In October 2026, Stanley Roof and Solar replaced the roof on Julia’s newly purchased home in the Longview Heights area of Longview, WA. The home inspection had graded the roof as good, but it was leaking in several places and the attic had broken trusses, so we made the repairs a structural engineer specified and installed a complete Malarkey roofing system with Malarkey Vista AR shingles in Silverwood during the rainy season.
Project at a glance
- Location: Longview Heights, Longview, WA
- Completed: October 2026
- Service: roof replacement
- Shingles: Malarkey Vista AR, Silverwood
- Roof pitch: 12/12 (45 degrees)
- Repairs: 4 sheets of plywood, engineer-specified truss gussets
About the area
Longview is the largest city in Cowlitz County, Washington, at the junction of the Cowlitz and Columbia Rivers.
The challenge and how we solved it
The challenge: Julia bought the home after a real estate inspection graded the roof as good with 5 to 10 years left. In reality it had needed replacing 2 to 3 years earlier. The roof was leaking in several places, and the attic had broken trusses that a structural engineer had to approve repairs for. The work had to happen right away, in the rainy season, on a 12/12 roof.
The solution: the crew removed the roof one section at a time and covered each section right away with Malarkey 1031 Secure Start Plus underlayment and Stinger plastic cap nails, so the inside of the home stayed dry. They opened the decking around the broken trusses so gussets could be installed exactly as the engineer specified, then rebuilt the deck and installed the new roof.
What we did
- Removed the old roof one section at a time and covered each section right away with Malarkey 1031 Secure Start Plus underlayment and plastic cap nails.
- Removed plywood around the broken trusses so gussets could be installed as the structural engineer specified.
- Replaced 4 sheets of rotted plywood.
- Installed Malarkey 401 Arctic Seal and Smart Start starter shingles.
- Installed Malarkey Vista AR shingles in Silverwood with EZ-Ridge hip and ridge caps, Lifetime Tool pipe flashings and a new bath vent.
- Added a solar attic fan to improve attic ventilation.
The finished project
What the homeowner said
Julia S.
We’re so thankful we chose Stanley Roof and Solar. The communication was outstanding from start to finish, from the initial quote to scheduling to the crew and foreman who did the work. Every one of my questions was answered clearly and thoroughly. We had a challenging job getting roofing contractors to bid the job for a replacement with all the rain we’ve been having. The new roof looks absolutely incredible! Knowing we went with a Premium Malarkey contractor gives us peace of mind and great confidence in the roof, the craftsmanship, and the warranty backing the work.
Thank you, Stanley Roof and Solar!
Why these materials
Malarkey Vista AR shingles in Silverwood. 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 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.
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
- Don’t rely on a home inspection alone for the roof. This inspection graded the roof as good with years left, but the attic showed leaks and broken trusses. A roofer’s attic check before closing can catch that.
- 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. On this Longview home the inspection graded the roof as good with 5 to 10 years left, but it was leaking and had broken trusses in the attic.
Yes. This 12/12 Longview roof was replaced in October 2026. Each section was covered with underlayment as soon as it was torn off, which kept the house dry.
They need a repair plan. On this job a structural engineer specified gussets, and the crew opened the decking so they could be installed before the new roof went on.
Yes. Stanley Roof and Solar replaced this roof in the Longview Heights area of Longview in October 2026.
Planning a roof project in Longview?
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 Longview, WA roofing services, learn about our roof replacement process, browse more Stanley Roof and Solar projects, or get a free estimate.