Manayunk · Roxborough · East Falls · Germantown · Mt. Airy
Roof repair in Manayunk, Roxborough and Northwest Philly
Northwest Philly roofs deal with things the rest of the city doesn't: steep hills, stone walls, and a lot of trees. Hillside rowhomes step down the slope, and stone twins carry flat roofs on porches and additions. Call to talk to a local roofer about yours.
The houses
Hillsides, ridges and stone
Northwest Philly splits roughly into three kinds of setting, and each one is hard on roofs in its own way.
Manayunk & East Falls hillsides
Rowhomes built for mill workers, climbing steep streets up from the Schuylkill. Each house sits higher or lower than the next, so roofs step up and down along the row. Many houses are two stories at the front and three or more at the back.
Roxborough ridge
Rowhomes, twins and singles along and around Ridge Avenue, one of the highest parts of the city. Roofs up here are more exposed to wind, and many houses mix a pitched front with flat roofs over porches and rear rooms.
Germantown, Mt. Airy & Chestnut Hill
Large stone twins and singles, many built from the gray Wissahickon schist the area is known for, under a heavy tree canopy. Main roofs are often slate or shingle, with flat roofs over porches, sunrooms and additions.
Common problems
Why Northwest roofs leak
Stepped rooflines
On a hill, the edge of your roof meets the exposed side wall of the house uphill. That joint needs flashing tucked into the wall. When it fails, water runs down your neighbor's wall and into your top floor.
Leaves, moss & branches
Heavy tree cover fills gutters and roof drains every fall, keeps shaded roofs damp long enough for moss to grow, and drops branches in storms. Clogged drains on a flat roof mean standing water.
Flashing against stone
Rough schist walls are hard to seal against. Flashing that's just tarred to the face of the stone pulls away. Lasting repairs tuck it into a mortar joint above the roof.
Additions & sunrooms
Many older houses have flat-roofed rooms added decades after they were built. The joint where the addition meets the original wall is often the weakest point on the house.
Wind on the ridge
Higher, more exposed roofs in Roxborough catch more wind. Edges, loose metal trim and old seams are the first to lift in a storm.
Porch roofs
Big porches on Mt. Airy and Germantown twins have low-slope roofs that sit under trees and collect debris. They often fail before the main roof does.
Pricing
What affects the cost of a Northwest roof job
Pricing varies by project and is quoted on-site. In Northwest Philly, these factors matter most:
- Steep, narrow streets. Parking a dumpster or lift on a Manayunk hill can be hard, and materials may have to be carried farther.
- A taller back. A hillside house that's two stories in front can be three or four at the back, which changes the ladder and safety setup.
- Stone masonry. Proper flashing into schist may need some repointing as well as roofing.
- More than one roof type. A slate or shingle main roof with flat additions and porches may need more than one kind of work.
- Tree debris. Heavy leaf and branch load can mean more cleanup. Tree trimming over the roof is a separate trade.
Want to see what your job will involve first? Try the cost estimator.
Northwest neighborhoods covered
- Manayunk
- Roxborough
- East Falls
- Germantown
- Mt. Airy
- Chestnut Hill
ZIPs: 19118, 19119, 19127, 19128, 19129, 19138, 19144, 19150
Not sure if your block is covered? Call (215) 555-0142 and ask.
Tree-cover tip: clean gutters and roof drains in late fall and again in spring. Under heavy trees, it's the cheapest way to prevent a flat-roof leak.
Northwest Philly roof questions
My Manayunk rowhome's roof sits lower than my neighbor's. Why does it leak along that wall?
On a hill, each house in the row sits a little higher or lower than the next, so the edge of your roof runs into the exposed side wall of the house uphill. That roof-to-wall joint needs flashing tucked into the wall above it. When the flashing or the mortar above it fails, water runs down the wall and into your house.
My roof is under big trees. How often should the gutters and drains be cleaned?
At least twice a year, in late fall after the leaves drop and again in spring, and more often under heavy tree cover. Clogged gutters and roof drains are behind many leaks in tree-lined parts of Northwest Philly.
My house is stone. Why does the flashing against the wall keep failing?
Rough stone is harder to seal against than smooth brick. Flashing that's only caulked or tarred to the face of the stone tends to pull away. A lasting fix usually tucks counter-flashing into a mortar joint above the roof, and may need some repointing too.
My house has a pitched roof, but the addition has a flat roof. Who should I call?
The flat roof over an addition, porch or sunroom is its own job, and the joint where it meets the main house is usually where leaks start. Many local roofers handle both flat and pitched roofs. Mention both when you call.
Have a different question about a Northwest Philly roof? Ask a local roofer.
(215) 555-0142