North Philadelphia flat roofs
Flat roof repair in North Philly
North Philly has some of the city's biggest rowhomes: three stories of brick with tall front cornices and decades of roofing stacked on top. Underneath, the original roof boards are often rotted. Call to talk to a local roofer about yours.
The houses
Big rowhomes, old roofs
In Brewerytown, Strawberry Mansion and the blocks around them, many homes are large three-story brick rowhomes from the late 1800s and early 1900s. They have high ceilings, ornate front cornices, parapet walls, and back buildings almost as tall as the main house. A lot of them still have their original roof boards under several generations of tar and silver coating.
Further north, in Fairhill, Hunting Park and Nicetown, the rowhomes are mostly two stories and closely packed, mixed with old industrial buildings. Olney, Logan and Oak Lane add porch-front rowhomes and twins, and Oak Lane has larger single homes.
Some blocks have been renovated house by house, and others have vacant homes between occupied ones. That patchwork matters for your roof, because rowhome roofs are connected. When the roof next door fails, water can reach your house through the shared wall.
Leak from the house next door?
Signs the water may be coming from a neighbor's roof:
- Damp or crumbling plaster on the shared side wall, top floor
- The leak doesn't line up with anything on your own roof
- The house next door is vacant or its roof is visibly damaged
A roofer can seal your side of the shared wall and photograph the source. Report a vacant property through Philly311.
Call (215) 555-0142Common problems
What North Philly roofs deal with
A failing roof next door
If the attached house is vacant or neglected, its roof can let water into the party wall you share. You can't fix their roof, but you can seal your side and document the source.
Rotten roof boards
Decades of leaks under layered coatings rot the boards that hold the roof up. That's why tear-offs here often turn into deck repairs. A new roof over soft boards won't last.
Front cornices
Big wood or metal cornices have their own cap and often a gutter behind them. When those fail, water soaks the cornice and runs down the front wall, peeling paint and loosening trim.
Parapets & coping
Tall brick parapets with stone or metal caps take a beating in freeze-thaw winters. Loose coping and cracked mortar let water into the top of the wall, which then shows up inside.
Tall back buildings
On three-story rowhomes the rear section is nearly full height, with its own roof and a long run of rear wall. Both are hard to see from the ground, so problems there go unnoticed longer.
Quick fixes on rehabs
On some renovated houses, a new membrane went straight over old boards without checking them. If a fairly new roof feels soft or sags, the problem may be underneath.
Pricing
What affects the cost of a North Philly roof job
Pricing varies by project and is quoted on-site. On North Philly homes, these are the biggest factors:
- Roof boards. Rotten decking is common and usually only fully visible after tear-off. Ask how replacement boards are priced so there are no surprises.
- Layers. Several old roofs stacked up mean more tear-off and disposal.
- Height. Three-story houses need more setup to move materials and debris safely.
- Cornice and masonry work. Cornice carpentry and parapet repointing are separate trades from roofing, and may be quoted separately.
- Next-door conditions. Sealing against a failing neighbor's roof takes extra flashing work on your side.
Want to see what your job will involve first? Try the cost estimator.
North Philly neighborhoods covered
- Brewerytown
- Strawberry Mansion
- Fairhill
- Hunting Park
- Nicetown
- Olney
- Logan
- Oak Lane
ZIPs: 19120, 19121, 19126, 19132, 19133, 19140, 19141
Not sure if your block is covered? Call (215) 555-0142 and ask.
Tear-off tip: ask the roofer to photograph the boards once the old roof is off, before the new roof goes on. You'll see exactly what was replaced and why.
North Philly roof questions
The vacant house next door is leaking into my wall. What can I do?
A roofer can't repair a roof you don't own, but they can seal and re-flash your side of the shared wall and document where the water is coming from with photos. You can also report the vacant property through Philly311 so the City's Department of Licenses and Inspections can follow up with the owner.
How do I know if the boards under my roof are rotten?
Warning signs include soft or bouncy spots when walking on the roof, sagging top-floor ceilings, and long-standing leaks. A roofer can probe suspect areas, but the full extent usually only shows once the old layers come off, so ask how replacement boards are priced in your quote.
My front cornice is peeling and dripping. Is that a roof problem?
Often, yes. The top of a cornice is covered with metal or roofing tied into the roof edge, and many cornices have a gutter behind them. When that covering or gutter fails, water soaks the cornice wood and runs down the front wall. Some cornice repairs also need a carpenter.
Are there city programs that help with roof repairs?
The City of Philadelphia has offered home repair help for eligible homeowners, including the Basic Systems Repair Program for income-qualified owners and the Restore, Repair, Renew loan program. Eligibility and waitlists change, so check with the City or the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation for current details.
Have a different question about a North Philly roof? Ask a local roofer.
(215) 555-0142