Roof Repair and Replacement in East Rock, New Haven

Roof trouble in East Rock usually shows up as a leak. Water shows up on a top-floor ceiling, around a chimney, or under a skylight. For roof repair, we trace the leak back to where it starts. That point is often a flashing joint, a nail pop, or a cracked shingle several feet uphill from the stain. We replace missing or damaged shingles, reseal pipe boots, and rebuild chimney flashing with step and counter flashing.

When the covering is worn out, we do a roof replacement. We tear off the old roof down to the deck, repair the boards underneath, and install new underlayment, flashing, and shingles. On low-slope and flat sections, we install EPDM, TPO, or modified bitumen membrane.

We also hang and repair gutters, including seamless aluminum and copper gutters. We perform roof inspections after storms or before a sale. For roofs that are still in good shape, we provide roof maintenance to clear debris, reseal flashing, and catch small problems early.

The age of the house changes what we find. The oldest houses in the neighborhood sit along and south of Eagle Street. North of Eagle Street toward East Rock Park, the houses are mostly newer. On older roofs, we expect more than one layer of roofing, flashing that has been patched several times, and decking that may be different from modern plywood. We check the deck from the attic before we quote a job. We check it again at tear-off, board by board.

Two- and three-family houses have tall gables. Multi-family houses started appearing in this part of East Rock by the mid-1850s. From the early 1880s, builders put up a large number of gable-roofed two- and three-family Queen Anne houses. Those roofs sit high, so we set scaffolding or roof jacks before we start work on the steep gable faces. We also plan the work around tenants on every floor. We tell them which days we will be tearing off, and we keep the walkways and entrances clear.

Some roofs are slate. The neighborhood includes Second Empire brick houses with slate-shingled mansard roofs. On a slate mansard, we replace broken or slipped slates one at a time and match the new slates to the old ones. We do not cover sound slate with asphalt. The steep lower face of a mansard roof requires careful flashing where it meets the cornice and the dormers.

Some three-story houses have flat roofs. East Rock also has three-story Colonial Revival multi-family houses with flat roofs. Those roofs hold water when a drain clogs or the deck sags. We check for ponding water, punctures, and open seams. Then we repair the existing membrane or replace it with a welded or seamed membrane pitched toward the drains.

Trees and tight lots bring wind and snow damage. New Haven is especially exposed to damage from high winds and heavy snow loads because of its many trees and closely spaced houses. East Rock fits that description. We see torn shingles and punctures from branches after storms, and we find leaves packed into gutters and valleys. On replacements, we install ice and water shield at the eaves and valleys. We nail shingles to the manufacturer's high-wind pattern. Our wind and snow guide covers those details.

National Register listing alone does not stop a reroof. A house in the Orange Street or Upper State Street historic districts can still have its roof repaired or replaced. We still confirm the permit and any other approvals the house needs before we schedule the work. Our historic district roofing guide and permit guide cover the details.

We start every job by inspecting the roof surface. We check shingles for granule loss, curling, cracking, and nail pops. We check every flashing joint at chimneys, walls, skylights, and pipes. We inspect the attic for wet decking, mold, rot, and poor ventilation. Where a leak is hard to find, we use moisture testing and infrared scanning. We photograph what we find and show you every repair we recommend.

For repairs, we remove the damaged material, fix the deck underneath if it is soft, and install new material that matches the existing roof. We replace rusted flashing instead of covering it with caulk.

For replacements, we tarp the yard, shrubs, and the gap between houses before tear-off. We strip the roof to the deck and replace rotted boards. Then we install drip edge, ice and water shield, and synthetic underlayment. We install new step, counter, valley, and chimney flashing. We nail shingles to the manufacturer's pattern and add ridge vent and soffit vents to balance attic airflow. We clean up with magnets for loose nails and haul away the debris. Then we inspect the finished roof and give you the photos. Our project process guide walks through each day of a replacement.

Can you repair my roof instead of replacing it?

Yes, if the deck is solid and the damage is limited to one area. Common repairs include a flashing joint, a few shingles, or a single valley. If the shingles are worn across the whole roof or the deck is rotting in several places, we recommend replacement. We show you the photos either way.

Can I replace the roof on a house in an East Rock historic district?

Yes. National Register listing by itself does not prevent a roof replacement. We confirm the permit and any other approvals your house needs before work starts.

Can you match the slate on my mansard roof?

We replace broken slates with slate that matches the size, thickness, and color of the existing slate as closely as possible. We fasten each new slate without disturbing the slates around it.

My flat roof holds water after it rains. What do you do?

We find out why the water is staying. The cause may be a clogged drain, a low spot in the deck, or a failed seam. We clear or reset the drain, build up the low area, and repair or replace the membrane so water runs off.

What affects the price?

The main factors are roof size, number of old layers, deck repairs, roof height and staging, flashing work, and the roofing material. Our roofing cost guide explains each of these.

Call (475) 381-2544 or request an estimate for roof repair or replacement in East Rock. Tell us where the water is coming in, what the roof is made of, and whether the house is a single-family or a multi-family. We will inspect the roof, the flashing, and the attic, and we will put the recommended work in writing.