In June 2025, Prime Roofing & Restoration replaced the roof on a home in Vestavia Hills, Jefferson County, Alabama, after a leak had stained the ceilings inside. The crew tore the roof off, replaced damaged sheathing with new decking, and installed CertainTeed shingles over synthetic underlayment in two days.
Project at a glance
- Location: Vestavia Hills, Jefferson County, AL
- Completed: June 2025 (two days)
- Home: Two-story home with an attached garage and a chimney
- Service: roof replacement
- Shingles: CertainTeed shingles (see CertainTeed roofing)
- Decking: New sheathing installed where the old decking had failed
- Follow-up: Return visit to check the roof in September 2026
What the homeowner said
Sharon T.
I really like this company. The people who came to inspect were very friendly and responded promptly. They also had someone on their roof crew who could communicate with me directly. They repaired my roof in just two days, and it looks great. They handled everything professionally, so I didn’t have to worry about a thing.
About Vestavia Hills
Vestavia Hills sits on Shades Mountain just south of Birmingham and has about 39,000 residents. Its tree-covered lots look great but drop a lot of leaves and limbs on roofs, which is one reason gutters and valleys need regular attention here. See our Vestavia Hills roofing page.
Before: a leak showing inside the home
The challenge: a leak that had already reached the ceilings
The first photos were taken inside: water stains on the ceilings, which told us the leak had been going on for a while. On the roof, the old shingles were worn and, once they came off, some of the decking underneath was no longer solid.
Instead of patching one spot, the whole roof was replaced. The failed decking was cut out and replaced with new sheathing before any underlayment went down, so the new roof is not nailed into wet or weak wood.
What we did
- Photographed the ceiling stains and the roof to find where the water was getting in.
- Delivered the new CertainTeed shingles and protected the driveway and landscaping.
- Tore the old roof off down to the decking.
- Cut out failed decking and installed new sheathing.
- Installed synthetic underlayment over the whole roof.
- Installed the new CertainTeed shingles and finished the flashing at the chimney and walls.
- Cleaned up and hauled away all debris, then came back later to check the finished roof.
During the job
The finished roof
Why these materials
CertainTeed shingles. CertainTeed is one of the largest shingle makers in North America; see the CertainTeed residential roofing line and our CertainTeed roofing page.
New decking. Sheathing that had been soaked by the leak was replaced, because shingles nailed into weak wood can pull loose in the next storm.
Synthetic underlayment goes over the whole deck under the shingles. It is lighter and more tear-resistant than old felt paper, it lies flat in the heat, and it gives the roof a second layer of water protection if a shingle is ever damaged.
Keeping your roof in good shape
- Check the roof from the ground after every hailstorm or strong wind. The National Weather Service office in Birmingham, which is based at the Shelby County Airport in Calera, issues the severe thunderstorm and hail warnings for this part of central Alabama.
- Keep gutters and downspouts clear, especially in fall, so water does not back up under the first row of shingles.
- Trim tree limbs back at least 6 to 10 feet from the roof. Limbs that rub the shingles wear off the granules that protect them.
- Look at pipe boots and roof vents once a year. Rubber pipe boots dry out in the Alabama sun long before the shingles do.
- If you see a ceiling stain, call right away. A small leak at a flashing is a quick fix, while wet decking left for months is not.
Frequently asked questions
If the shingles are worn across the roof and the leak has reached the decking, a patch only fixes one spot. A full replacement lets the crew see and fix every soft area of decking.
The tear-off, decking repairs and new roof took two days.
After the tear-off the crew walks the bare decking. Rotten, soft or broken boards are cut out and replaced with new sheathing before any underlayment goes down, so the new shingles have a solid base to nail into.
Yes. Prime Roofing installs CertainTeed and other major brands. See our CertainTeed roofing page.
Planning a roof replacement in Vestavia Hills?
See our Vestavia Hills roofing services, read about roof replacement, or request a free roof estimate.