Flashing details
New flashing and balanced ventilation finish the system to keep the attic and roof in balance.
Shingle Roofing
Shingle Roof Installation Rahway, NJ
A roofer in Rahway can install a new shingle roof from the deck up: drip edge, ice and water shield, underlayment, starter strip, shingles, flashing and ridge vent, with nailing and flashing done to the shingle instructions. Call (908) 562-6861 to reach a local roofer.
Shingles are only the top layer of a shingle roof. The layers under the shingles include drip edge, ice and water shield, underlayment and starter strip, each with its own job. Flashing and attic ventilation round it out, and most leaks on newer roofs come from those details rather than the shingles.
Shingle choice sets the look, the wind rating and the life of the roof. Most new roofs use architectural shingles, which are heavier and longer lasting than the older flat 3-tab style. For hail-prone areas there are impact-resistant shingles, and lighter colors can help keep a sunny attic cooler.
Shingles are made for sloped roofs. The usual minimum for shingles is a 2 in 12 pitch, with a double layer of underlayment on slopes up to 4 in 12. Flat sections are flagged during the estimate so the right material goes on each part.
Depending on what the roofer finds, shingle roof installation in Rahway, NJ can go hand in hand with shingle roof replacement and roof installation.
Dealing with this in Rahway, NJ right now? Call (908) 562-6861 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Rahway.
Call nowThe process
Building a shingle roof layer by layer
Here is the order a roofer follows on a new shingle roof.
Start with the deck
On a reroof or new build, the deck is inspected and fixed first, since shingles follow every dip beneath them. Moisture trapped under underlayment causes buckling later.
Drip edge at the eaves
Metal drip edge is fastened at the eaves, and a self-adhering ice barrier covers the eaves and valleys where water and ice collect. In cold climates the ice barrier extends past the inside of the exterior wall.
Lay the underlayment
Synthetic underlayment or felt is rolled out in overlapping rows from the bottom up, then drip edge goes on along the rakes over it. Most roofers now use synthetic, which resists tearing and lies flatter than felt.
Starter strip
The starter row seals the bottom edge and rakes of the roof. That is where wind damage usually begins on a poorly built roof.
Nail the courses
The field is shingled with correct offsets and nailing, with step flashing, kickout flashing and pipe boots set as the courses reach them. Counter flashing laps over the step flashing at chimneys and walls.
Cap the roof
The ridge gets a continuous vent and cap shingles, and the soffits are checked for open intake. Too little intake makes a ridge vent pull air the wrong way.
What is included
Parts of a shingle installation
Choosing a shingle
The style, color and wind rating are chosen up front before materials are ordered.
Drip edge
The edges get drip edge and starter shingles for a clean, sealed edge.
Eave membrane
The lowest edge of the roof gets a sealed membrane to seal around nails if water backs up.
Synthetic underlayment
A synthetic water barrier goes over every sheet of decking so wind-driven rain has a backup.
Related service
Architectural Shingle Installation Rahway, NJ
Architectural shingles go on over the same deck, underlayment and starter as any shingle, with their own nailing pattern. The nails must land in the narrow area where the two laminated layers overlap, or the bottom layer can slip and the wind rating is lost. Compatible starter and cap products finish the edges and ridge cleanly.
For Rahway homeowners, architectural shingle installation has become the default for new roofs. They stand up to wind better than 3-tab, hide small dips in the deck and usually last longer. Look at a few colors on a nearby roof in daylight before deciding.
Related service
Asphalt Shingle Roof Installation Rahway, NJ
An asphalt shingle roof installation is the most common way to roof a house, and the details decide how well it performs. Problems on new roofs usually trace to high nails, skipped starter or reused flashing. Ask what layers will go down before the shingles and how the valleys will be done.
A new asphalt roof in Rahway is usually installed in one to three days once the deck is ready. Cold weather slows the factory sealant, so shingles laid in winter may need hand sealing. The crew will watch the forecast, since wet decking cannot be covered.
Local help
Shingle Roof Installation Near Me
Around Rahway, shingle installation covers new builds, garages, additions and full reroofs. From Rahway out to neighboring towns such as Avenel, Colonia, Linden and Iselin, houses built decades ago tend to need ventilation and flashing upgrades when they get a new shingle roof, and a shingle chosen for local wind and hail makes sense anywhere storms roll through. Looking for a shingle roofer near me? Ask about the full system, from drip edge to ridge.
Need shingle roof installation around Rahway? Call (908) 562-6861 for a Rahway roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Rahway
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. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Rahway, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Rahway know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Shingle Roof Installation FAQ
What kind of underlayment should go under shingles?
Under the shingles sit drip edge, a self-adhering ice barrier in the leak-prone areas, a full layer of underlayment and starter shingles. Most roofers now use synthetic underlayment instead of felt, since it lies flat and resists tearing. The shingle instructions and local code set the minimum.
How steep does a roof need to be for shingles?
Asphalt shingles need a slope of at least 2 in 12. Between 2 in 12 and 4 in 12, a double layer of underlayment or a full ice barrier is required to make up for slow runoff. Flatter sections are roofed with a membrane instead.
What is the difference between 3-tab and architectural shingles?
A 3-tab shingle is thin and uniform, and an architectural shingle is thicker, heavier and layered. For most homes architectural shingles are the better value over the life of the roof. A roofer can help weigh the two for your house.
What is the best season for a shingle roof installation?
Warm, dry days give the best results for a shingle install. Cold-weather installs are done regularly, with extra care for brittle shingles and hand sealing where the strips will not activate. Wet decking is the hard stop at any time of year.
Why does nail placement matter on a shingle roof?
Nail count and placement decide how well shingles stay on in wind. Standard nailing uses four nails, and high-wind areas often require six. Each nail has to sit in the nailing zone, flush with the surface, not too high and not driven through.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6861
Often needed together
Shingle Roof Replacement
Full shingle roof replacement, from tear-off and deck repair to new shingles and flashing, including permits, cleanup and a final check.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, whether it is asphalt shingles, metal or another material.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Fixing hot, damp or poorly vented attics with the right mix of intake and exhaust, without mixing vent types that work against each other.
Learn moreGutter Installation
New gutters and downspouts formed to fit the house, with the right size, pitch and outlet placement, with the fascia checked before anything is hung.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed shingle roof installation in Rahway, NJ?
Call (908) 562-6861 for a local roofer in Rahway and nearby towns.