St. Louis County · MN
Roof replacement in Hermantown.
Up the hill from Duluth, Hermantown gets colder nights and snow that stays put. A new roof here is built to carry a full winter of it and to hold its edges in the wind across open lots.
What goes into a roof replacement in Hermantown?
In Hermantown, a roof replacement means tearing off to the deck, replacing damaged sheathing, laying ice and water shield along the eaves where snow sits longest, balancing attic ventilation to keep the deck cold under the snowpack, and fastening shingles to hold at exposed ridges and rakes. Most homes are finished in two to four days.
Overview
A roof that carries snow all winter
Hermantown sits well above Lake Superior and far enough inland that the lake does little to soften the winter. Nights run colder than they do along the shore, and snow that falls in December can still be on the roof in March. Instead of melting off between storms, it builds up in layers, so the framing and the shingles carry weight for months at a time.
That long blanket of snow is where ice dams start. Warmth leaking up from the rooms below heats the deck, the bottom of the snowpack melts, and the water runs down until it reaches the cold overhang and freezes again. The ridge of ice that builds there holds back more meltwater, which works its way under the shingles. A cold, well-ventilated deck and a membrane at the eaves are what break that cycle.
A large share of Hermantown's houses went up in the 1970s or later, on wide, fairly flat lots with few trees to slow the wind. Houses of that age are often on their second or third set of shingles, and on open ground the damage tends to begin at the ridges and rakes, where gusts get under the edges and lift the tabs.
Roofing in Hermantown at a glance
- County
- St. Louis County
- Minnesota license
- Residential building contractor BC809439
- Typical timeline
- Two to four days for most homes
- What we watch for
- Ice dams at the eaves and lifted shingles at ridges and rakes
- Pictured
- A Covenant Builders crew on a Hermantown roof
Scope
What a Hermantown roof replacement covers
- Full tear-off down to the deck, including any second layer of shingles
- Sheathing checked for sag and rot, with damaged sections replaced
- Ice and water shield at the eaves, where snow sits the longest
- Synthetic underlayment across the remaining deck
- Ridge and soffit vents balanced to keep the deck cold under snow
- Starter strips and edge fastening set for wind at rakes and ridges
- Flashing renewed at chimneys, sidewalls and plumbing vents
- Haul-away of all tear-off, with the lawn swept for nails
Old skylight flashing and months of snow cover are a bad pairing. If yours is aging, it can be swapped out during the re-roof and sealed into the new membrane by a VELUX Certified Installer.
Skylight replacementHermantown, MN
Snow in Hermantown does not come and go. A roof here is judged by how it handles three months of it sitting still.
Covenant Builders · MN BC809439
How it is done
How a Hermantown roof replacement runs
Before tear-off, the signs of past trouble get noted: water stains on ceilings near the outside walls, damage along the eaves from old ice dams and any dip in the roofline. Together they show where the deck and the ventilation will need the most attention.
Tear-off takes the roof back to bare sheathing. Each section is checked for soft spots and for sag between rafters, and anything that has been carrying water or weight badly is replaced, so the new roof is fastened to a deck that will hold through a heavy winter.
Along the eaves, in the valleys and around every penetration, ice and water shield is laid before anything else, and synthetic underlayment covers the rest. Intake and exhaust vents are balanced so cold air moves under the deck, keeping it near the outdoor temperature so the snow on top does not melt where it should not.
Shingles go on over starter strips at the eaves and rakes, fastened in the pattern the manufacturer rates for high wind. Flashing is renewed at every wall, chimney and vent, the tear-off is hauled away and the lawn is swept for nails. Most Hermantown homes are done in two to four days.
Materials we install
What homeowners say
Work that earns the referral.
Reviews left by Covenant Builders customers on Google.
“Went with Covenant Builders as they were the least expensive of 3 estimates. They did the roof on my house and garage in one 12 hour day with high quality products. Their cleanup was also great. I literally found just one nail after they were done. Roof looks great and so far has been leak free.”
Matthew ZemlerRoof replacement · via Google “Jared was great to work with. Out of all the contractors that gave a bid on doing the roof of my house, he did the best inspection to help minimize surprise costs. He is professional, polite, and respectful. I had a great experience working with him!”
Abby DuggerRoof replacement · via Google “I had an excellent experience from start to finish with Jared and Covenant builders. The estimate process was easy to understand; I new exactly what I was getting and what I would be paying for it, no pressure at all. The work crew was efficient and took extra care not to damage my garden. I look forward to saving monry on my homeowners insurance with class 4 rated shingles.”
Karen St. GeorgeRoof replacement · via Google
FAQ
Hermantown roofing questions
Does Covenant Builders replace roofs in Hermantown?
Yes. Hermantown is a short drive from the Covenant Builders base in Saginaw, and every roof there is built under the company's Minnesota license, BC809439.
How do I stop ice dams on a Hermantown roof?
Ice dams come from heat reaching the roof deck, so the lasting fix is in the attic: air sealing and insulation to keep heat in the house, and balanced ventilation to keep the deck cold. A membrane along the eaves limits the damage while that is sorted out. Heat cables and roof raking only treat the symptom.
Is my roof strong enough for Hermantown snow?
Most roofs built to code carry a normal Hermantown winter without trouble. Sagging between rafters, bowed or cracked sheathing seen from the attic, or interior doors that start sticking after a big snowfall are reasons to have the structure looked at. Weak decking found during a replacement is replaced before the new roof goes on.
Why does wind damage start at the edges of the roof?
Wind speeds up as it crosses the eaves, rakes and ridge, and the suction there pulls upward on shingle edges. Hermantown's open lots give it little to slow down. Starter strips with a factory sealant line, plus the full nailing pattern, are what hold those edges flat.
Keep reading
More for Hermantown homeowners
Planning a new roof in Hermantown?
Give us a call, or describe the house and the roof's age, and we will get in touch to book a time to see it.
Mon-Sat 7:00 am to 7:00 pm · Closed Sunday