What roof-replacement Includes
Scope starts with a full roof inspection and a written roof estimate. The roofing contractor checks decking, sheathing, and any soft spots before anyone climbs.
- Tear-off of existing shingle, underlayment, and roofing felt down to the roof deck
- Replacement of rotted plywood or OSB sheathing
- Ice-and-water shield at the eave, valleys, and chimney flashing
- Synthetic underlayment across the field
- New drip edge, step flashing, and counter-flashing
- Ridge vent and soffit vent work for attic ventilation
- Final cleanup, magnet sweep, and dumpster removal
Quality & Materials Standards
Material choice should match the roof's pitch and the home's age. Architectural shingle and dimensional laminated shingle hold up better than three-tab shingle in Union's wind. Steeper mansard or gambrel sections may call for slate or standing-seam panel.
Building code governs fastening patterns, ice-and-water shield placement, and ventilation. A roofer who skips ice-and-water shield at the eave is inviting ice dam problems. Proper ridge vent and soffit vent balance keeps the attic dry.
Storm damage claims move through an insurance adjuster and claim documentation. Keep the roof estimate, photos, and scope of work ready. Understand depreciation, deductible, and replacement cost before signing anything.
Local Service Areas
Downtown Union
Older homes near the Union County Courthouse and Connecticut Farms Presbyterian Church carry the heaviest roofing demands.
- Early 1900s single-family homes with original slate and asphalt shingle
- Slate losing fasteners; shingle losing granulated surface
- Chimney flashing and step flashing gaps from freeze-thaw
- Steep rooflines needing scaffold and safety harness access
Vauxhall
Vauxhall mixes post-war housing with multi-family properties, and each ages differently.
- 1950s-60s ranch and cape cod homes with three-tab shingle
- Multi-family colonials with layered reroofs
- Ridge cap and verge lifting from thunderstorm wind damage
- Pipe boot and vent boot cracking on older penetrations
Connecticut Farms
This historic district holds some of Union's oldest residential roofs.
- Victorian-era and colonial properties with complex hip and gable rooflines
- Wood shake and cedar shake reaching end of service life
- Valley and dormer flashing failures from ponding water
- Felt and tar paper underlayment that has dried and torn
Hillside Border Area
Hillside-adjacent homes sit on sloped lots where drainage and wind exposure both matter.
- Split-level and cape cod homes from the post-war era
- Asphalt shingle blistering under summer heat
- Gutter and downspout overflow backing into the fascia
- Soffit and fascia rot from trapped moisture
Maplewood Border Area
Tree cover along this border keeps debris on rooftops year-round.
- Early-to-mid-century single-family homes with aging shingle
- Debris-clogged valleys causing water to back under shingle
- Moss and algae on north-facing slopes
- Ridge beam and rafter rot where leaks went unnoticed
Elizabeth Border Area
Dense multi-family housing near the Elizabeth line means tighter lots and more complex roofs.
- Multi-family colonial and Victorian-era properties
- Flat and low-slope sections needing membrane or modified bitumen
- Parapet and coping failures letting water into the wall assembly
- Shared rooflines requiring careful flashing at party walls