Roof Repair in Oxford, NJ

Roofing in Oxford Township

Oxford is a small township southwest of Hackettstown with deep roots. Its iron furnace, built in 1741, was one of the earliest in the American colonies, and Shippen Manor, the ironmaster's house, still stands. Today Oxford is a quiet, mostly residential community of older village homes, rural properties and hillside houses surrounded by woods and farmland.

Village homes

The older houses in Oxford's village, many built when the furnace and later industries were running, share the issues of old homes across Warren County:

• Roofs with several layers of old shingles
• Brick chimneys with worn flashing and mortar
• Steep, simple roofs that shed snow well but are exposed to wind
• Attics with little insulation, leading to ice dams
• Older porches with low-slope roofs

Hillsides and trees

Oxford sits among wooded hills, and many homes have big trees close by. Heavy, wet snow and ice storms bring down branches, and every fall the gutters fill with leaves. Clogged gutters are a leading cause of ice dams and of leaks at the roof edge. Clean them after the leaves fall, before the first snow. See storm and tree damage.

Winter roof problems

Northwest New Jersey's winters are hard on roofs:

• Ice dams at the eaves, pushing meltwater under shingles - see ice dam repair
• Freeze-thaw cycles that crack old shingles and loosen flashing
• Snow load on older or flatter roofs after heavy, wet storms - see our post on how much snow a roof can hold
• Chimney leaks as snow piles up and melts against the brick

Rural properties

Outside the village, many properties have barns, garages and sheds as well as the house. Those outbuildings often have metal roofs that need fasteners renewed and seams resealed, or old shingle roofs that have been left to wear out. Keeping outbuilding roofs sound protects the structure underneath. See metal roofing.

Common roofing calls in Oxford

• Leak repairs at chimneys, valleys and vents
• Roof replacement on older homes with multiple layers
• Tree and branch damage
• Ice dam leaks
• Barn and outbuilding roofs
• Pre-winter inspections

Getting ready for winter

The best time to deal with roof problems in Oxford is the fall. A loose shingle or cracked pipe boot is an easy repair in October, and a much harder one in February with snow on the roof. Our winter roof checklist covers what to look at.

Historic homes near Shippen Manor

Some of Oxford's houses date back to the furnace era of the 1700s and 1800s. If you own one, the roof is part of the history of the house. Before replacing an old roof outright, it's worth asking whether original materials like slate can be repaired, whether the roof framing has been altered over the years, and how a new roof will look against the age of the house. Work on very old framing often turns up surprises, so leave room in the plan for repairs to rafters or boards once the old roofing is off.

Shaded roofs and moss

Homes tucked under big trees on Oxford's hillsides often have north-facing slopes that rarely see the sun. Those slopes stay damp, grow moss and algae, and wear faster. Moss holds water against shingles and can lift their edges. Trimming back overhanging branches lets more sun and air reach the roof, and a roofer can clean moss gently without damaging the shingles. Pressure washing a shingle roof does more harm than good.

Before you hire

Ask for a New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor registration number and a written contract. If the house is old, ask how rotted boards will be handled if they're found under the shingles.

When to call

For leaks, storm damage, ice dams or a roof that's worn out, call to reach a local roofer who serves Oxford, Hackettstown and the surrounding townships.