Ice barrier
An ice barrier lines the eaves, valleys and other leak-prone spots where ice dams and runoff hit hardest.
Shingle Roofing
Shingle Roof Installation Scotch Plains, NJ
A Scotch Plains roofer can help you pick between 3-tab, architectural and impact-resistant shingles and install the full system beneath them, so the roof is sealed against wind-driven rain from the start. Dial (908) 562-6873 to talk with a local roofer about a new shingle roof.
Shingles are only the top layer of a shingle roof. Underneath sit the drip edge, an ice and water shield along the eaves and in the valleys, underlayment across the deck and a starter strip that seals the first course. Then come the flashing details and the ventilation, which decide whether the roof stays dry and how long the shingles last.
Choosing the shingle comes before any of the layers. 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. Asphalt shingles generally need a slope of at least 2 in 12, and roofs between 2 in 12 and 4 in 12 need extra underlayment. Porches and low additions often need a different material where they tie into the main roof.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Scotch Plains roofer may also recommend shingle roof replacement or roof installation.
Looking for Scotch Plains shingle roof installation? Call (908) 562-6873 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
How shingle roof installation works
A shingle roof is built from the eaves up, layer over layer.
Prepare the deck
Sheathing has to be flat, dry and well fastened, so loose sheets are renailed and damaged ones replaced. Moisture trapped under underlayment causes buckling later.
Ice barrier first
Metal drip edge is fastened at the eaves, and a self-adhering ice barrier covers the eaves and valleys where water and ice collect. Where ice dams form, codes call for the barrier to reach beyond the warm wall line.
Cover the deck
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.
Set the first course
The starter row seals the bottom edge and rakes of the roof. Skipping it is a common cause of edge blow-offs.
Nail the courses
Shingles go on in offset courses with nails in the marked nailing strip, and step flashing is woven in with each course along walls. Counter flashing laps over the step flashing at chimneys and walls.
Cap the roof
A ridge vent is cut in along the peak and capped with hip and ridge shingles, balanced with soffit intake at the eaves. Balanced airflow keeps the attic cooler and drier and helps the shingles last.
What is included
What a new shingle roof includes
Shingle selection
The roofer helps compare shingle types so the look and performance both fit.
Starter strip
Starter shingles and metal drip edge finish the eaves and rakes so water drips clear of the fascia.
Synthetic underlayment
Underlayment rows are lapped from the eaves up before any shingle goes down.
Flashing details
Every wall, chimney and pipe gets new flashing, and a ridge vent caps the peak to keep the attic and roof in balance.
Related service
Architectural Shingle Installation Scotch Plains, NJ
Architectural shingles go on over the same deck, underlayment and starter as any shingle, with their own nailing pattern. The double thickness only holds if the nails catch both layers, so placement is checked as the roof goes on. Compatible starter and cap products finish the edges and ridge cleanly.
Most new shingle roofs in Scotch Plains are architectural, and for good reason. They resist wind, add depth to the roofline and outlast flat shingles. Look at a few colors on a nearby roof in daylight before deciding.
Related service
Asphalt Shingle Roof Installation Scotch Plains, NJ
Asphalt shingles are the go-to residential roof, and installation quality is what separates a roof that lasts from one that does not. Problems on new roofs usually trace to high nails, skipped starter or reused flashing. Ask the roofer to explain the nailing pattern, the underlayment and how walls and valleys will be flashed.
Most asphalt shingle installs in Scotch Plains wrap up quickly once materials are on site. Shingles seal best in warm sun, so roofs installed in cold weather are often hand sealed along the edges. The crew will watch the forecast, since wet decking cannot be covered.
Local help
Shingle Roof Installation Near Me
Around Scotch Plains, shingle installation covers new builds, garages, additions and full reroofs. Older homes in Scotch Plains and nearby towns like Fanwood, Westfield, Garwood and Plainfield often had felt underlayment and box vents, while new roofs usually get synthetic underlayment, ice barrier at the eaves and a ridge vent, so it pays to talk through wind ratings and impact resistance before choosing. If you are searching for a shingle roof installer near me, ask what goes under the shingles, not just which shingle goes on top.
For shingle roof installation in Scotch Plains, NJ or nearby towns like Fanwood, Westfield, Garwood and Plainfield, call (908) 562-6873 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. 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 Scotch Plains, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Scotch Plains
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Scotch Plains and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Shingle Roof Installation questions
How many nails should each shingle have?
Shingles stay on because of correct nailing as much as sealant. Four nails per shingle is common, with six where the shingle instructions or local code call for high-wind nailing. Each nail has to sit in the nailing zone, flush with the surface, not too high and not driven through.
What is the best season for a shingle roof installation?
Mild, dry weather is the easiest time to install shingles. Winter installs are possible, but the shingles need gentle handling and the sealant may not bond until warmer days. Whatever the season, the deck has to be dry.
What goes under the shingles on a new roof?
Under the shingles sit drip edge, a self-adhering ice barrier in the leak-prone areas, a full layer of underlayment and starter shingles. Synthetic underlayment has largely replaced felt because it is lighter, stronger and less likely to wrinkle or tear. The shingle instructions and local code set the minimum.
What is the difference between 3-tab and architectural shingles?
The difference is construction: one flat layer for 3-tab, two laminated layers for architectural. Architectural shingles generally have higher wind ratings, last longer and have a textured look, which is why most new roofs use them. A roofer can help weigh the two for your house.
What is the minimum pitch for asphalt shingles?
Shingles are made for slopes of 2 in 12 and steeper. Low slopes from 2 in 12 up to 4 in 12 need extra underlayment. Anything flatter needs a membrane roof such as TPO, EPDM or modified bitumen.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6873
Related services
Shingle Roof Replacement
Full shingle roof replacement, from tear-off and deck repair to new shingles and flashing, with soft decking fixed before anything new goes on.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Installing a new roof layer by layer, from drip edge and underlayment to flashing, vents and the finished roofing, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Balancing attic intake and exhaust with soffit vents, ridge vents and attic fans, without mixing vent types that work against each other.
Learn moreGutter Installation
Gutter installation that carries roof water away from the siding, fascia and foundation, from K-style aluminum to half-round and copper.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed shingle roof installation in Scotch Plains, NJ?
Call (908) 562-6873 for a local roofer in Scotch Plains and nearby towns.