Roofing Projects · October 2, 2026
June Hail Reroof Uncovers Chimney Decking Rot in Lakewood
Roof Replacement · Lakewood, CO
This Roof Replacement near Alameda in Lakewood took out a 25-year-old 3-tab roof that was curling up and leaking into the back bedroom after June hail came through. We tore it down to the deck, found two rotted sheets by the chimney, and put on Owens Corning Duration shingles in Driftwood over two days.
What the old roof looked like compared to now
Before, the 3-tab shingles were curled up at the edges across the whole roof, and water had been getting in over the back bedroom since the June hail. Now the house has a flat, tight Duration roof with new drip edge, a ridge vent, and ice and water shield tucked into the valleys.
Why replace the whole roof instead of patching the leak?
Patching wasn’t going to hold on a roof this worn out. The 3-tab shingles were already 25 years old and curling badly before the hail hit, and the hail just finished the job by opening up a leak over the back bedroom. A roof replacement in Lakewood made more sense than another round of patch and pray, especially once we found rot underneath. Curled shingles don’t seal back down. Once they lift, wind-driven rain gets under them every time it storms, even if the roof looks fine on a dry day.
What did tearing off the old roof actually find?
We found two sheets of rotted decking right next to the chimney, soft enough to push a finger through. That’s a common spot for rot, since flashing failures and ice damming tend to show up there first, and it’s exactly why a full tear-off matters. You can’t see decking rot from a ladder. We pulled both sheets and replaced them before anything went back down, then ran ice and water shield through the valleys and a new drip edge around the perimeter. Those two details stop water from sneaking in at the roof’s weak points, the valleys where runoff piles up and the edges where wind gets underneath. We also added a ridge vent so the attic can breathe and the new shingles don’t cook from underneath.
Why put on new gutters the same week as the roof?
The old gutters were already pulling away from a roofline that was getting torn apart anyway, so it made sense to handle both at once instead of making the homeowner pay for a second mobilization later. We installed new 6-inch seamless gutters right after the shingles went on, sized to handle the runoff off this roof’s pitch. Seamless gutters cut down on the leak-prone seams you get with sectional gutters, which matters on a house that just dealt with one water problem. Coordinating roofing in Lakewood and gutter work together also kept the crew on site for the full two days instead of stretching the job out.
Frequently asked questions
What shingle and color did you install on this house?
We used Owens Corning Duration shingles in Driftwood, a neutral gray-brown that’s a common pick for homes in this part of Lakewood. Same shingle line went down over the full tear-off, with new drip edge and a ridge vent finishing the system.
Why did this roof only leak sometimes instead of all the time?
Curled, hail-damaged shingles don’t seal flat anymore, so they only let water through when rain comes in at an angle or falls hard enough to get under the lifted edges. That’s why the leak over the back bedroom showed up after storms but not on a normal rainy day.
Was the attic ventilation addressed during this reroof?
Yes. We put in a new ridge vent as part of the tear-off so the attic can vent heat and moisture properly, which also helps the new Duration shingles last as long as they’re built to.
Is the yard left safe for kids and pets after a tear-off?
We magnet-sweep the yard and driveway after every job to catch stray nails and debris. This one was no different, two days of tear-off and reroofing with the lot cleared before the crew left.
Was it worth replacing this roof instead of repairing it?
With a 25-year-old roof already curling, fresh hail damage, and rotted decking found at the chimney, repair wasn’t really an option here. A full replacement handled the shingles, the rot underneath, and the drainage all at once.
“Insurance covered most of it and our $1,000 deductible was the only thing we paid. Crew was gone in 2 days and the yard was spotless.”
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