Roof replacement in Somers Point, NJ

Armstrong Roofing replaced the roof on a waterfront home in Somers Point, New Jersey, for a homeowner we had worked for before. We tore it off and installed GAF Timberline HDZ shingles with GAF underlayment, starter and ridge cap, plus intake vents at the eaves and a continuous ridge vent. Most of our work is in Montgomery and Bucks counties, PA; call (215) 824-6932 to ask about your roof.

A roof at the shore, for someone we had worked for before

Somers Point is a long way from our usual ground. Almost all of our work is in Montgomery County and Bucks County. We took this one because the homeowner had hired us before and asked us to come down and do the roof on their house at the shore.

The house sits near the water on the bay side, and a roof there has a harder life than the same roof inland. Humidity stays high most of the year, wind comes in off the water, and salt air works on anything metal. The homeowner wanted a full replacement rather than another patch.

Near the water, the attic matters as much as the shingles

On a coastal house, the damage that shortens a roof's life often starts underneath. Damp air gets into the attic, condenses on the underside of the deck overnight, and slowly soaks insulation and plywood. From the street the roof can look fine the whole time.

So the plan for this roof centered on ventilation: fresh air in along the eaves, damp air out along the ridge, so the attic stays close to the outdoor temperature and humidity.

What went on the roof

  1. Full tear-off. The old roof came off so every layer underneath could be installed fresh.
  2. GAF underlayment. Installed across the deck as the layer under the shingles, as the in-progress photo shows.
  3. GAF starter shingles. Along the edges, where wind gets under a roof first.
  4. Intake vents at the eaves. An intake vent system along the bottom edge to pull fresh air into the attic.
  5. GAF Timberline HDZ shingles. Architectural shingles across the field.
  6. Continuous ridge vent and GAF ridge cap. Exhaust along the full ridge, finished with matching ridge cap shingles.

What to ask about if your roof is near salt water

Shingles usually hold up fine near the coast. It's the metal parts and the attic that wear out first. Whoever does your roof, these are worth asking about:

  • Fasteners. Ask what nails and screws they use. Plain steel corrodes faster within a few miles of salt water.
  • Flashing. Ask what metal the flashing and drip edge are made of, and how it is lapped and sealed at chimneys, walls and vents.
  • Intake and exhaust. Ask where air comes into the attic and where it leaves. A ridge vent with no intake at the eaves does very little.
  • Exposed metal trim. Look for chalky, pitted or rust-stained trim and gutters. That is salt at work, and it will not get better on its own.

A quick attic check you can do: On a cool morning, look at the underside of the roof boards with a flashlight. Dark stains, frost or beads of water mean damp air is getting trapped up there, and the ventilation needs a look before the next roof goes on.

If you're in our home area, see how we handle a roof replacement or a new roof installation. After a nor'easter or big storm, our storm damage page covers what to check.

What it usually costs

This is our typical range in our Pennsylvania service area. Roof size, pitch, ventilation work and, for a job outside the area, travel all affect the final number.

  • Roof Replacement: $6,500 – $18,000

Questions we get asked

Do you work in Somers Point and at the Jersey shore?

Not as a rule. Almost all of our work is in Montgomery, Bucks and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania. This job was for a homeowner we had worked for before; call (215) 824-6932 if you have a similar situation and we will tell you honestly whether we can help.

How does salt air affect a roof?

Salt air mostly attacks the metal: nails, flashing, drip edge, vents and trim corrode faster near the coast. Asphalt shingles themselves hold up reasonably well. That is why the metal parts and how they are sealed deserve extra attention on a shore house.

Why is attic ventilation so important near the water?

Coastal air stays humid most of the year. Without air moving through the attic, that moisture condenses on the underside of the deck and soaks insulation and plywood from inside. Intake at the eaves and exhaust at the ridge keep the attic close to outdoor conditions.

What is the difference between intake and ridge vents?

Intake vents along the eaves let fresh air into the bottom of the attic. A ridge vent along the peak lets warm, damp air out the top. They work as a pair, so a ridge vent without enough intake moves very little air.

How long does a roof replacement take?

Most re-roofs on an average house take a day or two, weather permitting. Wind near the water can slow a job down on some days. You get the schedule with your written estimate.

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