Drip edge
Drip edge and a sealed starter row protect the roof edges for a clean, sealed edge.
Shingle Roofing
Shingle Roof Installation Summit, NJ
A new shingle roof in Summit is a system of layers, and each one has to go on in the right order for the shingles to do their job, so the roof is sealed against wind-driven rain from the start. Call (908) 679-5768 to reach a local roofer.
A shingle roof works as a system, not as a single product. The layers under the shingles include drip edge, ice and water shield, underlayment and starter strip, each with its own job. Then come the flashing details and the ventilation, which decide whether the roof stays dry and how long the shingles last.
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.
Pitch matters before anything is ordered. Below a 2 in 12 slope, water moves too slowly for shingles, so low sections get a membrane roof instead. A low porch or shed dormer may need a membrane section joined carefully to the shingles.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Summit roofer may also recommend shingle roof replacement or roof installation.
Looking for Summit shingle roof installation? Call (908) 679-5768 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Summit.
Call nowThe process
The order of a shingle installation
A shingle roof is built from the eaves up, layer over layer.
Check the sheathing
On a reroof or new build, the deck is inspected and fixed first, since shingles follow every dip beneath them. Shingles laid on a bad deck show every flaw.
Ice barrier first
The eaves get drip edge and a band of ice and water shield, and the valleys get a full-length strip. That membrane seals around nails where ice backs water up.
Underlayment rows
Synthetic underlayment or felt is rolled out in overlapping rows from the bottom up, then drip edge goes on along the rakes over it. It is the backup layer if wind ever drives water past the shingles.
Start at the eaves
Starter shingles go on first at the eaves and rakes, putting a sealant line under the edge where wind lifts first. That is where wind damage usually begins on a poorly built roof.
Install the field
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.
Ventilation at the ridge
The ridge gets a continuous vent and cap shingles, and the soffits are checked for open intake. Mixing ridge vents with box vents can short circuit the airflow.
What is included
What a new shingle roof includes
Synthetic underlayment
The whole deck is covered with lapped underlayment before any shingle goes down.
Flashing details
New flashing and balanced ventilation finish the system which is where most leaks would otherwise start.
Shingle selection
3-tab, architectural or impact-resistant shingles are matched to the house and to the weather the roof will face.
Ice barrier
Self-adhering membrane is applied at the eaves and in valleys where ice dams and runoff hit hardest.
Related service
Architectural Shingle Installation Summit, NJ
Architectural shingle installation follows the same order as any shingle roof, but the shingle has its own rules. Each nail has to pass through both layers in the marked nailing zone, which is narrower than on a 3-tab shingle. Matching hip and ridge cap shingles and a compatible starter keep the look and wind rating consistent.
In Summit, NJ, architectural shingles are the common choice for both new homes and reroofs. They resist wind, add depth to the roofline and outlast flat shingles. A sample board viewed outside, next to the siding, is the best way to choose a color.
Related service
Asphalt Shingle Roof Installation Summit, NJ
An asphalt shingle roof installation is the most common way to roof a house, and the details decide how well it performs. The shingles rarely fail first; the edges, nails and flashing do. Ask what layers will go down before the shingles and how the valleys will be done.
A new asphalt roof in Summit 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. Plan around a dry stretch, since the deck should never be covered while wet.
Local help
Shingle Roof Installation Near Me
In Summit, asphalt shingles remain the most common choice for new residential roofs. Across Summit and nearby communities including Chatham, Mountainside, New Providence and Short Hills, architectural shingles have replaced 3-tab as the usual pick on new installations, and a shingle chosen for local wind and hail makes sense anywhere storms roll through. Searching for shingle roof installation near me? Ask how the flashing and ventilation will be handled.
For shingle roof installation in Summit, NJ or nearby towns like Chatham, Mountainside, New Providence and Short Hills, call (908) 679-5768 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a roof
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. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. That is why roof repair in Summit is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Summit
Roofers in Summit know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about shingle roof installation
Can shingles be installed in cold weather?
Mild, dry weather is the easiest time to install shingles. In cold weather shingles get stiff and the sealant strips need sun to bond, so roofers handle them carefully and often hand seal the edges. Rain and snow are the real limits, since a wet deck should never be covered.
Which is better, 3-tab or architectural shingles?
A 3-tab shingle is thin and uniform, and an architectural shingle is thicker, heavier and layered. The thicker build gives architectural shingles better wind resistance and a longer life, and many lines no longer offer 3-tab. 3-tab still works for sheds, garages or matching an existing roof.
What is the minimum pitch for asphalt shingles?
Shingles are made for slopes of 2 in 12 and steeper. Roofs that are low but still within range get added underlayment protection. Flatter sections are roofed with a membrane instead.
What goes under the shingles on a new roof?
The layers beneath shingles are drip edge, ice barrier, underlayment and starter strip, in that general order. 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 many nails should each shingle have?
Nailing is what holds shingles down until the sealant bonds and long after. Four nails per shingle is common, with six where the shingle instructions or local code call for high-wind nailing. Nails set too high miss the course below, and overdriven nails cut the mat, which is how shingles blow off a new roof.
More questions? Call (908) 679-5768
Related services
Shingle Roof Replacement
Tearing off a worn shingle roof down to the decking and putting on a new one, so the new roof starts on a sound, dry deck.
Learn moreRoof Installation
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 moreRoof Ventilation
Roof ventilation work that keeps the attic dry in winter and cooler in summer, based on what the attic actually needs.
Learn moreGutter Installation
Gutter installation that carries roof water away from the siding, fascia and foundation, so water ends up where it should.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed shingle roof installation in Summit, NJ?
Call (908) 679-5768 for a local roofer in Summit and nearby towns.