In early 2024, Stanley Roof and Solar replaced the roof on J & M’s remodeled home in the Amboy area of Yacolt, WA after a leak turned out to have been hidden for years. Spray foam insulation in the rafter bays had trapped water against the framing and rotted the roof deck and framing members, so the repair could not wait for spring. Our crew worked for about a week under tarps to remove the foam, replace the rotted wood and install a full Malarkey roofing system.
Project at a glance
- Location: Amboy, Yacolt, WA
- Completed: February 2024
- Service: roof replacement
- Shingles: Malarkey Vista, Midnight Black
- Hip and ridge: Malarkey EZ-Ridge XT
- Warranty: Malarkey Pro warranty
About Amboy, Yacolt
Amboy and Yacolt are in rural north Clark County, Washington. Moulton Falls Regional Park, which has a Yacolt address, sits where Big Tree Creek meets the East Fork of the Lewis River.
The challenge and how we solved it
The challenge: the homeowners had lived in their newly remodeled home for a couple of years when the roof started leaking, and once it was opened up it was clear the leak had been going on for many years. Spray foam insulation installed by a previous owner had held the water against the framing, rotting the roof deck and framing members. The roof also had ventilation problems, and the repair could not wait for spring.
The solution: the crew worked for about a week under tarps and makeshift awnings to strip out the spray foam, replace the rotted wood, add support for the enlarged overhangs and re-sheet the roof with new ½-inch CDX 5-ply structural plywood, then installed new ventilation and a full Malarkey roofing system.
What we did
- Set up tarps and makeshift awnings so the crew could work through the winter weather.
- Removed the spray foam insulation and replaced all of the rotted wood.
- Built additional support for the enlarged overhangs.
- Re-sheeted the roof with new ½-inch CDX 5-ply structural plywood.
- Installed Malarkey 1031 Secure Start Plus underlayment with cap nails and sealed every roof penetration with Malarkey 401 Arctic Seal.
- Installed Malarkey SmartStart starter shingles and Malarkey Vista shingles in Midnight Black.
- Finished the hips, ridges and rake edges with Malarkey EZ-Ridge XT, and installed new ventilation, Lifetime Tool pipe flashings and a Lifetime Tool bath vent.
The finished project
Using this many components of the Malarkey roof system made the homeowners eligible for the Malarkey Pro warranty.
What the homeowners said
Finding a roof leak in the middle of winter is every homeowner’s worst nightmare, but hiring Stanley Roof and Solar was the best decision we could have made. My wife and I interviewed 4 other roofing/construction companies about this problem but the decision was made early on, we were probably going with Stanley.
The crew from Stanley Roof and Solar blew us away. The guys worked tirelessly for about a week straight under tarps and makeshift awnings to strip out the spray foam, replace all the rotten wood, and even build additional structural support for our enlarged overhangs. They fixed our underlying ventilation issues and resheeted the entire roof with solid ½” CDX 5-ply structural plywood.
Despite the brutal winter weather and extensive hidden structural damage, the crew handled everything with complete professionalism, craftsmanship, and care. We finally have peace of mind knowing our home is rock-solid, properly ventilated, and looks brand new.
To anyone considering a roofing contractor, and you need a roofing team that won’t back down from a tough job and does things the right way, these are your guys!
— J & M, Amboy, Yacolt, WA
Why these materials
Malarkey Vista shingles in Midnight Black. Malarkey gives Vista a Class 4 hail impact rating, the highest possible, and a Class A fire rating. The shingles are made with NEX polymer modified (rubberized) asphalt, which includes polymers from upcycled tires and plastic bags; Malarkey estimates an average 30-square roof diverts about 5 tires and 3,200 plastic bags from the landfill. Vista carries a 110 mph standard wind warranty and up to 130 mph enhanced wind warranty.
½-inch CDX 5-ply structural plywood. The whole roof was re-sheeted with new structural plywood, giving the new shingles a solid deck after the rotted wood came out.
Malarkey 1031 Secure Start Plus underlayment. A five-layer synthetic underlayment with an anti-skid surface that holds it in place. Malarkey says its polypropylene layer helps resist water penetration and that it is up to 3 times lighter than conventional felt paper.
Malarkey 401 Arctic Seal. A waterproof, self-adhering underlayment that Malarkey makes for the areas of a roof most likely to leak. Its self-sealing sheet protects against leaks around nails. Here it was used to seal every roof penetration.
Malarkey Smart Start starter shingles. Made with NEX rubberized asphalt, with rubberized adhesive bonds that Malarkey says give extra seal-down and wind protection at the eave and rake edges, where wind usually gets under a roof first.
Malarkey EZ-Ridge XT hip and ridge shingles. EZ-Ridge XT is the 10-inch, high-profile version of EZ-Ridge, made for added roof dimension. Malarkey rates EZ-Ridge UL Class 4 for impact resistance and adds Scotchgard Protector for algae resistance. On this roof it also finishes the rake edges.
Lifetime Tool pipe flashings and bath vent. Pipe penetrations are one of the most common leak points on a roof, so every plumbing vent got a new pipe flashing.
Keeping your roof in good shape
- Never trap moisture against the roof deck. Spray foam applied directly to the underside of the sheathing is what hid this leak for years, so talk to a roofer before adding insulation in the rafter bays.
- Watch for moss. Damp, shaded roofs in the Pacific Northwest grow it fast, and moss holds water against the shingles. A roof maintenance visit can treat it before it lifts the shingle edges.
- Clear fir needles and leaves out of the valleys and off the roof after fall windstorms, so rain can run off instead of pooling behind the debris.
- Look the roof over from the ground after big wind or rain events. The National Weather Service Portland office issues wind and storm warnings for Clark County and the Portland metro, and missing or lifted shingles should be checked before the next storm.
- Keep the attic vents clear. Insulation or stored items blocking the intake vents cuts off the airflow that keeps the attic dry.
- Never pressure wash the shingles. It strips the protective granules off the surface.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Stanley Roof and Solar replaced this roof near Amboy in Yacolt in February 2024, working under tarps through winter weather because the damage could not wait for spring.
Yes. On this Yacolt home, spray foam installed in the rafter bays held water against the framing for years, rotting the roof deck and framing before the leak showed inside.
Yes. The crew set up tarps and makeshift awnings and worked for about a week to remove the foam, replace the rotted wood and install the new roof.
Using this many components of the Malarkey roof system made the homeowners eligible for the Malarkey Pro warranty.
Planning a roof project in Yacolt?
Stanley Roof and Solar inspects roofs across Clark County and the Portland metro and tells you honestly whether you need a repair or a replacement. See our Clark County, WA roofing services, learn about our roof replacement process, see our emergency roofing services, browse more Stanley Roof and Solar projects, or get a free estimate.