Roof Replacement on an Edison House
A roof replacement in Edison usually means taking off what's there, often two layers on a house from the 1950s or 1960s, checking and repairing the decking, then building the roof back up: drip edge, underlayment, a waterproof ice barrier along the eaves and in the valleys, flashing at every wall and chimney, ventilation, and new architectural shingles. Done over a few days on a typical house, weather allowing. Most of the decisions that matter are made before the first shingle comes off, and they're worth understanding before you sign.
Tear-Off or Layover
New Jersey's building code generally allows no more than two layers of asphalt shingles on a roof, so a house that already has two needs a tear-off. Even where a layover is allowed, most roofers here recommend tearing off, because a layover:
- hides the decking, so soft or rotted boards stay under the new roof
- adds weight to framing that was sized for one layer
- makes ice barrier at the eaves hard to install properly
- can shorten the life of the new shingles and complicate the manufacturer's warranty
A tear-off costs more in labor and disposal, and it's the only way to know what's underneath. More: tear-off or layover on second roofs.
What the Average Cost of a New Roof Depends On
There's no honest single number for a new roof, because the bill is built from the house, not from an average. The things that move it most:
- Size and pitch: more squares of roof, and steeper roofs that need more safety equipment and time
- Layers coming off: one layer or two, and disposal
- Decking: how many sheets or boards are soft, and whether old plank decking gets sheathed over
- Complexity: valleys, dormers, skylights, chimneys and the number of roof planes
- Materials: shingle line and color, ice barrier coverage, ridge vents and flashing metal
- Access: tight driveways, landscaping, a neighbor's fence close to the house
More, factor by factor: what a roof replacement costs depends on.
What Goes Under the Shingles
| Layer | What it does | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Decking | The wood the roof is nailed to | How many sheets are budgeted for replacement, and the price per extra sheet |
| Drip edge | Metal at the eaves and rakes that steers water into the gutter | Is it included at both? |
| Ice barrier | Self-sealing membrane at the eaves, valleys and around penetrations | How far up from the eaves it goes |
| Underlayment | Synthetic layer over the rest of the decking | Which product |
| Flashing | Metal at walls, chimneys and vents | New, or reused? |
| Ventilation | Intake at the soffits and exhaust at the ridge | Will it be balanced, and are soffit vents open? |
| Shingles | The weather surface | Product line, color, and the warranty tier you qualify for |
Architectural, 3-Tab or Designer
Most new roofs in Edison are architectural (dimensional) shingles: thicker, with a shadowed look and better wind ratings than the flat 3-tab shingles many older roofs were built with. Designer shingles imitate slate or shake at a higher price. Manufacturers offer longer warranties when their certified installers use a full system of their own components. More: reading shingle labels.
How Many Days Does a New Roof Take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the roof, the number of layers, how much decking needs replacing, and the weather. Many single-family roofs are torn off and reshingled in a few days. The roofer should cover the open roof at the end of every day, and work shouldn't start with heavy rain in the forecast.
Permits and Paperwork
Roof replacement in New Jersey can require a construction permit from the township, depending on the work, and some jobs are treated as ordinary repairs. Ask the roofer whether a permit is needed for your job and who pulls it; it should be in the contract. Keep the contract, the permit if there is one, the shingle warranty registration and photos of the finished roof together. You'll want them when you sell.
What Replacement Week Looks Like at Home
Tear-offs are loud and messy, and it helps to know what to expect. A dumpster or trailer arrives in the driveway the day before or the morning of. The crew sets tarps over landscaping and plywood against the house where debris falls. Inside, you may hear hammering through the ceilings and see a little dust in the attic; move anything stored up there that you care about, and take down wall hangings on upper floors. At the end of each day, the roof should be watertight. At the end of the job, a magnet sweep should pick up nails from the lawn and driveway. Park your car outside the work zone.
Fixing Ventilation While the Roof Is Open
The best time to correct attic ventilation is during a replacement. A roofer can cut a continuous ridge vent, add or open soffit vents, and remove old box vents that fight with the new system. Balanced intake and exhaust keep the attic closer to outside temperatures, which helps the shingles last and reduces ice dams. More: attic ventilation and ice dams.
Roof Replacement Around Edison
Edison
- Clara BartonEdison
- Oak TreeEdison
- North EdisonEdison
- Menlo ParkEdison
- SteltonEdison
- BonhamtownEdison
- LindenauEdison
- PiscatawaytownEdison
Rail corridor
Raritan side
South and north
Thinking about metal instead? See metal roofing.