The Newsmagazine of Long Beach Island and Southern Ocean County

By Rick Mellerup | on September 09, 2022

Homes have many components. Basements or crawl spaces, siding, windows and doors, kitchens, electrical systems, security systems, flooring and floor covering, closet space, plumbing, bathrooms, landscaping, and more.

But there’s one part of a home that stands out, literally and figuratively, as exemplified by a common phrase parents often employ with teenagers and young adults. “As long as you live under my roof …” Parents don’t say, “as long as you’re using my bathroom.”

A roof is a home’s capstone. It is exposed to all sorts of weather – pouring rains, heavy snows, a beating sun, ferocious winds. Not for nothing after a hurricane or tornado do news crews typically focus on shots of homes that have lost their roofs.

It is rather amazing that the rule-of-thumb for a roof’s life expectancy is 20 to 30 years, considering the beating they take, especially in areas such as the Jersey Shore with its frequent nor’easters. Indeed, homeowners should keep a sharp eye on their roofs, especially after storms, because the last thing you want is a leaking roof and the water damage and mold it can cause.

Common signs of potential roof trouble are missing, curling or cracked shingles, streaking, fading, sinking and buckling – and, of course, leaks. But Robert Furey of A-1 Roofing added one you might not have thought about: granules in the gutters.

“They fill the gutters up when they’re shot,” he said of the granules that fall from deteriorating shingles.

Furey knows what he’s talking about. The U.S. Army veteran has been in the roofing business for 36 years.

A-1 Roofing is a family-owned, family-operated, fully licensed and insured business that will tackle any sort of roofing problem both residential and commercial, including new roof installations, roof replacements and hail damage repair. It will even help you with insurance claims.

A-1 Roofing also works with local Realtors, contractors, construction companies, remodelers, gutter companies and property managers. And it partners with the best roofing manufacturers in the business, such as GAF, Owens Corning, TAMKO, CertainTeed and IKO.

It serves all of Long Beach Island as well as Little Egg Harbor Township, Eagleswood, Stafford Township, Barnegat Township, Ocean Township, Berkeley Township, Beachwood, Toms River, Brick Township, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Lavallette and Mantoloking.

Wind is the main threat to roofs in Southern Ocean County, especially for waterfront homes.

“I recommend the Owens Corning line for living on the water and the heavy winds,” said Furey, “high-definition laminated shingles, dimensional architectural shingles.”

Getting into the weeds a little here, an explanation of the two basic types of asphalt shingles is in order.

The standard asphalt shingle, called a “3-tab shingle,” is less expensive. Until the 1980s they were almost ubiquitous in the U.S. They will produce a very repetitive and flat appearance. A dimensional or high definition laminated or architectural shingle – basically different words for the same thing – are more expensive, but create a more aesthetically pleasing look, often simulating the appearance of cedar shakes or slate.

But the differences between the two different types of shingles are about far more than looks.

They’re both made of asphalt and adhesives with those aforementioned granules on the outermost layer and fiberglass for the backing. But the architectural shingle has multiple layers of laminated material. That makes them heavier, about 50% heavier than a 3-tab.

Because of their composition, thickness, and weight they are more wind resistant. Much more resistant. While 3-tab shingles can endure winds of only 60 to 70 miles per hour, some architectural shingles can withstand winds of up to 120 mph. And a regular 3-tab shingle has a lifespan of only 10 to 25 years, while some architectural shingles, if properly maintained, can reach the half-century mark.

Architectural shingles cost about twice as much as 3-tabs. On the other hand, they’ll last twice as long. If you live on the waterfront and often deal with heavy winds, the advantage is obvious.

A-1 Roofing provides a 30-year shingle warranty and a 15-year workmanship warranty. But Furey warns that “if you install solar panels, you lose your warranty. And they must be removed before a roof replacement.”

So, let’s get down to brass tacks. How much will a roof replacement for a fairly typical home cost? Furey said, “Between $5,000 to $10,000; every once in a while it will get up to $15,000.” But even if you’re one of those $15,000 folks, and even if you end up coming at the lower end of the 20- to 30-year rule-of-thumb range, that still translates to just $750 a year. You have to think long range when you’re considering roofing options.

Ah, but then there’s the hassle. You’ll have to move out of your home while a new roof is being installed, right? Wrong.

“A typical house is a one-day job,” said Furey, “from the tear-off to the replacement with a five-man crew.”

A mess won’t be left in your yard; debris will immediately be tossed into a trash bin.

One thing Furey doesn’t have to worry about anymore is asbestos in the removed shingles; the U.S. government outlawed the use of asbestos in roofing materials in 1989. But concerns about the safety of asbestos far predated that ruling, and with asphalt shingles becoming the norm in the 1950s, the use of asbestos-based roofing shingles drastically waned.

So, have you noticed warning signs that your roof needs replacement? Call A-1 Roofing at 609-622-9341 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday to set up a free inspection and estimate. If you’re a veteran, remember to ask about a veterans discount.

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