The cost varies depending on the size of your roof, the materials you choose, and the complexity of the job. We provide a free, detailed, and itemized estimate so you know exactly what you're paying for. A new roof is a significant investment that adds tremendous value and protection to your home.

Most residential roof replacements can be completed in just 2-5 days, depending on the size and weather. We work efficiently to minimize disruption to your daily life.

While every project is unique, a typical residential roof replacement follows a predictable sequence. The timeline can range from a single day for a simple asphalt shingle roof on a small home to a week or more for complex projects involving materials like slate or tile.  

Pre-Installation Phase (1-4 weeks prior): This is the planning stage. After you sign the contract, your contractor will order all necessary materials. While standard asphalt shingles are often readily available, specialty materials like custom metal panels or certain tile profiles may take several weeks to be delivered. During this time, the contractor will also submit the application for the required building permit from the City of Bakersfield or Kern County. A day or two before the start date, a dumpster or dump trailer will typically be delivered to your property.  

Day 1: Tear-Off, Inspection, and Preparation: The first day of physical work is often the most intense.

Arrival and Setup: The crew will arrive early and begin by protecting your property. This includes laying tarps over landscaping, covering windows and AC units, and clearing the perimeter of your home.  

Tear-Off: The crew will systematically remove all old roofing materials down to the roof deck. This is the messiest and noisiest part of the entire process.  

Decking Inspection: This is a critical step. With the old roof removed, the crew will inspect the wooden roof deck for any signs of rot, water damage, or structural weakness. Any compromised boards must be replaced before the new roof can be installed. The discovery of extensive rot is the most common reason for project delays and budget increases.  

Day 1-3: Installation of the New Roofing System: Once the decking is sound, the installation of the new system begins.

Drip Edge and Underlayment: A metal drip edge is installed at the eaves, followed by an ice and water shield in the valleys and other vulnerable areas. Then, a layer of synthetic underlayment is installed over the entire roof deck, providing a secondary water barrier.  

New Roofing Material: The new shingles, tiles, or metal panels are installed, typically starting from the bottom edge of the roof and working upwards. The crew will also install new flashing around chimneys, skylights, and walls, and replace vent pipe boots.  

Ridge Vents and Caps: The final steps involve installing ridge vents for attic ventilation and covering the hips and ridges with specialized cap shingles.  

Final Day: Cleanup and Final Inspection:

Thorough Cleanup: The crew will conduct a meticulous cleanup of your property. This includes removing all debris from the roof and gutters and using large magnetic rollers to sweep the lawn, driveway, and garden beds for stray nails.  

Final Walk-Through: The project manager or contractor will conduct a final inspection and walk-through with you to ensure the work meets your satisfaction and all contractual obligations have been met.  

Final Payment and Warranty: After the final inspection, the final payment is typically made. The contractor will provide you with all warranty documentation, which you should register with the manufacturer. The dumpster will then be removed from your property.  

Proper preparation can significantly contribute to a smoother, safer, and less disruptive roof replacement experience. The primary goals of preparation are to mitigate the three main impacts of the project: debris, vibrations, and noise.

Protecting from Debris

Clear the Perimeter: The area around your home's foundation is the primary "drop zone" for old roofing materials and other debris. Move patio furniture, grills, potted plants, children's toys, and any other portable items at least 15 feet away from the house, or store them in a garage or shed.  

Move Vehicles: Park all cars on the street or far down the driveway the night before work begins. This prevents them from being blocked in by the dumpster or crew vehicles and protects them from falling debris.  

Protect Landscaping: Discuss your landscaping with the contractor. They should use tarps to cover delicate plants, shrubs, and flower beds. You can also mark particularly valuable plants or sprinkler heads so the crew is aware of them.  

Cut the Grass: Mowing your lawn a day or two before the project starts makes it much easier for the crew to find and clean up stray nails with their magnetic rollers.  

Protecting from Vibrations:

Secure Interior Items: The hammering and nailing on the roof will create vibrations throughout your house. Walk through your home and remove pictures, mirrors, plates, and any fragile or valuable items from walls and shelves to prevent them from falling and breaking.  

Cover Attic Storage: Debris, dust, and wood splinters will fall into the attic during the tear-off and decking inspection. Cover any items stored in the attic with plastic sheeting or tarps to keep them clean.  

Disable Security Alarms: The vibrations can sometimes trigger motion-sensitive security alarms. It's wise to disable the system for the duration of the work to avoid false alarms.  

Managing Noise and Logistics

Plan for Pets and Children: A roofing project is extremely loud. The noise can be very stressful for pets and disruptive for small children. It is highly recommended to arrange for them to be away from the house during the workday.  

Plan Your Day: Decide if you will stay home or work elsewhere. If you work from home, the noise will likely be a significant disruption.  

Check Outdoor Power: The crew will need access to an outdoor electrical outlet for their power tools. Check to ensure it is working properly before they arrive.  

Turn Off Sprinklers: Deactivate your automatic sprinkler system a day or two before the project begins to ensure the ground around your home is not wet or muddy for the crew and their equipment.  

Document Your Property: Take "before" photos of your home's exterior, including your driveway, siding, windows, and landscaping. This provides a baseline in the unlikely event of any damage.

Yes, a building permit is required for almost all roof replacement projects in both the City of Bakersfield and unincorporated areas of Kern County. This permit is not merely a formality or a source of revenue for the local government; it is the primary legal mechanism for ensuring your new roof complies with critical safety and building codes, most notably California's Title 24 energy efficiency standards.

The permit process serves as a crucial consumer protection tool. It triggers mandatory inspections by a city or county building inspector who verifies that the work is being done correctly and according to code. This includes confirming the use of proper materials, such as a "cool roof" that meets the specific Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) values required for Bakersfield's Climate Zone 13, and ensuring correct installation techniques. Without a permit, you have no official assurance that your roof is safe, legal, and energy-efficient.  

Jurisdiction: Whether you need a permit from the City of Bakersfield or from Kern County depends on your property's exact location. You can use online mapping tools provided by the city and county to determine which jurisdiction your address falls under. A qualified local contractor will be familiar with these boundaries.  

Application Process: The City of Bakersfield offers an online permit application process through its Clariti Customer Portal, which explicitly lists "Reroofing" as a residential permit type. The county also has a building permit application process, which can be initiated at their Public Works office.  

Who Pulls the Permit: The licensed C-39 roofing contractor must be the one to apply for and pull the permit. This is a critical point. A contractor who asks you, the homeowner, to pull the permit is almost certainly operating without the necessary license or insurance. This practice, known as a major industry red flag, illegally shifts all legal liability for the project—including worker injuries and code violations—onto the homeowner. Never agree to pull the permit yourself.

A comprehensive roofing contract is far more than a simple price agreement; it is a vital risk management document that protects both you and the contractor. It should clearly define the scope of the project and allocate responsibility for every foreseeable aspect of the job, including how potential problems will be handled. Before signing, ensure the contract contains the following key elements:

Complete Business Information: The contract must include the contractor's full business name, physical address, phone number, and their California C-39 license number.  

Detailed Scope of Work: This is the heart of the contract. It should explicitly detail every step of the project, including the complete tear-off of all existing roofing layers, inspection of the roof deck, and installation of all new components.  

Itemized Materials List: The contract must specify the exact materials to be used, including the brand, product line, and color (e.g., "Owens Corning Duration Premium COOL Shingles in Frosted Oak"). This should cover not just the shingles but also the underlayment, starter strips, hip and ridge caps, flashing, and vents. This prevents a contractor from substituting cheaper, lower-quality materials.  

Project Timeline: It should state a clear start date and an estimated completion date. It should also include a clause addressing how unavoidable delays, such as inclement weather, will be handled and communicated.  

Payment Schedule: The contract must outline the total cost and a clear payment schedule. This includes the amount of the down payment (typically 10-30%) and the timing of subsequent payments, which are often tied to project milestones like material delivery and final completion.  

Insurance and Permitting: The document should contain a statement confirming the contractor carries both general liability and workers' compensation insurance. It must also explicitly state that the contractor is responsible for securing all necessary city or county building permits.  

Warranty Information: The contract must provide details on two separate warranties: the manufacturer's warranty on the products and the contractor's workmanship warranty on the labor. The terms, length, and limitations of both should be clear.  

Change Order Process: This is a critical clause that defines the procedure for handling unexpected work. For example, if rotten decking is discovered, this clause specifies how the additional work will be documented in writing, priced, and formally approved by you before the work proceeds. This prevents surprise charges on the final bill.  

Cleanup and Debris Removal: The contract should state that the contractor is responsible for the daily cleanup of the job site and a thorough final cleanup, including the use of magnetic rollers to find stray nails.  

Lien Waiver Provision: A crucial protection for the homeowner. The contract should state that the final payment is contingent upon the contractor providing you with a signed lien waiver, which confirms that they have paid their suppliers and subcontractors.  

A lien waiver is one of the most important legal documents in a construction project, yet it is often misunderstood by homeowners. In simple terms, a lien waiver is a signed document that relinquishes the right to place a "mechanic's lien" on your property. It functions as a formal receipt, proving that a contractor, subcontractor, or material supplier has been paid for their services or goods.  

The importance of this document stems from the structure of construction law. The project involves a financial chain: you pay your primary roofing contractor, who in turn is supposed to pay their crew, their subcontractors, and the company that supplied the shingles and other materials. A mechanic's lien is a legal tool that protects the parties at the end of that chain. If your primary contractor fails to pay the material supplier, that supplier can file a lien directly against your property, even if you have already paid your contractor in full.  

A lien is a legal claim against your home that can prevent you from selling or refinancing it until the debt is settled. It essentially "clouds" the title to your property.

To protect yourself, you must secure a signed lien waiver from your primary contractor as a condition of making your final payment. This document legally severs the financial liability chain. For maximum protection on a large project, you may also request lien waivers from any major subcontractors or material suppliers. There are four main types of waivers, but the one you should receive upon project completion is a Final Unconditional Waiver. This document confirms that the party signing it has received their final payment and unconditionally gives up all rights to file a lien on your property.

The roofing contractor is fully responsible for the removal and proper disposal of all old roofing materials and construction debris. This service should be explicitly included in the scope of work detailed in your contract.  

The disposal process typically involves a large dumpster or a dump trailer being placed on your property, usually in the driveway, for the duration of the tear-off and installation. The cost for this service, including the transportation and landfill fees, is factored into your overall project quote.  

In the Bakersfield area, this construction and demolition (C&D) waste is taken to a licensed facility. The primary site is the Bena Landfill, which has specific gate fees for C&D materials, charged by the ton. As of 2025, the fee for C&D waste is $92.76 per ton.  

An environmentally friendly alternative to landfilling is recycling, particularly for asphalt shingles. While not all contractors may offer this service, facilities do exist in the area. For example, Bee Green Recycling & Supply accepts "Asphalt Shingle Tear Off" for recycling at a rate of $117.83 per ton. This process keeps bulky shingle waste out of landfills, where it can take centuries to decompose, and allows the recycled asphalt to be used in products like new pavement. Homeowners interested in a more sustainable approach can inquire with potential contractors if they partner with local shingle recycling facilities.