Roofing in South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia is rowhouse country: flat roofs, shared parapets and old metal cornices along almost every block.
South Philadelphia roof work is mostly flat rowhouse roofs, with cornices, parapets and roof decks. Leak repairs, flat roof replacements, cornice repairs and parapet work lead the calls.
What the Roofs Look Like Here
South Philadelphia's rowhouses run block after block under flat roofs, many with painted metal cornices along the front. The Philadelphia Rowhouse Manual documents a South Philadelphia row where two original cornices survive among neighbors that lost theirs. In Pew's 2014 analysis about 64% of homes were owner-occupied in South Philadelphia East and 60% in South Philadelphia West.
Mid-20th-century Formstone and stucco fronts are common too, and the joint where those fronts meet the roof edge is a frequent leak point.
Work We Do Most in South Philadelphia
Flat roof replacements, leak repairs at parapets and front edges, cornice repairs, roof deck preparation and parapet coping.
A Typical Job in South Philadelphia
On a South Philadelphia rowhouse, a flat roof replacement usually takes one to two days: layers off to the deck, new membrane with the slope corrected toward the rear, and new flashing at both party walls and the front cornice. Cornice repairs are priced separately after a close look.
Permits and Paperwork
Inside the city, roofing permits come from Licenses and Inspections. A new covering on an existing roof usually qualifies for the EZ re-roofing permit, and once a roof carries two layers the city requires a full tear-off to the deck. We file what the job needs before the old roof comes off.
Questions From South Philadelphia
Yes, or rebuild it to match the original.
Usually the joint between the roof edge and the facade or cornice.
Yes, and the permits come first.
Yes, all of South Philadelphia.
Roof Leak in South Philadelphia?
Call and we will find where the water gets in.