Like most Pinnacle roofing projects, this historic home’s roof was completed in a single day — critical for protecting the exposed 1883 plank deck.
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The home at Walcott Avenue in Jamestown was built in 1883 — a time when roof decks were constructed of solid plank boards and architectural shingles hadn’t been invented yet. After 140 years of nor’easters, salt air, and Rhode Island’s relentless freeze-thaw cycles, those original planks had reached the end of their structural life. Pinnacle Roofing was contracted to replace the entire roof system on this historic property, from the decking up — using the CertainTeed Integrity Roof System to bring 19th-century craftsmanship into the 21st century.
Scope of Work
The tear-off revealed what Pinnacle expected but needed to see firsthand: plank boards that were cracked, warped, and no longer capable of holding nails securely. Modern building code and CertainTeed’s installation specifications both require a solidly sheathed deck — you cannot nail shingles reliably into compromised planking — a point emphasized in CertainTeed’s installation specifications and expect them to stay put in a coastal wind event. The crew stripped the old shingles and removed damaged planking, then installed new plywood sheathing across the entire roof surface to create the solid, code-compliant substrate that the Integrity Roof System demands.
This home has both steep-slope and low-slope roof sections — a common feature on historic Jamestown properties where additions and dormers were built over the decades. Each section required a different roofing material and installation approach. At every transition between steep and low-slope planes, Pinnacle installed custom-bent flashing to direct water away from the joints. Chimney step flashing was replaced with new aluminum, woven course-by-course into the shingle field. Every pipe boot, sidewall junction, and valley was individually flashed and sealed — on a home this old, there is no such thing as a generic flashing detail. This level of attention is why homeowners choose Pinnacle for Jamestown roofing.
What We Installed (And Why)
For the steep-slope sections, Pinnacle installed CertainTeed Landmark PRO architectural shingles in Max Def Colonial Slate — a color chosen specifically to honor the home’s 1883 architectural character. CertainTeed’s Max Def color technology uses a proprietary granule blending process that creates depth and dimension beyond what standard shingles achieve. On a historic home where the neighborhood aesthetic matters, that color quality is visible from the street.
The entire installation followed the CertainTeed Integrity Roof System protocol: WinterGuard waterproofing underlayment at all eaves and valleys — critical on a Jamestown home where ice dams are a seasonal certainty; DiamondDeck synthetic underlayment across all remaining surfaces; SwiftStart starter strips at every eave and rake edge with factory-applied adhesive for immediate wind resistance; Landmark PRO field shingles with NailTrak nailing guides ensuring every nail hits the manufacturer’s specified zone; and Shadow Ridge hip and ridge caps to seal the most exposed joints on the roof. For the low-slope sections, Pinnacle applied CertainTeed Flintlastic SA — a self-adhering modified bitumen membrane in Charcoal. The self-adhering application eliminates the open flame required by torch-down methods — a meaningful safety advantage when working on a 140-year-old wood-framed historic home.
By installing the complete Integrity Roof System, this home qualifies for CertainTeed’s enhanced wind warranty upgrade from 110 mph to 160 mph — a level of protection that matches the coastal exposure a Jamestown waterfront property demands.
Good To Know
Historic homes along Walcott Avenue and throughout Jamestown’s older neighborhoods carry a hidden challenge that newer construction doesn’t face: original plank board roof decks. These solid-wood decks were standard construction before plywood became available in the mid-20th century. While plank boards were perfectly adequate in their era, 100-plus years of moisture cycling causes them to cup, crack, and lose their nail-holding capacity. Modern shingle manufacturers — including CertainTeed — require a solidly sheathed deck for warranty compliance. If you own a pre-1930 home near Fort Wetherill or along the East Shore, your next roof replacement likely includes a deck upgrade. It adds cost, but it’s the foundation that everything else depends on — skip it, and you’re building on sand.
Why This Approach Works
The Integrity Roof System works as a chain: each component reinforces the next. WinterGuard stops ice dam water at the eaves. DiamondDeck catches any moisture that gets past the shingles. SwiftStart seals the most wind-vulnerable edge. Landmark PRO provides the weather surface with NailTrak-guided precision nailing. Shadow Ridge caps the ridges and hips. Remove any single link and the system weakens. Installed together, they earn the 160 mph wind warranty — the kind of coverage a Jamestown island home needs. Schedule a free assessment to see if your home qualifies.
Why Pinnacle
Pinnacle Roofing is a CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster — a certification that requires demonstrated installation quality and grants access to CertainTeed’s highest warranty tiers. Combined with an A+ BBB rating and deep experience with historic Rhode Island homes, Pinnacle delivers the technical precision that properties like this one demand. Our crew is trained to handle both steep-slope shingle work and low-slope membrane application — on the same project, in the same week.
Jamestown, RI
From the historic estates along Walcott Avenue to the working waterfront on Conanicut Island’s west shore, Jamestown’s homes reflect over three centuries of Rhode Island history. Pinnacle is proud to be trusted with these properties — protecting what generations have built. Whether you need a full roof system for a historic home or a single skylight overlooking the bay, we’re here to help.
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