Exterior Contractor Serving Princeton, NJ

A pre-1925 Princeton home may have original slate, original standing seam metal, or multiple layers of shingles applied over a century of re-roofing. Nail Force Contracting assesses the existing roof condition, the decking, the attic ventilation, and all flashings before recommending an approach. For homeowners who want to preserve the slate appearance, synthetic slate is an option. For a clean replacement, GAF or CertainTeed premium architectural shingles provide long-term performance at a fraction of the cost of slate.

Princeton’s older Victorians and Craftsman bungalows have specific siding profiles — original wood clapboard, shingle siding, or board-and-batten — that require matching to look right. James Hardie fiber cement siding offers the closest replication of original wood profiles in a durable, dimensionally stable material. Marvin and Andersen both also offer wood-clad options for homeowners who want actual wood appearance on the most visible elevations.

Gutters that overflow after cleaning in Princeton are almost always undersized for the roof’s drainage area, or have downspout locations that can’t handle the volume from a large roof section. Princeton’s older homes often have 4-inch half-round gutters originally designed for simpler roof profiles. Nail Force Contracting assesses the drainage area of each roof section and sizes new gutters and downspouts appropriately.

For Princeton’s older homes with architecturally important or non-standard window openings, Nail Force Contracting installs Andersen, Marvin, and Pella windows — all of which offer custom sizing, wood interior options, and profiles appropriate for older architecture. Marvin is particularly strong for historic-adjacent Princeton homes where interior wood detailing matters.

Original wood entry doors on Princeton homes near the university often have genuine architectural character — period hardware, transom lights, sidelight configurations. If the door is structurally sound, restoration and weatherstripping improvement is worth considering. If restoration isn’t practical, Therma-Tru and ProVia both manufacture fiberglass entry door systems in profiles that replicate traditional wood doors, with the option for period-appropriate hardware and finishes.

Wood trim on Princeton homes that requires frequent repainting is absorbing moisture at endgrain, window flashing transitions, and horizontal surfaces. Azek and KOMA PVC cellular trim replicate the original profiles in a material that holds paint indefinitely, doesn’t absorb moisture, and doesn’t swell or crack. Nail Force Contracting replaces Princeton wood trim with matched PVC profiles that preserve the home’s original detailing without the maintenance cycle.