New Roof Installation

Deck thickness and span. NJ residential framing typically uses 1/2" or 5/8" CDX plywood over 16" or 24" on-center rafters. For 24" o.c. spacing, the 2021 IRC requires 5/8" decking minimum on most pitches — we verify the framer's spec before underlayment installs. Wrong decking thickness over wider spans creates a wavy field that telegraphs through architectural shingles.

Nailing pattern. Framers staple decking sheets with crown staples on most production builds; for high-wind zones (shore counties) and steep pitches, ring-shank nails on a 6"/12" pattern (6" at edges, 12" in the field) are required. We re-nail any sheets that don't meet ASCE 7-22 wind uplift specs for the actual address.

Ventilation continuity. Ridge vents need uninterrupted intake at the soffit — we check that the framer didn't block soffit bays with insulation or fire-blocking. NRCA recommends 1:150 ventilation ratio (1 sq ft net free area per 150 sq ft of attic floor) or 1:300 with vapor barrier — both work, but only if intake and exhaust are balanced.

Roof penetrations stub-up. Plumbing vents, bath fans, kitchen vents, HVAC condensate lines — we want them roughed in and stubbed through the deck before we underlayment. Cutting in later means breaking the membrane and re-flashing, which is how new-construction leaks start.

Window installer. Window heads need to be flashed before our drip edge / step flashing lands at the same wall. If the window crew flashes after us, they cut into our wall membrane and create the lap that always leaks 8-10 years later. We sequence the trades so the window head flashing tucks under the roofing membrane, not over it — a basic detail that production builders routinely get wrong.

Siding contractor. The kickout flashing at the bottom of every roof-to-wall intersection has to be installed by the roofer (us), but it has to be high enough that the siding lands over it cleanly. We install kickouts to spec and hand off the elevation so the siding crew can trim around them.

Solar installer (when applicable). If solar PV is in the plans, we coordinate panel placement during the design phase — standing-seam metal lets the solar crew clamp-mount with zero penetrations; on shingle roofs, we plan rail layout and pre-install flashed mounting points where the solar crew will land hardware.

General contractor / homeowner. We provide a written schedule with milestones — deck sign-off, underlayment, shingle install, flashing punch list, final inspection. The GC chains our schedule into the broader build so framing, mechanicals, exteriors, and finishes don't collide.

Architect-spec shingles. On custom homes we install what the architect specs — typically GAF Camelot II, CertainTeed Presidential Shake, or DaVinci synthetic slate. We're certified on all three so the manufacturer warranty stays intact.

Builder-grade default. On spec builds we'll quote GAF Timberline HDZ or CertainTeed Landmark in the color the GC selects. Both qualify for 130 mph wind warranties when installed to spec with the required 6-nail pattern at edges.

Shore-county exposure. For homes in Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean counties we upgrade to stainless fasteners and recommend impact-resistant shingles (Class 4 IR) — Atlas StormMaster or IKO Cambridge IR. Wind uplift design must meet the actual ASCE 7-22 wind speed for the address, which runs 130-145 mph depending on coastal proximity.

Northwest counties (zone 5). Sussex, Warren, and parts of Morris/Hunterdon sit in IECC climate zone 5 — we extend ice & water shield 36" past the interior wall plane (vs the 24" code minimum for zone 4) and run it up valleys plus around all penetrations. The cost adder is small; the leak prevention over the next 30 years pays for itself.