Answer Center
These answers come from Ask Zello Roofing’s real-world installation practices, warranties, and the roofs we inspect for homeowners throughout Central Virginia — not a generic roofing FAQ.
If you need a roof replacement, a free inspection, or you just want a straight answer before you call, start here. Jump a section, or read it through.
At Ask Zello Roofing, we use planning examples — not a guaranteed online price. A typical 20-square roof currently runs about $9,750; 25 squares about $12,187; 30 squares about $14,625.
Those numbers are current planning examples for discussion. Your house can come in lower or higher once we measure pitch, layers, access, and the details you cannot see from the street. We do not sell an instant-price quote from a form.
One roofing square equals 100 square feet of roof surface — not 100 square feet of the house footprint.
A 2,000-square-foot home is not automatically a 20-square roof. Pitch, hips, valleys, and overhangs add surface. We measure the roof, not the tax record.
Actual price depends on roof size, pitch, number of stories, complexity, extra existing layers, damaged decking, chimney and flashing work, shingle and material selection, access, and skylights.
We write those items on the estimate so you can see what you are paying for. A steep, cut-up roof with two layers is not the same job as a simple ranch.
No. We do not offer an online instant-price guarantee.
A form cannot see soft deck, a second layer, or a chimney that needs counterflashing. We inspect, then we price.
Most Ask Zello estimates require about a 50% deposit, with the balance due at completion.
We work with customers, and exceptions can occur. Talk to us if the timing of payment is the issue — do not assume the job cannot be scheduled.
Yes. Financing is available.
We do not publish fixed rates here because lender programs change. Ask at the estimate and we will point you to the current option.
Yes. We accept credit cards and personal checks.
Yes. Ask Zello provides free roof inspections and estimates.
That includes storm-damage inspections. You are not buying a sales appointment.
A typical inspection and estimate appointment takes about one hour.
Bigger or more cut-up roofs can run longer. We are not rushing the attic hatch to hit a clock.
We normally get on the roof, inspect the roofing system, look in the attic when it is accessible and appropriate, photograph identified problems, explain the findings, and normally provide an estimate the same day.
If you want the longer version of how we decide repair versus replacement, that conversation happens on the roof — not from the driveway.
Roof age is one of the first things we consider. An isolated problem such as a deteriorated pipe boot may only need a repair.
When an older roof starts failing in several places or shedding shingles, that can mean it is reaching the end of its useful service life. We do not want homeowners paying over and over to patch a roof that is already spent.
Ask Zello is primarily a roof replacement company.
If an inspection shows that only a minor repair is needed, we say so. If we do not currently have repair personnel available for a small repair, we are upfront rather than selling a replacement you do not need.
No. Ask Zello has never installed 3-tab shingles and does not recommend them for our replacement systems.
In our experience, many 3-tab roofs last roughly 15 years, and poorly installed or builder-grade systems can fail substantially earlier. That is Ask Zello field experience on the roofs we inspect — not a manufacturer warranty statement.
Our standard installation is a full tear-off to the deck, a deck inspection, synthetic roof-deck protection, ice-and-water protection at the vulnerable areas, GAF starter, GAF Timberline HDZ shingles, ridge cap, ridge ventilation where appropriate, new pipe boots with rain collars, flashing work as needed, and a thorough cleanup.
We tarp and protect the perimeter and vulnerable property as appropriate. We haul away the old roofing and normal unusable roofing debris. Standard tear-off and disposal are included in the quoted price.
No. Ask Zello does not install new shingles over old shingles.
We tear the existing roofing down to the roof decking. A layover is a second roof you pay for twice.
We inspect the decking after tear-off and replace damaged OSB as needed. Two sheets of replacement OSB are included in a standard estimate at no additional charge.
If we find extensive decking damage, we show you the damage and discuss the additional work and cost before we do a large unexpected decking replacement.
Additional OSB is currently about $70 per sheet installed, including material and labor. That $70 figure is current pricing and is subject to change.
OSB is the standard replacement decking material we use because it is standard in our service area and generally matches existing decking.
We install ice-and-water protection at eaves, valleys, and other vulnerable areas.
Ask Zello also uses full-deck ice-and-water protection on 2:12 and 3:12 asphalt-shingle slopes as our installation practice. We do not say a 4:12 roof needs full-deck ice-and-water solely because of pitch.
Our crews typically use 6–8 nails per shingle.
That is our nailing practice. It is not a claim that 6–8 nails are what qualifies a roof for GAF WindProven coverage. WindProven eligibility depends on GAF’s required shingles and accessories, installed to GAF’s requirements.
On a full replacement we install GAF Seal-A-Ridge ridge cap and GAF Snow Country ridge ventilation where appropriate. We replace plumbing vent pipe boots and add rain collars to protect the area that tends to UV and dry-rot deterioration.
We include Ask Zello’s lifetime pipe-boot warranty. That does not mean the physical boot can literally never fail — it means we stand behind the boot work under our warranty terms.
We inspect flashing around chimneys, walls, dormers, and penetrations. We reuse sound flashing where it is appropriate, and we replace damaged, deteriorated, or improperly installed flashing as needed, including step flashing and counterflashing when needed.
Yes. We clean the property thoroughly, run multiple magnetic sweeps plus visual and manual nail pickup, and haul away old roofing materials and normal unusable roofing debris.
Our goal when we leave is for you to never know we were there — other than the gorgeous new roof protecting your home.
Timberline HDZ is GAF’s #1-selling shingle. If you are asking about North America, that #1-selling statement is GAF’s, not an independent market-share study we commissioned.
We have installed hundreds of GAF roofing systems, and customers overwhelmingly choose GAF. We only install qualifying GAF systems and register the Silver Pledge on the systems that qualify.
Every installation has an experienced crew leader on the jobsite. Tim, Luke, or Jordan also visits the project during installation.
We do not claim that Tim, Luke, or Jordan routinely does a final rooftop inspection. After completion, Tim, Luke, or Jordan does a ground-level property and final cleanup inspection.
We consider the project complete when, to the best of our ability, there has been proper installation, thorough cleanup, and customer satisfaction.
We remove all existing layers to the decking.
If a roof has two or three layers, additional labor, hauling, fuel, and disposal costs may apply. We put that on the estimate when we know it, and we tell you if tear-off confirms another layer.
If tear-off shows improper previous flashing, decking, ventilation, or repairs, we correct the roofing issue where it is appropriate.
Significant unexpected additional work may cost extra. We explain that to the homeowner before we treat it as a surprise line on the invoice.
Yes. We replace roofs throughout the year, including winter, as long as the roof is dry and conditions permit safe, correct installation.
Winter is often one of our busiest seasons after spring. Central Virginia does not shut roofing down because the calendar says January.
Central Virginia rainstorms can develop quickly. We monitor forecasts and radar closely before and throughout installation.
If there is a significant chance of rain, we may postpone tear-off. Even when the chance is small, crews keep tarps available for temporary weather protection. On larger roofs where weather is a concern, the crew can tear off and replace sections progressively rather than opening the entire roof.
More than 90% of Ask Zello full roof replacements are completed in one day.
That is not a guarantee every roof finishes in one day. Size, complexity, weather, and hidden decking can add time.
From a signed contract, material delivery and installation are commonly coordinated within about 1–2 weeks, subject to weather, material availability, and scheduling.
Materials are commonly rooftop-delivered. Keep the driveway clear for delivery and work vehicles.
No. Homeowners do not need to remain home during installation.
In fact, we often recommend being away because roof replacement is loud.
Ask Zello is a GAF Certified Plus contractor. Certified Plus contractors are eligible to offer qualifying GAF enhanced warranties, including the Silver Pledge Limited Warranty, on the qualifying GAF systems we install.
Separately, Ask Zello provides its own 10-year no-leak workmanship warranty. GAF’s terms and our terms are not the same document. Read both.
For qualifying Timberline HDZ Silver Pledge systems, GAF lists Lifetime Limited manufacturing-defect coverage. For qualifying single-family detached residences owned by individuals, the current Silver Pledge terms provide a 50-year Smart Choice non-prorated period for Timberline HDZ manufacturing-defect coverage.
The current Silver Pledge also provides 10-year coverage for qualifying application errors — misapplication — on Timberline HDZ systems. That is Silver Pledge misapplication coverage, not a casual “10-year GAF workmanship warranty” nickname.
Ask Zello separately provides its own 10-year no-leak workmanship warranty.
That warranty may be transferred once if the home is sold during the first 10 years, according to Ask Zello’s warranty terms. That is our transfer rule — not GAF’s.
The GAF Silver Pledge may currently be transferred once. The second owner must satisfy GAF’s transfer requirements.
Under the current GAF terms, when properly transferred within the first 20 years, the second owner receives the same coverage as the original owner. GAF currently requires notification within one year after property transfer. We do not mix Ask Zello’s transfer rules and GAF’s transfer rules into one sentence.
For qualifying installations, GAF currently provides a 15-year WindProven Limited Wind Warranty with no maximum wind-speed limitation.
Eligibility requires qualifying LayerLock shingles and the required GAF roofing-system accessories, installed according to GAF requirements. Our 6–8 nail practice is not what qualifies the roof for WindProven.
GAF warranty eligibility, terms, exclusions, and transfer requirements are governed by the applicable GAF warranty documents and may change.
We register qualifying systems. The printed GAF documents control, not a paraphrase on a website.
Yes. Ask Zello offers free storm-damage roof inspections. We can photograph and document roofing damage.
If we do not see damage significant enough to justify a claim, we tell you rather than pushing a claim.
Yes. We can review the roofing scope an insurance adjuster provides.
We frequently identify roofing components that may have been omitted but are needed for applicable code or manufacturer installation requirements. We can bring legitimate roofing-scope issues to your attention. The insurance company determines coverage. Ask Zello is not acting as a public adjuster.
No. The homeowner decides whether to file an insurance claim.
If we find legitimate storm damage, we explain and document it so you can make an informed decision. Optional upgrades that sit outside insurance coverage can be paid separately by the homeowner.
Yes. We offer emergency roofing assistance when personnel are available. First priority is temporary weatherproofing and minimizing water intrusion.
We do not add an emergency surcharge merely because temporary protection is needed. We do not waive or absorb insurance deductibles.
Yes. Ask Zello also offers emergency tree service within its capabilities for fallen or dangerous trees affecting a roof.
Say so when you call. A limb in the field is a different job than a shingle blown off a ridge.
We generally recommend replacing older skylights at the same time as the roof, or removing them and roofing over the opening if you no longer want them.
It is generally less expensive during roof replacement because the roofing is already off and the crew and equipment are already there.
If you keep an existing skylight, the existing skylight itself and leaks attributable to that skylight are not covered by Ask Zello’s roof warranty.
That is about the old unit, not a way of ducking our own roofing workmanship around the skylight beyond what the written warranty actually says.
We inspect roof flashing around chimneys. If the chimney itself is deteriorated, the chimney is a separate component, and underlying chimney deterioration is not part of the roof warranty.
If an existing ridge is not properly opened and vented, and ridge ventilation is appropriate, we can cut the ridge opening and install GAF Snow Country ridge vent with ridge cap.
If we identify additional ventilation work before the job, we include it in the estimate rather than surprising you afterward.
Asphalt shingles are generally not used by Ask Zello below a 2:12 slope. For about 1:12 roofs, we use an appropriate low-slope roofing system rather than standard asphalt shingles.
For 2:12 and 3:12 asphalt-shingle roofs, our practice is full-deck ice-and-water protection.
Clear vehicles from the driveway and work area. Move portable outdoor furniture and belongings away from the immediate perimeter, or protect and store them. Keep children, adults, and pets out of active exterior work areas because of falling debris and possible stray nails.
We generally recommend people and pets be away from the property during the main installation when that is practical, because of noise and safety. We protect HVAC equipment, landscaping, flower beds, decks, siding, windows, and other vulnerable property as appropriate.
We discuss your preference before installation.
Many homeowners choose to have obsolete equipment removed, and we can dispose of it without an additional disposal charge.
We generally ask your solar installer or provider to remove and reinstall the panels. Ask Zello handles the roofing work after the solar equipment is removed.
Everyone participates in cleanup. We use multiple magnetic sweeps, and we also visually and manually search for nails and debris magnets may miss.
Luke, Jordan, or Tim performs a final ground-level property inspection after the crew leaves. Our goal when we leave is for you to never know we were there — other than the gorgeous new roof protecting your home.
Look at honesty, communication, roofing experience, Virginia contractor licensing, insurance, manufacturer certification, Google and customer reviews, materials, installation practices, and the workmanship warranty.
A local business license is not the same thing as an appropriate Virginia DPOR contractor license. We hold Virginia Class A Contractor License #2705164508. You can look that number up on Virginia DPOR’s contractor license lookup.
No. We do not say every roof legally requires specifically a Class A license.
We hold Class A because that is the license we work under. Ask whoever you hire what they actually hold, and verify it.
No. We give you the price, explain what is included, answer questions, and let you decide.
Call (540) 406-3589 if you want that conversation with Tim, not a call center.
No. We are not trying simply to sell the cheapest roof.
We want to give homeowners the most roof — and the most peace of mind — for their money.
Ask Zello Roofing is the roofing trade name of Ask Luke Zello, LLC — a family-owned, fully insured Virginia Class A contractor. Primary work is residential roof replacement in Central Virginia.
Core towns we drive include Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Lake of the Woods, Locust Grove, Stafford, Orange, and Culpeper. Broader range runs approximately from Quantico south toward Richmond when the drive still lets us do the job cleanly. We install roofs for our neighbors, not strangers.
The Zello family has lived in Lake of the Woods / Locust Grove for about 27 years. Tim and Michelle Zello raised their family there.
That is family residence — not a claim that the LLC has been a roofing company since 1999.
The primary business phone goes directly to Tim Zello, the owner. Luke Zello is Head of Sales. Jordan Riley is Operations Manager and Tim’s son-in-law.
Ask Zello is being built as a family business that can continue into the next generation. Communication is a major priority: we keep you informed on material delivery, scheduling, weather delays, installation, and unexpected issues.
Ask Luke Zello, LLC began in 2015 around Luke Zello’s early neighborhood service business. Luke started lawn work for neighbors as a young teenager. Happy customers asked what else he could do, and that became the “Ask Luke Zello” name.
The work is roofing now. Tim brings 25+ years of roofing experience. The number on the truck is still Tim’s.
Ask Zello Roofing uses profits from the business to support its nonprofit, Jewels 4 God International.
Separately, and above that support, Ask Zello provides $1,000 per month to SPARSH in Pune, India — a home that rescues and cares for children affected by human trafficking and the Pune red-light area, based on our first-party account. Over the years Tim and Michelle have spent multiple Christmases with the children, held Christmas celebrations, and provided gifts. We also purchased a new van for SPARSH to transport the children. According to our records, the business and family have provided more than $150,000 in support to SPARSH over the years. The $1,000-per-month SPARSH support is not the same thing as Jewels 4 God support.
Yes. We replace seamless gutters when you ask. Many homeowners do gutters or gutter guards during roof replacement because it is convenient.
Every full Ask Zello roof replacement includes free gutter cleaning even when the gutters are not replaced.
Yes. We can roof detached garages, sheds, porches, additions, pool houses, and similar structures.
Very small projects may be scheduled alongside another nearby job to keep mobilization practical, which can mean a longer wait.
Yes. Ask Zello installs metal roofing, but we generally recommend architectural asphalt shingles for homeowners looking for the best balance of cost and value.
That is not a claim that metal is bad or never appropriate.
Yes. We work with realtors, buyers, and sellers on roof issues found during home inspections, and we can coordinate around closing and settlement timelines when possible.
The longer realtor page is for post-inspection contingencies — we do not run pre-buyer shopping inspections.
Call Tim at (540) 406-3589 or send the address. We usually call or text the same day.