What Edison Homeowners Call a Roofer For
Roofing contractors in Edison spend most of their time on four kinds of jobs: leaks that showed up after rain or wind, storm damage to shingles and flashing, full replacements on houses that have reached the end of a roof, and new roofs on additions, garages and porches. Most of the township's houses are pitched-roof homes from the 1950s through the 1970s with asphalt shingles, so that's the work local roofers know best. Call (848) 212-8655 and the call goes to an independent roofing company, not to this site.
What a Roofing Company Does on the First Visit
- Listens first. Where the water shows, when it started, how old the roof is if you know, and whether there's been a storm.
- Looks from the ground. Missing or lifted shingles, sagging lines, flashing at the chimney and walls, the condition of gutters and drip edge.
- Goes into the attic. Water stains on the decking, daylight through gaps, wet insulation, ventilation, and whether the decking is plank or plywood.
- Goes on the roof when it's safe. Not on wet, icy or very steep roofs without the right equipment. Close-up checks of shingles, nails, sealant, boots and flashing.
- Explains what they found. A repair, a replacement, or repairs now and a plan for later, with photos.
- Puts it in writing. Scope, materials, price and timing, if you choose to go ahead.
No one should go up on a wet or icy roof, including you. If water is coming in now, put a bucket under it, move what you can, and wait for the roofer.
Roofing Companies vs. General Contractors
| Roofing company | General contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| What they do most | Roof repair, replacement, installation, flashing, ventilation | Additions, kitchens, renovations; roofing as one part |
| Who's on the roof | Their own roofing crew, usually | Often a roofing subcontractor |
| Manufacturer certification | Common; affects the shingle warranty you can get | Less common |
| When it makes sense | Leaks, storm damage, a new roof | A new roof as part of an addition or a bigger renovation |
Either way, the company you hire should be registered with New Jersey as a home improvement contractor. Calls to this line go to roofing companies.
Checking a Roofer's NJ Registration
New Jersey's Contractors' Registration Act requires anyone who sells or performs home improvement work, roofing included, to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs. Registered contractors are supposed to show the registration number on their contracts, ads and commercial vehicles, and the state has taken action against roofing companies whose websites left it out. You can look up a registration in the state's license verification search. More: checking an NJ roofer's registration.
How Do I Check a Roofer in New Jersey?
Look up the company's home improvement contractor registration with the state, ask for a certificate of insurance sent from the insurer, read online history if there is any, and ask for a written contract before work starts. A local address and recent jobs nearby that you can drive past are good signs. A company that won't give you a registration number is not.
What Should a Roofing Contract Include?
The registered contractor's name, address and registration number; the scope of work (tear-off or layover, decking replacement, underlayment, ice barrier, flashing, ventilation); the shingle or metal product and color; the price and payment schedule; start and completion terms; who handles the permit if one is needed; cleanup; and the warranties, both the manufacturer's and the contractor's own workmanship warranty. In New Jersey, a home improvement contract also has to tell you about your right to cancel within three business days.
After a Storm, Slow Down
After a nor'easter or a summer windstorm, roofers get busy and so do people knocking on doors. A good roofer won't pressure you to sign the same day, won't ask for most of the money up front, and won't tell you what your insurance will pay. More: door-knockers after a storm.
Comparing Two Roofers Fairly
If you speak with more than one roofer, make the comparison apples to apples. Ask each to price the same scope: the same number of layers removed, the same decking allowance, ice barrier coverage, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, and the same shingle line. Then compare how long each has worked locally, how they communicate, what warranty tier they can offer, and how they handle surprises like extra decking. The lowest number isn't always the best value if it leaves something out. More: what a roof replacement costs depends on.
When to Call
Roofers in central New Jersey are busiest after big storms and through the warm months. A leak or storm damage should be called in right away. A planned replacement can be scheduled further out, and late winter is a good time to start the conversation so the work can happen when the weather turns.
Roofers Around Edison
Edison
- Clara BartonEdison
- Oak TreeEdison
- North EdisonEdison
- Menlo ParkEdison
- SteltonEdison
- BonhamtownEdison
- LindenauEdison
- PiscatawaytownEdison
Rail corridor
Raritan side
South and north
Still sorting out the problem? Start at roofing services.