During a summer storm, a tree came down on this home in Plainfield, NJ. It landed against the second story, damaging the roof and leaving the house exposed. This is how we brought it back.
Step 1 — Removing the tree
You can't assess a roof — much less repair it — with a tree lying on top of it. And removing a tree from a house isn't like cutting one down in a yard: the weight is resting on a damaged structure, so it has to come off in controlled sections, cut and lifted piece by piece so that nothing shifts and causes more damage on the way down. Our crew handled the entire removal and cleared the debris from the property.
Step 2 — Protecting the home
With the tree off, the priority became the sky: a damaged roof is an open door, and any rain that followed the storm would go straight into the attic and ceilings. That's why the tarp matters so much in storm work — it buys the home complete protection while the insurance process and the restoration plan move forward. We sealed the damaged sections under a secured tarp, and the house stayed dry until the rebuild.
Step 3 — Restoring it right: new plywood first
The impact didn't just tear shingles — it crushed the decking, the wooden base the entire roof is built on. This is where restorations are won or lost: shingles over damaged plywood look fine for a season and fail for years. So we tore off down to the structure, on both the house and the garage, and installed all-new plywood decking before a single shingle went on. The roof got a new foundation, not a cover-up.
Step 4 — The new roof system
Over the fresh decking went synthetic underlayment and GAF Timberline HDZ architectural shingles — installed to manufacturer spec by our harnessed crew, including the steep turret section that makes this house unique. House and garage were completed as one project, matching and continuous.
Complete
From a tree on the roof to a fully restored home: new decking, new roof system on the house and the garage, new fascia, and a clean property at handoff. The only evidence left of the storm is this story.
Storm damage? Call us first.
If a tree, wind, or hail ever finds your roof, call (908) 279-0901. Fast response, thorough photo documentation that makes your insurance claim easier to approve, and one company from emergency to final walkthrough — that's Hive Response™.
From the Hive 🐝
RESTORHIVE Roofing & Restoration — New Jersey's roof replacement specialists. Free inspections with full photo reports, a 20-year workmanship guarantee, and a crew that treats your home like the hive. (908) 279-0901 · Get your free inspection →