A stain beside the shared wall of a Trenton rowhouse
What homeowners notice
A brown ring grows on the top-floor ceiling beside the wall shared with the neighbor, worse after wind-driven rain. The shingles on the pitched front look sound, and the stain has come and gone for two winters.
What we do
The roofer traces the path from the attic, finds the metal along the party wall rusted and short, and replaces it with new flashing set into the brick and capped at the parapet. The old tar is cut out first and the joint is photographed before and after.
What to expect
The homeowner gets a written account of the joint, with photographs, and a note on the neighbor's side that can be shared if the neighbor wants it.
An inspection first, then the repair booked with the roofer typical visit
A Levittown-style Cape with two layers and soft boards at the chimney
What homeowners notice
A house about seventy years old has curling shingles, granules in every gutter and a stain below the chimney. The owner suspects an earlier overlay and does not know what is under it.
What we do
The roofer counts two layers at the edge, writes a scope for a full tear-off with a decking allowance and a unit price for extra boards, and asks about the township permit and the Pennsylvania registration number. At tear-off, the soft boards around the chimney are replaced and photographed.
What to expect
The final bill follows the written scope and the photographs, and the new roof goes on with fresh flashing at the chimney and a balanced set of vents.
A look first, then a tear-off scheduled for dry weather typical visit
Ponding on the flat rear roof of a Bristol row house
What homeowners notice
Water stays on the low-slope roof over the back kitchen for days after rain, and a stain has appeared on the kitchen ceiling. The roof has been patched with tar more than once.
What we do
The roofer finds a partly blocked scupper and a low spot, cuts out the cracked membrane at the wall edge and proposes a recover with better drainage instead of another patch. The quote sets out both options in writing.
What to expect
The owner can compare a short-term patch with a lasting fix on the same page, and decide with the cost and the likely life of each in view.
An inspection in a dry spell, then repair work booked with the roofer typical visit
A recurring chimney leak on an old Pennington house
What homeowners notice
A Victorian house shows a stain beside the chimney breast each spring. Roof cement has been added twice, and the mortar near the top of the stack is crumbling.
What we do
The roofer separates the roofing work from the masonry work, replaces the base and counter-flashing, builds a cricket behind the wide stack and recommends a mason for the failed joints and the crown before the metal is set in.
What to expect
The homeowner is given a written split of what the roofer and the mason each do, so the repair is done in the right order and the leak does not come back.
A visit first, then masonry and roofing work sequenced with the roofer typical visit
A leaking built-in gutter on a Bordentown brick house
What homeowners notice
Water stains run down the brick under the cornice, and a bedroom ceiling shows a ring after heavy rain. The house has built-in box gutters behind a wooden cornice, and tall trees drop leaves into them every fall.
What we do
The roofer clears the gutters, finds the lining cracked at a seam and rotted wood beneath it, and proposes relining the box with replacement of the damaged boards. Any visible change to the cornice is flagged for a check with the municipal office.
What to expect
The owner gets a written scope that covers metal and carpentry together, and a note on keeping the outlets clear before the next leaf fall.
An inspection in autumn, then repair planned with the roofer typical visit
Ice at the eaves of a 1950s house in Fairless Hills
What homeowners notice
After a snowfall and a thaw, a thick ridge of ice sits along the front eave and water stains appear on a bedroom ceiling near the outside wall. Icicles hang over the front door.
What we do
The roofer opens drainage channels in the ice without chipping the shingles, then reads the attic and finds thin insulation, a leaky hatch and blocked soffit vents. The written findings list which items are roofing work and which belong to an insulation contractor.
What to expect
The homeowner has a plan that deals with the ice now and the heat leak before next winter, with each part assigned to the right trade.
A visit in winter, with the attic work booked as its own job typical visit
A fallen limb on a Princeton roof after a summer storm
What homeowners notice
A large branch lands on a steep roof during a thunderstorm and rain is entering through a split in the shingles and deck. The owner stays off the roof and keeps people out of the room below.
What we do
The roofer secures a heavy tarp over the opening, strapped beyond the damage, and photographs the area. Once the weather clears, a written scope is prepared for replacing the cracked boards, the shingles and the damaged flashing.
What to expect
Water is kept out in the meantime, and the owner has dated photographs and a written scope to share with an insurer if they choose to make a claim.
A temporary cover first, then the permanent repair planned separately typical visit
Have the same problem?
Call and tell us what you see. We will tell you what it likely is and what it usually costs before anyone drives out.
