Old roof removal
All old layers are stripped to the deck and hauled away so the new roof starts on clean wood.
A Leonia roofing contractor can replace a roof that is too old or too damaged to patch, starting with a full tear-off and a check of the decking, and the inspection beforehand tells you whether replacement is really needed. One call to (551) 348-8956 reaches a nearby roofing contractor.
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. The type of shingle and the number of layers already on the roof both shape when, and how, a replacement happens.
A new roof is really a system, and the shingles are the last layer of it. A complete replacement covers the decking, underlayment, ice barrier, drip edge, every piece of flashing, the pipe boots and the ventilation, not just the outer roofing. A new surface over worn flashing or soft decking inherits the old problems.
Before you call, try to find out roughly how old the roof is, whether it has been overlaid before and where any leaks have shown up. A flashlight look at the attic side of the roof, stepping only on joists, can show stains or daylight the roofer will want to hear about.
Roof Replacement is often paired with roof installation and shingle roof replacement, depending on the cause.
Looking for Leonia roof replacement? Call (551) 348-8956 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Leonia.
Call nowHere is the typical sequence for replacing a residential roof.
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. Only as much is torn off in a day as can be dried in by evening.
Any soft, cracked or water-stained sheathing is cut out and replaced, and loose boards are renailed.
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. Correct nail placement and balanced ventilation matter as much as the roofing material.
The crew clears the gutters, hauls the dumpster and runs a magnetic sweeper over the yard. A final walk-through with you is the time to point out anything that looks off.
All old layers are stripped to the deck and hauled away so the new roof starts on clean wood.
Soft or rotted plywood, OSB or plank boards are replaced so the roof has a solid base.
Ventilation is reworked so intake and exhaust are balanced so the attic stays dry in winter and cooler in summer.
A fresh underlayment layer and ice barrier at the eaves and valleys protect the deck behind the roofing.
Drip edge, step flashing, counter flashing and pipe boots are renewed instead of being caulked and reused.
In the trade, reroofing simply means roofing a house that already has a roof, as opposed to roofing new construction. Building codes generally allow at most two layers of asphalt shingles, and an overlay is only an option when the existing roof is flat, dry and has a sound deck. That is why most roofers recommend tearing off, even when an overlay is technically allowed.
When you talk with a Leonia roofer about reroofing, ask how many layers are on the house now and how they will confirm it. Also ask whether the new roof will get ice and water shield, new drip edge and new pipe boots, since those are easy places to cut corners.
Tearing off a roof means scraping away the shingles, felt and nails until only the sheathing is left. The debris goes straight into a dumpster or dump trailer parked close to the house, with tarps protecting plants, decks and siding below.
Tearing the roof off is the only way to see the condition of the deck. It is common to find rot at the eaves, along valleys and beside chimneys, where leaks went unnoticed.
Under every roof is a deck of plywood, OSB or spaced boards that holds the nails and carries the load. Years of small leaks or a damp attic can rot sheathing or make OSB swell and lose strength.
Rotted sections are cut back to solid wood and replaced, and spaced plank decks may get a full layer of new plywood or OSB. 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.
Around Leonia, most replacement jobs come down to age and weather: original roofs on homes built decades ago, second roofs laid over the first, and newer roofs aged early by storms. Across Leonia and neighboring communities such as Palisades Park, Fort Lee, Ridgefield Park and Englewood, a roof replaced while the decking is still sound is a smaller, faster project, and a roofer can tell you whether you have a few years left or should plan the work now.
Searching for roof replacement near me from Leonia or Palisades Park, Fort Lee, Ridgefield Park and Englewood? Call (551) 348-8956 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Leonia, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Leonia and nearby towns.
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
More questions? Call (551) 348-8956
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, whether it is asphalt shingles, metal or another material.
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 moreReplacing a rusted or worn-out metal roof, or swapping an old shingle roof for new metal, 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.
Learn moreLooking for something else?
See all roofing servicesCall (551) 348-8956 for a local roofer in Leonia and nearby towns.