Residential Roof Replacement in Berkshire County
Free written estimates. Chris on site for every job.
Roof replacement for houses across Berkshire County, from tear-off and deck repair to the finished asphalt, cedar, standing seam metal or low-slope roof, with our own crews doing the work.
What a full roof replacement includes
On a residential roof replacement, the old roof comes off down to the deck and any rotted or soft decking is replaced. The new roof then goes on as one system: ice and water barrier along the eaves and in the valleys, underlayment over the rest of the deck, new drip edge, flashing at every chimney, skylight and wall, ventilation, and finally the shingles, cedar or metal.
On a Berkshire house, the eaves, valleys and chimneys are where winter does its damage. Snow sits on the roof for weeks, meltwater refreezes at the cold edge, and a weak spot in the flashing turns into a ceiling stain. Getting those parts right is most of the job.
Before tear-off, tarps go over the walls and plantings under the work area. When the roof is done, the old material is hauled away and the crew walks the finished roof with you.
How a CBR roof replacement runs
Four stages, whatever the material.
Look at the whole roof
Shingles, flashing, valleys, vents and attic airflow get checked in person before any price is given.
Strip it to the boards
Every old layer comes off so the deck can be seen. Soft or rotted decking is replaced before the new roof goes on.
Build the new roof
Ice and water barrier, underlayment, drip edge, flashing and vents go down before the shingles, cedar or metal.
Clean up and check
Old roofing hauled away, the yard and driveway cleared, and a final check of the roof with you.
Start with a free roof inspection.
Book an inspectionRoofing materials for Berkshire homes
The right material depends on the house, the roof pitch and how long you plan to stay.
Asphalt shingles
The most common replacement. We install Owens Corning and CertainTeed architectural shingles.
Asphalt shingle roofing →
Cedar shake
Natural wood for older and historic homes, where the look matters as much as the roof.
Cedar shake roofing →
Standing seam metal
A good fit for steep roofs and houses up in the hills, where snow needs to slide off.
Metal roofing →
Low-slope and flat
EPDM, TPO or modified bitumen for porches, additions and dormers with little or no pitch.
Flat roofing →What decides the price of a new roof
Every replacement estimate comes from the roof itself, so two houses on the same street can be priced quite differently. These are the things that move the number most:
Size and pitch. More squares of roofing means more material and labor, and steep roofs need more staging and take longer to work safely.
Layers and decking. Tearing off two old layers takes longer than one, and the amount of rotted decking is only known once the old roof is off. Ask how decking is priced before you sign.
Material. Cedar and standing seam metal cost more than asphalt shingles to buy and take longer to install.
Details and access. Chimneys, skylights, dormers and valleys each need their own flashing work, and a house that is hard to reach with a truck and dumpster adds time.
Comparing bids? Check that each one lists the same layers removed, the same underlayment and flashing, and the same material, so you are comparing the same roof.
When a home needs a new roof
A small leak on a younger roof can often be fixed. When shingles are curling or shedding granules across the whole roof, leaks keep showing up in new places, or the deck flexes underfoot, the roof is near the end and more patches will not change that.
A second layer matters too. If an earlier roofer installed new shingles over the old ones, both layers have to come off at replacement time, and the deck underneath finally gets inspected.
The inspection is how we decide, and we'll tell you whether the roof can be repaired or needs replacing.
Colonials, farmhouses and complicated roof lines
Many Berkshire houses are old colonials and farmhouses with dormers, valleys, more than one chimney and additions built in different decades. Those roofs take more planning: checking the deck and the framing at the eaves, and working out how each valley and wall joint will be flashed.
CBR is locally owned, Chris Battaini is on site for every job, and our crews are our own, never subcontracted. We are licensed in Massachusetts (LIC #101201, HIC #160959), insured, and an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, which means a new Owens Corning shingle roof can carry a manufacturer warranty in addition to our workmanship guarantee.
We work out of two offices: our Pittsfield office for the city and northern towns, and our Lee office for South County.
Residential roof replacement questions
What homeowners ask us most before a replacement.
How long does a roof replacement take?
It depends on the size and pitch of the roof, how many layers come off, the material and the weather. Cedar and metal take longer than asphalt. Ask for the expected schedule when you get your estimate.
What happens to the old roof?
It is torn off down to the deck so rotted boards can be found and replaced, and the old material is hauled away at the end of the job.
How do I know if I need a new roof or a repair?
Widespread curling or worn shingles, leaks that keep returning in different places, failed flashing or a soft deck usually point to replacement. An isolated problem on a younger roof can often be repaired. The free inspection tells you which.
What if the decking under my roof is rotted?
Soft or rotted boards are replaced once the old roof is off, before the new roof goes on. Because nobody can see the deck until then, ask how decking repairs are priced in your estimate.
Do you install gutters with a new roof?
We can. CBR forms seamless aluminum gutters on site, and installing them with the roof lets the drip edge and gutters be fitted together. See our seamless gutters page.
Ready to replace the roof on your house?
Book a free inspection and get the scope, material and price for your roof in writing.