Essex Fells, NJ
Roofing in Essex Fells, NJ: A Small Borough of Older Houses
What does roof work look like in a borough of about 800 housing units? In Essex Fells, nine homes in ten are detached houses, nearly all owner-occupied, and over a third were built in 1939 or before. A leak by a chimney is a good first read in flashing and chimney leaks; then call (973) 841-8483 with the address.
Roof trouble you will see here
Old houses, small lots and summer downpours
The Census Bureau's 2024 estimate counts 808 housing units in Essex Fells, give or take 91. About 93 percent are detached houses, 96 percent of households own their home, and 288 units were built in 1939 or before. The median build year is 1954. Margins of error are wide in a place this small.
The county's recovery report says flooding in the borough usually follows heavy rain from local thunderstorms and hurricanes in summer and fall, and cites storm sewers that cannot keep up in places. It lists a Sandy ratable loss of $394,800 for Essex Fells, more than twice Millburn's figure. A roof sheds its water to the gutters, and from there it has to go somewhere; see gutter repair.
Who to ask at town hall
Essex Fells' Building and Zoning page gives 255 Roseland Avenue and 973-226-3400, and says the building department is part-time. It lists roofing among the project types that get permits and inspections, with a permit package picked up at Town Hall, two sets of plans and a fee quoted after review. Inspections are scheduled by phone in business hours, not by voicemail.
The state's roster shows the construction office at 307 Runnymede Road, 973-226-3040, which differs from the borough page, so confirm which applies. The state's ordinary-maintenance rule reaches existing roof covering when the building is a detached one-family or two-family home; the borough page lists roofing as permitted work without separating the two. The rules page sets them side by side.
Have these ready
Before dialing from Essex Fells
Gather the street address, the age of the house and roof if known, and a plain description of the damage. A downed wire is different: PSE&G's guidance is to regard any fallen wire as live and to contact 911 or the utility.
Owners can dial (973) 841-8483. A tenant's first call goes to the landlord.
The five towns
Call (973) 841-8483 and talk the roof through.
Call (973) 841-8483Keep three things handy: the address, a description of the damage and a rough roof age. Renters: roof work is set up by the owner, so the landlord comes first. Dial (973) 841-8483 if you are in one of the five towns listed here.