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Commercial rooftop replacement — the work other contractors decline.
Crane lifts, permits, police-coordinated street closures. We’ve been doing rooftop work in Hoboken and Jersey City for 25 years — the logistics are bread and butter.
Rooftop replacement, end to end.
Most HVAC contractors won’t take on rooftop replacement work in Hoboken or Jersey City — the city permits, crane logistics, and street-closure coordination are intimidating. The result: when a commercial building’s rooftop unit fails, building owners often spend weeks finding someone willing to take the project.
That’s where we’ve built specialty over 25 years. Established crane firm relationships, deep familiarity with Hoboken and JC permit processes, police coordination experience, single-day execution capability. We make rooftop replacement a 1-day project for the client, not a 6-week saga.
Crane lifts, permits, police escorts.
Three things make rooftop replacement difficult in dense urban areas. We handle all three.
Crane coordination
Established relationships with local crane firms in Hoboken and JC. We size the crane to your unit and your roof, schedule the lift, coordinate rigging, manage the lift sequence.
Permits & street closures
Hoboken/JC crane lifts almost always need a city permit and frequently require police-coordinated traffic management. We handle the permit applications, post notices, and coordinate police presence.
Single-day execution
Most rooftop swaps complete in one day — old unit off in the morning, new unit on in the afternoon, ducted and started before close of business. Minimal business disruption.
RTU brands we install & service.
Commercial RTU brands have strong local parts supply and service networks. We work with all major manufacturers.
Carrier
Trane
Lennox
York
Coleman
Bryant
From site visit to lift day.
Rooftop replacement is one of our most carefully planned services. Four discrete phases.
Site visit & assessment
We tour the rooftop with you: existing unit condition, curb compatibility, roof access, electrical, gas (if applicable), structural concerns. Photos and notes documented. Quote written based on actual conditions.
Permits & crane scheduling
Building permit, electrical permit, gas permit (if needed), structural review (if needed), street-closure permit. Crane firm scheduled for a specific date window. Lead time typically 2–4 weeks.
Pre-lift coordination
Site notices posted. Police notified if street closure needed. Tenant communication if business disruption expected. Old unit disconnected the day before if access permits.
Lift day execution
Crane arrives early morning. Old unit lifted off, hauled away. New unit lifted on, set on curb, ducted, electrical and gas connected, started, tested. Walk-through with building owner.
Rooftop replacement pricing varies more than most HVAC work. Four big drivers.
Unit tonnage
5-ton units are the most common in light commercial — predictable pricing. 7.5, 10, and 15-ton units cost more for equipment and need larger cranes. Multi-RTU projects get volume pricing.
Crane logistics
Building setback, roof height, street access — all affect crane size required and street-closure scope. Buildings on wide commercial streets cost less to lift than buildings on narrow residential side streets.
Curb compatibility
Existing curb matches new unit: fast swap. New curb adapter or full new curb: adds time + roofing-warranty coordination. We measure the existing curb on the site visit so you see the exact scope.
Permits & police escort
Standard permit package: included in our quote. If your specific lift needs police-coordinated street closure (most do, in central Hoboken), that’s an extra line item we quote separately so you see it.
Single 5–7 ton RTU replacement: typically $20,000–$45,000 installed (including crane + permits). Multi-RTU projects priced per unit. Call 201-245-5151 for a site visit.
Where rooftop replacement fits in your HVAC plan.
Rooftop replacement is usually one project in a longer building HVAC story. Common adds:
Maintenance Contracts
After new RTU install: quarterly preventive maintenance to keep it running 15–20 years.
- Quarterly visits
- Filter + belt service
- Refrigerant check
- Priority emergency response
Rooftop Units (Equipment Info)
Learn more about commercial rooftop equipment types, sizing, and the brands we install.
- Equipment sizing guidance
- Brand comparisons
- Manual N load calc info
- FAQ on commercial RTUs
Other commercial services we offer.
We work across property types in Hudson County. Every engagement starts with a site visit.
Rooftop replacement across Hudson & Bergen County.
10 cities. Local techs answering local phones.
Common questions about rooftop replacement.
Crane lifts. Permits. Police escorts.
The work most contractors won’t take on. Site visit at no charge.