In March 2025, one of the rainiest months of the year, Stanley Roof and Solar replaced the roof on Maureen’s home in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood of Portland, OR. The attic showed several leaks that had not reached the ceiling yet, so we replaced the roof right away, kept every open section dried in or tarped, and installed a complete Malarkey roofing system with breathable underlayment and a solar attic fan.
Project at a glance
- Location: Mt. Tabor, Portland, OR
- Completed: March 2025
- Service: roof replacement
- Shingles: Malarkey Vista AR, Natural Wood
- Underlayment: Malarkey 1040 Secure Start Permeable
- Ventilation: solar attic fan
About Mt. Tabor, Portland
Mt. Tabor is a Southeast Portland neighborhood named for Mt. Tabor Park, which sits on a volcanic cinder cone. The city acquired the park in 1909.
The challenge and how we solved it
The challenge: the roof was showing its age, and the attic inspection found several active leaks that had not shown up on the ceiling yet. The work had to happen in March. Many early-1900s Portland homes also have closed soffits, which leave little room to add intake ventilation.
The solution: the crew dried in each section as soon as the old roof came off and used tarps on areas that were not ready for underlayment or shingles yet. No additional water got into the home, and the attic dried out from below. Breathable underlayment and a solar attic fan help move moisture out of the attic going forward.
What we did
- Removed the old roof one section at a time.
- Dried in each section right away with Malarkey 1040 Secure Start Permeable underlayment and plastic cap nails, and tarped areas not ready for underlayment yet.
- Installed Malarkey 401 Arctic Seal and Smart Start starter shingles.
- Installed Malarkey Vista AR shingles in Natural Wood with EZ-Ridge hip and ridge caps, Lifetime Tool pipe flashings and a new bath vent.
- Added a solar attic fan to improve exhaust ventilation.
The finished project
What the homeowner said
Maureen F
Joe made it easy to go through the process of replacing our roof. He was thorough and honest and made us feel like were his only customer! I would recommend Stanley Roof and Solar to anyone who needs a new roof! He also replaced our gutters quickly and for a fair price!
Why these materials
Malarkey Vista AR shingles in Natural Wood. Vista AR has the same Class 4 hail impact rating and NEX rubberized asphalt as Vista, plus 3M copper granules that Malarkey says help prevent the black streaks caused by blue-green algae, backed by a 25-year algae warranty. Malarkey lists twice the rain seals of standard shingles and up to 130 mph enhanced wind warranty.
Malarkey 1040 Secure Start Permeable underlayment. Malarkey’s breathable synthetic underlayment. It is designed to keep water from getting into the roof while helping attic moisture escape, which matters on an older Portland home where closed soffits limit how much intake ventilation can be added.
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.
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 hip and ridge shingles. High-profile hip and ridge caps color matched to the field shingles. Malarkey rates them UL Class 4 for impact resistance and adds Scotchgard Protector for algae resistance.
Lifetime Tool pipe flashings and bath vents. Pipe penetrations are one of the most common leak points on a roof, so every plumbing vent got a new pipe flashing and the bathroom fan got a new roof vent.
Plastic cap nails for the underlayment. The underlayment is fastened with Stinger plastic cap nails instead of plain staples. The wide plastic cap holds the sheet flat and seals around the nail, so the deck stays dry if rain arrives before the shingles go on.
Solar-powered attic fan. The fan runs on its own small solar panel and pulls warm, damp air out of the attic, adding exhaust ventilation without new wiring.
Keeping your roof in good shape
- On older Portland homes with closed soffits, ask your roofer how the attic is vented before a reroof. Breathable underlayment and added exhaust vents help when intake vents are limited.
- 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.
- Clean the gutters at least twice a year, in spring and fall, and every 3 to 4 months under heavy tree cover. Clogged gutters overflow onto the fascia and eaves, which is how eave boards rot.
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. This Mt. Tabor roof was replaced in March 2025. The crew dried in each section as soon as it was torn off and tarped the rest, and no water got into the home.
A permeable underlayment keeps rain out but lets attic moisture escape. On this early-1900s home with closed soffits, it helps the attic dry out.
Yes. Stanley Roof and Solar is licensed in Oregon and replaced this roof in the Mt. Tabor neighborhood.
Malarkey Vista AR shingles in Natural Wood, with Malarkey EZ-Ridge hip and ridge caps.
Planning a roof project in Portland?
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 Portland, OR roofing services, learn about our roof replacement process, browse more Stanley Roof and Solar projects, or get a free estimate.