This project started with an old, worn-out roof damaged in multiple areas. We completed a full tear-off and replaced it with a new CertainTeed Landmark Series roofing system. The transformation was tremendous — this roof is now not only beautiful, but truly stands out as a highlight in the neighborhood.
This Saratoga home came to us with an old roof that had simply reached the end of its service life. Shingle wear, granule loss, multiple areas of damage — the kind of roof where partial repairs have diminishing returns and the right move is a full tear-off and complete re-roof. The homeowner agreed, and we specified CertainTeed's Landmark Series architectural shingle as the replacement.
Landmark is CertainTeed's most popular residential architectural shingle for good reason: dimensional profile that looks like hand-split cedar shake from the street, Class A fire rating, lifetime limited warranty, wind rating to 110 mph, and StreakFighter algae-resistance technology. It's the workhorse of premium Bay Area shingle roofing — and on a Saratoga property this size, with the multi-wing roof line and complex valley system visible in the aerial shot, it's a material that holds up to close scrutiny from every angle.
The transformation was tremendous. What was an aging, damaged roof is now a clean, dimensional, visually striking installation that anchors the whole property. The aerial view is the payoff shot — the pool, the courtyard, the roof all reading as a single cohesive estate. Up close, the craftsmanship holds up: clean ridge lines, properly executed valley transitions, tight chimney flashing, color-matched vent boots, and every penetration sealed the right way. This is the kind of re-roof that becomes a neighborhood reference point — exactly what the homeowner was hoping for when they called us.
Our approach on a full re-roof is to treat the underlying assembly with the same care as the shingle you actually see. The shingle is the visible 10% of the roof system — the other 90% (deck, underlayment, flashings, starter course, ridge and valley detailing) is what actually determines whether the roof performs for 30+ years or needs rework in 10. On this Saratoga project, we specified the complete CertainTeed system to match the Landmark shingle: DiamondDeck synthetic underlayment across the entire deck, WinterGuard ice-and-water shield at eaves and valleys, color-matched pipe boots, new drip edge at all perimeters, and properly installed starter course.
Tear-off started with a full removal of the old shingle layer plus any damaged felt, down to the deck. Deck inspection was careful — any plywood showing rot, delamination, or prior-repair patches was replaced wholesale (visible in one of the in-progress photos where new fresh plywood sits next to existing deck). Saving partially-compromised decking to avoid a line item on the invoice is a false economy — the new roof is only as good as what's underneath it.
For the shingle installation: Landmark shingles installed course by course at proper reveal, with correct nail pattern for wind zone, offset seams, and careful alignment at every roof-plane transition. Valleys got special attention — the open metal valley shown in the detail photos is a deliberate choice for a roof with this volume of water shedding, since open metal valleys handle debris and flow better than closed-cut valleys on complex roof geometries. Ridge lines got Shadow Ridge hip-and-ridge shingles for a clean finished appearance. Chimney flashing was installed as proper step flashing with counter-flashing into the brick — not the caulk-heavy shortcuts that some installers use. Pipe boots and box vents were color-matched to the shingle field so they recede visually rather than standing out as obvious penetrations.
Full removal of the old shingle layer plus existing felt down to the plywood deck. Debris into the dumpster, not left on the roof. Once tear-off is complete we can actually see the deck — which is where any hidden damage from the failing roof typically lives.
Every sheet of decking inspected. Plywood showing rot, delamination, or prior-repair patches replaced wholesale with fresh 7/16" OSB or plywood to match. Visible in one of the in-progress photos — the fresh plywood panel next to the existing deck is the replacement work.
CertainTeed DiamondDeck synthetic underlayment across the entire deck — visible as the branded gray membrane in one of the in-progress shots. WinterGuard ice-and-water shield installed at all eaves, in valleys, and around penetrations. These layers are the actual waterproof plane; the shingle is the UV and wind-resistant layer on top.
New metal drip edge installed at all eaves and rakes. Starter course laid at the proper offset. Step flashing at chimneys and walls, properly integrated into the shingle courses rather than surface-applied. Counter-flashing into the brick chimney with fresh sealant bead. Visible valleys lined with metal for open-valley detailing.
Landmark Series shingles installed course by course at proper reveal. Correct nail pattern for the wind zone. Offset seams so the vertical joints don't telegraph across courses. Careful alignment at every roof-plane transition. Every shingle gets nailed into the proper nail strip — not high, not low — which is what the lifetime warranty requires.
Shadow Ridge hip-and-ridge shingles installed along all ridges for a clean finished profile. Pipe boots, box vents, and penetrations color-matched to the shingle field — they recede visually instead of announcing themselves. Final walk-through, punch-list cleanup, full magnetic sweep of the property for stray nails, and photo documentation for the homeowner's records.
CertainTeed's most popular architectural shingle — dimensional laminated profile with a natural wood-shake appearance, Class A fire rating, wind rating to 110 mph, and lifetime limited transferable warranty. The workhorse of premium Bay Area residential shingle roofing. Color carefully selected to complement the home's architectural character.
Modern synthetic underlayment installed across the entire deck — significantly stronger tear resistance and better water shedding than traditional 30-lb felt. Visible in one of the in-progress shots as the branded gray membrane. Rated for extended weather exposure during installation and holds up through years of attic temperature cycling.
Self-adhering membrane installed at all eaves, in valleys, and around penetrations. These are the most failure-prone areas of any shingle roof — WinterGuard creates a secondary waterproof plane at exactly the spots where a leak would otherwise start.
Any damaged, rotted, or previously-patched decking replaced wholesale with fresh sheathing to match the existing substrate thickness. Saving compromised decking is false economy — the new roof is only as good as what's underneath it, and the warranty assumes a sound substrate.
CertainTeed's matching hip-and-ridge shingle for Landmark roofs — same color palette, same dimensional profile, same warranty coverage. Installed along all ridges for a clean finished ridge line that matches the shingle field rather than breaking the visual continuity.
New metal drip edge at all eaves and rakes. Pipe boots, box vents, and penetration hardware specified in colors that match the shingle field so they recede visually. Step flashing at chimneys and walls, counter-flashed into the masonry. Every detail that a future leak could start at, handled up front.
The transformation was, as the client put it, tremendous. What was an old, worn-out, multi-area-damaged roof is now a clean, dimensional, high-performing Landmark Series installation that lifts the entire property. From the street, the warm color palette of Landmark plays against the stucco and the surrounding tree canopy. From the aerial view, the complex roof line now reads as an intentional architectural feature rather than a failing liability.
More importantly, the roof is built to last. A CertainTeed Landmark system installed to spec — with DiamondDeck underlayment, WinterGuard at the vulnerable areas, proper deck, clean flashing work, and properly executed ridge and valley detailing — delivers 30-50 years of real service life backed by the CertainTeed lifetime limited warranty. The homeowner has both the visible result and the documentation trail (product certifications, installation photos, warranty registration) that support long-term value and insurability. This is exactly the kind of re-roof that becomes a neighborhood reference point — the roof people notice when they drive by and start asking their own questions about when it's time for theirs.
Saratoga sits against the Santa Cruz Mountains on the western edge of Santa Clara County, with the combination of mature tree canopy, rolling hillside topography, and premium residential architecture that makes it one of the most distinctive communities in the South Bay. Much of Saratoga is classified within Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones or Wildland-Urban Interface overlays — Class A fire-rated roof assemblies are a code requirement, and Landmark Series meets that rating. The climate is warmer and drier than the rest of the valley in summer, with wind-driven winter rain that stresses roof edges and flashings.
The material context is also specific. Saratoga has one of the highest concentrations of CertainTeed Landmark, CertainTeed Presidential, GAF Grand Sequoia, and similar premium architectural shingle profiles anywhere in the South Bay — along with clay tile, concrete tile, standing-seam metal, and specialty materials. Residential re-roof work in Saratoga tends toward quality materials and careful installation rather than value-tier specifications, because the homes and the buyers in this market reward that spec level. Our Saratoga Fire Damage Repair project documents a Presidential tie-in in this same community — the two projects together demonstrate our range on CertainTeed residential shingle work in Saratoga.
The tree canopy creates ongoing roof-maintenance considerations for most Saratoga properties. Mature oaks, redwoods, and ornamentals drop substantial debris across the year, and roof edges, valleys, and flashings in Saratoga work harder than they do in flatter valley neighborhoods. The case for a premium shingle system (proper underlayment, ice-and-water at valleys, properly fabricated flashings, quality ridge-and-valley detailing) is stronger in Saratoga than it is in most of the South Bay — which is why we specify full-system CertainTeed assemblies rather than mixed components on Saratoga re-roofs. The lifetime warranty is only as strong as the weakest component, and Saratoga properties demand that every component hold up.
Specialty fire damage repair with seamless CertainTeed Presidential shingle tie-in, plus new gutter installation and full gutter cleaning. The partial-repair counterpart to this full tear-off project — same Saratoga market, different scope.
2025 residential shingle replacement in historic Willow Glen — architectural shingles, new flashing throughout, and upgraded underlayment.
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