What Gets Replaced When You Get a New Roof? A Re-Roof Scope Guide

When you get a new roof, the old shingles come off and these are replaced: underlayment, drip edge, flashings, vents and any soft decking. Fascia, soffit, eavestroughs and attic insulation are usually separate items, so check the written scope. Ask what is replaced, what is only repaired and what is left alone.

What is replaced when you get a new roof?

A full replacement is more than new shingles. After the old roofing is torn off, the crew rebuilds the layers that keep water out. A standard asphalt re-roof in Ontario usually covers:

• Old roofing and underlayment. Removed down to the roof deck.
• Deck repairs. The crew inspects the exposed boards and replaces anything soft or rotted.
• Ice and water membrane. A self-adhering layer along the eaves and in valleys, where meltwater backs up.
• Underlayment. A synthetic layer over the rest of the deck.
• Drip edge. Metal edging that guides water into the eavestrough instead of behind it.
• Starter strip, shingles and ridge caps. The visible roof.
• Flashing. Step and counter flashing where the roof meets walls and chimneys, plus the seals around plumbing vents.
• Roof vents. Ridge or roof vents that work with soffit intake.
• Cleanup. Debris and old materials hauled away.

Metal roofing and flat roofs follow the same idea with different parts. Flat and low-slope roofs use TPO, EPDM or modified bitumen membranes, and metal roofs use standing seam or corrugated steel panels.

Which of these your quote lists is what you pay for. The roofing project walkthrough explains the order of work from start to finish.

Does roof replacement include plywood and decking?

The deck is the layer under everything else. It may be plywood, OSB or older plank boards. Nobody can see its condition until the old roofing is off, so the right answer is that decking repair is included only as far as the quote says.

Ask these questions before you sign:

• Is some deck replacement already built into the price, or is it extra?
• If it is extra, how is it charged: by the sheet, by the board or by time?
• How will you be told when soft or rotted decking turns up, and will you be shown photos?
• Is the change confirmed in writing before the work continues?

Ontario's guidance for renovation businesses says customers should get a clear written description of the work, and that changes to the scope are to be documented and agreed in writing. A roof is the classic case, because the true condition appears mid-job. Good paperwork turns a surprise into a decision.

Does a roof replacement include fascia, soffit and gutters?

Usually not as standard. They sit at the roof edge and are closely connected, but they are separate parts with separate costs. This table shows how they are often handled.

Treat this as a guide, not a rule. A few contractors bundle some items by default, and others price them as add-ons. The only reliable answer is the written scope. If a line is not there, assume it is not included.

Should I replace fascia with the roof?

Replace it if it is rotted, split or loose. Leave it if it is sound. The roof job is a good time to decide, because the edge is exposed, ladders and staging are already there and the drip edge sits at that line.

Fascia carries the eavestrough. Rot usually starts where the eavestrough has overflowed or leaked, or where ice has sat against the board. Signs to look for are peeling paint, dark stains, soft spots you can feel with a screwdriver and a trough that pulls away.

Rotted fascia is replaced before wrapping. Wrapping over rot hides the problem and lets the hangers pull out. If the wood is sound, custom-bent aluminum fascia can be wrapped over it, which also removes the need to paint.

The post on signs your fascia needs repair or replacement shows what to look for before the crew arrives.

Should I replace the roof or gutters first?

Roof first, eavestroughs last, with any fascia and soffit work in between. The order protects the new troughs and keeps the edge details correct.

1. Fascia and soffit repairs. Done while the edge is open or just before the drip edge goes on.
2. The roof. Tear-off sends debris, ladders and foot traffic along the eaves. Granules and nails end up in troughs.
3. Eavestroughs and downspouts. New troughs are hung on solid wood, with correct pitch toward each outlet and downspouts that carry water away from the foundation.

If your existing troughs are in good shape, ask whether the crew will detach and reinstall them or work around them, and who is responsible if they are damaged. Eavestroughs do not cause ice dams. Heat loss from the attic does, but ice damage is a common reason to replace them.

Pick the size at the same time. A 5-inch K-style trough suits most houses, while a 6-inch trough carries more water from long or steep roof faces, valleys and metal roofs. The five-inch vs six-inch guide explains how to choose, and eavestrough installation can be scheduled right after the shingles.

Ventilation and soffit: the part people skip

Ventilation is not decoration. Vented soffit is the intake half of attic ventilation, and ridge or roof vents are the exit. Poor airflow shortens shingle life and feeds ice dams.

Natural Resources Canada recommends that half of the attic ventilation openings be continuous soffit vents and the other half gable, ridge or roof vents. It also says baffles keep insulation from blocking the vents. On ice dams, its guidance points to air sealing and insulating rather than temporary fixes, because an attic above freezing warms the sheathing and melts snow from below.

Before the new roof goes on, check these four things:

• Are soffit vents present, clear and undamaged?
• Is insulation stuffed against the vents, and are baffles in place?
• Does the quote include new roof or ridge vents?
• Do your shingle maker's instructions set ventilation requirements for the warranty? Many do, so ask.

If the soffit is damaged or loose, animals such as squirrels, raccoons, birds and wasps can get in. Soffit and fascia are often replaced together and colour-matched to the eavestrough. For the airflow side, soffit ventilation covers how the pieces work together.

How to read your roofing quote for scope

The goal is that nothing is a surprise. Look for each of these as its own line, and ask about any that are missing:

• Tear-off, disposal and protection for landscaping and eaves
• Deck inspection and how repairs are charged
• Ice and water membrane, and where it goes
• Underlayment type, drip edge, starter strip and ridge caps
• Flashing at walls, chimneys and around pipes and vents
• Roof vents and any soffit work
• Fascia and eavestroughs: in, out or priced as options
• Who gets and pays for any permit, and the start and finish dates

Ontario's renovation guidance says a contract should list the materials and an itemized set of products and services, set out a work schedule, and clarify who gets and pays for any permit. Compare estimates line by line, not by the total.

D&D Exterior Finishing gives a free written estimate that lists the scope, materials, colours and warranty terms before work starts. See roof replacement and repair for the roofing services it covers.

Roof replacement scope questions homeowners ask

Does roof replacement include fascia?

Not as standard. Fascia is a separate part from the roof, and a quote includes it only when it lists it. If rot is found at the roof edge, the fascia is replaced before wrapping or new troughs. Ask for it to be priced as an option so you can decide with the edge open.

Does roof replacement include soffit?

Usually only the vents, if that. Soffit is a separate component, and replacing it is often done together with the fascia and a colour match to the eavestrough. Since vented soffit is the intake side of attic ventilation, have it inspected whenever a roof is replaced.

Does roof replacement include insulation?

No, attic insulation is a separate job, since roofers work from the outside. Insulation should not block soffit vents, and baffles keep the airflow open. Where the sheathing is removed, Natural Resources Canada describes the re-roof as a chance to air seal and insulate the cavities.

Should I replace gutters when I replace my roof?

Replace them if they are old, undersized, sagging or damaged. Installing new eavestroughs after the roof protects them from tear-off debris, and any fascia repair gets done first. If they are in good shape, ask whether they will be detached and reinstalled, and who covers damage.

Does a new roof include new vents and flashing?

It should. Flashing at walls and chimneys, seals around plumbing vents and the roof or ridge vents are part of a proper roof system. Check that each one is listed in the written scope rather than reused, and ask what is left in place.

Devon Moore, Operations Lead Co-Founder & Operations Lead — D&D Exterior Finishing

Devon Moore is the co-founder and Operations Lead at D&D Exterior Finishing, specializing in siding, roofing, windows, and exterior renovations across Waterloo Region.