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.
Borough of West Wildwood · Cape May County
Roofing Contractor in West Wildwood, NJ
The smallest of the four Wildwoods — a bulkheaded bay island of homes and marinas, reached by a two-lane bridge from Wildwood.
Photo: Smallbones / Wikimedia Commons (CC0). Credits
West Wildwood is not on the ocean at all. It is a small island on the bay side of Wildwood, built up in the 1920s by filling marshland and ringed by bulkheads. About 540 people live here year-round; in summer the population grows to several thousand.
Its roofs face a different kind of exposure from the oceanfront towns: wind sweeping across open bay and marsh, and storms that push high water against the bulkheads. The island's homes are mostly houses — year-round and vacation — along with marinas.
About West Wildwood
West Wildwood covers well under half a square mile. It is joined to Wildwood by a two-lane bridge and surrounded by water and marsh on its other sides. The borough was incorporated in 1920 from part of Middle Township. Its bulkheads protect against flooding, though strong winds combined with high tides can overtop them.
The buildings
The borough is almost entirely residential: single-family houses, many of them raised, with a mix of year-round and vacation use, plus marinas along the water. There is very little commercial building stock.
Exposure profile
What West Wildwood’s setting means for its roofs
Nor'easters are the main threat, combining sustained wind with high tides. Tropical systems from late summer into autumn add risk.
- Coastal exposure
- Open bay and marsh surround the island, so there is little to break the wind from any direction. Salt air and spray affect metal components on houses near the water.
- Wind
- With open water on most sides, houses here can take wind from the north-east during a nor'easter and from the west as it passes. Edges and ridges facing open water should be checked after storms.
- Drainage
- Roof drainage should carry water away from foundations and toward the island's drainage paths; on raised homes, downspouts often run a long way to grade and need secure attachment.
- Seasonal use
- Part of West Wildwood is year-round and part is vacation housing. Vacation homes benefit from post-storm checks, particularly after nor'easters that bring high water and wind together.
A bay island, not an ocean town
West Wildwood's exposure comes from the bay and marsh rather than the ocean. With water on most sides, there is little shelter from wind in any direction. Roofs here benefit from the same wind-resistant details as oceanfront homes — secure edges, sealed starter courses and well-fastened ridges.
Salt air and roof componentsAfter a nor'easter
Nor'easters are the storms that matter most here, bringing wind and high tides together. Flooding is a separate problem from roofing, but a roof check after a big storm — for lifted shingles, loose flashing and damaged gutters — should follow once conditions allow.
Storm damage roof repairCommon repairs
Most repairs on West Wildwood homes involve wind-lifted shingles and ridge caps on water-facing slopes, flashing at walls and chimneys, and gutter components loosened by wind or corrosion.
Roof repairGutters and downspouts on raised homes
Many houses here are raised, so downspouts travel a long way to the ground. Secure straps and corrosion-resistant fasteners keep them attached through storms, and discharge points should send water away from the house.
Gutters and drainageA check after big storms
For vacation homes especially, an exterior roof check with photographs after a major storm confirms whether anything needs attention before the next one arrives.
Roof inspectionWhen the roof is due
Replacement on a raised bay-side home follows the same full scope as anywhere — tear-off, deck review, underlayment, edge metal, flashing, ventilation — with attention to materials suited to salt exposure and to the extra access height.
Roof replacementRoofing challenges in West Wildwood
- Wind across open bay and marsh from several directions
- Salt exposure on metal flashing, gutters and fasteners
- Raised homes with tall walls and long downspouts
- Vacation homes going unchecked after storms
Problems we are most often asked about
- Shingle and ridge damage on water-facing slopes
- Corroded gutter hangers and downspout straps
- Flashing leaks at walls and chimneys
- Loose downspouts on raised homes
Roofing services in West Wildwood
West Wildwood's homes most often need these services:
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.
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.
West Wildwood questions
Frequently asked in West Wildwood
Is West Wildwood on the same island as Wildwood?
No. It is a separate small island on the bay side, connected to Wildwood by a bridge. That is why its roofing exposure is shaped by the bay and marsh rather than the ocean.
Can a roofer help with flooding?
No — flooding is a separate issue from the roof. A roofer can check and repair storm damage to the roof itself, and make sure roof water is directed away from the house.
Our gutters keep pulling loose. Why?
On exposed bay-side homes, wind loads and corrosion of hangers and fasteners are common causes. Replacing failed hangers with corrosion-resistant ones and adding attachment points usually helps.
Nearby service areas
Guides for West Wildwood property owners
Coastal exposure · 6 min read
What Salt Air Can Mean for Roof and Gutter Components
Salt air does not destroy roofs. It does work on certain metal parts — and knowing which ones makes maintenance simple.
Drainage · 5 min read
How Gutters Help Protect Roof Edges During Heavy Rain
Drip edge, gutter, downspout, ground: the four links that keep a heavy rain away from fascia, walls and foundations.
Roof evaluation request
Request a roof evaluation in West Wildwood
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Roofing for the Borough of West Wildwood, Cape May County, New Jersey. This page describes an area we serve; we do not claim an office in West Wildwood.