Short answer
Runhome gives Newark homeowners and small landlords a repair estimate in minutes from a description or photos, then calls local contractors, gathers quotes and books the visit. About 43% of Newark homes predate 1960, so expect older plumbing, wiring and siding on most jobs.
Newark homes at a glance
- Median year built
- 1966
- Built before 1960
- 43%
- Built since 2000
- 18%
- Owner-occupied
- 24%
- Median home value
- $373,700
- Main heat
- Gas, 68%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates
What Newark’s housing means for repairs
Newark is a city of renters and multi-family buildings. Only about 24% of homes are owner-occupied and about 13% are single-family detached, so many owners live in one unit of a two- or three-family house and rent the others. About 43% of homes were built before 1960, and the median build year is 1966.
Older frame houses in the Ironbound and Forest Hill often have aluminum, vinyl or asbestos shingle siding over original wood clapboard, plus lead paint underneath. Gas heats about 68% of homes, usually through boilers or furnaces in shared basements, and about 2% still use oil. When a bathroom leaks in a stacked unit, the damage shows up in the ceiling below, which means two repairs instead of one.
Weather that wears on Newark homes
Newark has humid summers and cold winters with repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Nor'easters bring heavy rain and wind-driven snow that finds gaps in old siding, flashing and windows. Ice dams form on poorly insulated roofs and push meltwater into top-floor ceilings. Low areas near the Passaic River and in the East Ward can flood during big storms, and older basements take on water when sewers back up. Summer heat and humidity load up window AC units and make basements musty. Freezing nights crack exposed pipes in unheated hallways and basements of older multi-family buildings.
Common repairs in Newark
Ceiling repair after bathroom leaks
In stacked Newark units, a failed tub or toilet seal upstairs stains and soaks the ceiling below.
Siding and trim repair
Old wood, aluminum and asbestos shingle siding on Newark frame houses needs patching and careful handling.
Boiler and radiator service
Gas boilers in shared basements heat most older multi-family buildings.
Tub surround and caulk repair
Tubs separating from the wall let water reach the floor framing and the ceiling below.
Electrical panel upgrade
Multi-family houses often have old panels and meters that need replacing when units are renovated.
What these repairs cost
The middle half of Runhome repair estimates nationwide for each kind of job. Your price depends on the scope of the work.
| Repair | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Drywall or ceiling repair | $400 to $1,150 |
| Exterior trim repair | $380 to $750 |
| Heating or cooling repair | $280 to $450 |
| Painting, caulking or sealing | $310 to $920 |
| Electrical panel or breaker work | $260 to $410 |
Fix guides for Newark homeowners
Ceiling is stained and sagging after a water leak
Leaks from upstairs bathrooms are the most common cause of stained ceilings in Newark two- and three-family houses.
Bathtub is separating from the wall
A tub pulling away from the wall in an older Newark unit sends water straight into the ceiling below.
Sewage backs up into the basement floor drain
Heavy storms can overload older Newark sewers and push water up through basement floor drains.
Painted wood is rotten and crumbles when you press it
Original wood trim under Newark's newer siding often rots where water gets behind it.
Seasonal checklist
- Fall
- Bleed radiators and have the boiler serviced before tenants turn the heat on.
- Winter
- Keep basement and hallway pipes above freezing and watch top-floor ceilings for ice dam stains.
- Spring
- Clean gutters and check basement walls for seepage after nor'easter rain.
- Summer
- Recaulk tubs and showers in every unit to stop leaks into the ceilings below.
Common questions
- Is it safe to remove the old shingle siding on my Newark house?
Gray or white cement shingles on older Newark houses often contain asbestos, and paint under siding often contains lead. Do not sand or break them yourself. Contractors who handle these materials price the job by wall area, access and disposal rules.
- Who pays when a leak in my upstairs unit damages the ceiling below?
In a house you own, you pay to fix both the source and the ceiling, so fix the source first. Price both repairs together so the contractor can patch, prime and paint the ceiling once the leak is stopped.
- How do I get repairs done in a Newark rental unit?
Describe the problem or send photos, and Runhome prices it and calls local contractors for quotes. You can share access details for the unit so the visit can be scheduled with your tenant.
Neighborhoods served
- Ironbound
- Forest Hill
- Vailsburg
- Weequahic
- Roseville
- University Heights