Before your roof is installed, finalize eight things in writing: the shingle line and color, the warranty tier, who pulls the permit, a full tear-off, how bad decking will be priced, the ventilation plan, where ice and water barrier goes, and what the contract says about scope and payment. In Colorado Springs several of these are set by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), so a good bid answers them before you ask. Anything left vague becomes a change order or an argument on install day.
The eight details, and what to get in writing
| Detail | Why it matters | Get in writing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Shingle line and color | Sets wind rating, impact rating and warranty length | Manufacturer, product line, color name, first and second choice |
| 2. Warranty tier | Higher system warranties need matching components and an authorized installer | Which warranty, who registers it |
| 3. Permit | PPRBD permit required over 100 sq ft | Contractor pulls it; permit number before materials arrive |
| 4. Tear-off | PPRBD requires all old layers removed before new asphalt shingles | Full tear-off to the deck, disposal included |
| 5. Decking | Bad boards only show once the roof is off | Price per sheet; photos of anything replaced |
| 6. Ventilation | Shingle warranties assume a ventilated attic | Intake and exhaust plan, vent types, net free area |
| 7. Ice barrier and underlayment | Required above 7,000 ft; smart below it | Where membrane goes, which underlayment covers the rest |
| 8. Contract terms | Colorado law requires a written roofing contract | Scope, price, schedule, payment terms, cancellation rights |
1 and 2: shingle line and warranty tier
Choose the line first; the warranty follows from it. Owens Corning’s extended system warranties require Owens Corning hip and ridge shingles and underlayment plus other system accessories, and its Platinum Protection Roofing System Limited Warranty can only be provided by a Platinum Preferred contractor. Owens Corning says that warranty includes up to 50 years of non-prorated coverage on installed system products and labor, with the length tied to the shingle, and that it also covers the installer’s workmanship defects. Registration is done by the contractor on your behalf, so ask for proof of registration at the end. For the shingle lines themselves, see Owens Corning shingles compared, and for 3-tab versus laminated, why 3-tab is rarely the right roof.
3 to 5: permit, tear-off and decking
PPRBD’s reroof guidelines are specific:
- A permit is required for any repair or replacement over 100 square feet, and only an owner-occupant may do that work without a license.
- Stocking materials before the permit is issued is a violation that brings a triple permit fee and a stop work order.
- New asphalt shingles cannot go on without removing all existing layers.
- Plank (skip) decking with gaps over the allowed width must be re-decked with at least 7/16 in OSB or overlaid with at least 3/8 in CDX or OSB.
- Drip edge is required at eaves and rakes.
None of that is optional, so a bid that skips it is not cheaper; it is incomplete.
6 and 7: ventilation and ice barrier
Owens Corning recommends 1 square foot of net free vent area for every 150 square feet of attic, split evenly between intake low on the roof and exhaust near the ridge, and notes that the code allows 1 per 300 when ventilation is balanced. If the old roof had box vents and no soffit intake, the new roof is the time to fix it. Our roof ventilation sizing guide shows the math and why attic ventilation matters explains what poor venting does in a Colorado winter.
Above 7,000 feet, PPRBD requires an ice barrier from the eave to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall; the elevation is printed on the permit receipt. Below that line we still recommend membrane at eaves and valleys. See self-adhering underlayment. If the gutters come off for the reroof, it is the cheapest time to add gutter guards where trees hang over the roof.
8: the contract
Colorado’s roofing contractor law requires a written contract that spells out the scope, price and schedule, and it sets cancellation rights tied to insurance claims. Read it line by line before you sign. Our roofing estimate guide walks through a real one, and what a complete roofing system includes helps you see whether every component is on the page. Once it is signed, install day is about logistics, not decisions.
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Call (719) 488-2800, book a free Colorado Springs roof inspection, or see roof replacement in Colorado Springs.
Sources: Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Reroofing Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024); Owens Corning, Roofing Shingle Warranties and Proper Attic Insulation (ventilation ratio), confirmed through Owens Corning's search index because the pages render with JavaScript; C.R.S. 6-22-103 (written roofing contract; unofficial reproduction).
