Roof Replacement in Little Falls, NJ

Tear-Off on Older Little Falls Homes

According to the Census Bureau’s 2019–2023 American Community Survey, 3,357 of Little Falls’ 5,748 housing units were built before 1960, including 1,100 built in 1939 or earlier. On houses that age, a roof replacement starts with a full tear-off down to the deck. That is the only way to know what the new roof will be fastened to.

Plank decking

Many pre-war and 1940s houses have board sheathing: planks of varying width, sometimes with gaps between them. Sound boards can stay. Split, rotted or badly nailed boards are replaced, and where gaps are too wide for shingle nails to hold reliably, we may recommend covering the boards with new plywood. We photograph the exposed deck and talk through it with you before doing any of this.

Multiple layers

Older houses frequently carry two layers of shingles. A second layer adds weight and hides problems. Removing both layers lets us put new underlayment, drip edge and flashing on a clean surface.

Permits for structural work

Replacing the roof covering on a detached one- or two-family house is ordinary maintenance in New Jersey. Replacing decking or rafters is structural work, and that portion needs a permit from the Little Falls Building Department at 225 Main Street, (973) 256-6182, extension 1. If we find that kind of damage during tear-off, we stop and tell you before going further.

Which Little Falls Buildings Need a Roofing Permit

Because almost 59% of the township’s housing is single-family detached, most residential re-roofs in Little Falls are ordinary maintenance. The exemption is narrower than many people think, though. It covers only detached one- and two-family dwellings. Roof replacement is permitted work on:

Little Falls Dumpster Rules

Little Falls regulates debris containers closely. Under the township’s container ordinance, a permit from the Construction Code Official is required for a roll-off container on a public street and on private property, including your own driveway. Key points from the ordinance:

Materials, Ventilation and Ice Barrier

Shingles and low-slope sections

Architectural asphalt shingles are the standard choice for Little Falls Capes, ranches and colonials. They hold up better in wind than old three-tab shingles and give the roof more depth. Low-slope porch roofs and rear additions get a membrane designed for low pitch, not shingles. See our flat roof page for options.

Ventilation for Cape Cod attics

Postwar Cape Cods, common in a town where 30% of homes date from the 1950s, are tricky to ventilate. Finished upstairs rooms leave only small attic spaces behind the knee walls and a narrow space at the peak. A replacement is the chance to add a ridge vent and make sure the soffits actually let air in. Without both, the attic stays hot in summer and warm and wet in winter.

Ice barrier: what the code says

New Jersey’s code bulletin on ice barriers requires them only where the average January temperature is 25°F or lower, which the state identifies as Sussex County. Little Falls is not in that area, so an ice barrier is not a code requirement here. On Capes and other houses with a history of ice dams, we still recommend installing it at the eaves and in valleys. For budgeting, try our roof cost calculator.

Roof Replacement Questions from Little Falls Homeowners

More Roofing Help in Little Falls

Our Little Falls roofing contractor page gives the full overview of the township. For the wider area, see our Passaic County service area, roof replacement throughout Passaic County and our New Jersey roof replacement services.

If your roof might still be repairable, read about roof repair in Little Falls. A new roof is also a good moment for new siding in Little Falls or Little Falls gutter replacement. Neighbors can see roof replacement in Clifton, roof replacement in Woodland Park and roof replacement in Montclair.