New build, gut rehab, or rear addition — new construction roofing is a different discipline from tear-off replacement. We coordinate with your GC and framer to get the deck, ventilation, and drainage details right before a single shingle goes down.
At The Chicago Roofers, new roof installation is one of our core specialties. Chicago is unlike any other roofing market in the country — a city built on a mix of 1890s greystones, 1920s bungalows, mid-century brick two-flats, modern infill, and dense commercial corridors, all sitting in a climate that swings from 95°F summer humidity to -20°F winter wind chills. A roofing contractor who treats Chicago the same as a suburban tract neighborhood will miss the details that actually keep water out of these buildings. We don't. Every new roof installation project we take on is scoped, priced, and executed around the specific building era, roof geometry, and microclimate of the property in front of us.
What's Included
- Deck and underlayment specification
- Cricket and saddle framing coordination
- Ventilation design for sealed and vented assemblies
- Standing-seam, shingle, and flat system installation
- Chicago Department of Buildings permit handling
Why It Matters in Chicago
New Chicago construction often includes roof decks, parapets, and complex flashings against brick. We've installed them all across the city and know how to detail them so they don't leak in year five.
Chicago's combination of lake-effect moisture, sustained winter freeze cycles, and aggressive summer storm patterns means that roofing problems that would take a decade to develop in a milder climate can show up in three or four years here. That's why our approach to new roof installationis built around durability-first detailing — heavier ice-and-water shield coverage, properly terminated parapet flashings, balanced attic ventilation, and material specifications that exceed code minimums in the spots that matter most.
Materials & Systems We Use
For Chicago new roof installation projects, we work exclusively with established, manufacturer-backed systems: architectural asphalt shingles from GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed; standing-seam and stone-coated metal panels rated for Chicago wind zones; EPDM, TPO, and PVC single-ply membranes for flat assemblies; and SBS-modified bitumen where torch-down or self-adhered low-slope systems make sense. We carry manufacturer certifications that unlock extended warranties most contractors can't offer, and we register every warranty in the property owner's name so it transfers cleanly at sale.
Chicago Code, Permits & Inspections
Any meaningful roofing scope in Chicago triggers a Department of Buildings permit. We pull the permit in our name, post it at the property, coordinate the inspector visit, and close the permit when work is complete — a step that protects you when you sell. For landmark districts, designated historic properties, and HOA-governed buildings, we navigate the extra approval layer so your project doesn't get red-tagged. Our crews work to the most recent Chicago energy and building code revisions, including reflectivity requirements on low-slope roofs and ventilation balance rules on steep-slope assemblies.
Our Process
- 1
Plan review
We review architectural drawings and flag ventilation or drainage issues before framing locks in.
- 2
Pre-deck inspection
Before underlayment, we verify deck fastening, slope, and penetration locations.
- 3
Install
Coordinated with the GC's schedule to keep the project dried-in fast.
What to Expect on Project Day
Crews arrive between 7 and 8 a.m. with a project lead who walks you through the day's plan, protects landscaping and the building exterior with tarps and plywood, and stages dumpsters and materials with the smallest practical street footprint — a real concern on narrow Chicago lots and tight alley access. Magnetic nail sweeps run multiple times per day, every day, including final cleanup. We leave the property cleaner than we found it.
Across Every Chicago Neighborhood
We provide new roof installation in every Chicago neighborhood — from the dense flat-roof corridors of Logan Square and Pilsen, to the bungalow belts of Portage Park and Chatham, to the lakefront high-rises of Edgewater. Local building stock, microclimate, and even prevailing wind direction all change how we approach the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with general contractors?
Yes — we're a regular roofing sub for GCs across the Chicago metro.
Can you install a roof deck?
We install the roof system and coordinate with deck builders on flashing and pedestal details.