Storm and Roof Repair in Northeast Philadelphia

What did Tropical Storm Isaias do to roofs in the Northeast?

The NWS counted eight confirmed tornadoes in its review of the August 2020 storm, including EF2 tornadoes in Philadelphia and Bucks County. The storm also brought tropical-storm-force gusts across the region, and a regional newspaper reported the Philadelphia-area tornado at 115 mph, on the ground for about 20 miles from Northeast Philadelphia to Doylestown.

For a roof, wind like that lifts shingles at the edges and the ridge, tears flashing away from chimneys and vents, and sometimes takes a section of gutter. Tarping the exposed area comes first, then a roofer documents the damage for the insurer before the permanent repair is planned.

Why are pitched twin roofs in the Northeast different from the rows nearby?

A postwar twin has a pitched roof with a ridge, valleys where the wings meet, and a chimney or two. Those are the joints that take the weather, and they are repaired from the roof with shingles, flashing and ridge caps, not with a membrane.

The older flat rows in the city's core are a separate job. A roofer who works both sides of the city keeps the two sets of details apart, and tells you which kind of roof you have before quoting.

What do the main roads mean for a roof job?

Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue carry heavy traffic, and a dumpster or a truck blocking a lane is more than an inconvenience. Crews plan a loading spot on the side street, bag the debris as it comes down, and keep the main road clear.

Tell the roofer about any parking or access limits when you call. On a twin, the work often reaches both sides of the building, so the plan has to cover the neighbor's driveway as well as your own.

What should a Northeast twin owner expect from a storm inspection?

A storm inspection on a twin looks at both sides of the roof, because wind can lift the shingles on one wing and leave the other untouched. The ridge, the eaves and the edges of the shingles are walked first, then the valleys and the flashing at the chimney and any vents. Each one is marked on a simple sketch so the owner can see what was found.

Gutters and downspouts are checked the same day. A gutter torn from its brackets during a storm can drop water onto the siding and the foundation, and a downspout that has come loose can send water toward the wall rather than away from it.

The attic is the last check. Daylight through the roof boards, wet insulation or a fresh stain under a vent all point to a repair that has to be made before the next rain, and they are the details most useful to an insurer as well.