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Tin roofing in New Jersey: Starting in Cape May |
New Jersey tin roofing projects range from the truly historic sites to charming village settings to the grandeur of our Nation's first seaside resort, Cape May located on the southern point of this state. For anyone who wants to experiment with color schemes for your home, this town is worth a visit.
Our first project in Cape May added rich memories for my crew chief and my mother:
My southern crew chief Lester had traveled widely during his 20 plus year career, but never to a site like Cape May. First, instead of driving to the cape, he took the ferry, a logical route due to his family's location in North Carolina. On the first crossing, all crew members hung over the railing taking in their first open water experience. By the third trip, they were snoozing in the truck. Second, access to the roof was through a window of a room--a room with an ocean view. The owner of the inn suggested that Lester take over the room. This project became one of Lester's favorite projects.
Mother arrived at the Philly airport one morning. She was okay with the plan to visit the tin roofing work-in-progress. As this contractor reviewed the latest news on the project, my maternal octogenarian disappeared down one of the picturesque streets. Since that first visit, she has revisited this seaside gem five times.
Most recently, the Wanamaker legacy called "Seaside Home" employed us to preserve their roof. As background, the Victorian-age Mrs. Wanamaker wanted to establish a "hotel" for widows and orphans. Today, a non-denominational board runs the hotel.
The owner of the rusty red roof told me the story of one of the reasons why metal roofing grew in popularity in this state. In the late 1800s many homes in villages were the cedar shake style, a real hazard in a fire. As the metal panels became more affordable, due to railroad lines and increased production from mills, insurance agents encouraged homeowners to reduce their premium rates by reroofing with metal panels. According to this owner, one of his ancestors was such an agent....who also could recommend a roofer (undoubtedly related).
The shiny green roof owner in the same town, experimented with different color ideas. Since his roof panels had been well maintained, the glossy appearance works well. The Americana red roof is also a shiny finish, but the roofing surface was quite pitted. A fully reinforced system was the answer to her special situation.
The Robins' Nest restaurant has old standing seam panels attached directly over an older cedar shake roof. If you are visiting, this place is highly recommender for an atmospheric dining experience.
Whitesbog Village is a park in the making. Since 2000, the improvements has proceeded rapidly for this little known gem. As you enter the village, you will see a modern metal roof.....which is the reason the trustees decided to investigate possible roof restoration alternatives.
Each project in New Jersey seems to stretch our abilities to work with owners in preserving their existing metal roofing.
If you are seeking an experienced company to offer an estimate to preserve your existing roof, one of us would be delighted to visit your residence, discuss the alternatives available and, if requested, submit a quote for restoring your tin roofs. For a tin roof contractor, click here for a map of our geographical work area.
Beyond information about our contracting services, this site is designed for individuals interested in tin roofs--photos, technical tidbits and history. These web pages are prepared by the same contractor that specializes in the restoration of these tin roofs. She enjoys dabbling in website construction, therefore photos and articles are simply presented. All pictures are from Roof Menders projects, the same contractor. If you have questions, just call 610-941-1051 for a chat.