What roof-replacement Includes
A roof estimate starts with a full roof inspection: decking, sheathing, truss and rafter condition, plus every penetration. The scope of work follows, written line by line.
- Tear-off of the old shingle, felt, or built-up roof down to the roof deck
- Replacement of rotted plywood or OSB sheathing
- Ice-and-water shield at the eave and valley
- Synthetic underlayment across the field
- New drip edge, step flashing, and counter-flashing
- Ridge vent and soffit vent work for ventilation
On steep-slope homes, a crew sets scaffold and ladder access, secures with a safety harness, and strips the roof with a roofing shovel and pry bar. Flat and low-slope sections call for membrane work instead — TPO, EPDM, or modified bitumen.
Cleanup matters as much as installation. A dumpster holds debris, a magnetic sweep catches stray nails, and gutters and downspouts get checked before the crew leaves.
Quality & Materials Standards
Material choice should match the roof's pitch and structure. Steep-slope homes take asphalt shingle — three-tab shingle on budget work, architectural shingle for a heavier laminated profile. Some Union City buildings carry slate, clay tile, or concrete tile that predates the current owners; those get matched, not covered.
Low-slope and flat roofs need membrane systems. A built-up roof or modified bitumen handles foot traffic and ponding water better than shingle, while TPO and PVC membrane offer reflective, seam-welded options for larger mid-rise rooftops.
Every job follows building code for fastening, ventilation, and ice-and-water shield placement. When a storm hits, document hail damage or wind damage with photos before repairs — that claim documentation supports your insurance claim, and an adjuster will compare it against the estimate. Know your deductible and how depreciation against replacement cost affects the payout.
Local Service Areas
Bergenline Avenue corridor
Dense rowhouse blocks where one failing roof affects the next.
- Early 20th century brick rowhouses with shared walls and tight setbacks
- Aging tar and asphalt surfaces on shallow-pitch rear sections
- Corroded pipe flashing and vent boots from years of weather
- Ice dams at the eave during nor'easter snow
Hudson River waterfront
Salt air and wind exposure make waterfront roofs age faster.
- Converted industrial lofts with large flat rooftop areas
- Membrane roofs showing seam failure and blistering
- Salt spray corrosion on metal panel and fasteners
- Ponding water where drains and scuppers clog
West Side
A mix of garden apartments and older homes on sloped and flat roofs.
- Garden apartments from the 1960s–1980s with low-slope sections
- Worn three-tab shingle near the end of service life
- Failing chimney flashing and step flashing
- UV degradation on south-facing slopes
Downtown Union City
Walk-ups and mid-rises where access and ventilation both matter.
- Mid-rise residential buildings with parapet and coping edges
- Flat roofs needing TPO or modified bitumen replacement
- Poor attic ventilation causing heat and moisture buildup
- Sagging gutters and downspouts that back up
Tonnele Circle area
Heavy traffic and dense buildings around a busy interchange.
- Mixed rowhouses and mid-rises with varied roof ages
- Wind damage to ridge cap and rake edges
- Clogged drains on flat rooftop sections
- Loose flashing around dormer and skylight penetrations