Roof Replacement & Skylight Replacement — Indianapolis, IN
Case Study Details
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Property Type: Residential
Products Used: Class 4 GAF Timberline UHD Shingles with Ultramat in Barkwood, full GAF accessories package, Velux skylights with flashing kits
Project Summary
When a storm rolls through Indianapolis while you’re out of town, the damage doesn’t wait for you to get home. That’s exactly what one Indianapolis homeowner experienced — and it’s a situation we see more often than most people expect. This project involved a full Indianapolis roof replacement, skylight replacement, roofline trim repair, and emergency roof tarping to stop active leaks before the full replacement could be completed.
The Challenge
Kim and her family returned home from vacation to a familiar but unsettling sight: patio furniture thrown around the yard, debris scattered across the property, and a general sense that something had gone wrong while they were away. A neighbor confirmed it — shingles had blown off the roof during the storm. Because of the peaks and valleys in the roofline, the damage wasn’t visible from the driveway. It took someone across the street to spot it.
Kim already knew the roof had some miles on it. At 15 years old with two layers of shingles, it had been on her radar. The storm just forced the decision sooner than expected. She called Moss Roofing to schedule an inspection and find out exactly where things stood.
What we found during that inspection went beyond missing shingles. The roof had more going on beneath the surface than was visible from the outside. That’s exactly why a professional inspection matters after any significant storm.
Our Solution
Our inspection revealed three significant problems:
Black Mold On The Decking.
Moisture had been working its way into the decking long enough to produce visible mold growth. This isn’t something you can patch over. It has to be addressed before any new materials go down.
Multiple Missing Shingles.
The storm had pulled shingles from several areas of the roof, leaving the home exposed to the elements. With active openings in the roof, every rainstorm was a potential interior water damage event.
A Gutter Drainage Problem Causing A Leak.
We identified a specific area where the gutters were directing water onto a section of loose shingles, creating a consistent leak path into the home. This kind of issue can cause significant interior damage over time if it goes undetected.
Given the age of the roof, the two-layer construction, the mold in the decking, and the scope of the shingle loss, a full roof replacement was the clear and honest recommendation. A repair in this situation would have been a short-term fix on a long-term problem.
We also recommended replacing the existing skylights and repairing sections of roofline trim that had begun to rot — work that made sense to handle as part of the same project rather than coming back to it later.
To protect Kim’s home right away, we sent out a repair technician to install emergency roof tarps over the areas with missing shingles. This stopped the leaks immediately and gave us the runway to schedule and complete the full replacement correctly, without rushing.
Materials Used
Process
The project began with a thorough inspection and insurance coordination to document all storm damage.
Once approvals were finalized, our crews started by addressing the damaged roof decking and rotted wood components. The flat roof section received complete restoration with new materials and proper waterproofing.
The main roof section took 2.5 days to complete, while the flat roof section required an additional day. The extended timeline reflects the increased thickness and precise installation specifications required for designer shingle systems, as well as the careful attention needed for the multiple roof planes and the home’s distinctive cupola feature.
Results & Benefits
Before the Replacement — Emergency Roof Tarping
Before we could get to the full replacement, we needed to stop the bleeding. Our repair technician installed temporary roof tarps over the areas with missing shingles as soon as the inspection was complete. Emergency roof tarping is a critical step after storm damage — it prevents additional water intrusion while you wait for a full repair or replacement to be scheduled. We don’t leave a home exposed any longer than necessary during our storm damage restorations.
Install Day — Day One
Our crew arrived at 6:30 AM on the first day of installation. Before any tear-off began, we set up full property protection — covering landscaping, protecting the foundation, and staging materials. We then verified material counts and inspected product quality before the job started.
From there, we moved into a complete tear-off of the existing two-layer roof, removed the damaged decking, addressed the mold, and began installing the new underlayments and shingles.
Install Day — Day Two
Because of the size and complexity of this roof, we carried the project into a second day to complete the shingle installation, replace the skylights, repair the roofline trim, and do a full property cleanup. No shortcuts, no rushed finish.
Results & Benefits
When Kim’s project was complete, her home had a brand-new, fully warrantied roof system — not a patched-up version of a 15-year-old problem. The Class 4 impact-resistant shingles give her better protection against future storm damage than the original roof ever provided. The new Velux skylights, properly flashed and installed, eliminated a chronic leak risk. The roofline trim is solid again. And the GAF Golden Pledge warranty means both the materials and the workmanship are covered for decades to come.
This is what it looks like when a storm damage roof replacement is done right — not just the visible parts, but everything underneath.
“We had estimates from 5 different companies and Moss stood out because of the customer service they offer. Our roof and skylight installation went very smoothly and we’re very pleased with the end result.”
— Kim C., Indianapolis, IN
Project Highlights
Key Specifications
Highlights
Special Features
Class 4 Impact-Resistant Shingles
The GAF Timberline UHD carries a Class 4 impact resistance rating under UL 2218 testing — the highest classification available for asphalt shingles. For Indianapolis homeowners, this matters. Indiana sees its share of hail events, and a Class 4 rated shingle is built to take that punishment better than a standard shingle. Some homeowners also see insurance premium discounts for upgrading to a Class 4 product. It’s worth asking your insurance provider about.
GAF Golden Pledge Warranty
Not every roofing contractor can offer the GAF Golden Pledge. It requires GAF factory certification, the use of a complete GAF accessories system, and a rigorous installation standard. When all of those boxes are checked, the homeowner gets lifetime coverage on the manufacturer’s materials and 30 years of workmanship coverage, backed not just by the contractor, but by GAF itself. That’s a meaningful level of protection.
Velux Skylight Replacement
Skylights don’t last forever, and failing skylights are one of the most common sources of roof leaks in older homes. Replacing them at the same time as the roof (with Velux units and properly installed flashing kits) is the smart move. Doing skylight replacements separately after a new roof is installed means cutting into new materials. Handling it all at once protects the investment and gets it done right the first time.
Emergency Roof Tarping After Storm Damage
If you’ve come home to storm damage and are missing shingles, don’t wait. Every day a roof is open to the elements is another opportunity for water to work its way into the decking, insulation, and interior of your home. Moss Roofing offers emergency roof tarping to stop damage from getting worse while a proper solution is put in place. It’s a small step that can prevent a much larger problem.
Project Gallery
Thinking About an Indianapolis Roof Replacement?
If your roof is 15 years or older, has visible damage, or you’ve recently been through a storm, the right first step is a professional inspection.
We’ll give you an honest assessment of what’s going on, what your options are, and what it will cost. No pressure, no runaround.
Financing is also available, making it possible to move forward with a quality replacement without waiting.
