Your Re-Roof Checklist: Satellite Dishes, Vents, Skylights & More
Your Re-Roof Checklist: Satellite Dishes, Vents, Skylights, and Other Roof Extras
When you replace a roof, the shingles get most of the attention. But leaks rarely start in the middle of a clean slope. They start where something passes through the roof: a vent pipe, a skylight, a chimney, a dish mount. For homeowners in Vernon, South Windsor, Tolland, and across Connecticut, planning for these extras before tear-off is the easiest way to get a roof that stays watertight.
Why Roof Extras Belong in Your Estimate
Every opening in a roof needs its own flashing or seal. If the estimate does not say how each one will be handled, it is easy for old parts to be reused or for an item to be left off. Walk your roof with your roofer, or review photos together, and agree in writing on what happens to each item.
The Re-Roof Checklist
- Satellite dish: If you no longer use it, have it removed and the mounting holes sealed. If you still use it, find out who will remove and re-aim it.
- Plumbing vent boots: The rubber collars around vent pipes crack with age and sun, so they are commonly replaced with a new roof.
- Attic and exhaust vents: Confirm how the attic will be ventilated and that bathroom and kitchen fans vent outdoors, not into the attic.
- Skylights: Decide whether to replace an older skylight or install new flashing around it. Either is easiest while the shingles are off.
- Chimney: Plan for new flashing and have the brick and crown checked.
- Solar panels: Panels must be removed and reinstalled around the new roof. Learn how in re-roofing with solar panels in Connecticut.
- Edges and eaves: Ask about drip edge along the roof edges and ice and water underlayment at the eaves, both important in Connecticut winters.
What Can Turn Up During Tear-Off
Some problems only appear once the old shingles come off, such as soft or rotted roof decking. Rotted fascia boards along the roof edge are also common. Ask how your estimate handles replacement wood, for example a set price per sheet of decking, so there are no surprises mid-project.
Questions to Ask Before You Sign
Which items get new flashing, and which are reused? Who handles the dish, the solar panels, and any masonry? How is extra decking priced? Clear answers now mean a smoother install day. If budget is a concern, read about roof financing options in Connecticut.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I remove my satellite dish when I replace my roof?
If you no longer use it, yes. A re-roof is the best time to take down an old dish, because the crew can seal or replace the shingles where the mount was bolted through. Leaving an unused dish in place keeps extra holes in your new roof. If you still use satellite service, ask your roofer and your provider ahead of time who will remove, reinstall, and re-aim it, and request a mounting method that does not create new leak points.
Do plumbing vent boots get replaced with a new roof?
They usually should. Vent boots are the rubber-sealed collars around the pipes sticking out of your roof, and the rubber dries out and cracks over time from sun and temperature swings. A cracked boot is one of the most common sources of small leaks. Because the boot sits under and over the surrounding shingles, replacing it during a re-roof is simple. Check that your estimate lists new vent boots instead of reusing old ones.
Should I replace my skylight when I replace my roof?
It depends on the skylight's age and condition, but a re-roof is the ideal time to decide. If the skylight is older, fogged, or has leaked before, replacing it while the shingles are off avoids tearing into your new roof later. If it is in good shape, it should at least get new flashing. Ask your roofer which option fits your skylight and get the plan written into your estimate.
What happens if the roofer finds rotted wood under my shingles?
Damaged decking is usually replaced before the new roof goes on, because new shingles need a solid surface to fasten to. Since this damage is often hidden until tear-off, many estimates list a per-sheet price for replacement decking. Ask about this before you sign, and ask the crew to show you or photograph any damaged areas so you understand what was replaced and why.
Can I keep my solar panels when I get a new roof?
Yes. Solar panels are typically removed, stored, and reinstalled once the new roof is in place. The key is coordination, since the roofing and solar work need to line up and the panel mounts need to be properly sealed into the new roof. As part of Earthlight Technologies, CB Roofing works alongside a solar team, which can simplify that process for Connecticut and Massachusetts homeowners.
Plan Your Re-Roof With a Local Team
Conventional Builders & Roofing has helped Connecticut and Massachusetts homeowners plan new roofs since 1993. Call (860) 454-7596 or request a free same-day estimate, and we will walk your roof with you, extras included.