Four seasons and one catch-all
A year of roof chores for Montclair-area houses
Gutters in the fall, ice in the winter, a look in the spring and limbs in the summer. Each season gets a short list, with the Newark weather numbers behind it and a note on what to leave to a roofer.
October and November: before the first freeze
Leaves come down and gutters fill. The National Park Service's slate brief suggests cleaning gutters at least twice in the fall and once in early spring, and the habit suits most roofs. Check that each downspout empties onto the lawn rather than beside the foundation, and look at the ridge and the chimney flashing from the ground.
Photograph anything that looks different from last year. A gutter repair call now beats one in January.
Sources National Park Service, The Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Historic Slate Roofs (Preservation Brief, 1993) U.S. EPA, Soak Up the Rain: Disconnect/Redirect Downspouts Rutgers Water Resources Program, Rain barrel program
December through March: snow, ice and thaws
Newark's January normals, 1991 to 2020, are a 32.8 mean, a 40 high, a 25.5 low and 9.1 inches of snow. February runs a 35.1 mean, a 43 high, a 27.2 low and 10.1 inches. Those months swing around the freezing line, which suits ice dams: snow, heat from the house, and cold at the eave.
Stay off the roof. Skip the hammer and the heat tape; UMass researchers say both cause damage. If water shows inside, read the ice dam page and call (973) 358-8198.
Sources National Weather Service, Newark January almanac, 1991-2020 normals National Weather Service, Newark February almanac, 1991-2020 normals UMass Amherst Building and Construction Technology, Preventing ice dams (2011) Building America Solution Center (U.S. DOE), Construct roofs and attics for ice dam prevention (6 Dec 2022)
April and May: after the thaw
Winter shows its work in spring. Look for lifted or cracked shingles from the lawn, stains that appeared in the attic and gutters that pulled away. The park service's early-spring gutter cleaning belongs here.
Spring is also a good month to book a slate or older roof for a professional look. The National Park Service recommends that people experienced with slate inspect it every five to seven years. UMass suggests asking about air leaks and insulation depth while someone is already in the attic.
Sources National Park Service, The Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Historic Slate Roofs (Preservation Brief, 1993) UMass Amherst Building and Construction Technology, Preventing ice dams (2011)
June through September: heat, thunderstorms and limbs
Newark's July normals are a 78.2 mean, an 86.9 high and 4.66 inches of rain. The month's heat bakes shingles, and the storms test the roof's edges. Isaias, which hit on 4 August 2020, knocked out power for more than a million New Jersey customers. Ida's remnants arrived over 1 and 2 September 2021 and left 8.44 inches at Newark Airport.
Look up at the limbs over the roof. Street trees in Montclair are generally the township's; report dangerous ones to Community Services, 973-509-5711. A limb caught in a wire is for 911 or PSE&G to handle, not for a saw.
Sources National Weather Service, Newark July almanac, 1991-2020 normals New Jersey Weather and Climate Network, The Beat Goes On: August 2020 and summer recaps (7 Sep 2020) New Jersey Weather and Climate Network, Remnants of Ida strike New Jersey Township of Montclair, Shade trees in Montclair Q&A PSE&G, Downed power lines
After a big storm, any month
Wires come first, and PSE&G's advice is plain: a downed wire is live, and everyone stays at least 30 feet away. Then photograph the lawn and the roof from each side before any cleanup, as the state insurance department asks.
Skip the ladder. Walk the house the way the attic hatch guide describes, and see storm damage when something needs a roofer.
Sources PSE&G, Downed power lines NJ Department of Banking and Insurance, Guidance on filing insurance claims for storm-related damage Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Assessing roof damage after Superstorm Sandy (7 Nov 2012) NIOSH, Falls from ladders are preventable (reviewed 1 Mar 2024)
Chore found trouble? Dial.
Before you call (973) 358-8198, find the street address, note which room shows water and jot down roughly how old the roof is. Tenants: the owner arranges roof work, so the landlord hears about it first. Towns: Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, West Orange, Cedar Grove, Clifton, Little Falls.