You’ve signed the contract, chosen your shingles, and scheduled the date. Now what? For most Fort Wayne homeowners, roof replacement day brings a mix of excitement and anxiety. You’re getting a major upgrade to your home — but you’ve never actually watched it happen.

At Big Dog Roofing, we’ve replaced hundreds of roofs across Fort Wayne and Allen County. The process is efficient, organized, and far less disruptive than most homeowners expect. Here’s a detailed walkthrough of exactly what happens.

Before the Crew Arrives: Material Delivery

In most cases, roofing materials are delivered 1-2 days before the scheduled installation date. A delivery truck will drop bundles of shingles, rolls of underlayment, flashing materials, ridge vent, drip edge, and other components either on your roof or in your driveway.

Early Morning: The Crew Arrives (7:00 – 7:30 AM)

Our crew typically arrives between 7:00 and 7:30 AM. For a standard Fort Wayne home, you’ll see 4 to 8 crew members. The crew foreman introduces himself and confirms the project scope, a dumpster is positioned in the driveway, ground tarps and protective boards are placed around the foundation, and ladders and safety equipment are set up.

The Tear-Off Phase (7:30 AM – Late Morning)

The first major phase is removing your old roof. This is the loudest part of the day. Crew members work from the peak downward, using specialized tools to strip old shingles, underlayment, and damaged materials. Everything goes into the dumpster.

It’s loud. If you work from home, plan to use noise-canceling headphones or work from a different location. If you have pets, keep them in a quiet room away from exterior walls.

Decking Inspection and Repair (Mid-Morning)

With old shingles removed, the crew inspects every square foot of roof decking for damage. In Fort Wayne, we commonly find decking damage around chimneys where flashing failed, around plumbing vents, along eaves where ice dams or gutter overflow caused moisture exposure, and in valleys.

At Big Dog Roofing, we always document decking damage with photos and communicate any additional costs before doing the work. You’ll never be surprised by a charge you didn’t approve.

Installation: Building Your New Roof (Late Morning – Afternoon)

With clean, solid decking in place, the installation begins. Each layer goes on in a specific order:

Drip Edge Installation — Metal drip edge directs water away from the fascia and into gutters.

Ice and Water Shield — Self-adhering waterproof membrane applied along eaves, valleys, and all penetrations. Indiana building code requires this along the eave line.

Synthetic Underlayment — Water-resistant barrier covering the entire roof deck, providing secondary protection beneath shingles.

Shingle Installation — Starting from the bottom edge and working upward, new asphalt shingles are installed in overlapping courses. Each shingle is nailed according to manufacturer specifications.

Flashing Installation — New flashing at every transition point: chimney joints, wall intersections, vent pipes, and valley transitions.

Ridge Vent and Cap — Ridge ventilation along the peak allows hot air and moisture to exhaust from the attic. Ridge cap shingles finish the roofline.

Afternoon: Cleanup and Final Inspection

Once installation is complete, the crew shifts to cleanup. All debris is loaded into the dumpster. Ground tarps are collected. A magnetic nail sweeper is run across your entire yard, driveway, sidewalks, and the street — picking up every stray nail and metal fragment.

The crew foreman does a final walkthrough and visual inspection. We take completion photos and video for your project file — valuable for warranty claims and future insurance purposes.

Timeline: How Long Does It Actually Take?

For a standard Fort Wayne home, a complete tear-off and re-roof typically takes one full day. Larger homes, complex roofs, or extensive decking repair may extend to a second day. Weather can also affect timing — if rain threatens, the crew prioritizes getting waterproof underlayment installed first.

Common Concerns from Fort Wayne Homeowners

“Can I stay in the house?” Absolutely. Most homeowners stay home during the work.

“What about my pets?” Keep pets indoors in a quiet room.

“Will my landscaping be damaged?” Ground tarps protect shrubs and flower beds. Some grass trampling is unavoidable.

“Do I need to move my car?” Yes. Move all vehicles out of the driveway and away from the house.

After Replacement Day

Within a few days of completion, you’ll receive your warranty documentation, including both the manufacturer’s material warranty and Big Dog Roofing’s workmanship guarantee. Your new roof will shed some excess granules during the first few rain events — this is completely normal.

Ready to schedule your roof replacement? Call Big Dog Roofing at 260-999-0347 or request your free estimate online.