Metal edging
Drip edge at the eaves and rakes keeps water off the fascia boards.
Roof Replacement
Roof Installation Paramus, NJ
A roofer in Paramus can install a new roof in the proper sequence: drip edge, ice and water shield, underlayment, starter strip, flashing, vents and then the roofing itself, and most of what makes a roof last happens before the first shingle goes down. One call to (551) 383-2304 reaches a nearby roofing contractor.
Most early roof leaks are installation problems, not material problems. Nails driven above the reinforced strip, flashing left out at a sidewall and short valleys are the kind of mistakes that show up within a few seasons. By the time they show up, the stain is already on the ceiling.
Before anything is ordered, the roofer and homeowner settle on the roofing material. Most homes get dimensional asphalt shingles, but metal panels, stone coated steel, tile and slate are all options, and each has its own installation rules. The slope of the roof limits the options, because shingles need a minimum pitch and nearly flat sections need a membrane roof.
A Paramus roofer will ask a handful of questions up front. Know whether this is a replacement on an existing home, a new addition or a brand new house, what roofing you are considering and whether the attic has soffit vents.
Many roof installation calls in Paramus also turn up a need for roof replacement or shingle roof installation.
Dealing with this in Paramus, NJ right now? Call (551) 383-2304 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
How roof installation works
Here is the usual order for installing a shingle roof.
Ready the decking
Before installation, the crew walks the decking and replaces soft or damaged sections. On an overlay, the old shingles must lie flat, and any badly curled ones are cut back or replaced.
Install the ice barrier
Drip edge goes on at the eaves, ice and water shield is rolled out along the eaves and in the valleys, and drip edge is then added along the rakes over the underlayment. That layering lets water drain off the metal instead of behind it.
Underlayment install
Underlayment rolls go on from the eaves up, with laps that shed water down the roof. It is the backup layer if a shingle is ever lifted or broken.
Install flashing
Step flashing is woven in with each course along sidewalls, counter flashing covers it at masonry, kickout flashing sits at the bottom of each wall line and new pipe boots go over every vent. Reused or caulk-only flashing is one of the most common installation shortcuts.
Lay the shingles
After a starter course, the crew lays shingles row by row, keeping the exposure even and the nails inside the nail strip. Correct nailing is what lets the roof stand up to wind.
Cap the ridge
A ridge vent is cut in along the peak and covered with ridge cap shingles, matched to the intake at the soffits. Without enough soffit intake, a ridge vent cannot do its job.
What is included
Parts of a new roof
Flashing
Step, counter and kickout flashing plus new pipe boots instead of reusing old metal.
Ventilation
An exhaust system sized for the attic which protects the roofing and the decking.
Underlayment
A full layer of underlayment plus ice barrier where water collects guards the deck if ice dams form.
Roof covering
The finished roofing, installed to the maker's nailing and fastening pattern from the eaves up to the peak.
Related service
New Roof Installation Paramus, NJ
Whether the roof is going on a new house, an addition or a stripped deck, the installation steps are largely the same. Additions take extra care, because the new roof has to tie into the old one with matching shingles, woven or flashed valleys and step flashing where the new roof meets an existing wall. Ask whether the new section will match the existing roofing or whether the whole roof should be redone.
Manufacturers publish exact steps for their products, and local code usually requires following them. Good questions for a Paramus roofing contractor include nail count, underlayment type and the ventilation plan. Vague answers about the hidden layers are worth noticing.
Related service
Roof Overlay Paramus, NJ
With an overlay, sometimes called a layover or recover, the new roofing goes on top of the existing shingles. It is only allowed on a roof with one existing layer that lies flat over a solid deck. It saves the labor of a tear-off and keeps the house closed during the job.
An overlay comes with downsides worth weighing. Hidden rot stays hidden, flashing is often reused and the roof carries the weight of two layers. When an overlay is proposed, ask how they confirmed there is only one layer and how the flashing will be handled.
Local help
Roof Installation Near Me
Around Paramus, roof installation work covers older houses getting their second or third roof and newer homes adding on. From Paramus out to neighboring communities such as Oradell, River Edge, Fair Lawn and New Milford, roofers see plank decks and thin attic vents on older houses and complex rooflines with many valleys on newer ones, so it is worth asking how each detail will be handled before the first bundle is opened.
Need roof installation around Paramus? Call (551) 383-2304 for a Paramus roofer who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a roof
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. 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. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Paramus, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Paramus and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Roof Installation FAQ
What goes under a new roof?
A new roof should have drip edge, ice barrier along the eaves and valleys and synthetic or felt underlayment everywhere else. Starter strip, step and kickout flashing and new pipe boots are also part of a proper installation.
How many days does roof installation take?
A typical house takes one to three working days once materials are on site. Complex roofs, heavy materials and bad weather all add time.
What happens if a roof is installed in winter?
Cold weather does not stop a roof installation, but it changes the routine. Shingles can crack when cold, and the sealant may not activate until warm weather, so hand sealing is common. Nobody should work on an icy or wet roof, so weather windows matter.
Is a permit needed to install a new roof?
Most towns require a permit for a new roof or a full reroof, though rules vary. Typically the contractor files it, and the town may inspect the finished roof.
What type of roof should I install?
It comes down to pitch, budget, look and how long you want the roof to last. Asphalt is the common choice, while metal, tile and slate each make sense for certain homes. A Paramus roofer can lay out the trade-offs for your roof.
More questions? Call (551) 383-2304
Related services
Roof Replacement
Full tear-off and replacement for roofs that are worn out, storm beaten or leaking in several places, with the old layers removed and the deck checked.
Learn moreShingle Roof Installation
Choosing the right shingle and installing every layer under it, from drip edge to ridge cap, with nailing and flashing done to the shingle instructions.
Learn moreMetal Roof Installation
New metal roofs in standing seam, exposed fastener, metal shingle and stone coated steel, for homes, garages and outbuildings.
Learn moreNew Construction Roofing
New construction roofs coordinated with the builder's schedule, with flashing timed around windows and siding.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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Call (551) 383-2304 to talk to a roofer serving Paramus, NJ.