Roof Replacement on a 1916 Forest Service Cabin in Evergreen, CO
Project overview
In October 2026, Barrett Roofing Services replaced the roof on a 1916 Forest Service cabin in Evergreen, Colorado. Part of the cabin had four layers of shingles over original skip decking. Our crew tore it all off, rebuilt the deck, moved the valleys, fabricated custom chimney flashing on site, and installed Owens Corning Duration FLEX shingles in Estate Gray in about a day and a half.
Project led by Pat Barrett, founder of Barrett Roofing Services Inc. | Completed October 2026
1916
Year the cabin was built
4 Layers
Of old shingles torn off
6 Inches
Inches the valleys moved
1.5 Days
To replace the roof
Project at a Glance
| Location | Evergreen, CO (Jefferson County) |
|---|---|
| Home | 1916 Forest Service cabin |
| Scope | Main cabin roof, two shed roofs, and new gutters |
| Tear-off | Up to 4 layers of shingles |
| Decking | Original skip decking repaired and filled in with new 1x8 boards, OSB where needed |
| Other repairs | Valleys moved 6 inches, open soffit and fascia repairs |
|---|---|
| Chimney | Custom counter flashing fabricated on site |
| Shingles | Owens Corning Duration FLEX, Estate Gray (Class 4 impact rated) |
| Timeline | About 1.5 days |
| Contractor | Barrett Roofing Services, Thornton, CO |
A 100-Year-Old Roof With Four Layers of Shingles
This cabin was built in 1916 as a Forest Service cabin. Over the decades, part of the cabin had been reroofed again and again without a tear-off, leaving four layers of shingles. Every extra layer adds weight, traps heat and moisture, and hides problems in the deck below.
Pat expected surprises on a home this old, and he found plenty. The crew documented each one as the old roof came off.
What We Found Under The Old Roof
Original Skip Decking
Homes from this era were built with skip decking: wood boards with gaps between them, made for wood shake roofs. Asphalt shingles need a solid deck. Over gaps, nails miss wood and shingles can sag.
Instead of covering the whole roof in new sheathing, we repaired the original boards and filled the gaps with new 1×8 boards to make the deck tight and solid. We added OSB only where the old deck needed it.
Valleys in the Wrong Place
Valleys are where two roof slopes meet, and they carry more water and snowmelt than any other part of a roof. Because part of the cabin had been reroofed over so many times, the valleys no longer lined up where they should. We relocated the valleys 6 inches so water drains off the roof cleanly.
Open Soffit and Fascia Damage
The cabin has open soffits, with the rafter ends exposed under the roof edge. We repaired damaged sections of the soffit and fascia so the new roof has a solid edge to tie into. Strong roof edges matter in the mountains, where snow and ice sit at the eaves the longest.
An Ancient Stone Chimney Sealed With Tar
The original stone chimney had been sealed with black plastic roofing cement instead of real flashing. Tar like that cracks and pulls away, and it is a common source of leaks on older homes.
Standard flashing does not fit an irregular stone chimney. Our crew brought a portable sheet metal brake to the job and fabricated custom counter flashing on site, shaped to this chimney.
How We Replaced The Roof
- Protected the yard, deck, and landscaping, then tore off up to four layers of shingles down to the deck.
- Repaired the original skip decking and filled the gaps with new 1×8 boards, adding OSB where needed.
- Repaired the open soffit and fascia.
- Relocated the valleys 6 inches.
- Installed new underlayment.
- Fabricated and installed custom counter flashing on the stone chimney, and flashed the skylight.
- Installed Owens Corning Duration FLEX shingles in Estate Gray, with a ridge vent for attic ventilation.
- Re-roofed both sheds on the property.
- Installed new gutters.
- Cleaned up the site.
Roofing a Mountain Cabin in Evergreen
Evergreen sits above 7,000 feet. Roofs here deal with heavy snow, freeze and thaw cycles, high wind, and the hail that hits Colorado’s Front Range every summer. Older mountain cabins add their own problems: layered roofs, skip decking, and repairs that were patched instead of fixed.
That is why we chose Owens Corning Duration FLEX for this cabin. It is a polymer-modified shingle with a Class 4 impact rating, the highest rating for hail resistance, and it stays flexible in cold weather. Barrett Roofing is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor.
Learn more about our work as a roofer in Evergreen, CO.
Shingles Used
Owens Corning Duration FLEX
Estate Gray
Class 4 impact rated
Stays flexible in cold weather
The finished roof
The cabin now has a solid deck, valleys in the right place, custom flashing at the chimney, and a new Estate Gray roof built for mountain weather. Both sheds got new roofs, and the cabin got new gutters.
FAQs about Cabin Roof Replacements
What is skip decking, and does it have to be replaced?
Skip decking is spaced wood boards that were used under wood shake roofs. Asphalt shingles need a solid deck, but skip decking does not always have to be torn out. On this Evergreen cabin, we repaired the original boards and filled the gaps with new 1×8 boards to make a tight, solid deck.
Can you put a new roof over old shingles?
Not when a roof already has two or more layers. Building codes generally do not allow it, and extra layers hide damage in the deck. This cabin had four layers in places, so we tore everything off down to the deck.
How do you flash an old stone chimney?
Irregular stone needs flashing shaped to fit it. Our crew fabricates custom counter flashing on site with a portable sheet metal brake, replacing old tar and roofing cement that cracks and leaks over time.
How long does it take to replace a cabin roof?
This 1916 cabin took about a day and a half, including the tear-off, decking repairs, and moving the valleys. Timing depends on roof size, how many layers come off, and what we find underneath.
What shingles are best for a mountain home in Colorado?
We used Owens Corning Duration FLEX on this cabin. It carries a Class 4 impact rating for hail and stays flexible in cold temperatures, which makes it a strong fit for mountain homes in Evergreen and along the Front Range.
Do you serve Evergreen and other mountain communities?
Planning a Roof Replacement on Your Mountain Home?
Pat Barrett has over 35 years of roofing experience, and Barrett Roofing Services Inc. has served Colorado homeowners since 2011. We offer free roof evaluations in Evergreen and across the Front Range, and we fix the problems other roofers would cover up.
Call 303-489-6784 or request your free roof evaluation online.