Maplewood NJ Roofing Contractor

What Tends to Fail on Maplewood Roofs

Houses of this age wear out in fairly predictable ways. These are the conditions we check first.

• Gambrel roof transitions. On a Dutch Colonial, the break between the steep lower slope and the shallow upper slope is a weak spot. Shingles on the flatter section age faster, and the flashing at the transition often leaks before anything else does.
• Plank sheathing under the shingles. Older houses often have board sheathing instead of plywood. Gaps, split boards and soft spots show up during a tear-off, and we replace or overlay them so the new shingles have a solid, even base.
• Slate held by tired nails. The stone frequently outlasts the fasteners. Slipped slates can be secured again with hooks when the rest of the roof is sound; slipping across large areas means it's time to talk about relaying or replacing.
• Third-floor heat and ice. Finished attics and third-floor bedrooms leave little room for air to move under the roof deck. That cooks shingles in summer and helps ice dams form in winter, so we look at venting options on every replacement.
• Porch roof leaks. Low-pitched porch roofs, often covered in roll roofing, leak where they meet the main wall. A proper membrane flashed up into the wall stops those slow drips.