Scope
Full roof replacement on a coastal Cape May home
Materials
Coastal-spec architectural shingles, stainless fasteners, full self-adhered underlayment
Timeline
3 working days
The Challenge
The home was 12 years old and on its second roof — the original asphalt had been replaced 8 years prior using a standard inland NJ spec. Salt-air corrosion had already taken out the galvanized nails on the windward side of the house, fasteners were rusting through the shingle keyways, and the seal strips had failed across the entire ocean-facing slope. The previous contractor wasn't a coastal specialist and used a standard inland install. Stone Harbor needed different.
Our Approach
Coastal-spec install means three specific upgrades over the standard NJ residential package: (1) Stainless steel ring-shank fasteners throughout — galvanized nails fail in years 6–10 in salt-air, stainless lasts the life of the roof. (2) Full ice-and-water shield self-adhered underlayment over the entire deck — not just at eaves and valleys. The self-adhered layer becomes a backup waterproofing if a shingle gets blown off in a nor'easter. (3) Upgraded wind-rated shingle line — GAF Timberline HDZ with the WindProven limited wind warranty (no maximum wind speed) and 130-mph minimum rating, rather than a standard 110-mph product.
What We Found On-Site
- Existing roof had galvanized fasteners — already corroded through on windward slope
- Original underlayment was synthetic non-adhered — appropriate for inland but inadequate for coastal
- Failed pipe boots and skylight flashing where salt had eaten the metal
- Decking near the eaves had taken minor moisture damage from chronic seal-strip failure
- Ridge ventilation undersized for the home's footprint
Outcome
Three-day install with the proper coastal spec — every fastener stainless, full self-adhered underlayment, upgraded wind-rated shingles, new copper drip edge, and ridge venting sized to spec. The next nor'easter hit six weeks after install and put the spec to the test; the roof showed no movement, no seal-strip failures, no fastener pull-through. This is the install spec that should have gone on every Stone Harbor home — and now does.
“Our previous roofer didn't understand coastal — we know now. Tri-State explained why every dollar of the extra spec mattered and put it on paper. After the November nor'easter we walked the roof together and there was nothing wrong. That's the difference.”
