Replacing Your Roof and Siding: Which Project Should Come First?

Your roof is nearing replacement, and the siding needs attention too. Booking both jobs raises a practical question: which crew should start?

When both projects are due, roof-first is a sensible starting plan to discuss with your contractor. It puts the overhead tear-off ahead of the new wall finish. But the condition of the house and the details where the roof meets a wall can change that order. Some siding may need to come off before roofing starts, even when the new siding goes on afterward.

For a St. Louis homeowner, the useful question is: “What sequence will protect the house at every stage and avoid paying to undo finished work?”

Roof first or siding first? Start with the condition of each

This is a planning framework, not a universal installation specification. Ask the contractor to explain what makes the proposed order appropriate for your home.

Why consider replacing the roof first?

Think through how the work will happen. Where will old roofing be removed? Where will ladders stand? How will materials reach the roof? Completing that stage before installing new siding can simplify the protection plan for the new finish.

That does not excuse damage to siding that is staying. Whether you replace the walls now or years later, ask the roofing contractor to describe protection for siding, windows, landscaping, and access routes.

Also ask whether the roof quote includes work around dormers, porch roofs, attached garages, and upper-story walls. A proposal that lists shingles but leaves these connections unclear is not enough for planning two exterior projects.

The roof-to-wall connection needs a shared plan

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Solution Center guidance explains that roof-wall flashing must work with the wall’s water-resistive barrier and roofing materials to direct water outward. Correcting a defective connection may require removing adjacent siding and repairing damaged material underneath.

At a shingle roof beside a wall, step flashing works with the shingle courses. A kick-out flashing at the bottom directs runoff away from the wall and toward the gutter. These details belong in the coordinated scope.

That guidance supports a practical distinction: “roof first” does not mean “leave every piece of siding untouched until the roof is finished.” Localized wall work may be needed before the new roof covering and final siding can be completed.

Before signing, ask: Who opens this area? Who checks what is underneath? Who completes the connection? Who documents it before the siding covers it?

When siding work may need to happen first

If the roof inspection finds no replacement need, avoid letting a general sequencing rule turn a siding job into an unnecessary roof project. Ask for a plan that preserves the serviceable roof.

If a wall defect is the immediate concern, request a diagnosis and repair scope before spending on appearance upgrades elsewhere. The schedule should respond to the actual problem.

A third situation is coordinated work: one crew opens a limited section of wall, another completes the adjoining roof work, and the first returns to finish the siding. Ask for those handoffs in writing. “We will work it out on site” leaves too much uncertainty when two contracts meet at one connection.

Include fascia and gutters in the discussion

Roofing and siding quotes can leave a gap around the roof edge. Ask whether fascia, soffits, gutters, and downspouts are staying, being repaired, or being replaced.

For each item, request a named responsibility. If removing a gutter exposes damaged fascia, who assesses it and provides the change order? If a downspout must be moved for siding work, who reinstalls it? If new gutters are planned, when will their final installation happen?

Family First Exteriors offers siding, soffit, and fascia services alongside gutter systems and gutter protection. Include these components in the initial conversation rather than treating them as surprises between jobs.

What to put in the combined project scope

• Inspection findings: What needs replacement now, what can remain, and what cannot be assessed until materials are removed.
• Work order: Which areas open first and which finishes go on last.
• Shared connections: Who handles roof-wall flashing, adjacent siding, and roof-edge details.
• Protection between visits: How exposed areas will be secured if weather or scheduling interrupts the work.
• Hidden repairs: How photographs, pricing, and your approval will be handled before extra work proceeds.
• Final review: Who checks both scopes together and resolves unfinished items.

Ask for separate line items for roofing, siding, and related work even if one company handles everything. You should be able to see what each part includes and compare the combined proposal with a phased approach.

What if you can only afford one project now?

Ask the contractor to distinguish necessary repairs from optional improvements. Then request two plans: the work needed now and the later project it must accommodate.

For example, if the roof goes first and siding is planned for next year, ask which details will need to be revisited. If siding goes first, tell that installer about the expected roof replacement before work begins. You want the future job considered in the present scope.

Do not assume combining the projects guarantees a discount. Ask for any coordination savings to be shown in the quote, alongside the costs that remain unchanged.

Frequently asked questions

Can the same contractor replace both the roof and siding?

Yes, if both services are within its scope. Family First Exteriors offers roof replacement and residential siding services. Ask who will oversee the shared details and the final review.

Does replacing a roof mean all the siding must come off?

No. Ask the inspector to identify the specific areas that need access. The extent depends on the roof design, existing connections, and condition found on your home.

Can roofing and siding crews work on the same day?

Ask the project manager whether that is appropriate for your property. A coordinated project does not have to mean overlapping crews. Access, protection, and the work at shared connections should determine the schedule.

Should I select the roof and siding colors together?

If both are being replaced, review the samples together outdoors before ordering. Include the trim and gutter finish so you can judge the whole exterior, even if installation happens in stages.

Plan both projects before starting either

The best first step is an assessment that considers the roof and walls together. You need a reason for the proposed sequence, a clear scope at shared connections, and a plan for anything discovered during removal.

Contact Family First Exteriors to discuss your St. Louis roof and siding project and request an estimate based on your home’s condition.