Questions Clarksville homeowners ask us
Licensing and insurance, what a roof costs here, permits, hail and whether to file, ACV against replacement cost, algae streaks, VA certifications and PCS dates. Anything we have missed, call and ask.
Are you licensed and insured?
Insured, yes: general liability and workers' compensation, with the certificate available before anybody gets on a ladder. Licensed, yes: Tennessee requires a state contractor licence for projects of $25,000 and above, issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors under its roofing classification. You can verify any contractor's status, ours included, at verify.tn.gov — ask us for the exact name to search.
What does a new roof cost in Clarksville?
Architectural asphalt shingles run about $6,700 to $15,000 installed on a typical Montgomery County house, roughly $350 to $550 a square. The statewide Tennessee average for a 1,700-square-foot roof is around $8,518. Standing seam metal is $12,000 to $25,000 and up. Those are budgeting ranges; your number comes after somebody measures and walks the roof.
Is the inspection really free?
The condition inspection is, including the photographs and the written summary, and including the times we tell you nothing needs doing. A formal written roof certification for a lender or a closing is a separate document with our name and liability attached, and that is $150 to $400.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof?
Yes, in Clarksville and Montgomery County. It goes through the Building Codes Department at $0.38 per square foot with a $25 minimum, and we pull it before the tear-off. Ordinary repairs do not need one. Their number is 931-648-5718 if you want to confirm anything yourself. Outside the county the authority changes.
Someone knocked on my door after the storm. Should I use them?
Check them the way you would check anybody, and never sign on the first visit. Ask for the Tennessee licence name and look it up at verify.tn.gov. Ask for a local address you could drive to. Ask who honours the workmanship warranty in year five. Decline any offer to cover your deductible. Apply all of that to us too.
I think I have hail damage. What should I do first?
Have it looked at before you call your carrier, so that you know what is actually up there. Real hail damage is a round impact where granules are gone and the mat underneath feels soft; blistering and age-related granule loss are different things that get mistaken for it. If there is no claim, we will tell you, and you keep your claim history clean.
Will my insurance pay for a new roof?
If a covered peril — wind, hail, a falling tree — caused genuine damage, usually yes, subject to your deductible and whether you are on replacement cost or actual cash value. Age and wear are never covered. Check the wind and hail line on your declarations page specifically, because in Tennessee it is often a percentage of your dwelling coverage rather than a flat figure.
What is the difference between ACV and replacement cost?
Replacement cost pays what a new roof costs today, usually in two payments with depreciation released once the work is done. Actual cash value pays that minus depreciation for the roof's age, and that is all. Carriers increasingly move roofs past about fifteen years onto actual cash value, which can leave a large gap between the cheque and the job.
How long will an asphalt roof last here?
Twenty to thirty years realistically in Middle Tennessee, and plenty land in the lower half of that. Heat, UV and storms are harder on asphalt than the warranty testing assumes. An attic with proper intake and exhaust ventilation is the biggest single thing in your control, which is why we address it during a replacement.
Those black streaks on my roof — is it rotting?
No. That is algae, it is extremely common in this humidity, and it is purely cosmetic. It does not affect performance or lifespan. Anybody telling you streaking means you need a new roof is not being straight with you. It can be cleaned carefully, and algae-resistant shingles are worth specifying next time.
Can you just go over my old shingles?
It is sometimes permitted and we generally will not. You lose the ability to inspect and repair decking, the trapped heat shortens the new shingles in a climate that already cooks them, the surface telegraphs through, and the next replacement costs more. The saving is modest and borrowed against the roof's life.
Do you do roof certifications for VA loans?
Yes, and it is regular work in a Fort Campbell town. It is a formal written statement on the roof's condition and expected remaining life with photographs, which VA lenders and appraisers commonly require before closing — typically looking for at least two to three years remaining. Ask your lender for their exact wording requirement.
Can you work to my PCS date?
Tell us the date on the first call and you will get a straight answer. Inspections and certifications are usually quick. Repairs and replacements depend on scope, materials and weather, and if we cannot meet your date we will say so immediately rather than take the booking and let it slip when you have movers scheduled.
Is metal worth twice the price?
It depends almost entirely on how long you are staying. A standing seam roof should outlast two asphalt roofs, so over twenty-five years it works; over six it does not and you will not recover the premium at resale. The lines cross somewhere between twelve and eighteen years. In a town with this much PCS turnover, that is a real question and we ask it before talking about materials.
How fast can you get here if water is coming in?
Same day. Say it is an emergency when you call and you go to the front of the line — we tarp it and stop the damage before anybody discusses scope or price. If there is any sign of electrical trouble or you smell gas, call the utility or 911 for that first, and please do not climb up to look.