Do I need a permit to reroof in Frederickson?

Often not, if the roof is steeper than 2:12 and coverings total 7.5 pounds per square foot or less. Sheathing replacement is not exempt. Confirm with Pierce County.

How do I know if my decking is bad?

From the attic, look for dark stains, flaking layers or daylight at the eaves. On the roof, soft spots that give underfoot point to damaged decking.

How is extra decking priced?

We agree on a per-sheet price before work starts and show you any damaged boards before replacing them, so there are no surprises on the final bill.

Should I replace attic insulation during a reroof?

If it is thin or blocks the soffit vents, a reroof is a good time. We check both from the attic before quoting.

Can you reroof in the winter?

Yes, with care. We open one section at a time and close it before we leave, keeping tarps ready in case rain arrives.

Frederickson reroofs: what to ask before the old shingles come off

Frederickson is unincorporated Pierce County between Spanaway and South Hill. Under the county's reroof rule, the decking is where a simple job can turn into a permitted one.

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Pierce County

Replacing swollen decking during a Frederickson tear-off

Short answer

Frederickson is unincorporated Pierce County, where a straightforward reroof on a home steeper than 2:12 needs no building permit, but replacing sheathing is not exempt. Nobody can be sure of the decking until the old shingles come off, so the questions you ask before signing matter more than the shingle color.

Why sheathing changes the permit picture

Pierce County needs no building permit to reroof a home or garage steeper than 2:12 if coverings total 7.5 pounds per square foot or less. That covers most shingle-for-shingle jobs. The county specifically says replacing sheathing is not exempt.

Sheathing is the plywood or OSB the shingles are nailed to. If a leak has soaked part of it, or the boards swell and soften at the eaves, it has to come out. Once that happens, the job is no longer just a reroof under the county's wording.

We look from the attic before quoting to see stains, delamination or daylight at the eaves. That will not catch everything, so we also explain in writing how we handle decking found during the tear-off. Confirm current requirements with Pierce County.

Questions to ask any roofer before a Frederickson reroof

Ask whether they will look in the attic before quoting, and what they expect the decking to show. Ask how they price replacement sheets if more turn up during the tear-off, and whether they will stop and show you before replacing anything. A per-sheet price agreed in advance keeps that conversation simple.

Ask what underlayment goes down and where ice and water barrier goes, usually at the eaves, valleys and around penetrations. Ask how they handle attic ventilation, because a new roof over a poorly vented attic will age faster.

Finally, ask about cleanup. A reroof scatters nails across the yard and driveway, and a magnetic sweep should be part of the job. Our decking page explains plywood versus OSB and what soft spots look like.

Water-stained sheathing seen from the attic

Scheduling an open roof around the rain

Sea-Tac averages 39.34 inches of rain a year over about 156 days, and November is the wettest month. A tear-off that exposes damaged decking has to stay open long enough for new sheets to go down, and that window is shorter in wet weather.

Frederickson had 24,906 residents in 2020, and like its neighbors it has no city permit office. If a reroof here has to happen in the wet months, we open one section at a time and keep tarps ready so the house is never left exposed overnight.