Storms & wind · 5 min read
Signs Shingles Have Been Lifted by Wind
The damage that looks like nothing: broken seals, creased tabs and raised edges that fail in the next storm.
City of North Wildwood · Cape May County
Roofing Contractor in North Wildwood, NJ
The inlet end of Five Mile Beach, once the borough of Anglesea — older houses, condominiums and second homes facing Hereford Inlet and the open Atlantic.
Photo: WhisperToMe / Wikimedia Commons (CC0). Credits
North Wildwood sits at the top of Five Mile Beach, where Hereford Inlet separates the island from Stone Harbor. The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse stands here, and the northern blocks face both the inlet and the ocean — a combination that brings more wind than the middle of the island.
The town began as the borough of Anglesea in 1885 and took the North Wildwood name in 1906. Today it has about 3,600 year-round residents, an older population than Wildwood's, and close to nine thousand housing units — most of them counted as vacant on census day, the mark of a strongly seasonal town.
About North Wildwood
North Wildwood occupies the northern end of the island shared with Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. Hereford Inlet and its lighthouse define the north end; the rest of the town runs south to the Wildwood line. Its name is still debated — voters rejected a 2016 proposal to return to "Anglesea" — and the older part of town keeps that identity.
The buildings
Housing ranges from older single-family houses and cottages to two-family homes and condominium buildings, with Doo-Wop-era motels (one, the Chateau Bleu, is on the National Register) near the beach. Many older houses have been renovated or replaced with larger multi-unit buildings over the years.
Exposure profile
What North Wildwood’s setting means for its roofs
Nor'easters are the most common damaging storms, especially for inlet-facing streets; tropical systems add risk from late summer into autumn.
- Coastal exposure
- The inlet end is among the most exposed places in the Wildwoods. Wind can arrive from the ocean to the east and across Hereford Inlet from the north-east, and salt spray reaches well inland in storms.
- Wind
- On the northern blocks, roof edges, ridges and the storm-facing sides of chimneys take the most punishment. Lifted and missing shingles along these lines are the typical post-storm repair.
- Drainage
- Tight lots and multi-unit buildings mean downspout placement and gutter capacity matter. Low-slope roofs on condos and motels need drains kept clear of sand.
- Seasonal use
- With close to four in five housing units counted as vacant on census day, most North Wildwood roofs are on seasonal or rental properties. Absentee owners benefit from a spring inspection and prompt post-storm checks.
Wind at the inlet end
Hereford Inlet opens the north end of the island to wind from more than one direction. For roofs there, the details that resist uplift — sealed starter courses, correctly nailed shingles, secured ridge caps and sound drip edge — matter more than on sheltered streets in the middle of the island.
Signs of wind-lifted shinglesAfter the storm
Post-storm damage in North Wildwood typically shows up along ridges, rakes and the eaves on the windward side, and at chimneys where flashing has been worked loose. If you are not in town, an exterior check with photographs tells you whether you need to act before the next storm.
Storm damage roof repairRepairs on older Anglesea-era houses
Older houses in the north end often have roofs that have been re-covered more than once, and flashing that has been sealed over rather than replaced. Repairs there start by understanding what is under the surface: how many layers there are, and whether the flashing can be corrected or needs rebuilding.
Roof repairChecks for seasonal owners
A roof inspection each spring and after major storms, with photos sent to you, keeps small problems from becoming a summer surprise. If you rent the property, share the inspection with your manager so they know what to watch for.
Seasonal-home roof careGutters and downspouts on tight lots
Wind can pull gutters away from fascia, and corroded hangers give way sooner near the ocean. Checking gutter attachment and downspout discharge is part of any North Wildwood roof visit.
Gutters and drainageReplacement on a layered roof
When an older roof has more than one layer, replacement means tearing everything off to the deck. That allows the deck, flashing and edges to be inspected and corrected — something a layer-over would hide.
Roof replacementChoosing materials for exposure
Architectural shingles installed to the manufacturer's high-wind fastening requirements suit most pitched roofs here. For metal flashing, gutters and fasteners, corrosion-resistant materials appropriate to salt exposure are worth the extra cost.
Asphalt shingle roofingRoofing challenges in North Wildwood
- Strong wind exposure at the inlet end
- Seasonal homes with long unoccupied periods
- Older houses with repeated layers of roofing and aging flashing
- Multi-unit buildings with shared roofs
- Corrosion on metal components in salt spray
Problems we are most often asked about
- Missing shingles and ridge caps after nor'easters
- Chimney and wall flashing leaks on older houses
- Worn roofs on older cottages with more than one layer of shingles
- Condo roofs needing association-approved work
- Gutters corroded or pulled loose by wind
Roofing services in North Wildwood
North Wildwood roofs most often need storm-focused repairs and checks for absent owners:
Storm Damage Roof Repair
Assessing and repairing roofs after nor'easters, tropical systems and severe thunderstorms: wind uplift, torn ridges and edges, displaced flashing and debris impact.
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.
Roof Replacement
A complete tear-off and rebuild — deck review, underlayment, edge metal, flashing, ventilation and ridge — planned around the house and the season.
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.
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.
North Wildwood questions
Frequently asked in North Wildwood
Our house near Hereford Inlet loses shingles every winter. What can be done?
Repeated loss usually points to weak edge and ridge details, broken seal strips or an aging roof. An inspection can show whether targeted repairs to edges and ridges will hold or whether the roof is due for replacement with high-wind installation details.
Our older North Wildwood cottage has two layers of shingles. Can we add a third?
We recommend against it. A full tear-off lets the deck, flashing and edges be inspected and corrected, and avoids the added weight and hidden problems of multiple layers.
Can you inspect our condo building's roof for the association?
Yes. We can inspect the whole roof and provide photographs and written findings the association can use to plan.
Nearby service areas
Guides for North Wildwood 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.
Older homes · 6 min read
Roof Repair vs Replacement for an Older Shore Home
A decision guide for owners of older shore houses: what points to repair, what points to replacement, and how rental timing fits in.
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Roofing for the City of North Wildwood, Cape May County, New Jersey. This page describes an area we serve; we do not claim an office in North Wildwood.