Asphalt Shingle Roofing in Wells, Maine

Census estimates put Wells' median home built around 1989, the newest housing stock among the towns in this service area, with only about 8 percent of homes predating 1940 and roughly 18 percent predating 1960. Most of Wells' housing was built from the 1960s onward, as the town grew along its beaches and the Route 1 corridor rather than around an older mill or shipbuilding economy. Beach cottages at Wells Beach, Moody Beach and Drakes Island Beach range from smaller older camps to larger, newer builds raised up on pilings, while inland neighborhoods hold a straightforward mix of capes, ranches and contemporary homes.

With seven miles of Atlantic coastline, Wells takes nor'easters and wind-driven rain directly along its entire beachfront, and salt air corrodes fasteners, flashing and roofing hardware faster near Wells Beach, Moody Beach and Drakes Island than it does along the inland stretches of Route 1. The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farm add extensive marsh and tidal frontage to the town's exposure profile. Winters bring standard Maine freeze-thaw cycling and snow load, and because most of Wells' housing is newer, ice damming at the eaves is less common here than in towns with an older, less-insulated housing stock.

Building permits in Wells go through the Code Enforcement Office on Sanford Road, covering siding, roofing, window and deck work. Because Wells has roughly seven miles of Atlantic coastline, the town maintains an active Shoreland Overlay Zone plus FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps that are directly relevant to construction near the shore, particularly at Wells Beach, Moody Beach and Drakes Island. Properties near the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge or the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm can face added shoreland-zoning review given the ecological significance of that land.

Architectural (dimensional) asphalt shingles are the most common roof in Maine for good reason: they are affordable, they come in many colors and textures, and a good system handles snow, ice and wind well. Several projects on this site used CertainTeed Landmark shingles. What separates a long-lived shingle roof from a short-lived one is mostly underneath: ice and water protection at the eaves, correct nailing, and balanced ventilation.

• Tear-off to the deck and sheathing repair where needed.
• Ice and water shield at eaves, valleys and around penetrations; underlayment over the rest.
• Starter strip and drip edge at the edges, then shingles nailed in the manufacturer's nail zone.
• Step flashing at walls, new pipe boots, and chimney flashing as needed.
• Hip and ridge caps over a ridge vent, balanced with intake at the soffits.

• Granules washing into the gutters and bald patches on the shingles
• Shingles that curl, cup, or lift in wind
• Leaks around chimneys, vents or skylights
• Moss or dark streaking on shaded slopes

• Roof area and pitch
• Shingle line and color
• Layers to tear off and deck repairs
• Flashing and ventilation work
• Number of valleys, dormers and penetrations

Every job is priced from a free on-site visit. Typical ranges for the trade are on our roofing page, and the details of this service are on the architectural asphalt shingle roofing overview.

For a deeper walkthrough of materials, code details and photos, see our full Asphalt Shingle Roofing: Underlayment, Shingle Types, and What Voids a Warranty guide.

Back to the Wells exterior services overview, or see every town on our service areas page.