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The Catch-All Roofing System

A documented 21-point process that catches every installation detail — the difference between a roof that lasts 30 years and one that fails in 10.

Most roofing failures aren't material failures — they're installation failures. Missing ice-and-water shield at a valley. A pipe boot reused instead of replaced. Nails driven too high or too low. The Catch-All system is Northern Forge's documented answer to every shortcut that causes callbacks five years later.

Luis developed this process after seeing what happens when roofs installed by other contractors fail prematurely. Every step is verified on every job — because the owner is on site every day.

The 21-Point Installation Checklist

Every item below is verified on every Northern Forge roof replacement. Checked by Luis personally.

Deck & Substrate

  • Full deck inspection — rot, delamination, soft spots
  • Damaged decking replaced before any material installed
  • All nail pops driven flush or replaced

Water Management

  • Metal drip edge at eaves (before underlayment)
  • Ice-and-water shield at eaves — 24" inside exterior wall minimum
  • Ice-and-water shield in all valleys
  • Ice-and-water shield around all penetrations
  • Synthetic underlayment full coverage (not felt paper)
  • Metal drip edge at rakes (over underlayment)

Valleys & Flashings

  • Valley treatment per manufacturer spec
  • Step flashing at all wall-roof intersections — interwoven course by course
  • Pipe boot flashings replaced (never reused)
  • Chimney flashing inspected; replaced if needed
  • Skylight flashing properly integrated

Shingle Installation

  • Purpose-made starter strip at eaves and rakes
  • Shingles nailed in the correct nailing zone
  • Nail count per shingle per manufacturer spec
  • Purpose-made ridge cap shingles (not cut 3-tabs)

Ventilation & Final

  • Balanced intake and exhaust ventilation verified
  • No mixed vent types (ridge + box vents on same plane)
  • Full job site cleanup — magnet roll for nails

Why Most Roofs Fail Early

Insurance-funded replacements are where shortcuts are most common. A storm creates high demand, and contractors who prioritize volume over quality skip steps to get to the next job faster. Here's what gets skipped most often — and what it costs homeowners:

Reused pipe boots — neoprene cracks within 5–7 years. A $15 boot replacement at install time prevents a $500+ leak repair later.
Missing ice-and-water shield at valleys — the first major ice dam melt pushes water up under the shingles and into the deck. Showing up as a leak 18 months later.
High-nailing — nails driven above the nailing zone miss the reinforced strip and hold roughly half as well. Wind uplift failures follow.
Cut-tab ridge cap — 3-tab shingles cut for ridge cap have no sealant strip on the folded edge. They lift, gap, and let water in.
Unbalanced ventilation — more exhaust than intake creates negative pressure, pulling conditioned air through the attic floor. Higher energy bills and moisture in the deck follow.

Insurance-Covered Replacements

The Catch-All system is the standard on every Northern Forge job — regardless of whether it's insurance-funded or out-of-pocket. Insurance approval doesn't lower installation standards here.

Storm Damage Process →

HOA Communities

The documented checklist and photo record we provide satisfies most HOA board documentation requirements. We'll provide the written summary your property manager needs.

HOA Services →

Public Adjusters

Our detailed pre-install documentation — deck condition, existing flashing state, penetration inventory — gives adjusters the evidence they need for complete claims.

Adjuster Partnership →

Catch-All System FAQs

Every installation step is documented — not as marketing, but because the owner is on every job and checks each step. Most callbacks and early failures trace to skipped steps. The Catch-All system eliminates those shortcuts by making each item an explicit checkpoint, not an assumption.

Yes. We photograph key steps — deck condition before and after any replacement, ice-and-water shield coverage, flashing details, and final ridge cap. This documentation is included in your project file and is available for insurance carriers or future buyers.

Yes — and this is exactly where it matters most. Insurance-funded replacements attract the most cut-rate work because crews are rushing to maximize volume during storm season. The Catch-All system is the standard on every job regardless of how it's being paid for.

The materials — proper starter strip, pipe boots, ridge cap shingles — add modest cost versus cutting corners. The time cost is real too: a meticulous install takes longer than a rushed one. But you're paying for a 30-year roof, not a 12-year one that looks the same from the curb.

Manufacturer warranty on materials (lifetime limited on most architectural shingles) plus Luis's workmanship warranty. The exact terms are spelled out in your written estimate before any work begins.

See the System in Action — Free 21-Point Inspection

Luis will walk your roof, document what he finds, and show you exactly what needs to be done. No sales pressure. No obligation.

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