Replacing the Shingle Roof at Emmanuel Wesleyan Church in Salisbury, MD

A little while back we had the privilege of replacing the shingle roof at Emmanuel Wesleyan Church at 217 Beaglin Park Drive in Salisbury, MD 21804. This one was personal for me. I, Guillermo Molina Matus, attend Emmanuel Wesleyan on Sundays, so the day we were awarded the job, our whole family felt the weight of doing right by the building where I worship every weekend.

This was not the first church we have re-roofed across the Eastern Shore, so our team knew what to expect. Churches are not like a regular house where you set up, work, and pack up at your own pace. The building has to stay open, staff have to come and go, and Sunday morning has to be ready for service no matter what. Here is a look at what the project involved, and what we want every church or commercial property owner in our service area to know.

Down to the Deck and Back Up Stronger

We tore the existing shingle roof down to the bare wood deck so we could see exactly what we were working with. Once the old roof was off, we found what we usually find on older buildings: a good portion of the plywood deck was soft, deteriorating, and not fit to hold a brand new roofing system.

That is where corner-cutting tempts a lot of contractors. Skipping the deck work saves time and material and lets you walk away with the same surface look. But nailing a new roof into compromised plywood means the new shingles are already starting to fail on day one. So we replaced every soft sheet of plywood before laying a single piece of underlayment.

The Full GAF Roof System We Installed

From there we installed every GAF component the system requires, not just the shingles. We are a GAF Certified contractor, which means when we install the full GAF Lifetime Roofing System, the warranty backs the whole assembly together rather than isolated parts.

The system on Emmanuel Wesleyan Church included:

• Fresh plywood decking on every soft section.
• GAF leak-barrier and synthetic underlayment across the entire deck.
• GAF starter strip shingles along the eaves and rakes.
• GAF Timberline HDZ shingles in Weathered Wood, the shingle color the church chose. A warm, multi-tone profile that suits the building beautifully.
• GAF ridge cap shingles for a clean finished profile and matching warranty coverage.
• GAF ventilation components sized for the building.

The Timberline HDZ line uses GAF LayerLock technology, which improves nail-zone holding power. That matters on the Eastern Shore where nor’easters and tropical systems tracking up the Chesapeake corridor put real pressure on every shingle every season.

Keeping the Church Open and Safe While We Worked

A church is not a house. Staff are in and out daily. Bible studies, choir practice, programs, weddings, and funerals can fill the calendar any day of the week. And no matter what we were doing up on the roof, the building had to be ready for Sunday service.

We planned the work around that calendar. G and Bros did everything in our power to make sure visitors, employees, and Sunday attendees stayed safe through every phase. We set up clearly marked walkways, kept the active work zone cordoned off, repositioned equipment around scheduled events, and held quick safety briefs with the crew every morning. End-of-day cleanup mattered just as much as the install itself. Every shift wrapped with a full sweep of the property, including magnetic sweeps across parking lots and walkways so no stray nails or scrap ended up where someone could step on them.

If Your Church Needs a Roof, Give Us a Call

If you manage a church anywhere across our service area, or any other commercial property like a school, daycare, or community center, and the roof is starting to show its age, give us a call. We will come out, walk the roof with you, and give you a clear honest read on where things stand. No hard sell, just real answers and a plan that respects the building, the people inside it, and your budget.

We replace roofs across Salisbury and the rest of the Eastern Shore: Wicomico, Worcester, Dorchester, Somerset, Talbot, and Caroline counties in Maryland, plus Sussex County in Delaware.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a church roof replacement usually take?

For a project the size of Emmanuel Wesleyan Church (full tear-off, deck repair, and complete GAF system install), the work usually runs one to three weeks depending on the size of the roof, the weather, and how much plywood needs replacing. Phasing around active church operations can add a few days, but it is worth it for safety and convenience.

What if you find rotted plywood under the old shingles?

We replace it. Every soft sheet, every time. We document it with photos so you know exactly what was found and where. Nailing a new roof into bad decking guarantees failure within a few years, so we never skip it.

Why install a full GAF system instead of mixing brands?

A full GAF system means the entire assembly is covered under one warranty designed to work together. Mixing brands voids the strongest warranties and breaks up the engineering. As a GAF Certified contractor, we install the complete system so you get the coverage and the performance.

Can the church stay open during the work?

Yes. We plan around your weekly calendar with safe walkways, cordoned work areas, and thorough cleanups so services, programs, and staff routines keep running like normal.

Get in Touch

Whether you are responsible for a church, a school, a commercial building, or your own home, we would be happy to take a look at your roof. Call G and Bros at 410-677-4975 or visit gandbrosroofing.com/contact for a free inspection. We are GAF Certified, MHIC licensed, and family owned, proud to serve Salisbury and the Eastern Shore.