Roofing in Branford, CT

Branford's housing includes single-family detached houses. They run from Stony Creek, where the pink granite quarries opened in 1858, to the streets looking out at the Thimble Islands. Each one has one owner, one roof, and a choice between repairing it and replacing it.

For roof repair, we fix leaks, replace missing and cracked shingles, and reset nail pops. We also rebuild failed flashing at chimneys, skylights, sidewalls, and pipe boots. We match the flashing already on the house, whether it is aluminum, galvanized steel, or copper.

For roof replacement, we do a full tear-off down to the deck. We replace soft or rotted decking, install ice and water shield and synthetic underlayment, and lay architectural asphalt shingles or standing seam metal.

For a roof inspection, we check the shingles, flashing, deck, and attic, and we photograph what we find.

We also handle roof maintenance, including debris removal, moss and algae cleaning, sealant reapplication, and spot repairs. Our gutter installation work covers seamless aluminum gutters, downspouts, and guards, all hung at the right pitch.

Ice dams are a winter problem on Branford roofs. Warm air from the house heats the attic, and the snow on the upper roof melts. That water refreezes when it reaches the cold overhang. The ice holds back the next round of meltwater, and the water backs up under the shingles. That is how a ceiling stains in February when no rain has fallen.

When we repair or replace a roof here, we run ice and water shield up from the eaves. We inspect the soffit and ridge vents and trace warm air leaking into the attic. We also check whether ice-packed gutters are pulling away from the fascia.

A lot of the housing in Branford was built in the 1980s. Many of those roofs are on their second covering, and some have a new layer of shingles nailed over the old one. Before we price a replacement, we count the layers, check the deck from the attic, and look at the original step and chimney flashing. Old flashing buried under a re-roof is often rusted or loose. We replace it instead of reusing it.

Branford lets you repair up to a set portion of a roof within one calendar year without a building permit. Past that point, the job needs a permit. We measure the damaged area before we price a repair. If the work will go past that limit, we tell you and pull the permit. We also ask about earlier repairs this year, because they count toward the same limit.

Some Branford parcels sit inside a mapped flood hazard area. Permit work on those properties needs a flood hazard application filed with the building permit. We check the parcel before we file. That way the application goes in with the permit.

Branford building inspectors visit job sites Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. On permitted jobs, we book inspections into those windows and plan the tear-off and dry-in around them. While we wait for an inspection, the roof stays covered with underlayment or tarps. An open deck never sits exposed waiting for a visit.

We start on the ground with the gutters, fascia, and soffits, then go up on the roof. We check the shingles for curling, cracking, granule loss, and nail pops. We check every flashing joint at the chimney, walls, skylights, valleys, and pipe boots. Then we inspect the attic for daylight, wet sheathing, mold, and blocked vents. When a leak is hard to trace, we use moisture testing and an infrared scanner. We write down what we found and send you the photos.

For a repair, we remove the damaged shingles and flashing and check the deck underneath. We replace any soft decking. We install new flashing and seal it. We nail the new shingles to the manufacturer's pattern so they lie flat with the rest of the roof.

For a replacement, we lay tarps over the landscaping and set up roof jacks or scaffolding. We tear off to the deck and replace bad sheathing. We install drip edge, ice and water shield at the eaves and valleys, and synthetic underlayment over the rest of the deck. Then we install new flashing and nail the shingles to the manufacturer's pattern. We add or balance ridge and soffit ventilation. At the end, we clean the yard and driveway and haul away the old roof. Then we walk the finished roof and photograph it. Our roofing project process guide walks through each day of a replacement.

Do I need a permit to repair my roof in Branford?

Not for a small repair. Branford exempts roof repairs that stay within a set portion of the roof in one calendar year. Larger repairs and full replacements need a permit, and we file it for you.

Can you repair my roof instead of replacing it?

Yes, when the damage is in one area and the deck and underlayment around it are sound. Sometimes we find soft decking across the roof, two layers of worn shingles, or failed underlayment in several places. In those cases we recommend replacement and show you the photos.

How do you stop ice dams?

We keep the roof deck cold and keep meltwater out of the house. We balance the soffit and ridge vents so outside air moves under the roof. We point out any spots where warm air is leaking into the attic. We install ice and water shield at the eaves so backed-up water cannot reach the deck.

What affects the cost of a new roof?

The main factors are roof size, pitch, the number of layers we tear off, deck repairs, flashing, ventilation, and the material you choose. Our roofing cost guide explains each one. We measure and inspect the roof before we price the job.

Do you work outside Branford?

Yes. We also work in East Haven, North Haven, Hamden, Wallingford, and across the New Haven area.

Call (475) 381-2544 or request an estimate for roofing in Branford. Tell us where the roof leaks, what came off in the last storm, or where ice built up last winter. We will inspect the roof and the attic and measure the damage against the town's set repair limit. Then we will put the recommended work in writing.