainless steel, aluminum or copper roofing nails with a 3/8 inch head, long enough to go 3/4 inch into the sheathing or through it |
| Nailing | The number the manufacturer requires, and never fewer than four in a strip shingle |
| Edges | Drip edge at the eaves and the rakes, lapped at least 2 inches |
| Valleys | A valley lining installed before the shingles. An open metal valley at least 24 inches wide |
| Walls | Continuous or step flashing at least 4 inches high and 4 inches wide |
| Ice barrier | Not required in Gilbert |
Permits for a replacement roof
Gilbert’s amendments add re-roofing not requiring a structural change to the list of work exempt from a building permit. Taking shingles off and putting shingles back on changes nothing structural. Work on damaged rafters or trusses is another matter, and so may be a change to a much heavier roof covering. If either comes up, the Town’s Development Services staff are the ones to ask. An exemption from a permit is not an exemption from the code, so the work is done to the same standard either way.
Tear-off or a second layer
Laying new shingles over old ones is sometimes offered as a way to save the labor of a tear-off. The code limits it: a new covering may not go over an existing roof that is water soaked or too far gone to serve as a base, or over a roof that already has two or more layers.
We remove the old roof to the deck. It is the only way to see the decking, and wet or soft decking under a new roof is a problem nobody finds until it has spread. A second layer also covers up the valleys and flashing that most need renewing.
Attic ventilation and the life of the shingles
A shingle roof over a badly ventilated attic is heated from below as well as from above, and it ages years sooner. We check both the intake vents and the exhaust vents at the inspection. Intake vents let outside air in low, at the eaves, and exhaust vents let hot air out high on the roof. The residential code calls for cross ventilation of an enclosed attic, and it takes both kinds of vent to move air through.
If the attic cannot breathe, a replacement is the time to fix it, because the roof is open and vents can be added or cleared. Letting heat out of the attic is the least costly way to add years to a new shingle roof.
Call us and ask for the attic ventilation to be checked along with the roof.
Asphalt or tile on a Gilbert house
Most Gilbert homes built since the town’s growth took off in the 1990s carry concrete tile, so owners of shingle roofs often ask whether to change over. We install both and quote both, and the answer depends on the house.
| Compared on | Asphalt shingles | Tile |
|---|---|---|
| In the heat | Lies on the deck and takes the heat directly | Sits above the deck, so air moves underneath |
| Life | Shorter. Typically 15 to 30 years in Arizona | Longer, though the underlayment beneath it wears out before the tile does |
| First cost | Lower | Higher |
| Time to install | Faster | Slower |
| Weight | Light. Suits roofs that were framed for shingles | Heavy. The structure has to be able to carry it |
If you plan to stay for decades and the framing can carry the weight, tile is the stronger choice. If you want a sound roof at a lower first cost on a house framed for shingles, asphalt is the practical one. A change from shingles to tile adds load to the roof, and the residential code requires the roof structure to be able to carry the covering put on it. The Town’s permit exemption covers re-roofing that needs no structural change, so that route starts with a question to Development Services.
HOA approval for a new roof
A replacement roof is visible from the street, so the homeowners association usually has a say. Most Gilbert neighborhoods have an HOA with rules on roof color and material, and communities such as Power Ranch, Val Vista Lakes, Morrison Ranch, Seville and Agritopia are all on the Town’s list of registered HOAs and neighborhoods. We check the rules before we order. Ask your association early what it needs from you, because a new roof should not be booked ahead of an approval that is still pending.
SRP’s cool roof rebate and shingle roofs
If Salt River Project (SRP) is your electric utility, you may have seen its Cool Roof Rebate, and owners of shingle roofs ask us about it. Its terms are specific. The home must have a low-sloped roof with a pitch of 2 in 12 or less, and the product must be rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council to a set reflectance. A shingle roof steeper than 2 in 12 does not meet the slope condition.
It can matter for part of a house. A flat section over living space, coated with a qualifying reflective product, is the kind of roof the program is written for, and roof coatings are work we do. Areas over garages and patios do not qualify. SRP’s program page has the current terms and deadline, and they can change, so read it before you count on a rebate.
What sets the price of an asphalt roof
We do not publish prices or give them by phone. An asphalt roof is priced from the roof itself, and these are the things that move the figure.
- Size and pitch. More area is more material, and a steeper roof is slower to work on.
- Layers to remove. One layer comes off faster than two.
- The decking. Sound decking stays. Soft or rotten sections are replaced.
- The shingle you choose. Shingle lines differ in material cost.
- Flashing and ventilation. Chimneys, skylights, walls and valleys each add metal work, and so does adding vents.
After the inspection you receive a fixed price in writing. The inspection and the quote are free, whether or not you go ahead.
When the work is done
Shingle makers’ own guidance for hot weather shapes the schedule. On hot, sunny days the recommendation is to install early, before temperatures peak, and to work the south and west slopes in the morning and the east and north slopes later. Shingles soften in heat and scuff underfoot, and nail guns have to be adjusted as the roof warms so that nails are not overdriven.
For homeowners the useful date is June 15, the official start of Arizona’s monsoon season, which runs to September 30. A roof that is known to be at the end of its life is better replaced before the storms than patched through them. If a storm gets there first, our page on shingle roof repair in Gilbert, AZ covers what to do.
Other roofs we work on
Many Gilbert houses have more than one kind of roof: tile or shingles on the main slopes and foam or a coated flat roof over a patio or an addition. We repair and install tile, and we do spray foam roofing, roof coatings and flat roofing, so the whole house can be looked at in one inspection. Our company website, Circle G Roofing, describes that work.
Call us to book a free inspection for asphalt roofing at your Gilbert home.
Common questions
How long does an asphalt shingle roof last in Gilbert, AZ?
Typically 15 to 30 years in Arizona. Sun exposure and the attic underneath decide where a roof falls in that range. A shingle rated for 30 years in a mild climate is doing well to reach its twenties here. Good attic ventilation, heat-resistant underlayment and a yearly check help a roof reach the upper end.
Do I need a permit to replace a shingle roof in Gilbert?
Gilbert’s amendments to the 2018 International Residential Code exempt re-roofing that does not require a structural change from a building permit. Replacing shingles with shingles fits that. Replacing rafters or trusses, or changing to a much heavier covering such as tile, may be a structural matter, and the Town’s Development Services staff should be asked first.
Can new shingles go over my old ones?
The code allows a second layer in some cases, but never over a roof that is water soaked, too worn to serve as a base, or already two layers thick. We strip the old roof to the deck on every replacement, so the decking can be checked and the flashing renewed.
Should I replace my shingles with tile?
Tile lasts longer and handles heat better because air moves beneath it. It also costs more and weighs much more, so the structure has to be able to carry it. Asphalt costs less at the start, goes on faster and suits roofs framed for shingles. We quote both and recommend whichever fits the house.
Do asphalt shingles stand up to monsoon wind?
Yes, when they are nailed correctly. The code requires shingles to carry a tested wind classification that suits the ultimate design wind speed, which Gilbert sets at 115 mph. That rating depends on nails placed in the nailing strip, at the right depth, in the number the manufacturer calls for. Most wind damage we see comes from nails that were too high, too deep or too few.
Does a new shingle roof qualify for the SRP cool roof rebate?
Not on an ordinary pitched slope. SRP’s Cool Roof Rebate requires a low-sloped roof with a pitch of 2 in 12 or less and a product rated by the Cool Roof Rating Council. A coated flat section over living space may qualify. Check SRP’s program page for the current terms.
What does a new asphalt roof cost?
We do not publish prices or quote by phone. The price depends on the size and pitch of the roof, how many layers have to come off, the condition of the decking, the shingle chosen and how much flashing and ventilation work there is. We inspect, photograph what we find and give a fixed price in writing. The inspection and the quote are free.
Will my HOA have to approve a new roof?
In most Gilbert neighborhoods the association has rules on roof color and material, so expect to ask, at least where either one changes. We check the association’s rules before ordering materials. Ask your HOA early what it requires, so the approval is in hand before the work is booked.