Key numbers
18.34 million occupied U.S. homes were built in the 1970s, the most of any single decade bin in RECS 2020 (20.26 million were built before 1950) (U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2020).
| 15 | In hail-prone states the average roof lifespan is 15 years, versus 22 years in drier western states such as Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Source: Insurance Journal (reporting Verisk), 2025 (report year) |
|---|---|
| 32 | The median age of U.S. homes was 32 years in 2007, per NAHB citing Census data. Source: National Association of Home Builders / Bank of America Home Equity, 2007 |
| 24% | In 2023, improvement spending on U.S. homes built before 1980 was 24% higher than on homes built since 2010, and maintenance spending was 76% higher. Source: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 2023 |
The Integrity Roofing System is our standard for every roof replacement: we pull the permit, tear the old roof off to the deck, install ice and water shield at the leak-prone areas, a windstorm starter strip, new pipe flashing, valley protection, the shingles to the manufacturer’s instructions and code, matching hip and ridge, and proper ventilation, then clean up and schedule the inspections. It treats the roof as a set of components, because a roof fails at its weakest one, and it is built to meet or exceed the manufacturer’s requirements.
Before the work
- Yard sign. Goes up when the project is scheduled, unless your HOA prohibits it. It confirms the address for delivery drivers and crews and tells door-knocking roofers the job is taken.
- Pre-construction checklist. You confirm the shingle line and color and review any upgrades. Your project manager goes over how we will protect your property and the safety rules for the day; see what to expect on install day.
- Permits. We pull the permit before the job begins. In PPRBD’s area, stocking materials before the permit is issued is not allowed.
- Material delivery. Materials go on the roof unless other arrangements are made.
- Protection. Where practical, we cover landscaping, hot tubs and decks before tear-off.
Tear-off and the deck
- Remove the old roof. Shingles, felt, valley metal, drip edge and rubber boots are torn off and hauled away.
- Deck repairs. Rotted or damaged decking is replaced, and spaced plank decking is re-decked or overlaid where code requires it.
The waterproofing layers
- Ice and water shield. A self-adhering, modified bitumen membrane that seals itself around nail penetrations. It goes on the critical areas; see self-adhering underlayment.
- Underlayment. Installed horizontally. At the eaves it laps over the metal edge; at the rakes it goes under the metal edge.
- Windstorm starter strip. A factory starter course at the edges, where wind lifts shingles first.
- Wall abutments. Ice and water shield along walls, chimneys and skylights before the flashing.
- Valleys. Ice and water shield or metal in every valley.
- Pipe flashing. New rubber boots, lead jacks or 3-in-1 flashings on every vent pipe.
The roof you see
- Shingles. The shingle you selected, installed to the manufacturer’s instructions and code. Most of our shingle roofs are Owens Corning systems.
- Hip and ridge cap. Matching cap shingles on every hip and ridge.
- Ventilation. Ridge, soffit or other vents, with a balance of intake and exhaust. Poor ventilation shortens shingle life and contributes to ice dams.
- Roof jacks and vent caps. Pre-painted, or painted to match.
Finishing
- Clean-up. Debris goes into our container through the day, and a magnet sweeps the ground for nails.
- Inspections. We schedule the inspections your building department requires.
How the code differs in our three markets
The system stays the same; the minimum rules under it change by city.
| Rule | Colorado Springs (PPRBD) | Denver | Austin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permit for a reroof | Yes; any repair over 100 sq ft too | Yes; repairs over 10 percent of the roof or two squares | Shingle-for-shingle reroof inside city limits is permit-exempt, unless in the WUI with 50 percent or more replaced; decking over 128 sq ft needs a permit |
| Tear-off | All existing layers before new asphalt | Required where two or more layers exist | Exempt work must still meet building code |
| Ice barrier at eaves | Required above 7,000 ft | Not required | Not addressed in the city’s reroof exemption rules |
| Inspections | Final only for asphalt; tile adds a dry-in | Final for one- and two-family asphalt roofs | No permit inspection on exempt work |
| Fire rating | Class A, no solid wood, in the City of Colorado Springs | Class A in mapped wildfire areas statewide | Class A roof assembly in WUI zones |
Details by market: Colorado Springs roof replacement, Denver roof replacement and Austin roof replacement. For the Denver ice barrier question, see do Denver roofs need ice and water shield?; for wood roofs and the Class A rules, see cedar shake fire hazards; and if you are leaving wood shakes, read the ventilation changes it requires.
Ask for it in writing
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Every quote spells out the components above. Call Colorado Springs at (719) 488-2800, Denver at (303) 209-0152 or Austin at (512) 610-5897, or book a free roof inspection. We reach out the same business day.
Sources: Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Reroofing Guidelines (rev. 03/05/2024); City and County of Denver, Roofing Guide and Checklist (updated 4/11/2024); City of Austin, Work Exempt from Building Permits and Wildland-Urban Interface Code; Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code.
