In September 2026, Prime Roofing & Restoration replaced the roof on a ranch-style home in the Vesthaven neighborhood of Vestavia Hills, in Jefferson County, Alabama. The old shingles came off down to the original board decking, and the crew installed synthetic underlayment, leak barrier and new architectural shingles around the home’s skylights and chimney.
Project at a glance
- Location: Vesthaven, Vestavia Hills, Jefferson County, AL
- Inspection: September 2, 2026
- Installed: September 28, 2026
- Home: Single-story ranch with a carport, a chimney and domed skylights
- Service: roof replacement
- Roof: Architectural asphalt shingles over synthetic underlayment
- Decking: Original board (plank) decking, checked after tear-off
About Vesthaven
Vesthaven is one of the older neighborhoods of Vestavia Hills. The Vesthaven subdivision was annexed into the city in 1964, according to Bhamwiki, and Jefferson County tax maps show about 450 parcels platted under the Vesthaven name. Many homes here are ranch houses from the 1960s and 1970s, built with board decking rather than plywood.
About Vestavia Hills
Vestavia Hills is a city of about 39,000 people in Jefferson and Shelby counties, just south of Birmingham over Shades Mountain. See our Vestavia Hills roofing page for the services we offer there.
Before: what the inspection found
The challenge: an older roof with skylights
The inspection photos show a worn shingle roof with several domed acrylic skylights, which the inspector measured one by one. Skylights are where older roofs most often leak, because the flashing around each curb ages faster than the shingles.
After the tear-off the crew found the original board decking. Board decking has gaps between the planks, so each section was walked and checked before the new underlayment went on, and the new materials were worked carefully around every skylight curb and the chimney.
What we did
- Inspected the roof, photographed its condition and measured each skylight.
- Removed the old shingles and underlayment down to the board decking.
- Checked the decking and the skylight curbs for soft or damaged wood.
- Installed self-adhering leak barrier at the chimney and other high-risk areas.
- Covered the deck with synthetic underlayment.
- Installed new architectural shingles, working them around the skylight curbs, pipe boots and chimney.
- Cleaned up the yard and driveway and hauled away the old roofing.
During the job
The finished roof
Why these materials
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.
A self-adhering leak barrier is used in the spots where water collects or changes direction: valleys, around chimneys, along walls and around pipes. It seals around each nail, which is why it goes where leaks usually start.
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
Yes. The skylight stays in place, the old flashing around its curb comes off with the shingles, and the new underlayment, leak barrier and shingles are worked around the curb. If a skylight is cracked or fogged, it is better to replace it during the re-roof, while the roof is open.
Board (plank) decking is the row of 1-inch boards many 1960s homes in Vesthaven were built with, instead of plywood sheets. It is fine to roof over when it is solid. Boards that are soft, split or have wide gaps get replaced before the new roof goes on.
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. Prime Roofing works across Vestavia Hills, Hoover and Mountain Brook from our office in Alabaster. See our Vestavia Hills page or call for a free roof inspection.
Planning a roof replacement in Vestavia Hills?
Prime Roofing & Restoration replaces roofs in Vesthaven and across Vestavia Hills. See our Vestavia Hills roofing services, learn how our roof replacement works, or request a free roof estimate.