Roofing questions

An independent roofing contractor that serves your area, or a referral service that connects you with one. Clifton Roof does not employ roofers. The contractor gives its own price and is responsible for its own work.

No. You can ask questions, have the roof inspected and take your time deciding. Getting more than one price is common, especially for a full replacement.

Home improvement contractors, roofers included, must register with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Look the company up under Business Search in the state's license verification system, and ask for a copy of its liability insurance policy.

Repairing or replacing the existing roof covering on a detached one- or two-family home is ordinary maintenance under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(c), so no permit is needed for that. Structural work and additions need one. The Clifton Building Department can confirm for your house.

Yes. Leaks, lifted shingles, chimney flashing and worn flat roofs are all reasons to call, and you are connected with an independent roofing contractor the same way. See roof repair for common jobs, or repair or replace? if you are not sure which the roof needs.

The roof work itself often takes a few days on a typical house, longer on a steep or complicated roof or when deck repairs turn up. Material delivery and weather add time. Ask the contractor for the whole schedule, not only the days on the roof.

For replacing the existing roof covering on a detached one- or two-family home, New Jersey's code says no: it is ordinary maintenance (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(c)). Structural work, attached homes and additions are treated differently. When in doubt, call the Clifton Building Department, 973-470-5809.

Sometimes, but most contractors prefer a full tear-off on older houses so they can check and repair the deck. If a contractor proposes an overlay, ask how many layers are already there and how that affects the shingle warranty.

Yes. A cracked vent boot or a few lifted shingles is a small job, and fixing it early keeps water out of the deck, the insulation and the ceilings. Describe it on the call and the contractor will say whether it is work they take on.

Mainly how hard the spot is to reach, how long it takes to find where the water gets in, and what turns up once the old material is opened: wet decking or rotted fascia add work. Matching materials, masonry at a chimney and gutter work also count. Ask how extra damage found during the repair will be priced before work starts.

Often not exactly. Shingles fade with sun and product lines change, so new pieces can stand out on an older slope at first. Ask the contractor what match they can get and where it will show.

Many can. Shingles are stiffer in the cold and sealant strips need warmth to bond, so the contractor may hand-seal new shingles or make a temporary repair and finish it in milder weather. Ask what they plan to do and when.

The addition is normally permitted as one project that includes the roof. Building or enlarging a structure requires a construction permit under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14. Ask your town's construction office how they want it filed.

Often it can come close. Shingle colors weather and product lines change, so an exact match is not always possible. Replacing the whole roof at the same time is one way to make it match.

Either can work. What matters is that the company doing the roofing is registered as a home improvement contractor and that one party is responsible for the tie-in.

It depends on the product, the ventilation, the roof's pitch and how much sun and shade it gets. Instead of relying on age alone, have a contractor look for widespread curling, cracking and granule loss.

Usually algae, which grows where roofs stay damp and shaded. It is mostly cosmetic. If you are replacing the roof anyway, algae-resistant shingles are an option.

Usually, if the shingles around them are still flexible and the seal strips on neighboring shingles hold. The contractor slips new ones in and nails them under the course above. On a worn-out slope, the old shingles may crack as they are lifted, which is a sign the slope is near the end.

Not always. Gutters often come down during a replacement. If they are sagging or rusted, it can make sense to replace them at the same time, and the drip edge should be detailed to work with them.

Most flat roofs need a slight slope toward a gutter or drain. Sagging framing, settled decks or missing tapered insulation leave low spots. A replacement is the time to fix the slope, not only the surface.

Often, if the membrane is sound apart from one seam, a puncture or a spot where it has pulled away from the wall. Each membrane type is repaired with its own materials, so tell the contractor what is up there if you know. Blisters and splits all over, or a deck that has gone soft, point to replacing the section.

Yes, and it often makes sense: one contractor handles both roofs and the joint between them. Ask for the porch or rear roof to be priced as its own line.

The state rule lists the repair or replacement of existing roof covering on detached one- and two-family dwellings as ordinary maintenance (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(c)). Work that changes the framing or slope may affect the structure, so ask your construction office if you are unsure.

Installed over a solid wood deck with underlayment and an insulated attic, most homeowners notice little difference. Metal on open framing, as on some sheds, is louder.

Yes, if the pitch suits the system. Steep gables suit standing seam well. Ask about how the panels handle dormers, chimneys and porch roofs.

Replacing the existing roof covering on a detached one- or two-family home is ordinary maintenance under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7(c). Check with your construction office if the job involves structural changes or an attached home.

No. Tenants can usually stay, but the noise of tear-off is hard to ignore, and someone should be able to reach the attic if the contractor needs it.

Whether the water is coming through the main roof, a porch roof or the chimney, and whether the repair can be reached from outside without entering the tenant's unit. If attic or ceiling access is needed, agree a time with the tenant before the visit.

The owner of the building. If the house is a condominium with two units, the master deed or association documents decide who is responsible for the roof. Check them before calling.

It can, but the joint between the porch roof and the wall or main roof is easier to flash well when both are done together.

It depends on the condition, not only the age. A sound roof with one problem may be worth fixing. A roof worn all over usually is not. Ask the contractor for an honest estimate of how many years are left.

Often, yes, if the patch is a real repair and not hiding a wider problem. It is reasonable to ask for a repair price and a replacement price at the same visit.

Not on their own. Ice dams usually come from heat escaping into the attic and refreezing at the eaves. Insulation and ventilation fix the cause. If the roof is being replaced anyway, an ice barrier at the eaves and better ventilation are worth asking about.