A New Roof for an 1899 Knoxville Home

A roof replacement on an older home starts with what’s underneath the shingles. For this home built in 1899 in Knoxville’s downtown historic district, we addressed gaps in the roof decking and a chimney that had leaked for years.

We finished the roof with CertainTeed Landmark shingles in Burnt Sienna and upgraded black drip edge. The warm shingle color fits the brick exterior, while the work underneath gives the new asphalt shingle roof a solid base.

New decking over the old planks

The existing plank decking was in decent shape, but the boards had too many gaps. Those spaces reduce the area available for roofing nails to make contact with wood.

We recommended a complete deck-over and installed new decking over the planks. That created a continuous surface for the underlayment and shingles.

Exposed wood roof planks with visible gaps between the boards during tear-off.

Before: The old planks were in decent shape, but gaps left an uneven nailing surface.
New OSB roof decking installed across the roof slopes around the brick chimney.

After: New decking covers the planks to create a solid surface for the new roof.

Custom flashing for a problem chimney

The chimney had a history of bad leaks. During tear-off, we could see the old flashing and patching around its base. We completed new custom counterflashing as part of the roof replacement to address that connection.

The finished photos show the new flashing fitted along the brick where the chimney meets the shingles. It’s a small part of the roof’s overall appearance, but it deserves careful attention.

Old metal flashing and dark patching material along a brick chimney, with roof planks exposed during tear-off.

Before: The existing chimney flashing exposed during tear-off.
New black counterflashing fitted along the brick chimney above the finished Burnt Sienna shingles.

After: Custom counterflashing finishes the chimney-to-roof connection.

A finished roof that fits the house

The Burnt Sienna shingles suit this historic home, and the homeowner was very happy with the result. For us, the decking and chimney work mattered just as much as the finished look.

If you’re planning a roof replacement on an older Knoxville home, we’ll help you understand what needs attention before the new shingles go on. Request a roof replacement estimate to get started.