Eave membrane
Self-adhering membrane is applied at the eaves and in valleys beneath the underlayment and shingles.
Shingle Roofing
Shingle Roof Installation Morristown, NJ
A roofer in Morristown can install a new shingle roof from the deck up: drip edge, ice and water shield, underlayment, starter strip, shingles, flashing and ridge vent, with nailing and flashing done to the shingle instructions. Dial (862) 363-5004 to talk with a local roofer about a new shingle roof.
What you see from the street is maybe half of a shingle roof. Below the shingles go metal drip edge, a self-adhering ice barrier at the eaves and valleys, a layer of underlayment and a starter row at the edges. Then come the flashing details and the ventilation, which decide whether the roof stays dry and how long the shingles last.
The first decision is the shingle itself. 3-tab shingles are thin and uniform, and architectural shingles are thicker laminated shingles with a textured, shadowed look and higher wind ratings. Impact-resistant shingles rated Class 4 under the UL 2218 test are an option where hail is common, and some insurers treat them differently, so ask yours.
Not every roof can take shingles. The usual minimum for shingles is a 2 in 12 pitch, with a double layer of underlayment on slopes up to 4 in 12. Flat sections are flagged during the estimate so the right material goes on each part.
Many shingle roof installation calls in Morristown also turn up a need for shingle roof replacement or roof installation.
Dealing with this in Morristown, NJ right now? Call (862) 363-5004 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
Building a shingle roof layer by layer
Each layer goes on in a set order so water always runs over, never under.
Check the sheathing
The roof deck, usually plywood or OSB, is checked for soft spots, gaps and protruding nails before anything covers it. Shingles laid on a bad deck show every flaw.
Drip edge at the eaves
Metal drip edge is fastened at the eaves, and a self-adhering ice barrier covers the eaves and valleys where water and ice collect. In cold climates the ice barrier extends past the inside of the exterior wall.
Lay the underlayment
Underlayment covers the deck in shingled rows, and the rake edges get their drip edge after it. Most roofers now use synthetic, which resists tearing and lies flatter than felt.
Starter strip
Starter shingles go on first at the eaves and rakes, putting a sealant line under the edge where wind lifts first. Without it, the first course has nothing holding its lower edge.
Shingle the field
Each course is nailed in the nailing zone, never high or overdriven, and step flashing goes in piece by piece at every sidewall. Valleys are finished open with metal or closed-cut, depending on the shingle and the roof.
Ridge vent
The ridge gets a continuous vent and cap shingles, and the soffits are checked for open intake. Too little intake makes a ridge vent pull air the wrong way.
What is included
Layers of a shingle roof system
Deck underlayment
The whole deck is covered with lapped underlayment as the second line of defense.
Choosing a shingle
The style, color and wind rating are chosen up front before materials are ordered.
Ridge ventilation
New flashing and balanced ventilation finish the system to keep the attic and roof in balance.
Starter strip
Starter shingles and metal drip edge finish the eaves and rakes for a clean, sealed edge.
Related service
Architectural Shingle Installation Morristown, 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. Compatible starter and cap products finish the edges and ridge cleanly.
In Morristown, NJ, architectural shingles are the common choice for both new homes and reroofs. Their weight and laminated build give them higher wind ratings and a longer life. A sample board viewed outside, next to the siding, is the best way to choose a color.
Related service
Asphalt Shingle Roof Installation Morristown, NJ
An asphalt shingle roof installation is the most common way to roof a house, and the details decide how well it performs. 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 Morristown wrap up quickly once materials are on site. In cool months the sealant strips take longer to bond, and the edges get extra attention. The crew will watch the forecast, since wet decking cannot be covered.
Local help
Shingle Roof Installation Near Me
In Morristown, asphalt shingles remain the most common choice for new residential roofs. From Morristown out to neighboring towns such as Cedar Knolls, Morris Plains, Whippany and Madison, houses built decades ago tend to need ventilation and flashing upgrades when they get a new shingle roof, and a shingle chosen for local wind and hail makes sense anywhere storms roll through. If you are searching for a shingle roof installer near me, ask what goes under the shingles, not just which shingle goes on top.
Searching for shingle roof installation near me from Morristown or Cedar Knolls, Morris Plains, Whippany and Madison? Call (862) 363-5004 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
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. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder 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 Morristown, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Morristown
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Morristown and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Shingle Roof Installation questions
How steep does a roof need to be for shingles?
The usual minimum for shingles is a pitch of 2 in 12. 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.
Which is better, 3-tab or architectural shingles?
3-tab shingles are a single flat layer with cutouts, while architectural shingles are two laminated layers. The thicker build gives architectural shingles better wind resistance and a longer life, and many lines no longer offer 3-tab. A roofer can help weigh the two for your house.
Why does nail placement matter on a shingle roof?
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.
What kind of underlayment should go under shingles?
Under the shingles sit drip edge, a self-adhering ice barrier in the leak-prone areas, a full layer of underlayment and starter shingles. 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.
What is the best season for a shingle roof installation?
Shingles go on best in mild, dry conditions. 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. Whatever the season, the deck has to be dry.
More questions? Call (862) 363-5004
Other services that may help
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
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, 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, so shingles and decking last as long as they should.
Learn moreGutter Installation
New gutters and downspouts formed to fit the house, with the right size, pitch and outlet placement, from K-style aluminum to half-round and copper.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Morristown roofer about shingle roof installation
Call (862) 363-5004 for a local roofer in Morristown and nearby towns.