Roof Repair in Great Meadows, NJ

Roofing in Great Meadows and Independence Township

Great Meadows is the main village of Independence Township, the township Hackettstown itself was carved out of back in 1853. It takes its name from the wide, flat meadows along the Pequest River - old lake-bed land with dark, rich soil that's been farmed for generations and is still known for its turf and vegetable farms. Around those flat bottomlands, the land rises into wooded ridges dotted with farmhouses, older homes and newer neighborhoods.

That mix of open farmland and wooded hillsides shapes the roof problems people here run into.

Open land and wind

Homes and barns out on the flats have little to break the wind. In nor'easters and summer storms, gusts hit roofs harder than they do in sheltered valleys. Shingles along the ridge and the edges are the first to lift, and loose flashing or trim gets peeled back. If your house sits in an open spot, check the roof edges and ridge after every big wind - from the ground, with binoculars. See storm damage repair.

Wooded lots and falling limbs

On the ridges, the problem is trees. Big oaks and maples near the house drop branches in ice storms and heavy, wet snow, and leaves fill gutters every fall. The 2011 Halloween snowstorm, which hit hardest in the higher parts of Warren and Morris counties, brought down limbs on roofs across the area. Keeping branches trimmed back from the roof is one of the best things you can do here.

Farmhouses, barns and outbuildings

Independence Township has plenty of older farmhouses and barns, many with metal or slate roofs, or a mix of materials added over the decades. These roofs have their own needs:

• Metal roofs on barns and porches need fasteners and seals renewed periodically. See metal roofing.
• Slate on older houses can often be repaired rather than replaced. See slate roof repair.
• Older shingle roofs on farmhouses may have several layers that need stripping.
• Chimneys on older homes, often used with wood stoves, need sound flashing. See chimney flashing.

Snow and ice dams

Like the rest of northwest New Jersey, Great Meadows gets more snow than most of the state. Older farmhouses with uninsulated or barely insulated attics are prime candidates for ice dams. If you see big icicles and leaks on sunny days after snow, read about ice dam roof repair - the long-term fix is usually in the attic.

Common roofing calls in Great Meadows

• Wind damage to shingles on exposed homes and barns
• Branch and tree damage on wooded lots
• Leaks around chimneys on older houses
• Metal roof leaks at fasteners and seams
• Roof replacement on homes past 20 years
• Pre-winter inspections

Damp lowlands and attics

Homes close to the Pequest flats sit in some of the dampest air in the area - morning fog and heavy dew are common in spring and fall. Moist air finds its way into attics, and in cold weather it condenses on the underside of the roof. Over time that means dark, stained roof boards, rusty nail tips and mildew. Good attic ventilation, bath fans that vent outdoors and sealed air leaks from the house below keep the attic dry. A roofer can check for condensation damage during any repair.

Before you hire

Ask any roofer for their New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor registration number and a written contract that spells out the work. For older homes and barns, ask about their experience with slate or metal if your roof has either.

When to call

If water is coming in, a storm has damaged the roof, or you want the roof checked before winter, call to reach a local roofer who serves Great Meadows, Hackettstown and the surrounding townships.