Historic Newport, KY, Home - Roof Replacement Project

Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 by Jack Purdon

Challenge

A homeowner on Overton Street in Newport, Kentucky, contacted us after their historic-style home began showing signs of roof failure. With two existing layers of shingles, multiple chimneys, a turret, and flat roof sections, the structure presented both challenges and risks. The homeowner wanted a roof system that would not only refresh the home’s look but also provide reliable, long-term protection against water intrusion.

Solution

We started by removing both layers of shingles down to the decking. In several areas, the original slat board decking had wide gaps that required reinforcement, so we installed 64 sheets of 3/8-inch plywood for a stable, uniform surface.

To ensure superior waterproofing, we installed:

KRS Sealoron XT Ice & Water Shield along the valleys, eaves, chimneys, and all on the turret for maximum protection.
MFM Roof Deck Tape across the seams.
KRS Velora One Synthetic Underlayment across the remaining roof surface.

The roof system was rebuilt with IKO Dynasty shingles in Granite Black, providing a bold finish and Class 3 impact resistance. Other key details included:

London Brown aluminum drip edge and rake trim for a sharp, seamless finish.
Perma-Boot pipe flashings and a Duroflo electric mast boot for sealed penetrations.
Step and apron flashing installed around chimneys and wall transitions.
Owens Corning VentSure ridge and intake vents for balanced ventilation.
IKO Leading Edge Plus starter strips and IKO Hip & Ridge shingles to finish the system.
82 linear feet of metal fascia trim and a metal ridge roll for added strength and polish.

One of the unique aspects of this project was addressing the home’s original box gutters. We relined the gutters with new EPDM rubber, running it up to 18 inches beneath the shingles to ensure a watertight seal and long-term performance.

In addition, a small flat rubber section of the roof was failing. We stripped it down to the wood decking, installed new fiberboard base sheets, and finished with fresh EPDM rubber roofing secured with termination bars at the eaves and rakes.

The finished system not only restored the historic character of this Newport home but also delivered modern protection designed to last. From the turret fully protected in Ice & Water Shield to the relined box gutters, reinforced decking, and complete shingle system, every layer was installed with durability in mind.

Backed by our 50-year no-leak warranty, the homeowner can feel confident knowing their Overton Street property is now equipped to handle storms and seasonal weather while looking sharp with its Granite Black shingles and London Brown trim accents.

This is what the finished product looks like. If you want to see how we got here, then be sure to scroll through the rest of the photos to better visualize the steps taken!

This is what the old roof looked like. This photo was taken upon the initial inspection.

The existing roofing system had two layers of shingles, which were worn out and trapping moisture beneath them. This photo was also taken upon the initial inspection.

This was what the decking looked like underneath the two layers of shingles. This was after we stripped the shingles off. You can see the large gaps in the decking system that created a risk for leaks and premature shingle failure.

This photo, taken from the same angle as the last, shows the wood overlay we installed. The overlay covers the gaps. We would later cover the seams between the overlay boards with our waterproof decking tape, as seen in the next photo.

The blue tape to the right of the photo shows the decking tape we applied over the seams of the overlay. After we taped the decking, we would then apply our two underlayments over the decking. The white underlayment is our Ice & Water shield, which was applied at all the most vulnerable spots in the roof.

We wrapped the turret with our Ice & Water shield as well. Our Ice & Water shield has a gooey substance backing, which allows us to adhere it straight onto the framing. This substance helped create a waterproof seal when we installed the shingles over the top of it.

You can see the tan underlayment from this photo from when we were installing the shingles over the top of the underlayments. Our tan underlayment is made of a synthetic felt, and was fastened to the decking system with buttons.

This photo gives a close up view of the shingle installation. These shingles are class 3 rated against wind & hail, partly due to their enhanced nailing zone called the ArmourZone. This thicker nailing zone ensures our galvanized nails are securely fastened, and it prevents ripping. These shingles are also infused with copper to prevent algae growth.

This picture shows a close up of the finished shingle system. We use the California method for the valleys because it creates a clean look, improves water flow, decreases installation time, and reduces potential leak points.

This is what the roof looked like before we started the project.

This is what the roof looked like after we finished the project. The Granite Black shade and the London Brown edge/trim color matches perfectly. This roof is protected against any installation errors that could lead to leaks for the next 50 years, in addition to all manufacturer warranties.