Choosing a shingle
3-tab, architectural or impact-resistant shingles are matched to the house and to the weather the roof will face.
Shingle Roofing
Shingle Roof Installation Hawthorne, NJ
A roofer in Hawthorne can install a new shingle roof from the deck up: drip edge, ice and water shield, underlayment, starter strip, shingles, flashing and ridge vent, whether the roof is on a new home, an addition or a reroof. Call (862) 434-1182 to reach a local roofer.
What you see from the street is maybe half of a shingle roof. 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. Flat 3-tab shingles are a single layer with cutouts, while architectural, or dimensional, shingles are laminated from two layers for more thickness, depth and wind resistance. Where hail is a concern, Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are worth a look, and your insurer can tell you whether they change anything on your policy.
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.
Many shingle roof installation calls in Hawthorne also turn up a need for shingle roof replacement or roof installation.
Need shingle roof installation in Hawthorne? Call (862) 434-1182 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
The order of a shingle installation
Here is the order a roofer follows on a new shingle roof.
Start with the deck
Sheathing has to be flat, dry and well fastened, so loose sheets are renailed and damaged ones replaced. Shingles laid on a bad deck show every flaw.
Seal the edges
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.
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.
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. Counter flashing laps over the step flashing at chimneys and walls.
Ridge vent
A ridge vent is cut in along the peak and capped with hip and ridge shingles, balanced with soffit intake at the eaves. Too little intake makes a ridge vent pull air the wrong way.
What is included
What a new shingle roof includes
Ice barrier
An ice barrier lines the eaves, valleys and other leak-prone spots to seal around nails if water backs up.
Synthetic underlayment
A synthetic water barrier goes over every sheet of decking so wind-driven rain has a backup.
Flashing details
Every wall, chimney and pipe gets new flashing, and a ridge vent caps the peak so the details match the shingles.
Starter strip
Starter shingles and metal drip edge finish the eaves and rakes for a clean, sealed edge.
Related service
Architectural Shingle Installation Hawthorne, NJ
Architectural shingle installation follows the same order as any shingle roof, but the shingle has its own rules. The nails must land in the narrow area where the two laminated layers overlap, or the bottom layer can slip and the wind rating is lost. Compatible starter and cap products finish the edges and ridge cleanly.
Most new shingle roofs in Hawthorne 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 Hawthorne, 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 the roofer to explain the nailing pattern, the underlayment and how walls and valleys will be flashed.
Most asphalt shingle installs in Hawthorne 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
New shingle roofs in Hawthorne go on everything from new houses and additions to reroofs of older homes. Across Hawthorne and nearby communities including Glen Rock, Haledon, Fair Lawn and Midland Park, architectural shingles have replaced 3-tab as the usual pick on new installations, 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.
Need shingle roof installation around Hawthorne? Call (862) 434-1182 for a Hawthorne roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Hawthorne
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. 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. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Hawthorne, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Hawthorne know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Shingle Roof Installation FAQ
What kind of underlayment should go under shingles?
The layers beneath shingles are drip edge, ice barrier, underlayment and starter strip, in that general order. 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.
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. Anything flatter needs a membrane roof such as TPO, EPDM or modified bitumen.
Can shingles be installed in cold weather?
Warm, dry days give the best results for a shingle install. 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 is the difference between 3-tab and 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.
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. High or overdriven nails are a leading cause of blow-offs on newer roofs.
More questions? Call (862) 434-1182
Related services
Shingle Roof Replacement
Replacing an aging shingle roof once repairs no longer hold, so the new roof starts on a sound, dry deck.
Learn moreRoof Installation
New roof installation done in the right order with the right details, so it sheds water at every edge and seam.
Learn moreRoof Ventilation
Fixing hot, damp or poorly vented attics with the right mix of intake and exhaust, without mixing vent types that work against each other.
Learn moreGutter Installation
New gutters and downspouts formed to fit the house, with the right size, pitch and outlet placement, with the fascia checked before anything is hung.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Hawthorne roofer about shingle roof installation
Call (862) 434-1182 to talk to a roofer serving Hawthorne, NJ.