South Philadelphia flat roofs
Flat roof repair in South Philly
From Pennsport to Packer Park, South Philly is block after block of attached rowhomes sharing one long roofline, and that shape causes its own kind of leak. Call to reach a local roofer who works on these roofs.
The houses
What's on top of a South Philly rowhome
Most South Philly homes are two- or three-story brick rowhomes, about 14 to 16 feet wide, with a low-slope roof that drains toward the back. Behind the main house, most have a back building: the narrower rear section over the kitchen, with its own lower roof. So most houses have two roofs.
Your roof also runs edge to edge into your neighbors' roofs, separated by low party walls or just a seam. Blocks are re-roofed one house at a time, so it's common to see a new rubber roof next to a silver-painted tar roof next to a torch-down roof, all meeting at the property lines.
The housing mix shifts from one part of South Philly to the next:
- Passyunk, Newbold, Whitman and Grays Ferry: mostly early-20th-century brick rowhomes, many on their second or third roof.
- Point Breeze, Newbold and pockets of Pennsport: lots of newer infill construction, often with roof decks and rooftop condensers.
- East Passyunk Avenue: mixed-use buildings with apartments over storefronts and larger flat roofs.
- Packer Park and Girard Estates: newer rowhomes in Packer Park, and larger twins and singles in Girard Estates. Many combine flat and sloped sections.
Quick South Philly roof check
Look out a back window or up from the street. Any of these is worth a call:
- Stains on the back kitchen ceiling
- Damp or peeling paint on the side wall you share with a neighbor
- A downspout pouring onto the back-building roof
- Silver coating that's cracked, peeling or showing black underneath
- Water still sitting on the roof 2 days after rain
Common problems
The leaks South Philly roofs are known for, and why
They come from the same three things: attached houses, rear drainage, and roofs layered over for generations.
Party-wall seams
Your roof meets your neighbors' at the shared wall, often with different materials of different ages. Brick and membrane expand at different rates, so the flashing at that seam cracks first. Water often shows up on the shared side wall.
Back-building roof & wall joint
The main roof drains toward the back. On many houses the downspout empties straight onto the lower kitchen roof. That wears out the membrane, and the flashing where the low roof meets the back wall is a classic leak spot.
Layered silver-coat roofs
Many older blocks still have built-up tar roofs re-coated with silver paint every few years, often over one or two earlier roofs. The layers hide wet insulation and soft decking, and each new patch is less reliable than the last.
Ponding at the rear
These roofs only drain if the slope to the back still works. Old roofs sag between the joists and rear gutters clog with leaves and grit, so water sits along the back edge. Standing water ages a roof fast.
Roof decks on newer homes
Point Breeze and Newbold have many newer homes with rooftop decks. The supports sit on the membrane and the drains underneath are easy to clog and hard to see, so leaks go unnoticed.
Hatches, skylights & condensers
Most rowhomes get roof access through a hatch, and many have a skylight over the stairwell. Add a rooftop AC condenser and that's several openings to seal, each a common source of drips into the top-floor hallway.
Pricing
What affects the cost of a South Philly roof job
Pricing varies by project and is quoted on-site. On South Philly rowhomes, these are the things that move the number most:
- How many old roofs are underneath. Each layer of old tar and silver coating has to be torn off and hauled away before a new roof goes on.
- Access. Many South Philly blocks have no rear alley, so materials and debris go up and down the front of the house. A dumpster on a narrow street may also need a city permit.
- The back building. Doing the main roof and the kitchen roof together usually costs less than doing them in separate visits.
- Party-wall transitions. Tying a new roof cleanly into a neighbor's older roof takes extra flashing work on each side.
- Roof decks and equipment. Removing and resetting a deck or lifting an AC condenser adds labor. Make sure the quote says whether it's included.
- Rotten decking. Soft boards under the old layers often only show up once the roof is opened.
Want to see what your job will involve first? The cost estimator takes about a minute.
South Philly neighborhoods covered
- East Passyunk
- Passyunk Square
- Point Breeze
- Pennsport
- Whitman
- Girard Estates
- Newbold
- Grays Ferry
- Packer Park
ZIPs: 19145, 19146, 19147, 19148
Not sure if your block is covered? Call (215) 555-0142 and ask.
Rowhome tip: before a new roof goes on, ask the roofer to show you the party-wall seams on both sides and explain how they'll tie into each neighbor's roof. That's the detail that decides whether a South Philly roof stays dry.
South Philly roof questions
My neighbor is getting a new roof. Should I do mine at the same time?
If your roof is also near the end of its life, it's worth asking. When both roofs are open at once, the roofer can tie the two new roofs together at the party wall instead of patching new material onto an old one. If your roof is still sound, ask the neighbor's roofer to seal the transition carefully and send you photos.
Water is coming through my back kitchen ceiling. Is it the main roof or the back building?
Usually the back-building roof or the joint where it meets the wall of the main house. The main roof's downspout often empties onto the lower roof, and the flashing at that wall joint takes a beating. A roofer will check both, plus the downspout, before recommending a fix.
Does my roof deck have to come off to fix the roof underneath?
For a full replacement, usually yes, at least in sections, because the membrane runs under the deck. Small leaks can sometimes be reached by lifting a few boards. Make sure your quote says who removes and reinstalls the deck and whether that's included.
My South Philly rowhome roof looks flat. Is it really flat?
Most are low-slope: they look flat but are pitched slightly, typically toward the back of the house, so water runs to a rear gutter or scupper. When that slope sags or the rear drain clogs, water ponds instead of draining, which is one of the most common reasons a South Philly roof fails early.
Have a different question about your South Philly roof? A local roofer can usually answer it in one call.
(215) 555-0142