Hear from Our Customers
There’s a specific kind of stress that comes with not knowing. You look up at your roof, you know it’s been a while, and you’re not sure if you’re fine for another few years or already overdue. That uncertainty is exactly what a proper inspection clears up — and it costs you nothing to find out.
Eberton sits in a part of Dover where a lot of the housing stock was built between the 1970s and 1990s. Standard asphalt shingle roofs are designed to last 20 to 30 years. That math isn’t complicated, and it means a significant number of homes in this neighborhood are at or past the point where a roof should be evaluated seriously. Add in Delaware’s roughly 45 inches of annual rainfall, the freeze-thaw cycles that work through shingle seals every winter, and the humidity that accelerates algae growth on north-facing surfaces — and a roof that looks okay from the street may be telling a different story up close.
What changes after a proper assessment is simple: you stop guessing. You know whether you need a repair, a replacement, or just some maintenance to extend what you have. You have documentation if you’re dealing with an insurance claim or thinking about selling. And if something does need to happen, you have a clear plan with real numbers — not a vague estimate from someone who knocked on your door after a storm.
First State Roofing & Exteriors Co. has been working across Kent County for over 22 years. That’s not a number we throw around casually — it means we’ve been through enough Delaware winters, nor’easters, and humid summers to know exactly what roofs in Eberton and the surrounding area deal with. We’re based in Smyrna, about 12 to 14 miles north of Dover on Route 13, which puts us close enough to Eberton that we’re not driving in from another county when you call.
We’re licensed through the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, fully insured, and BBB accredited. Every job is handled in-house — no subcontracting, no strangers on your property who weren’t part of the original conversation. Richard McCain, the owner, is a real person behind this business, not a name on a website. That matters when you need someone accountable after the job is done, not just before it starts.
Eberton homeowners — whether you’re a long-term resident, a state worker, or a military family at Dover AFB navigating a roof decision while life is already busy — you deserve a contractor who gives you a straight answer and follows through.
It starts with a free inspection. One of our team members comes out, gets on the roof, and gives you an honest assessment of what’s actually going on up there — not a sales pitch, not a pressure conversation. If your roof has years left in it, we’ll tell you. If it’s reached the point where repair isn’t the right call, we’ll explain why and show you what we’re looking at.
From there, if work is needed, we put together a written estimate with the full scope — materials, timeline, and what to expect on the day of the job. In Dover, roof replacements require a building permit through the City, and we handle that process as part of the project. You don’t need to figure out the permit side on your own. If you’re dealing with storm damage and need to file an insurance claim, we work directly with your insurance provider to help document the damage and move the process forward — something a lot of homeowners don’t realize a contractor can do.
On installation day, the crew that shows up is the crew that does the work. We don’t hand your project off to a subcontractor. Most residential jobs on Eberton-sized homes — typically in the 1,100 to 1,700 square foot range — are completed in a single day. We clean up completely before we leave, and we’re reachable afterward if anything comes up.
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Roofing is the core of what we do, but it’s not all we do. First State Roofing & Exteriors Co. handles the full exterior — roofing, siding, gutters, windows, and skylights. For Eberton homeowners dealing with storm damage that hit more than just the roof, that means one call instead of three, one point of contact, and no gaps in accountability between different contractors.
On the roofing side, we work with asphalt shingles, metal roofing, EPDM, TPO, slate, rubber, and more. In Dover’s climate, algae-resistant shingles are worth the conversation — the humidity and shade conditions in Eberton make dark streaking on roofs a real and common issue, not just a cosmetic one. Proper ventilation and underlayment matter here too, especially given the freeze-thaw cycles that put pressure on aging shingle seals every winter.
We also offer 24/7 emergency roof repair for situations that can’t wait — a nor’easter comes through overnight, shingles come off, and water is getting in. That’s not a Monday morning problem. Beyond emergency response, we offer scheduled inspections, maintenance, and roof repair for situations where a full replacement isn’t necessary yet. And if the cost of a replacement is the thing holding you back, financing is available — because a roof that needs replacing doesn’t get better by waiting, and a manageable monthly payment is a better outcome than compounding damage.
The honest answer is that you often can’t tell from the ground, and that’s exactly why a professional inspection matters. Visible signs like missing shingles, dark streaking, or granules collecting in your gutters are worth paying attention to — but the more telling issues are usually what’s happening at the flashing points, around penetrations like vents and chimneys, and along the edges where water tends to pool.
For homes in Eberton’s housing stock — most of which were built between the 1970s and 1990s — the age of the roof is one of the most important factors. If your roof is 20 years or older and hasn’t been replaced, it’s worth getting a documented assessment before a storm makes the decision for you. A repair can absolutely be the right call when the damage is isolated and the rest of the roof is structurally sound. But if the underlying material is deteriorating broadly, repairs become a short-term fix that costs more in the long run. We’ll tell you which situation you’re in — clearly, without pressure.
It depends on the cause of the damage and the terms of your specific policy, but storm-related damage — wind, hail, falling debris — is commonly covered under standard homeowner’s insurance in Delaware. What trips people up is the documentation and claims process, not the coverage itself. Adjusters need to see clear evidence of the damage, and how that evidence is presented affects the outcome of the claim.
This is an area where having an experienced roofing contractor in your corner makes a real difference. First State Roofing & Exteriors Co. works directly with homeowners’ insurance providers to help document storm damage and move the claims process forward. Delaware sees tropical storm remnants every two to three years, and nor’easters regularly push through Kent County with sustained winds that can lift shingles and compromise flashing. If your Eberton roof took a hit, don’t assume insurance won’t cover it — get an inspection first, get the damage documented properly, and then find out what you’re actually working with before writing off a claim.
Yes. The City of Dover requires a building permit for roof replacements, and that applies to homes in Eberton since it falls within Dover’s city limits. The permit process goes through the City of Dover’s building inspection division, and it exists to make sure the work meets current building code standards — which matters for both the quality of the installation and for any future home sale or insurance claim.
The good news is that pulling the permit is something your roofing contractor should handle as part of the project — not something you need to figure out on your own. First State Roofing & Exteriors Co. manages the permit process as a standard part of every replacement job. If a contractor you’re talking to doesn’t mention permits or suggests you pull it yourself, that’s a red flag worth taking seriously. Permitted work gives you documentation, protects you from liability, and ensures the job was done to code — all things that matter when you’re protecting an investment like your home.
For most homes in Eberton — which tend to run between 1,100 and 1,700 square feet — a full roof replacement is typically a one-day job under normal conditions. The crew arrives in the morning, removes the existing material, installs the new roof, and cleans up before they leave. You’re not looking at a multi-day project that disrupts your household for a week.
A few factors can affect that timeline. If the decking underneath has water damage or rot that wasn’t visible before tear-off, that adds time. Complex roof geometry with multiple valleys, dormers, or steep pitches also takes longer than a simple gable roof. Weather is always a factor too — we schedule around conditions and won’t rush a job in rain or high wind. If you’re a working household or a military family at Dover AFB who needs to plan around a specific day, we’ll give you a realistic timeline upfront and communicate clearly if anything changes. Clean worksite, on schedule, no surprises — that’s the standard we hold ourselves to.
Architectural asphalt shingles are the most common choice for good reason — they’re durable, cost-effective, and widely available in algae-resistant formulations, which matters in central Delaware. The humidity and shaded conditions in neighborhoods like Eberton make algae growth a real issue, and those dark streaks you see on roofs aren’t just cosmetic. Algae-resistant shingles with copper or zinc granules built in are a smart long-term choice that doesn’t add dramatically to the cost.
For homeowners who want something that lasts longer and can handle Delaware’s freeze-thaw cycles and occasional high winds from nor’easters, metal roofing is worth considering. A metal roof can last up to 50 years, handles temperature swings well, and sheds water efficiently. It’s a higher upfront cost but a lower long-term cost when you factor in the reduced replacement cycle. We’ll walk you through the material options that make sense for your specific roof, your budget, and how long you plan to stay in the home — because the right answer isn’t the same for everyone.
Start with the basics: verify that the contractor is licensed through the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation and carries both general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Ask for proof of both — a legitimate contractor will hand those documents over without hesitation. Workers’ comp matters specifically because if someone gets hurt on your property and the contractor doesn’t carry it, that liability can fall back on you as the homeowner.
Beyond licensing and insurance, look at how long they’ve been operating in Kent County specifically. Storm chasers — out-of-town contractors who show up after a big weather event, collect payment, and disappear — are a documented problem in Delaware, and they tend to surface after every significant nor’easter or tropical storm. A contractor who’s been working in this area for over two decades, has a verifiable local address, carries a real BBB accreditation, and has consistent five-star reviews from actual Delaware homeowners is a fundamentally different situation than someone who showed up last week. First State Roofing & Exteriors Co. has been in Kent County for over 22 years — we’re not going anywhere, and that’s exactly the kind of accountability that matters when you need warranty service two years down the road.
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