A new roof is a system, not a layer of shingles
When people picture a roof installation they picture shingles going on. The shingles are the last and least interesting part. Underneath them is a system — decking, drip edge, ice-and-water shield, underlayment, starter course, flashing, ventilation and the fastening pattern that ties it all together — and that system is what decides whether the roof lasts thirty years or fails in twelve. On a new install we get to build every part of it from scratch, which is the best opportunity a roof will ever have to be done right.
We install new roofs on new homes and commercial buildings, on room additions and garages that need to tie into an existing roofline, and on full re-decks where the old roof and the sheathing under it have both come off. In the Mid-South that last case is more common than people expect: a roof that has leaked quietly for years often has rotted decking that has to be replaced before anything can go on top of it.
Every installation we do is built to the roofing manufacturer's published specification, because that is the condition for their warranty. A premium shingle carries a long warranty on paper; it only carries it in practice if the installation qualifies. Ours do.
- Decking inspected and replaced where needed. Soft, delaminated or rotted sheathing is replaced before anything goes over it.
- Ice-and-water shield at eaves, valleys, around penetrations and along walls — the places Mid-South ice and driven rain get in.
- Synthetic underlayment across the whole deck, not felt. It does not wrinkle, tear or absorb water the way felt does in our humidity.
- New flashing everywhere. Step flashing at walls, kick-out flashing at the bottom of every wall, new pipe boots, new chimney flashing. Nothing reused.
- Ventilation designed, not assumed. Intake at the soffits and exhaust at the ridge, balanced for the attic size. It is what keeps the shingles from cooking from underneath in a Memphis August.
- Manufacturer nailing pattern with the right nail length for the deck, checked as the crew goes.
How we handle a roof installation
Site assessment and design
We look at the structure, the pitch, the existing roofline if there is one, the attic and how it ventilates, and where water will run. On an addition, the tie-in to the existing roof is the detail that matters most, because it is where leaks happen when it is done badly. You get a written scope with the material, the ventilation plan and the price.
Material selection
Architectural asphalt shingle is the right answer for most Mid-South homes and we will say so, but we install tile, standing-seam metal and low-slope membrane as well. We walk you through the trade-offs honestly: cost, weight, appearance, lifespan in this climate and how each performs in hail.
Permits and scheduling
Most jurisdictions across Shelby, DeSoto and Crittenden counties require a permit for a new roof and inspect it. Your project manager pulls the permit, schedules the inspections and gives you a start date.
Installation
The crew dries in the deck first, then builds the system in order. We photograph the underlayment, flashing and ventilation stage before the shingles cover it, so you have a record of what is under your roof.
Cleanup and walkthrough
Debris is trailered off, the yard is swept with a magnet for nails, and we walk the finished roof with you before the final invoice.
Why homeowners choose LASIM for a new roof
Built for the Mid-South, specifically
Hail, straight-line wind, 95-degree summers and winter ice. The system is designed for the weather it will actually see.
Warranty-eligible, every time
Installed to the manufacturer's spec so the long warranty on the shingle box actually applies to your roof.
Photographed before it is covered
You get pictures of the underlayment, flashing and ventilation that nobody will ever see again.
One project manager
Design, materials, permit, crew and cleanup run through one person who answers the phone.
Roof Installation Questions
An installation is a roof going onto a structure that does not currently have one, or has been stripped to bare framing: a new build, an addition, or a full re-deck. A replacement is a tear-off of an existing roof down to the decking and a new roof over it. The finished product is similar; the difference is how much of the deck and structure we are starting from.
Standing-seam metal, by a wide margin, and it handles hail and wind better than shingle. Concrete and clay tile also last a very long time but are heavy and need the structure to carry them. For most homes the practical answer is an impact-rated architectural shingle, which balances cost, appearance and a realistic 20-plus years in this climate when it is installed and ventilated properly.
In most of the municipalities we work in across Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, yes, and the work is inspected. The rules vary by city and county. We handle the permit and the inspection scheduling as part of the job and tell you up front what applies to your address.
Most residential roofs are installed in one to two days once materials are on site. Larger or more complex roofs, tile, metal, or jobs that need decking replaced take longer. Your project manager gives you a realistic schedule before we start and updates you daily.
A Memphis attic without adequate ventilation can run well over 140 degrees in summer. That heat cooks the shingles from underneath, shortens their life dramatically, and can void the manufacturer's warranty. In winter the same poor ventilation traps moisture and drives condensation and mold. A balanced intake-and-exhaust design is a small part of the cost and a large part of the lifespan.
Yes, and the tie-in is the detail we pay the most attention to on an addition. Where a new roof meets an old one, the valley or wall junction has to be flashed and layered so water from the higher roof cannot get under the lower one. We match the existing shingle where it is still available, and tell you honestly when the two will not match and what the options are.