Underlayment
A fresh underlayment layer and ice barrier at the eaves and valleys protect the deck as a second line of defense.
Roof Replacement
Roof Replacement Short Hills, NJ
A Short Hills roofing contractor can replace a roof that is too old or too damaged to patch, starting with a full tear-off and a check of the decking, and the inspection beforehand tells you whether replacement is really needed. Dial (862) 424-5211 to talk with a local roofer about replacement.
Most roofs reach the point of replacement through age rather than one dramatic event. As shingles age they shed granules, turn brittle and curl at the edges, so leaks begin turning up in more than one spot at a time. Three-tab shingles tend to wear out sooner than heavier architectural shingles, and a roof that has already been overlaid once has no second chance.
A new roof is really a system, and the shingles are the last layer of it. Below the surface sits plywood or OSB decking, felt or synthetic underlayment, ice barrier in the valleys and along the eaves, drip edge, step and counter flashing, pipe boots and ridge or box vents. Leaving old flashing or rotten boards in place undercuts the new roofing laid over them.
Ahead of the first conversation with a Short Hills roofer, note the age of the roof, any leak spots on ceilings and whether there might be two layers up there. A flashlight look at the attic side of the roof, stepping only on joists, can show stains or daylight the roofer will want to hear about.
Depending on what the roofer finds, roof replacement in Short Hills, NJ can go hand in hand with roof installation and shingle roof replacement.
Need roof replacement in Short Hills? Call (862) 424-5211 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Short Hills.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a roof replacement
Each step builds on the one before it, so the order matters.
Measure the roof
The visit includes a look at the roof surface, the attic side of the deck and the flashing, plus measurements for materials. Ask for the scope in writing, including how many layers come off, how deck repairs are counted and who files the permit.
Strip to the deck
Tarps go over plants and walls, and the old roofing comes off in sections into a dumpster or trailer. Only as much is torn off in a day as can be dried in by evening.
Check the sheathing
With the deck exposed, the crew walks it for soft spots and replaces rotted or delaminated plywood, OSB or plank boards.
Install the new roof
The new layers go on in order: drip edge, ice barrier, underlayment, starter course, step and counter flashing, vents and then the shingles or panels. Nailing to the shingle maker's pattern and balancing ridge exhaust with soffit intake are what make the roof last.
Final cleanup
The crew clears the gutters, hauls the dumpster and runs a magnetic sweeper over the yard. If a permit was pulled, the final inspection happens around this point.
What is included
What gets replaced
Full tear-off
All old layers are stripped to the deck and hauled away so the new roof starts on clean wood.
Sheathing replacement
Soft or rotted plywood, OSB or plank boards are replaced before anything new is nailed down.
New flashing
Worn flashing and cracked pipe boots are replaced rather than reused at every place the roof meets something.
Roof vents
Attic vents are replaced and sized for the attic so the attic stays dry in winter and cooler in summer.
Related service
Reroofing Short Hills, NJ
Reroofing is the general term for putting a new roof on an existing house, whether that means a full tear-off or, in limited cases, a single overlay. Building codes generally allow at most two layers of asphalt shingles, and an overlay is only an option when the existing roof is flat, dry and has a sound deck. A tear-off costs more labor, but it is the only way to see and fix what is under the old roof.
A Short Hills reroofing quote should state plainly whether the plan is a tear-off or an overlay. Also ask whether the new roof will get ice and water shield, new drip edge and new pipe boots, since those are easy places to cut corners.
Related service
Roof Tear Off Short Hills, NJ
During a tear-off, the crew strips the roof to bare wood using shovels and roofing forks, slope by slope. A dumpster is placed near the drop zone, and tarps cover beds, patios and anything that could catch falling debris.
Once the old roof is gone, every soft or rotted board is out in the open. Old leaks show up as dark, soft or delaminated sheathing that gets replaced before anything new goes down.
Related service
Roof Decking Replacement Short Hills, NJ
The decking is the wood surface between the rafters and the roofing, usually plywood or OSB on newer homes and plank boards on older ones. Years of small leaks or a damp attic can rot sheathing or make OSB swell and lose strength.
Damaged sheets are cut out between rafters and replaced with new panels of the same thickness, and older plank decks with wide gaps are sometimes covered with new sheathing. Because the extent of the damage is unknown before tear-off, the contract should explain how extra sheets are counted.
Local help
Roof Replacement Near Me
In Short Hills, replacement requests come from older homes and newer ones alike: worn three-tab roofs on older houses and architectural shingle roofs that took a beating from wind or hail. For homeowners in Short Hills and nearby places including Springfield, Summit, Vauxhall and Chatham, getting the old roof off before leaks reach the wood saves the biggest headaches, so it pays to have an aging roof looked at before it starts leaking in several places.
Searching for roof replacement near me from Short Hills or Springfield, Summit, Vauxhall and Chatham? Call (862) 424-5211 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects roofs around Short Hills
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Short Hills, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Short Hills and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Roof Replacement FAQ
What time of year is best for roof replacement?
Spring through fall offers the easiest working conditions in most places. Shingle sealant strips bond best in warm sun, so very cold days call for extra steps. When leaks are already happening, plan the work as soon as a good weather window opens.
Can a new roof go over the old one?
Building codes generally allow at most two layers of asphalt shingles, so an overlay is only possible on a roof with one layer and a sound deck. The trade-off is that nobody can inspect or repair the decking under the old roof.
How do I know if I need a new roof or just a repair?
That depends on whether the damage is isolated or the roofing is worn out everywhere. A localized problem on a roof with plenty of life left is usually worth repairing. Curling, granule loss on most slopes, repeated leaks or two existing layers usually point to replacement.
How many days does it take to replace a roof?
For most single-family homes, the crew is on site for one to three days. Larger roofs, steep pitches and extensive deck repair add time.
Do I need to be home during a roof replacement?
Being home is optional, though you should be available by phone. Questions sometimes come up mid-job, such as how to handle rotted wood or a hidden vent.
More questions? Call (862) 424-5211
Related services
Roof Installation
Installing a new roof layer by layer, from drip edge and underlayment to flashing, vents and the finished roofing, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreShingle Roof Replacement
Full shingle roof replacement, from tear-off and deck repair to new shingles and flashing, with soft decking fixed before anything new goes on.
Learn moreMetal Roof Replacement
Replacing a rusted or worn-out metal roof, or swapping an old shingle roof for new metal, with purlins and decking checked before new panels go on.
Learn moreRoof Insurance Claims
Roof inspections and damage documentation for homeowners filing a storm claim, from the first inspection to the repair.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Short Hills roofer about roof replacement
Call (862) 424-5211 for a local roofer in Short Hills and nearby towns.