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Borough of Cape May Point · Cape May County
Roofing Contractor in Cape May Point, NJ
A small, quiet borough of cottages and modest houses at the very tip of New Jersey, between the Atlantic and Delaware Bay.
Photo: WhisperToMe / Wikimedia Commons (CC0). Credits
Cape May Point is tiny — about a third of a square mile, with roughly three hundred year-round residents and around six hundred houses. Zoning has kept most houses modest, on 50-by-100-foot lots, and the borough has a quieter, leafier feel than its neighbour Cape May City.
For roofing, the Point is unusual in facing two bodies of water: the Atlantic to the south and Delaware Bay to the west. Wind can arrive from either, and mature trees on many lots add debris that island towns rarely see.
About Cape May Point
The borough occupies the very tip of the Cape May Peninsula, bordered by Lower Township, the ocean and the bay. The Cape May Lighthouse stands just outside it, in Cape May Point State Park in Lower Township. In summer the population grows to several thousand.
The buildings
Houses are mostly single-family cottages and modest homes, many with porches, set on small lots among trees and shrubs. Simpler roof shapes are common, though porches and dormers add details.
Exposure profile
What Cape May Point’s setting means for its roofs
Nor'easters in winter, tropical systems late in the year and westerly gales across the bay all affect the Point.
- Coastal exposure
- Ocean to the south, Delaware Bay to the west: wind and salt air come from two directions, and the westerly exposure over the bay is as important as the ocean side.
- Wind
- West- and south-facing slopes, ridges and porch roof edges are the most exposed.
- Drainage
- Leaves and needles from mature trees collect in gutters and valleys; clearing them in autumn keeps water moving during winter storms.
- Seasonal use
- With about three hundred year-round residents and over six hundred housing units, a large share of the Point's homes are seasonal. Post-storm checks and a spring inspection suit absentee owners.
- Trees
- Unlike most shore towns, the Point has many mature trees. They shelter houses but drop debris, shade roofs so they dry slowly, and can shed limbs in storms.
Between the ocean and the bay
Few places in New Jersey have open water on two sides the way Cape May Point does. Roofs here take onshore wind from the Atlantic and westerly wind across Delaware Bay, so both sides of a house matter when checking for storm damage.
Salt air and roof componentsTrees on a shore lot
The mature trees that give the Point its character also drop leaves and needles into gutters and valleys and keep roofs shaded and damp. Regular gutter clearing, trimming branches back from the roof, and checking shaded slopes for moss and deterioration are the main maintenance tasks.
How storm debris damages roofingRepairs on cottages and modest homes
Simpler roofs make repairs more straightforward, but porch-to-wall connections, chimneys and vent pipes still account for most leaks. Matching materials on older cottages is worth discussing before work starts.
Roof repairFor seasonal owners
A spring inspection and gutter clean before the season, plus a check after major storms, covers most of the risk for homes that sit empty through winter.
Seasonal-home roof careStorm checks
After a storm, look for lifted shingles on the exposed sides and for limbs on or near the roof. Stay clear of any branch resting on the roof and have it removed professionally.
Storm damage roof repairMaterials
Architectural shingles suit most roofs here; metal is sometimes used on porches. Near salt water, choose corrosion-resistant flashing, fasteners and gutters.
Asphalt shingle roofingRoofing challenges in Cape May Point
- Wind and salt from both the ocean and Delaware Bay
- Tree debris in gutters and valleys
- Shaded roofs that stay damp and grow algae or moss
- Seasonal homes unchecked after storms
Problems we are most often asked about
- Clogged gutters and valleys from leaves and needles
- Lifted shingles on west- and south-facing slopes
- Porch roof leaks at walls
- Moss or algae on shaded slopes
Roofing services in Cape May Point
Cape May Point homes most often need:
Roof Repair
Finding where water is actually getting in — flashing, pipe boots, valleys, lifted shingles, roof edges — and fixing that, rather than the stain it left.
Gutter Services
Gutters and downspouts treated as part of the roof: repair, replacement and re-pitching so water leaves the roof edge instead of backing into fascia and walls.
Roof Inspection
A close look at the whole roof — surface, flashing, edges, drainage and attic — before buying, before the season, after a storm, or when you simply are not sure.
Residential Roofing
Roofing for the county's full range of houses — Victorian cottages, raised shore homes, duplexes, ranches and farmhouses on wooded mainland lots.
Cape May Point questions
Frequently asked in Cape May Point
Is the Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Point?
The lighthouse stands in Cape May Point State Park, which is in Lower Township just outside the borough — though it is closely identified with the Point.
Moss is growing on the shaded side of our roof. Is that a problem?
Moss holds moisture against the roofing and can lift shingle edges over time. It is worth having looked at, and trimming overhanging branches helps the roof dry.
Can you check our cottage after a storm while we are away?
Yes. An exterior check with photographs can be done without anyone present.
Nearby service areas
Guides for Cape May Point property owners
Storms & wind · 7 min read
What to Check on Your Roof After Strong Coastal Winds
A ground-level checklist for the day after a nor'easter: what to look at, what to photograph, and what should never be done from a ladder.
Seasonal homes · 6 min read
Roof Maintenance for Seasonal Shore Homes
A simple calendar for owners who are not there all year — and the access plan that makes it work.
Roof evaluation request
Request a roof evaluation in Cape May Point
Tell us about the property and what you are seeing. If you are away from your Cape May Point property, say so and we will ask about access.
- Only your name, phone number and the service are required. The property address is optional.
- Submitting this form lets us respond about this roofing request. It does not sign you up for marketing texts, emails or calls.
- Water coming in right now? Calling is faster: (914) 906-5748.
Roofing for the Borough of Cape May Point, Cape May County, New Jersey. This page describes an area we serve; we do not claim an office in Cape May Point.