New-Construction Shingle Roofing for Canyon Walk Apartments

Canyon Walk Apartments at 120 DP Road was one of our first large commercial roofing projects. The project covered approximately 46,358 square feet across seven apartment buildings, a clubhouse, and another small exterior building.

Instead of framing the entire complex at once, the builder completed a few structures at a time. Our team followed behind, installing shingle roofing as each building became ready.

The priority was to make every structure watertight so interior construction could move forward with better protection from the weather.

Project Overview: Commercial Shingle Roofing in Los Alamos

Canyon Walk Apartments was a new-construction complex with pitched shingle roofs. Roofing work began in September 2020 and progressed in stages across the property.

The commercial roofing scope included Owens Corning Duration shingles, ice-and-water protection, attic ventilation, and six-inch seamless gutters on much of the complex. The gutters were installed during a later phase after the exterior stucco was completed.

Our work at Canyon Walk established a relationship with the builder, who later hired us to complete the roofing for The Bluff Apartments across the street.

Before: A New Apartment Complex Being Built in Stages

Construction moved forward a few buildings at a time. The construction team generally framed two structures before our crew came in to install the roofs. While we worked on those buildings, framing continued elsewhere on the property.

This pattern continued across the new apartment complex. Instead of completing all 46,358 square feet in one uninterrupted installation, we coordinated each roofing phase around the builder’s progress.

The Goal: Get Each Building Watertight and Keep Construction Moving

Once a structure was framed, the builder needed it roofed relatively quickly. Getting each building covered and watertight helped protect the interior before work moved forward inside.

Regular communication allowed us to understand which structures would be ready next and when the builder needed our crew on-site. We then adjusted our schedule around those milestones.

This coordination mattered because each stage depended on the one before it. The framing had to be completed before roofing could begin, and the roofing system needed to be installed before the builder could confidently continue with interior construction.

Why High-Wind Asphalt Shingles Were Used for This Los Alamos Project

Canyon Walk Apartments had pitched roofs throughout. Our team installed Owens Corning Duration asphalt shingles with the 130 mph wind warranty required for the project.

The location played an important role in selecting the roofing materials. Los Alamos sits at a higher elevation, and the hill where the apartments were built can experience strong winds. The specified shingles gave the builder the wind warranty it wanted without making claims about any particular wind event.

The commercial roofing system also included ice-and-water protection and attic ventilation. Proper ventilation allowed air to move through the attic areas and helped the shingles perform as intended.

Installing Commercial Shingle Roofing Across Multiple Buildings

Preparing Each Building for Its Shingle Roof

Our team followed behind the framing crews as each group of structures became ready. We installed ice-and-water protection as part of the assembly beneath the shingles. We also installed the ventilation system to provide airflow through the attic areas.

After preparing each structure, we could move directly into the shingle installation and get the building watertight.

Installing Owens Corning Duration Shingles

We installed Owens Corning Duration shingles across approximately 46,358 square feet of pitched roofing.

Since the apartment buildings were about two stories tall, the supplier could use a boom to lift the materials close to roof level. Our crew then unstacked the bundles, moved them onto the roof, and distributed them across the work area.

This made material access more straightforward and helped the team prepare each building for installation.

Returning for Six-Inch Seamless Gutters

The roofs and gutters were completed during different stages of construction. Our first priority was installing the shingles and getting each building watertight.

Months later, once the exterior stucco work was finished, our team returned to install six-inch seamless gutters on much of the complex. Unlike the roofing, which progressed building by building, the gutters were completed together in one later phase.

Scheduling Commercial Roofing Across Multiple Buildings

The roof installation itself was relatively straightforward. The main challenge was making sure our crew was available when the builder finished the next group of structures.

While we roofed one set of buildings, framing continued on the next. Once those structures were ready, the cycle repeated.

“We built our schedule around their schedule so that as soon as they finished a building, we could get in and get it covered.”

That ongoing communication helped us fit the roofing work between framing and interior construction without creating weather-related delays.

What We Learned From Canyon Walk’s Extended Timeline

Canyon Walk was one of our first commercial roofing projects, and it taught us how an extended construction timeline can affect planning.

The contract was signed in August 2020, and roofing began the following month. Because the buildings were completed in stages and the gutters came later, our final work extended into May 2022.

During that time, shingle prices increased. We had not fully anticipated how a long commercial schedule could affect material costs. The experience changed how we approached purchasing, pricing, and scheduling for future commercial roofing systems.

The Final Result: A Completed Project and a New Builder Relationship

Our team completed the large, multi-building roofing scope while working around the builder’s construction schedule. Each structure was covered as it became ready, allowing interior work to continue with better weather protection.

The project marked the beginning of an ongoing working relationship. We later partnered with the same builder again on The Bluff Apartments across the street. Moving from one project to the next reflected the strong communication and coordination between both teams.

What Contractors Can Learn From This Los Alamos Roofing Project

Large commercial properties are not always roofed all at once. Roofing contractors may need to follow framing crews and adjust their availability as individual structures become ready.

Each building should become watertight at the right point in the construction schedule so interior work can continue. Material delivery must also account for building height and roof access.

Roofing materials should match the project and location, while ventilation should be incorporated correctly. Gutters or other exterior components may need to wait until siding or stucco is finished. Longer construction timelines should also be considered when planning material purchases and pricing.

Before & After Gallery: Canyon Walk Apartments Roofing in Los Alamos

Before

Canyon Walk Apartments in Los Alamos before shingle roofing installation.

During

Shingle roofing installation underway as construction progressed across the apartment complex.

After

Completed pitched shingle roofs at Canyon Walk Apartments in Los Alamos.

Choose photos that clearly show the new-construction setting, installation, and finished roofs without describing details that are not visible.

Plan a Commercial Shingle Roofing Project in Los Alamos

New-construction roofing requires proper installation and close coordination with the broader construction schedule. Our Canyon Walk project showed how a phased approach can keep multiple structures moving from framing to interior work.

East Mountain Roofing provides commercial roofing solutions for general contractors, developers, property managers, businesses, and commercial property owners throughout Los Alamos and Northern New Mexico.

Learn more about our commercial roofing services in New Mexico. To discuss an upcoming project, call (505) 264-7081 or request a free estimate.