Roofing questions from Newark homeowners and landlords
Most questions fall into a few groups: what to do about a leak tonight, how older Newark buildings take water, what happens with the price and the paperwork, and what to expect from an insurance claim.
- Flat roofs, rowhouses and two- and three-family houses
- Leaks, wind and storm damage, Ida's rain to Isaias's gusts
- Phone answered 24/7 across Newark and 29 nearby towns
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Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
A leak tonight
What should I do about a ceiling that is dripping?
Put a bucket under it, move anything valuable out of the way and photograph the stain before it changes. If the light fixture or the wiring above is wet, turn off the power at the panel only if you can reach it dry.
Should I climb onto the roof to look?
No. Wet slate, flat membranes and steep pitches are where people fall. Describe what you can see from inside and from the ground.
How older buildings take water
Why do so many leaks show up on the top floor of a three-decker?
Because water runs down through the attic and the plaster ceiling before it shows, so the stain is often well away from the actual break in the roof above it.
Why do flat sections in attached buildings leak at the edges?
Water that pools on a low roof finds the seams at the parapet and the drains. A flat section that holds water for days is a repair question, not a wait-and-see one.
Price and paperwork
Do roofers in New Jersey need to be registered?
Ask for the registration number when the roofer calls. New Jersey has historically registered roofers as home improvement contractors with the Division of Consumer Affairs, and a 2023 law is moving the state toward a licence from a State Board. The timing has been reported differently, so check the Division's lookup before you sign.
Is a permit needed for a re-roof?
It depends on the building and the scope. Ask the technician, and confirm with the city's construction office before work starts.
Insurance
Will my insurer cover storm damage?
That is decided by your policy and your insurer. Photograph the damage before anything is moved, keep the technician's written scope, and if a claim is refused, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance oversees insurer conduct.
Question not answered here?
Call and ask. A technician will give you a straight answer, even if the answer is that you do not need us.