In January 2026, Prime Roofing & Restoration replaced the roof on a two-story brick home in Riverchase, in the Shelby County part of Hoover, Alabama. After the tear-off the crew replaced large sections of decking, including a full hip, before installing synthetic underlayment and new shingles over two days.
Project at a glance
- Location: Riverchase, Hoover, Shelby County, AL
- Installed: January 5 to 6, 2026
- Home: Two-story brick home with an attached garage
- Service: roof replacement
- Decking: Large sections of new sheathing, including a full hip
- Roof: New architectural shingles over synthetic underlayment
About Riverchase
Riverchase is a 3,000-acre planned community on the Jefferson and Shelby county line, split by the Cahaba River, according to Bhamwiki. It was annexed into Hoover in 1980 and is home to Riverchase Country Club and the Riverchase Galleria. Many of its homes date from the 1970s to the 1990s.
About Hoover
Hoover is the sixth-largest city in Alabama, with about 92,600 people in Jefferson and Shelby counties. See our Hoover roofing page.
Before: what the inspection found
The challenge: decking that could not be reused
Once the shingles came off, a lot of the original decking was not fit to roof over. The crew cut out and replaced it, including a full hip section, and checked the attic framing from inside.
Winter roof work needs a dry day and a fast crew. The new decking, underlayment and shingles went on over two days in early January.
What we did
- Tore off the old roof down to the decking.
- Checked the decking from above and the framing from the attic.
- Cut out and replaced failed decking, including a full hip.
- Installed synthetic underlayment.
- Installed new architectural shingles, flashing and vents.
- Cleaned up and photographed the finished roof.
During the job
The finished roof
Why these materials
New decking. Shingles are only as strong as the wood they are nailed into. Replacing failed decking during the re-roof costs far less than finding it later through a leak.
Architectural (dimensional) shingles are made from two laminated layers, so they are thicker and heavier than the old flat 3-tab shingles many Birmingham-area homes started with. Prime Roofing is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor and also installs other major brands; see our asphalt shingle roofs page for the options.
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
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, on dry days above freezing. Central Alabama winters have plenty of workable days, and this Riverchase roof was replaced in early January.
Most homes Prime Roofing re-roofs are torn off and covered in one day, with cleanup and a final check the same day or the next morning. Bigger or steeper roofs can take a second day.
Yes. Riverchase is about 15 minutes from our Alabaster office. See our Hoover roofing services.
Planning a roof replacement in Hoover?
See our Hoover roofing services, read about roof replacement, or request a free roof estimate.