Roof Replacement in Rahway, NJ

How to tell a roof is done

Roofs don't usually fail in one day - they wear out a slope at a time. Signs you're near the end:

• The roof is past roughly 20 years (older 3-tab shingles often wear out sooner)
• Shingles are curling at the edges or cupped in the middle across large areas
• Bare patches where the protective granules have washed off - and gritty granules piling up in the gutters
• Leaks in different places, one after another
• A dip or wave in the roofline when you look from across the street
• Two layers of shingles already on the roof

What a complete replacement should include

A new roof is more than new shingles. When you compare estimates, check that each covers:

• Full tear-off to the wood, so the roof deck can be inspected
• Replacing soft or rotted boards - and how that will be charged if it's needed
• Ice and water shield along the eaves and valleys, the two places most likely to leak in a New Jersey winter
• Underlayment over the rest of the deck
• New flashing - drip edge, step flashing, chimney flashing and pipe boots, not reused old metal
• Ventilation - a way for air to come in low at the eaves and leave at the ridge
• The shingles themselves, with the brand and line written down
• Any permit the job needs, cleanup and a magnetic sweep for nails

Picking shingles

Most Rahway homes are roofed with asphalt shingles, and most new roofs here use architectural (laminated) shingles rather than flat 3-tab. They're thicker, look better and hold up much better in wind. Color matters more than people expect - it affects how the house looks from the street for the next couple of decades. On older homes near downtown, see our guide to roofs on older Rahway homes.

Rahway specifics

Older houses near downtown often have steep roofs, dormers and brick chimneys, which make replacement more involved than on a simple ranch. Two-family homes may have a flat or low-slope rear section that needs a different material altogether - see flat roof repair. Whether you need a permit depends on the house and the scope of work - see our Rahway roof permit guide.

Don't skip the attic

A replacement is the best moment to fix poor attic ventilation. Hot, damp attics cook shingles from below, encourage ice dams and can affect the shingle warranty. Ask the roofer how air will come in at the eaves and leave at the ridge.

Checking the contractor

Ask for the contractor's New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor registration number, a written contract and both warranties in writing - the manufacturer's for the shingles and the contractor's own for the installation.