Frequently Asked Questions

Three things drive the number: roof size in squares, pitch, and how much decking has to come out.

A walkable gable over a Silverton ranch costs less than a steep gambrel or a dormer-heavy mansard, where every cut, valley, and rake adds labor and waste.

If the existing asphalt shingle layer is flat and sound, an overlay can skip the tear-off and the dumpster. If the plywood or OSB sheathing is soft, we replace it and price that repair as its own line item.

You get a written roof estimate before anyone climbs the ladder, and the price only moves if you approve a change.

Yes. Storm damage repair claims move faster when the damage is documented against the storm date, so we photograph the wind uplift, hail damage, and bruised shingle fields before a single piece comes off.

We meet the adjuster inspection on the roof, hand over our insurance scope, and file a supplemental claim when the first settlement misses decking, ice-and-water shield, or step flashing that has to come out anyway.

You sign the proof of loss form. We just make sure the claim deadline doesn't surprise you while the ceiling is still leaking.

Most shingle roofs here take one to three days once the dumpster is set and the material is staged. A sprawling ranch with three gables takes longer than a compact hip.

The order rarely changes: tear-off, deck inspection, decking repair, then a self-adhered ice-and-water shield at the eave, synthetic underlayment across the field, drip edge, starter course, and staggered field course up to the ridge cap.

Tile, slate, and metal panel systems run longer, because each piece is set by hand and the substrate gets checked first.

Start with the signs you can see: granule loss collecting in the gutter, curled or missing shingles, dark streaks on the roof deck from the attic side. A failed pipe boot or a leaking chimney flashing is a repair, not a new roof.

End-of-life wear reads differently. When shingles crack across the field, the mat turns brittle, and water wicks into the valley and under the step flashing, patching buys you one season at best.

We check the attic too, because rot and decay at the sheathing or the rafter ends tell us more than anything visible from the ladder.

Salt air and humidity off the bay are hard on fasteners and metal, so we spec coated nails and screws and lean toward materials that tolerate the coast.

• Architectural shingle carries a heavier mat than three-tab shingle and holds up better in wind-driven rain.
• Standing-seam panel and metal roofing shed salt spray well when the fasteners and washers are correct.
• EPDM and TPO membrane handle low-slope and flat sections where water ponds after a storm.
• Modified bitumen and built-up roof systems still earn their place on porches, canopies, and awning roofs.
• Cedar shake and wood shake breathe well but want more attention in humid air.
• Slate, clay tile, and concrete tile are the long-haul choices on a steep roof, and corrugated panel is a practical fit for sheds and outbuildings.

Once a year suits most homes, plus a visit after any nor'easter or hurricane threat that throws debris across the rooftop. Coastal properties in Ortley Beach and Dover Beaches do better on a twice-a-year rhythm.

During a roof inspection we check the ridge vent and soffit vent for airflow, the insulation and vapor barrier in the attic, and whether an ice dam is likely to form at the eave.

Small items get handled on the spot: resealing a flashing bead with roof cement or mastic, replacing a cracked vent boot, resetting a loose snow guard.