Starter strip
The edges get drip edge and starter shingles so water drips clear of the fascia.
Shingle Roofing
Shingle Roof Installation Garfield, NJ
A Garfield 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. One call to (551) 348-2856 reaches a nearby roofer who installs shingle roofs.
A shingle roof works as a system, not as a single product. 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. Flashing and attic ventilation round it out, and most leaks on newer roofs come from those details rather than the shingles.
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. For hail-prone areas there are impact-resistant shingles, and lighter colors can help keep a sunny attic cooler.
Not every roof can take shingles. 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. A low porch or shed dormer may need a membrane section joined carefully to the shingles.
Shingle Roof Installation is often paired with shingle roof replacement and roof installation, depending on the cause.
Looking for Garfield shingle roof installation? Call (551) 348-2856 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
Building a shingle roof layer by layer
A shingle roof is built from the eaves up, layer over layer.
Prepare the deck
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
Drip edge goes along the eaves, then ice and water shield runs up from the eave edge and down every valley. In cold climates the ice barrier extends past the inside of the exterior wall.
Lay the underlayment
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
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
The field is shingled with correct offsets and nailing, with step flashing, kickout flashing and pipe boots set as the courses reach them. Valleys are finished open with metal or closed-cut, depending on the shingle and the roof.
Cap the roof
Exhaust at the ridge is matched to intake at the soffits so air moves through the attic. Too little intake makes a ridge vent pull air the wrong way.
What is included
Parts of a shingle installation
Ridge ventilation
New flashing and balanced ventilation finish the system to keep the attic and roof in balance.
Synthetic underlayment
Underlayment rows are lapped from the eaves up as the second line of defense.
Eave membrane
Self-adhering membrane is applied at the eaves and in valleys to seal around nails if water backs up.
Choosing a shingle
The style, color and wind rating are chosen up front so the look and performance both fit.
Related service
Architectural Shingle Installation Garfield, NJ
Architectural shingles go on over the same deck, underlayment and starter as any shingle, with their own nailing pattern. 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 Garfield, 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. Look at a few colors on a nearby roof in daylight before deciding.
Related service
Asphalt Shingle Roof Installation Garfield, NJ
Asphalt shingles are the go-to residential roof, and installation quality is what separates a roof that lasts from one that does not. The shingles rarely fail first; the edges, nails and flashing do. Ask the roofer to explain the nailing pattern, the underlayment and how walls and valleys will be flashed.
For an asphalt shingle roof installation in Garfield, plan for a few days of work on an average house. Shingles seal best in warm sun, so roofs installed in cold weather are often hand sealed along the edges. Rain delays are normal because the deck has to stay dry.
Local help
Shingle Roof Installation Near Me
In Garfield, asphalt shingles remain the most common choice for new residential roofs. From Garfield out to neighboring towns such as Lodi, Elmwood Park, Wallington and Passaic, houses built decades ago tend to need ventilation and flashing upgrades when they get a new shingle roof, which is why the system under the shingles deserves as much attention as the color. Searching for shingle roof installation near me? Ask how the flashing and ventilation will be handled.
Searching for shingle roof installation near me from Garfield or Lodi, Elmwood Park, Wallington and Passaic? Call (551) 348-2856 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, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in Garfield is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why act early
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Garfield know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Shingle Roof Installation questions
Which is better, 3-tab or architectural shingles?
The difference is construction: one flat layer for 3-tab, two laminated layers for architectural. For most homes architectural shingles are the better value over the life of the roof. A roofer can help weigh the two for your house.
How steep does a roof need to be for shingles?
The usual minimum for shingles is a pitch of 2 in 12. Between 2 in 12 and 4 in 12, a double layer of underlayment or a full ice barrier is required to make up for slow runoff. Flatter sections are roofed with a membrane instead.
What kind of underlayment should go under shingles?
Starting at the deck, a new roof gets drip edge, ice and water shield at the eaves and valleys, underlayment over the rest and a starter strip at the edges. Most roofers now use synthetic underlayment instead of felt, since it lies flat and resists tearing. Local code decides where ice barrier is required.
Can shingles be installed in cold weather?
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. Wet decking is the hard stop at any time of year.
Why does nail placement matter on a shingle roof?
Nail count and placement decide how well shingles stay on in wind. 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.
More questions? Call (551) 348-2856
Related services
Shingle Roof Replacement
Tearing off a worn shingle roof down to the decking and putting on a new one, including permits, cleanup and a final check.
Learn moreRoof Installation
Putting on a new roof the way the material maker intends, with ventilation and flashing planned in from the start.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Balancing attic intake and exhaust with soffit vents, ridge vents and attic fans, based on what the attic actually needs.
Learn moreGutter Installation
New gutters and downspouts formed to fit the house, with the right size, pitch and outlet placement, so water ends up where it should.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet shingle roof installation help in Garfield
Call (551) 348-2856 for a local roofer in Garfield and nearby towns.