Roof Repair in Old City and Society Hill, Philadelphia

Which roofs in Old City can be seen from the street?

A flat roof behind a parapet is usually not seen from the sidewalk, and the Commission's staff reports treat roofs hidden from the public right-of-way more simply than sloped roofs that face the street. A sloped slate front is very visible, so work on it draws far more review.

Before any job is scoped, walk the block and note which roofs show from the street and which are hidden. That observation shapes the Commission conversation, and it tells the roofer which repairs can be done from the roof alone.

What happens when a historic slate front needs work?

Individual slates that have slipped or cracked are the first thing to address. The Commission's reports describe slate replacement as something to consider only where the deterioration calls for it, and they allow for exceptions where a mansard, a turret or another character-defining feature is involved.

Nails matter as much as the slate itself. Non-ferrous copper or stainless nails are the recommended choice, and a roofer who uses galvanized iron nails on a slate front is working against the roof's life. A technician will reset and secure slates rather than cover them.

What do converted warehouses need from a roofer?

A converted warehouse often has a large flat roof with several drains and long parapet walls, and the water finds its way to whichever outlet is nearest the low point. Clearing those outlets and checking the parapet flashing along the full length of each wall is the work that keeps the building dry.

The scale of the roof changes the plan. More area means more time to walk, more membrane to survey and more debris to bring down. A roofer quotes the whole roof, not only the section that is leaking, so the repair does not stop at the first stain.

What do the converted warehouse roofs in this district need each year?

A converted warehouse roof is a large surface with long parapet walls, several drains and a lot of penetrations for vents, hatches and equipment. A yearly visit clears the outlets, walks the membrane for blisters and open seams, and checks every flashing collar. Those visits cost far less than the repairs that follow a leak that ran unnoticed through a wet season.

The walls matter as much as the field. Parapet caps on old brick work loosen over time, and water that gets behind a cap runs down the inside of the wall. A roofer checks the caps, the joints in the brick and the flashing where the membrane turns up the wall.

Keep a record of each visit with photographs. The Historical Commission and L&I will ask about the roof if work is proposed, and a record shows the condition over time rather than only the day of the repair.