Clear Roofing & Exteriors · Roof Replacement
Roof Replacement
Roof replacement is the biggest part of Clear Roofing & Exteriors' workload. Our family-owned crews have torn off and rebuilt roofs across Chester County and the greater Philadelphia region for years, from architectural asphalt on suburban colonials to slate and cedar on historic homes. When a hail or wind storm is the reason your roof failed, we photograph the damage ourselves and meet your insurance adjuster at the house. The claim should cover the replacement you are actually owed, and we stay on it until it does.
Fast & Free
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The Difference
Why Homeowners Choose Clear Roofing & Exteriors for Roof Replacement
GAF Master Elite Installation
We hold GAF Master Elite certification, a status only a small percentage of roofers in North America earn. That means factory-trained installation, full manufacturer-backed roofing systems, and access to the strongest workmanship and material warranties GAF offers.
Insurance Claims Handled for You
Go count how many of our reviews bring up insurance. When storm or hail is the cause, we photograph everything, write the scope ourselves, and stand on the roof with your adjuster while they walk it, because a claim written from the ground comes back short.
Line-by-Line Transparency
Our team walks you through the estimate cost by cost, from the tear-off down to the drip edge. Every line has its own number. The figure we agree on is the figure you pay, and if hidden decking rot changes it, you approve the addition before we cut a single sheet of plywood.
Watch For These
Signs You Need Roof Replacement
- Shingle wear you can spot from a ladder: curled edges, cracks, blisters. Once the protective granules start washing off, bald spots show up on the roof and grit collects in the gutters below.
- Water getting where it should not be. Daylight through the attic boards, a stain spreading across a ceiling, or an active leak around the chimney or a skylight.
- A roof that is 20 to 30 years old, or one carrying two or more layers of old shingles stacked on the original decking.
- Sagging rooflines, spongy or rotted decking underfoot, or interior signs of trapped moisture and poor attic ventilation.
- Missing, torn, or bruised shingles and dented flashing after a hail or wind storm, damage that is often invisible from the ground.
Seeing one of these? Call (484) 983-3476 or get a free inspection.
Our Process
The Clear Roofing & Exteriors Roof Replacement Process
- 01
Free Roof Inspection
A crew member climbs up and walks the whole roof, checking the shingle field and every run of flashing, then working the valleys and probing the decking underfoot for soft spots. We also get into the attic to look for ventilation and moisture problems. If storm or hail damage is present, we photograph everything that same day, before weather scrubs the hail marks away.
- 02
Written Estimate and Material Plan
You get a clear written estimate that spells out the material, the tear-off scope, and any decking repair, explained line by line. If this is an insurance job, we build the scope to match the documented damage and coordinate with your adjuster.
- 03
Tear-Off and Full Replacement
Our crews strip everything down to bare deck. Any bad sheathing gets cut out and replaced before a single new shingle goes on. Then the system goes back together in order: ice-and-water shield first at the eaves and valleys, underlayment over the field, new flashing wherever the roof meets anything, ventilation corrected in the attic, and finally your chosen shingle or specialty material on top.
- 04
Cleanup and Final Walkthrough
We protect your property during the work, run a magnetic sweep for nails, and haul away every scrap of old roofing. Project manager Zach keeps you updated through the job, and we do a final inspection so you sign off on a roof that is finished right.
Trusted for Roof Replacement Across PA, NJ & DE
Real project photos from our own crews, showing finished roofs, clean tear-offs, and honest inspections.
Good to Know
Roof Replacement: What to Know
Roofing Materials and Options for Your Replacement
Which roof makes sense depends on the house itself, the budget, and how long you intend to own the place. For most homes across Chester County and the surrounding suburbs, architectural asphalt shingles are the workhorse choice. They cost less up front than premium materials and a crew can lay them fast. The color range is wide, and the manufacturer warranties behind them are strong. As a GAF Master Elite contractor, we install complete GAF shingle systems, which is what lets us stand behind both the materials and the workmanship for the long haul. A quality architectural asphalt roof, installed correctly with proper ventilation, commonly lasts 25 to 30 years in our climate.
For homeowners who want to replace their roof once and never think about it again, metal is worth a serious look. Standing-seam and metal panel roofs shed snow and ice on their own and hold up to wind and hail far better than asphalt. Expect 40 to 70 years out of one. Metal costs more to install, but the lifespan and the low maintenance often make the math work, especially on homes with simpler rooflines or on outbuildings and porches where a standing-seam accent looks sharp.
Older and historic homes are a category of their own. West Chester's downtown and the older parts of Chester County are full of houses that were originally roofed in slate or cedar, and those materials are part of what gives the home its character. Slate can last a century or more, and cedar shake carries a distinctive look that asphalt simply cannot imitate. These are specialty installations that demand real experience. Slate wants the right fasteners and underlayment beneath it or the tiles work loose. Cedar needs room to breathe. And the flashing on a steep historic roofline gets fitted piece by piece, not caulked. Our crews handle that steep-slope and specialty work regularly. One more point on materials: the parts you never see decide how long the roof lasts. Ice-and-water shield and synthetic underlayment go down before any shingle does. Drip edge protects the fascia, flashing seals every penetration, and balanced intake-and-exhaust ventilation keeps the attic from cooking the roof from below.
100% customer focused and detail oriented. I hired them to roof my home, then my mom's. Top-notch work, twice.
What Drives the Cost of a Roof Replacement
Nobody can price a roof they have not stood on, so treat any firm number quoted over the phone as a guess. The biggest single factor is size, measured in roofing squares, where one square equals 100 square feet. A larger roof means more material and more labor. Pitch matters too. A steep roof is slower and more dangerous to work on than a gentle slope, so it takes more time and more safety equipment, and that shows up in the price.
Complexity is the next big driver. A simple gable roof with two clean planes is far cheaper per square than a cut-up roof with multiple valleys, dormers, skylights, chimneys, and hips, because every one of those features is a spot where flashing has to be built and leaks tend to start. The material you pick moves the number as well, with architectural asphalt at the affordable end and metal, slate, and cedar climbing from there. Then there is tear-off. If your home already carries two or three layers of old shingles, all of it has to come off and be hauled away, which adds labor and disposal cost compared with a single-layer strip.
The one factor nobody sees until the old roof is off is the decking. If years of leaks or poor ventilation have rotted the plywood or plank sheathing underneath, that wood has to be replaced before the new roof goes on. New shingles nailed into rotten decking do not hold, and that roof fails early, so when we find rot it gets cut out and re-sheathed. This is why we inspect thoroughly and why our estimates are written line by line. Every cost on the page ties back to something we found on your roof. And it is why storm damage changes the picture entirely. When hail or wind is the reason your roof failed, a large share of the replacement cost is frequently carried by your insurance rather than coming out of your pocket, which we cover in detail below.
Questions about your roof? Call (484) 983-3476 or get a free inspection.
Storm Damage, Insurance, and Protecting Your New Roof
Southeastern Pennsylvania catches real weather. Summer thunderstorms build over the Brandywine watershed and drop hail and straight-line wind, and winter brings the freeze-thaw cycles that pry up flashing and drive ice dams into the eaves. Hail is especially deceptive. A strike grinds the granules loose and cracks the fiberglass mat under them, which cuts years off the shingle even though nothing looks wrong from the driveway. This is why so many homeowners never realize a covered insurance claim is sitting on their roof until the leaks start.
When the storm did it, your policy often pays for the roof. That process is a large share of what we do, and we walk homeowners through the claim from the first inspection to the final check. We get up there after the storm and put the hail and wind damage on camera. The scope we write matches what the roof actually needs, and when the adjuster comes out we go over it with them shingle by shingle. Adjusters have their own vocabulary, and knowing it keeps the back-and-forth short and keeps you out of the middle of it. Do not sit on it, either. Carriers enforce filing deadlines, water keeps working at every broken seal, and a roof photographed while the hits are still fresh makes a far stronger claim file.
A properly installed replacement should give you decades of quiet service, and a little attention keeps it that way. Gutters matter more than most people think, because a clogged run backs water up under the first courses of shingle. Overhanging branches are the other quiet offender. They drop debris and scrape granules loose every time the wind moves them, and they are worth cutting back. After major storms it pays to glance at the roof from the ground for missing or lifted shingles, and to check the attic for new stains or damp spots. Attic ventilation and insulation deserve an occasional look too, since trapped heat and moisture age a roof from the inside out. And if you ever suspect a problem, call us and we will get eyes on it. If another roofer already quoted you, we are glad to be the second opinion, and the inspection costs nothing either way. Call our West Chester office at (484) 983-3476 or our Pittsburgh office at (724) 840-9794.
Real Google Reviews
Rated 5.0★ Across 195 Google Reviews
They did an outstanding job on our roof. On time, no-nonsense work crew, I would recommend these guys to anyone!
It's so hard to find a good and honest roofer. Chris and Zack replaced our roof and it turned out spectacular.
Replacing a roof due to hail damage is a bummer, but Clear Exteriors more than met my need to understand each step, technically and financially.
Another company was going nowhere with my roof. Clear Exteriors got involved and everything went smooth, they know roofs.
100% customer focused and detail oriented. I hired them to roof my home, then my mom's. Top-notch work, twice.
Amazing experience with the entire staff. Phil and Stephen do a wonderful job of working with you through the whole process.
Good to Know
Roof Replacement: Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle the insurance claim for a storm-damaged roof?
Yes, and it is one of the main reasons homeowners call us. When hail or wind is the cause, we photograph and document the damage ourselves, then write the scope of work before the adjuster ever shows up. When they do, we walk the roof with them. An adjuster who has seen the hail hits up close with a roofer standing next to them approves a more complete claim than one working off ground photos. Homeowners come to us specifically for help getting the replacement their policy actually covers.
How much does a new roof cost?
Size and pitch set the baseline, measured in roofing squares. The material you choose moves the number from there, and a cut-up roofline full of valleys and dormers adds labor. Extra old layers mean more tear-off and disposal. Decking repair is the wildcard, since nobody knows what the sheathing looks like until the old roof is off. None of that can be priced from the street. We provide a free inspection and a clear written estimate, explained line by line, before any work begins. When storm damage is involved, insurance often covers a large share of the cost.
How long does a roof replacement take?
Most residential roof replacements are completed in one to a few days, depending on the size and complexity of the roof, the material, and the weather. A straightforward architectural asphalt roof often goes on in a single day, while larger, steeper, or specialty roofs in slate, cedar, or metal take longer. The estimate includes a realistic timeline, and if weather moves it you hear from us before the crew shows up.
What roofing materials do you install?
We install architectural asphalt shingles, which are the most popular choice for our area, as well as metal roofing and specialty materials including cedar shake and slate for historic and higher-end homes. As a GAF Master Elite contractor, we install complete manufacturer-backed shingle systems. We help you land on a material that fits the house, and that conversation always covers budget and how long you plan to own the place.
Can I just repair my roof instead of replacing it?
Sometimes, yes. If the damage is limited and the roof still has years of life left, a targeted repair is the right call, and we will tell you that and quote the repair. But if the roof is near the end of its lifespan, carries multiple old layers, or has widespread storm damage, replacement is the better long-term value. A free inspection is the only way to know for sure, and we are glad to give you a straight second opinion.
Our Work
Recent Roofs Across PA
Driving Directions
Driving Directions & Service Access in Chester County, PA
We reach homeowners across Chester County, PA from our West Chester office at 841 Lincoln Ave, Ste A. Get turn-by-turn directions from anywhere nearby.
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Roof Replacement in the Towns Around West Chester
The bulk of our roof replacement work happens within about twenty minutes of the shop. If you are comparing local contractors, start with the page for your town: roof replacement in West Chester, roof replacement in Exton, or our pages for Downingtown, West Goshen, and Westtown. Each one covers the housing stock, the weather, and the roof problems we actually see there.
Local Landing Pages
Roof Replacement by Location
Looking for roof replacement in a specific town? These pages cover the housing stock, the weather, and the roof problems we actually see there: roof replacement in West Chester, roof replacement in Pittsburgh, roof replacement in Exton, roof replacement in Downingtown, roof replacement in West Goshen, roof replacement in Chester Springs, roof replacement in Glen Mills, roof replacement in Uwchland.
Where We Work
Areas We Serve
Related Services
Roof Repair
Leak, flashing, and wind-damage repairs that stop the problem before it reaches your ceilings.
Learn More →Storm & Hail Damage
Hail and storm-damage inspections and insurance-supported roof replacement. A specialty of ours.
Learn More →Roof Inspection
Free, thorough roof inspections with honest photos and a clear repair-vs-replace recommendation.
Learn More →