I’ve worked as a residential roofing contractor in murfreesboro for a little over ten years now, long enough that I can usually tell what’s going on with a roof before I even climb the ladder. The way shingles curl after a humid summer, the soft spots that show up after a wet winter, the shortcuts taken by crews who were trying to shave a few hours off a job — those things leave patterns. Murfreesboro homes have their own rhythm, and roofing here rewards experience more than flashy promises.
I didn’t always understand that. Early in my career, I thought good roofing was mostly about materials. Pick the right shingle, install it by the book, and move on. It didn’t take long to realize the book doesn’t always account for Middle Tennessee weather, older roof decks, or the way builder-grade ventilation was handled in a lot of neighborhoods. A roof that looks perfect on install day can start failing quietly within a few years if those realities aren’t addressed.
One job that stuck with me was a house off a quiet subdivision road where the homeowner complained about stains showing up on a bedroom ceiling. Two other contractors had already been out and blamed “old shingles.” When I got up there, the shingles were tired, sure, but the real issue was the flashing around a small roof-to-wall transition. It had been reused during a previous replacement. That saved someone time years earlier, but it cost this homeowner several thousand dollars in repairs and interior work. Since then, I don’t reuse flashing unless I’d be willing to put my own name on the ceiling below it.
That’s one of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners make when choosing a roofer: assuming all replacements are roughly the same. They’re not. A crew can tear off and lay new shingles quickly, but the details — drip edge alignment, flashing integration, ventilation balance — decide whether that roof lasts fifteen years or struggles by year seven. I’ve repaired plenty of “new” roofs that failed early because corners were cut where the homeowner couldn’t see them.
Another common situation I run into is storm-related urgency. After a rough spring storm, calls pour in. I remember one homeowner last spring who was ready to sign with the first company that knocked on the door because water was actively dripping near a window. We slowed things down just enough to tarp properly and diagnose the problem. The damage turned out to be localized, not a full replacement. I’ve never believed in selling a new roof just because someone is scared — and yes, I’ve advised people not to replace when repair made more sense. A good contractor should be comfortable walking away from a bigger sale if it’s not justified.
Murfreesboro homes also vary a lot in age, and that affects how I approach each job. Older houses often have decking that’s been through multiple roof cycles. You can feel it underfoot. Newer builds may look clean but hide ventilation issues that trap heat and shorten shingle life. I’ve seen brand-new roofs bake themselves prematurely because the attic couldn’t breathe. Those aren’t things you fix with a brochure; you fix them by knowing what you’re looking at and being honest about it.
If I sound opinionated, it’s because roofing is expensive, and homeowners live with the results long after the crew leaves. I recommend contractors who take time during inspections, explain what they’re seeing without jargon, and aren’t afraid to say, “This part worries me.” I advise against anyone who gives a price without getting on the roof or who talks more about speed than process. Fast isn’t a virtue if it comes at the cost of durability.
After years of climbing roofs in Murfreesboro heat, patching leaks after storms, and standing behind my work long after final payment, I’ve learned that good roofing isn’t about selling confidence — it’s about earning it quietly, one decision at a time.