Asphalt Shingle Replacement in Fairfield County

What asphalt shingle replacement means

A full asphalt replacement strips the old roof to the deck, repairs any rotted plywood, installs new underlayment and ice-and-water shield, and lays a new shingle field with new flashing and ventilation. Three-tab shingles are a single flat layer with cut tabs; they are the cheapest shingle on the market and the right call mainly where budget dominates and wind exposure is modest.

Where it fits in Fairfield County

Three-tab makes the most sense inland — Trumbull, Monroe, and inland Stamford sections away from the Sound — on simpler gable roofs where the wind zone is the 115 mph inland baseline rather than the 120–130 mph shoreline band. On a Sound-front home in Shippan Point, Fairfield Beach, or Compo Beach, the lower wind rating is a real liability: tabs lift in nor'easters, and a roof that needs attention after every big storm is not actually cheaper. For shoreline homes, compare an architectural quote alongside the three-tab quote before deciding.

Cost and life

Expect roughly $9,000–$15,000 for a typical home, with 15–20 years of life in Connecticut conditions. That shorter life is the trade: a three-tab roof replaced twice can cost more over 30 years than one architectural roof. Ask the contractor to show both numbers — installed price and cost per year of expected life — before you choose.

What to check in the quote

• Shingle wind rating in writing. Three-tab ratings vary; get the product name and rating, not just "asphalt shingles."
• Nail count and placement. Four nails is standard for three-tab, but six-nail patterns are worth asking about on exposed lots.
• Full tear-off. A second layer over old shingles hides deck rot and shortens the new roof's life. Insist on tear-off to the deck.
• Ventilation. Ridge and soffit vents sized to the attic; without them, summer heat ages shingles early.