Old roof removal
The old roofing and underlayment are removed completely instead of being buried under new shingles.
Replacing a roof in Orange means stripping the old layers, fixing the deck and building a new roof system from the wood up, and the inspection beforehand tells you whether replacement is really needed. Call (973) 858-1825 to reach a local roofer.
Most roofs reach the point of replacement through age rather than one dramatic event. As shingles age they shed granules, turn brittle and curl at the edges, so leaks begin turning up in more than one spot at a time. The type of shingle and the number of layers already on the roof both shape when, and how, a replacement happens.
The visible roofing is only part of what gets replaced. Underneath are the deck boards or sheathing, the underlayment, ice and water shield at the eaves and valleys, metal drip edge, flashing at every wall and chimney, pipe boots and the vents that let the attic breathe. Skipping any of those parts is how a brand new roof ends up leaking in its first heavy rain.
Ahead of the first conversation with an Orange roofer, note the age of the roof, any leak spots on ceilings and whether there might be two layers up there. A quick look in the attic with a flashlight for damp wood or daylight is useful too, as long as you stay on the joists.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, an Orange roofer may also recommend roof installation or shingle roof replacement.
Dealing with this in Orange, NJ right now? Call (973) 858-1825 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowEach step builds on the one before it, so the order matters.
An assessment covers the shingles, flashing, vents and the decking seen from the attic, along with measurements of each roof plane. A written scope spells out the roofing, underlayment, flashing and vents, and the contractor usually files the reroof permit.
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.
Bare decking shows exactly where water got in, and damaged sections are swapped for new sheathing.
After the underlayment and ice barrier, the crew sets starter, flashing, pipe boots and ventilation before the roofing itself goes down. Nailing to the shingle maker's pattern and balancing ridge exhaust with soffit intake are what make the roof last.
Old roofing is hauled away and the property is swept with magnets for stray nails. A final walk-through with you is the time to point out anything that looks off.
The old roofing and underlayment are removed completely instead of being buried under new shingles.
Flashing at walls, chimneys, skylights and vents is replaced with new metal so the weak points match the new roof.
Synthetic underlayment covers the deck, with ice and water shield at the eaves and valleys behind the roofing.
Attic vents are replaced and sized for the attic to keep heat and moisture out of the attic.
Damaged sheathing is cut out and new panels go in before anything new is nailed down.
Reroofing is the general term for putting a new roof on an existing house, whether that means a full tear-off or, in limited cases, a single overlay. 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. For most homes, a full tear-off is the better reroof because it exposes the deck and lets every piece of flashing be replaced.
When you talk with an Orange roofer about reroofing, ask how many layers are on the house now and how they will confirm it. Ask what happens to the existing flashing and pipe boots, because reusing them is a common shortcut.
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.
Once the old roof is gone, every soft or rotted board is out in the open. Hidden rot around chimneys, skylights and valleys can be cut out, and old flashing that was buried under tar can be replaced.
The decking is the wood surface between the rafters and the roofing, usually plywood or OSB on newer homes and plank boards on older ones. Long-term leaks, poor attic ventilation and condensation can leave it soft, delaminated or rotted, and nails will not hold in weak wood.
Damaged sheets are cut out between rafters and replaced with new panels of the same thickness, and older plank decks with wide gaps are sometimes covered with new sheathing. Because the extent of the damage is unknown before tear-off, the contract should explain how extra sheets are counted.
Roof replacement in Orange covers a wide range of houses: original roofs on homes built decades ago, second roofs laid over the first, and newer roofs aged early by storms. For homeowners in Orange and nearby places including East Orange, Glen Ridge, Caldwell and Roseland, getting the old roof off before leaks reach the wood saves the biggest headaches, so it pays to have an aging roof looked at before it starts leaking in several places.
Searching for roof replacement near me from Orange or East Orange, Glen Ridge, Caldwell and Roseland? Call (973) 858-1825 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, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Orange, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Orange and nearby towns.
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1825
Installing a new roof layer by layer, from drip edge and underlayment to flashing, vents and the finished roofing, 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 moreTearing off failed metal panels, repairing the framing and putting on a new metal roof, chosen to fit the building and the old roof underneath.
Learn moreHelp documenting hail and wind damage and meeting the insurance adjuster on the roof, while the adjuster and your policy decide what is covered.
Learn moreLooking for something else?
See all roofing servicesCall (973) 858-1825 to talk to a roofer serving Orange, NJ.