A Roofer Who Will Make the Drive to Lapeer
Let’s get the obvious part out of the way. Rock Solid Exteriors is based on Hayes Road in Clinton Township, and Lapeer is not next door. Depending on where you are in the county, it is roughly 50 miles and about an hour behind the wheel for our crews. We still take roofing work in the City of Lapeer and the townships around it, and we think you should know how that distance affects your project before you call us, not after.
The short version: a full roof replacement is exactly the kind of job that makes the trip worthwhile. We bring a full crew, a dumpster and all of the material on the first morning, and we plan the day so the tear-off and dry-in happen before anyone packs up. Small, one-shingle repairs are a different story, and we cover that honestly further down this page.
What Roofs in Lapeer County Are Up Against
Lapeer is the county seat. The city was platted in 1833 and incorporated in 1869, and it sits on the Flint River with M-24 running through town and I-69 just to the south. Step outside the city limits and the picture changes fast: in the 2020 census, about 86 percent of Lapeer County residents lived in areas classified as rural. That rural setting is the single biggest thing we think about when we look at a roof out here.
- Open exposure. A house surrounded by fields or a long, open lot takes wind straight on, with no neighboring rooftops or mature subdivision trees to break it up. Shingle edges, ridge caps and starter strips have to be fastened correctly, because that is where wind gets its first grip.
- Older, steeper farmhouse roofs. Many older rural homes have steep main roofs, lower-pitch porch roofs and additions that were built at different times. Every place those roof planes meet is a place that needs proper flashing and valley work.
- Layers from past re-roofs. On older homes it is common to find more than one layer of shingles. We tear off to the deck so we can see the boards underneath, rather than trapping old problems under new material.
- Ice along the eaves. Older homes with little attic insulation lose heat into the roof, which melts snow that refreezes at the cold overhang. Ice and water shield at the eaves helps, but fixing the attic is what actually stops the cycle.
Roofing Options We Install
Architectural asphalt shingles
Architectural asphalt shingles are the most common choice for homes like these because of their price and range of colors. As an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, we install complete Owens Corning systems, meaning underlayment, starter, hip and ridge and ventilation components that are designed to work together, not just the shingle on top. We also install CertainTeed products. You can compare colors and profiles on our asphalt shingles page or preview them on your own house with the Roof Visualizer.
Metal roofing
Metal is worth a serious look on an exposed rural property. Both standing seam metal and metal shingles shed snow well and hold up to wind when they are installed correctly. If you have a detached garage or a pole barn on the property, bring it up at the estimate. Whether it makes sense to re-roof it at the same time, and with what material, depends on the building, and we can look at it together while we are already there.
Ventilation and Insulation Come First on Older Homes
When we inspect an older farmhouse or an early 20th-century home near downtown Lapeer, we spend as much time thinking about the attic as the shingles. A roof that bakes in summer and melts snow in winter wears out early, no matter how good the shingle is. We look at intake at the soffits, exhaust at the ridge, and how much insulation is actually on the attic floor. If it makes sense, we can handle roof ventilation and attic insulation as part of the same project so you are not paying for two separate trips.
How the Distance Changes the Way We Schedule
Being an hour away is not a reason to do the job differently, but it does change the logistics. Here is what we do about it:
- One visit for the estimate. Your estimator will measure, look in the attic if it is accessible, photograph problem areas and go over materials in a single trip, so you are not waiting on a second appointment just to get a number.
- Material on day one. Everything we expect to need, including extra decking, arrives with the crew. We would rather haul a few sheets back to the shop than stop work for a supply run.
- Weather calls made early. With an hour on the road, we make the weather call before the crew heads out, not after they arrive. We will not tear off a roof we cannot close the same day.
- Cleanup before we leave. We run magnets across the yard and driveway at the end of the job. On a rural lot with gravel drives and pasture, finding stray nails matters even more.
Straight Talk About Small Roof Repairs
If you have a leak around a vent pipe or a handful of shingles blew off, call us and describe it. Sometimes we can schedule a repair on a day we are already working in the area, and roof repair is something we do. Other times, a two-hour fix does not justify two hours of driving, and a roofer closer to Lapeer may be able to get to you faster. We would rather tell you that on the phone than leave you waiting.
Permits in the City and the Townships
Who handles your permit depends on where the house is. The City of Lapeer runs its own Building Department and asks contractors working in the city to be registered, with permits submitted online. Lapeer Township’s website directs building permits to the Construction Code Authority on Suncrest Drive in Lapeer. Other townships have their own arrangements. You do not need to sort that out yourself: we pull the permits your city or township requires and schedule the inspections.
What Customers Say About Our Roof Crews
We do not have Lapeer reviews to show you yet, so here is what two recent roofing customers wrote on Google about the process:
Levi was very thorough in presenting our options and helping us find the right roof. The communication was excellent at every step, we knew exactly what to expect and when.
Jon B., Google review
Replaced whole roof in one day including some wood repairs. Also replaced the gutters the next day.
Z N., Google review
We have been installing roofs in southeast Michigan since 1997 and hold a 4.4-star rating across roughly 500 Google reviews. Financing is available on approved credit through our financing page, veterans receive a 10 percent discount, and you can read about manufacturer coverage on our warranties page.
Lapeer Roofing Questions
Do you really work in Lapeer if you’re based in Clinton Township?
Yes. We take roof replacements in the City of Lapeer and surrounding Lapeer County townships. It is about an hour’s drive for our crews, so we plan full-day jobs carefully and bring all material on the first day.
Will you come out for a small roof repair in Lapeer County?
Sometimes. Call and describe the problem. If we can pair it with other work in the area we will, but for a very small repair a closer roofer may be able to help you sooner, and we will tell you that honestly.
Should I put a metal roof on my farmhouse?
It depends on the roof shape, your budget and how long you plan to stay. Metal sheds snow and handles wind well on exposed lots. Architectural shingles cost less up front. We will price both so you can compare.
Who pulls the roofing permit in Lapeer?
We do. The City of Lapeer has its own Building Department, while townships such as Lapeer Township use the Construction Code Authority. We handle the permit and inspections either way.
Get a Free Roof Estimate in Lapeer
If your roof is showing its age, call us at (844) 757-6543 or request an estimate online. Tell us your road and township when you reach out so we can plan the visit. You can also see other areas we cover on our areas served page or visit our main roofing page.
