Roof Repair in Metuchen, NJ

Roofing in Metuchen

Metuchen is a small borough surrounded by Edison, nicknamed the "Brainy Borough" for the writers and academics who lived there in the early 1900s. Its walkable downtown and train station on the Northeast Corridor are lined with older homes - Victorians, foursquares and early-20th-century colonials - on mature, tree-lined streets.

Older roofs need a careful approach

Homes from that era often have steep, complex roofs with several valleys, dormers, porches and more than one chimney. Each of those is a place where water can find its way in. Typical problems include:

• Chimney and valley flashing that's worn out or was patched with tar
• Porch roofs leaking where they meet the house
• Several old layers of shingles that need a full tear-off
• Branch damage from large, mature trees
• Attics with little or no ventilation

Replacing a roof on an older house

A replacement on an older Metuchen home is often more involved than on a newer ranch. Expect steeper pitches, more flashing details and a good chance of some rotted boards under the old shingles. Ask how these will be handled before you sign. Shingle color and style matter too, because the roof is a big part of how an older house looks - darker grays, blacks and slate-look shingles often suit older homes best.