A closer look at roofs in Clark, Cranford and Linden
Roof Inspection in Clark, NJ
Not sure the roof has a problem at all? A roof inspection in Clark, NJ covers the shingles and the metal, then the gutters, then the boards from inside the attic. The aim is to catch a small issue before it becomes a wet ceiling.
One step: call (732) 574-5073 and ask about a visit.
Do it from the ground first
Circle the house with binoculars, scanning ridge, edges and chimney.
Step into the attic with a flashlight and light up the roof boards from underneath.
Check the upper-floor ceilings for stains, bulges or sags.
Inspect every gutter and the ground beneath each downspout.
Write it all down, then decide whether a call is worth making.
On a visit
Call (732) 574-5073, say why you want a look and what you know of the roof's age, and ask what the contractor's schedule looks like for a visit.
The roof surface, ridge and edges, for lifted, cracked or missing shingles and worn spots.
Flashing at chimneys, walls, valleys and vent pipes, where the shingle trade group says leaks begin.
The gutters and downspouts, cleared of debris so water drains freely.
The attic: the underside of the roof boards, insulation, and any daylight or dark streaks.
A written summary of what was found and what can wait.
Leave the room first if
- About to climb a ladder for a look? Stay down. Binoculars and an attic flashlight see most of it.
- A ceiling bulges or drips under a light fixture: step out and phone 911 from a dry room.
- A wire down or resting on a tree: stay 30 feet away. The utility is PSE&G, 1-800-436-7734; 911 is the other number.
- A wet or icy ladder or roof is off limits. Dial 911 if someone has fallen.
Short answers
- How loud is the problem, 1 to 10?
- Loud, 8 to 10: a sag, a drip near a fixture or a downed wire. Step out and phone 911 or PSE&G. Middling, 4 to 7: the roof took a hard storm or has seen many winters. Dial (732) 574-5073 and ask about a look. Quiet, 1 to 3: nothing wrong, and you want a baseline. Choose a calm week.
- What does the trade group suggest checking?
- After Superstorm Sandy the shingle makers' trade group suggested a first look through binoculars, from the yard or a window upstairs. Next came gutters cleared of leaves and twigs, then a flashlight on the roof deck's underside from the attic. Flashings come first on its list of weak spots, so stains beside metal get priority.
- Why not climb up and look myself?
- A ladder adds a fall risk to a roof problem. New York State's health department lists a locked base, three points of contact and a firm no to wet or icy weather. Binoculars and an attic flashlight cover most of an inspection from safer ground.
- Does this cover Cranford and Linden too?
- Yes. Cranford roofing notes and Linden roofing notes list local water and housing facts, and the same contractor takes calls in all three. Tenants forward a dated photo to the owner.
What a roof check turns up
A small find leads to roof repair. A worn roof leads to roof replacement. Winter stains at the eaves lead to ice dam leaks.
Signs to look for
- No visible damage, but the roof's age is unknown or well along
- A house just bought, with no record of the roof's history
- A season of heavy wind, snow or rain since the last look
- A stain that appeared once and has not returned
- Gutters full of shingle grit, or ridge lines that no longer look straight
What an inspection visit looks like
The roofer can start outside, usually from the yard, then use the ladder when conditions are dry.
Indoors, the attic hatch comes next. The roofer can read the boards from below, with attention to the metal around chimneys and vents.
A written summary can close the visit: what was seen, what is urgent, what can wait a season.
A flashlight under the roof boards
A flashlight beam sweeps the roof boards from below, with insulation lying on the attic floor.
Dark streaks, damp insulation and hairline daylight are the things to look for. The shingle makers' trade group points to this view as a way of finding leaks the outer surface hides.
Records worth keeping
An inspection by itself needs no permit. Keep the written summary with the house papers, since it shows what the roof looked like on the day. For what to ask any roofer about contracts and payments, see the contractor checks page.
Ask about a visit
Keep the address, a rough roof age and a few ground-level photos nearby, then call (732) 574-5073. Tenants hand the owner a dated photo first. Towns: Clark, Cranford and Linden.
