Synthetic underlayment
A synthetic water barrier goes over every sheet of decking so wind-driven rain has a backup.
Shingle Roofing
Shingle Roof Installation South Orange, NJ
A South Orange roofer can help you pick between 3-tab, architectural and impact-resistant shingles and install the full system beneath them, with nailing and flashing done to the shingle instructions. Call (973) 858-1859 to reach a local roofer.
Shingles are only the top layer of a shingle roof. Below the shingles go metal drip edge, a self-adhering ice barrier at the eaves and valleys, a layer of underlayment and a starter row at the edges. Then come the flashing details and the ventilation, which decide whether the roof stays dry and how long the shingles last.
Choosing the shingle comes before any of the layers. Flat 3-tab shingles are a single layer with cutouts, while architectural, or dimensional, shingles are laminated from two layers for more thickness, depth and wind resistance. Where hail is a concern, Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are worth a look, and your insurer can tell you whether they change anything on your policy.
Not every roof can take shingles. The usual minimum for shingles is a 2 in 12 pitch, with a double layer of underlayment on slopes up to 4 in 12. Porches and low additions often need a different material where they tie into the main roof.
Many shingle roof installation calls in South Orange also turn up a need for shingle roof replacement or roof installation.
Need shingle roof installation in South Orange? Call (973) 858-1859 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in South Orange.
Call nowThe process
Building a shingle roof layer by layer
A shingle roof is built from the eaves up, layer over layer.
Prepare the deck
The roof deck, usually plywood or OSB, is checked for soft spots, gaps and protruding nails before anything covers it. Shingles laid on a bad deck show every flaw.
Seal the edges
The eaves get drip edge and a band of ice and water shield, and the valleys get a full-length strip. Where ice dams form, codes call for the barrier to reach beyond the warm wall line.
Underlayment rows
Synthetic underlayment or felt is rolled out in overlapping rows from the bottom up, then drip edge goes on along the rakes over it. Synthetic underlayment is lighter, stronger and less likely to wrinkle than felt.
Starter strip
The starter row seals the bottom edge and rakes of the roof. Skipping it is a common cause of edge blow-offs.
Shingle the field
The field is shingled with correct offsets and nailing, with step flashing, kickout flashing and pipe boots set as the courses reach them. Valleys are either open metal or closed-cut shingle valleys.
Ventilation at the ridge
A ridge vent is cut in along the peak and capped with hip and ridge shingles, balanced with soffit intake at the eaves. Mixing ridge vents with box vents can short circuit the airflow.
What is included
Layers of a shingle roof system
Shingle selection
3-tab, architectural or impact-resistant shingles are matched to the house before materials are ordered.
Eave membrane
The lowest edge of the roof gets a sealed membrane where ice dams and runoff hit hardest.
Ridge ventilation
Step, counter and kickout flashing, pipe boots and a ridge vent are installed new so the details match the shingles.
Drip edge
Drip edge and a sealed starter row protect the roof edges so water drips clear of the fascia.
Related service
Architectural Shingle Installation South Orange, NJ
Architectural shingles go on over the same deck, underlayment and starter as any shingle, with their own nailing pattern. The double thickness only holds if the nails catch both layers, so placement is checked as the roof goes on. The ridge and hips get thicker cap shingles made for the line, not cut 3-tab pieces.
For South Orange homeowners, architectural shingle installation has become the default for new roofs. They resist wind, add depth to the roofline and outlast flat shingles. Look at a few colors on a nearby roof in daylight before deciding.
Related service
Asphalt Shingle Roof Installation South Orange, NJ
Asphalt shingle roof installation is standard work, but the quality varies a lot from one crew to the next. Problems on new roofs usually trace to high nails, skipped starter or reused flashing. Ask what layers will go down before the shingles and how the valleys will be done.
Most asphalt shingle installs in South Orange wrap up quickly once materials are on site. Cold weather slows the factory sealant, so shingles laid in winter may need hand sealing. Plan around a dry stretch, since the deck should never be covered while wet.
Local help
Shingle Roof Installation Near Me
New shingle roofs in South Orange go on everything from new houses and additions to reroofs of older homes. Across South Orange and nearby communities including Vauxhall, East Orange, Union and Short Hills, architectural shingles have replaced 3-tab as the usual pick on new installations, which is why the system under the shingles deserves as much attention as the color. Searching for shingle roof installation near me? Ask how the flashing and ventilation will be handled.
Searching for shingle roof installation near me from South Orange or Vauxhall, East Orange, Union and Short Hills? Call (973) 858-1859 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
Roofs in this climate
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in South Orange is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in South Orange know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Shingle Roof Installation questions
What is the minimum pitch for asphalt shingles?
Shingles are made for slopes of 2 in 12 and steeper. Low slopes from 2 in 12 up to 4 in 12 need extra underlayment. Flatter sections are roofed with a membrane instead.
Which is better, 3-tab or architectural shingles?
3-tab shingles are a single flat layer with cutouts, while architectural shingles are two laminated layers. The thicker build gives architectural shingles better wind resistance and a longer life, and many lines no longer offer 3-tab. 3-tab can make sense on outbuildings or when matching an older roof.
Can shingles be installed in cold weather?
Mild, dry weather is the easiest time to install shingles. In cold weather shingles get stiff and the sealant strips need sun to bond, so roofers handle them carefully and often hand seal the edges. Wet decking is the hard stop at any time of year.
How many nails should each shingle have?
Nailing is what holds shingles down until the sealant bonds and long after. Most shingles take four nails, or six in high-wind zones. High or overdriven nails are a leading cause of blow-offs on newer roofs.
What goes under the shingles on a new roof?
The layers beneath shingles are drip edge, ice barrier, underlayment and starter strip, in that general order. Synthetic underlayment has largely replaced felt because it is lighter, stronger and less likely to wrinkle or tear. Check that the shingle instructions and local code are both followed.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1859
Other services that may help
Shingle Roof Replacement
Replacing an aging shingle roof once repairs no longer hold, including permits, cleanup and a final check.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Roof ventilation work that keeps the attic dry in winter and cooler in summer, based on what the attic actually needs.
Learn moreGutter Installation
Gutter installation that carries roof water away from the siding, fascia and foundation, with the fascia checked before anything is hung.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet shingle roof installation help in South Orange
Call (973) 858-1859 for a local roofer in South Orange and nearby towns.