FAQ

Not on age alone, and in Montville not always all of it. Asphalt shingles are generally rated at 15 to 30 years, but under the township's trees the shaded slopes hold damp, moss and ice and wear out first. If those slopes are done and the sunny side still holds its granules, replacing only the worn slopes is priced per square next to the whole roof.

Asphalt shingles are generally rated at 15 to 30 years, and where a roof lands in that span depends on the shingle, the ventilation and the shade. Under Montville's canopy moisture, debris and moss shorten shingle life on the shaded side, so the two sides of one roof can sit at different points in that range.

Statewide, most New Jersey replacements are reported at about $8,500 to $22,000, with an average near $14,000 for a standard asphalt roof. For a typical Montville home, a published local estimate is $10,000 to $25,000 or more. Your figure follows the roof's size, pitch, how cut up it is, how many slopes are actually worn, and the deck.

In Montville, published bands put minor repairs, such as a few shingles or a small flashing seal, at about $300 to $600, moderate ones such as a flashing replacement or a partial shingle section at about $600 to $1,500, and major storm or decking work at about $1,500 to $4,500 or more. All are estimated ranges until the roof is seen.

For architectural shingle on a typical Montville home it sits above the published estimate of about $10,000 to $25,000 or more, so ask what is driving it: size, a cut-up roofline, decking, or a premium material such as metal. Ask too whether every slope really needs replacing; if only the shaded ones are worn, a part-roof price per square may be the honest alternative.

Someone who sees the roof before quoting, names the materials in writing, puts the New Jersey home improvement contractor registration number on the quote, answers the permit question and states the workmanship guarantee. In Montville, also look for a quote that says what condition each slope is in, not just the roof's age.

Leaks in more than one room at once; shingles curling, cupping or bare of granules across whole slopes; a sag you can see from the driveway; daylight through the deck in the attic; and a new repair needed every season. Under trees, check whether those signs cover every slope or only the shaded ones, because that changes the job.

On a detached one- or two-family house in New Jersey, replacing the roof covering is ordinary maintenance and needs no permit. Structural work, such as new decking or rafters, and commercial roofs are different, and in Montville those go through the township's Construction Department at 195 Changebridge Road. The written quote says which applies to your job.