Deck repair
Damaged sheathing is cut out and new panels go in and loose boards are renailed.
Replacing a roof in Dover means stripping the old layers, fixing the deck and building a new roof system from the wood up, with a written scope so you know exactly what is being replaced. Call (862) 430-1002 to reach a local roofer.
Most roofs reach the point of replacement through age rather than one dramatic event. Asphalt shingles lose their protective granules over the years, then dry out, curl, crack and stop sealing down, and a roof in that shape starts leaking in new places faster than anyone can patch it. Three-tab shingles tend to wear out sooner than heavier architectural shingles, and a roof that has already been overlaid once has no second chance.
The visible roofing is only part of what gets replaced. Below the surface sits plywood or OSB decking, felt or synthetic underlayment, ice barrier in the valleys and along the eaves, drip edge, step and counter flashing, pipe boots and ridge or box vents. Leaving old flashing or rotten boards in place undercuts the new roofing laid over them.
Ahead of the first conversation with a Dover roofer, note the age of the roof, any leak spots on ceilings and whether there might be two layers up there. If the attic is easy to reach, check for dark, damp boards or pinholes of daylight while standing only on framing.
Depending on what the roofer finds, roof replacement in Dover, NJ can go hand in hand with roof installation and shingle roof replacement.
Dealing with this in Dover, NJ right now? Call (862) 430-1002 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowEach step builds on the one before it, so the order matters.
The roofer walks the roof where it is safe, checks the attic and measures every slope to confirm that replacement, not repair, is the right call. You should come away with a written scope that lists materials, layers to remove and who pulls the building permit most towns require.
Tarps go over plants and walls, and the old roofing comes off in sections into a dumpster or trailer. Good crews open only what they can cover again before they leave.
With the deck exposed, the crew walks it for soft spots and replaces rotted or delaminated plywood, OSB or plank boards.
The new layers go on in order: drip edge, ice barrier, underlayment, starter course, step and counter flashing, vents and then the shingles or panels. Ridge vents are matched to soffit intake so the attic can breathe.
Old roofing is hauled away and the property is swept with magnets for stray nails. If a permit was pulled, the final inspection happens around this point.
Damaged sheathing is cut out and new panels go in and loose boards are renailed.
All old layers are stripped to the deck and hauled away which lets the crew see the decking.
Attic vents are replaced and sized for the attic so the attic stays dry in winter and cooler in summer.
New underlayment goes over the whole roof and self-sealing ice barrier goes where water collects as a second line of defense.
Worn flashing and cracked pipe boots are replaced rather than reused at every place the roof meets something.
In the trade, reroofing simply means roofing a house that already has a roof, as opposed to roofing new construction. An overlay may be allowed if there is only one layer and the deck is solid, but it hides the wood and adds weight. A tear-off costs more labor, but it is the only way to see and fix what is under the old roof.
When you talk with a Dover roofer about reroofing, ask how many layers are on the house now and how they will confirm it. Make sure the scope lists the underlayment, the ice barrier, the drip edge and the vent work, not just the shingles.
During a tear-off, the crew strips the roof to bare wood using shovels and roofing forks, slope by slope. A dumpster is placed near the drop zone, and tarps cover beds, patios and anything that could catch falling debris.
Once the old roof is gone, every soft or rotted board is out in the open. It is common to find rot at the eaves, along valleys and beside chimneys, where leaks went unnoticed.
The decking is the wood surface between the rafters and the roofing, usually plywood or OSB on newer homes and plank boards on older ones. Long-term leaks, poor attic ventilation and condensation can leave it soft, delaminated or rotted, and nails will not hold in weak wood.
Damaged sheets are cut out between rafters and replaced with new panels of the same thickness, and older plank decks with wide gaps are sometimes covered with new sheathing. Since nobody knows exactly how much bad wood is under a roof until it is torn off, ask how deck replacement will be priced in the contract.
In Dover, replacement requests come from older homes and newer ones alike: older homes that may still carry two layers of shingles or plank decking, and newer ones whose first roof is simply reaching the end of its life. For homeowners in Dover and nearby places including Wharton, Rockaway, Mount Arlington and Morris Plains, getting the old roof off before leaks reach the wood saves the biggest headaches, and a roofer can tell you whether you have a few years left or should plan the work now.
For roof replacement in Dover, NJ or nearby towns like Wharton, Rockaway, Mount Arlington and Morris Plains, call (862) 430-1002 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
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, 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 Dover is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Dover and nearby towns.
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
More questions? Call (862) 430-1002
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, with ventilation and flashing planned in from the start.
Learn moreFull shingle roof replacement, from tear-off and deck repair to new shingles and flashing, so the new roof starts on a sound, dry deck.
Learn moreTearing off failed metal panels, repairing the framing and putting on a new metal roof, so the new roof starts on a sound base.
Learn moreA roofer's inspection, notes and repair scope to support a roof insurance claim, from the first inspection to the repair.
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See all roofing servicesCall now for Dover roof replacement and help in the towns around it.