Homes ยท Repairs & new roofs
Residential roofing in Allentown
Leaks, worn roofs, storm damage, or a roof that has simply reached the end of its life. Call the shop on North 14th Street and we will set up a time to look at it.
Repair first, replace when it makes sense
A lot of residential leaks come from one failed detail rather than a worn-out roof: flashing that has pulled away from a chimney or wall, a cracked boot around a plumbing vent, a valley that has worn through, or a few pieces of roofing lifted by wind. Fixing that detail properly is often all the roof needs.
Replacement starts to make sense when the roofing is worn across the whole surface, when leaks keep turning up in new places, or when repairs would cost a large share of a new roof. We will tell you which side of that line your roof is on, and why.
Built around Allentown houses
Allentown’s housing runs from brick rowhomes in Center City and the West End to twins and detached houses further out. Many rowhomes pair a pitched front roof with a low-slope roof at the back, shared party walls and parapets, and drainage that has to work with the house next door. Each of those details changes how water has to be handled, and a repair that ignores the neighbors’ roof rarely lasts.
What residential work covers
- Leak tracing and repair
- Flashing repairs at chimneys, walls, skylights and vents
- Replacing damaged or missing roofing after storms
- Full roof replacement, including deck repairs found once the old roof is off
- Slate and tile repairs on older homes
- Gutters, sheet metal and chimney caps on the same visit
Before you call
It helps to know where the water shows up, roughly when the house was last reroofed, and whether the leak appears in every rain or only with wind, heavy downpours or melting snow. Photos of ceiling stains, or of the roof from the ground, are useful too. Please do not climb onto a wet or icy roof to look.
Not sure it is the roof at all? Our article on signs of a roof leak and where to look first walks through the usual culprits.
FAQ
Residential roofing: common questions
How do I know if I need a roof repair or a new roof?
Look at the whole roof, not just the leak. If the roofing is in decent shape and the problem is in one area, such as a chimney, vent or valley, a repair usually makes sense. If the surface is worn everywhere, or leaks keep appearing in different spots, replacement is often the better spend. A visit is the reliable way to tell.
Can you find where a leak is actually coming from?
That is the first job on any leak call. Water often enters well above where the stain appears, running along rafters or roof boards before it drips, so the source is traced from the roof and, where possible, from the attic.
What should I do while I wait for a roofer?
Catch drips with a bucket, move furniture and electronics away, and if a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people clear of it. Take photos for your records and your insurer. Stay off the roof, especially when it is wet, icy or steep.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Allentown?
Permit rules depend on the scope of the work and the municipality, so check with the City of Allentown or your township before work starts, or ask us when we look at the roof.
- Phone
- (610) 432-9870
- Fax
- (610) 433-3863
- Message
- Use the contact form