A flat roof over a Frog Hollow three-family starts leaking into the top-floor kitchen
What homeowners notice
The top-floor tenant of an older three-family house in Hartford notices a brown ring spreading on the kitchen ceiling after each heavy rain. The owner finds shallow puddles that stay on the low-slope roof for a day afterward, and a seam where the membrane meets the brick parapet looks lifted.
What we do
A roofer inspects from the roof once it is dry and safe, checks where water collects, and looks at the seams, the flashing along the parapet and the drain or scupper. The repair depends on what the membrane looks like, and the quote says plainly whether a seam and flashing repair is enough or whether the whole section is near the end of its life.
What to expect
The owner gets a written quote that separates the leak repair from any larger replacement, so the decision is a choice rather than a surprise, and the tenant's ceiling is dealt with after the roof stops letting water in.
A 1920s Tudor house in West Hartford leaks beside the chimney and under a valley
What homeowners notice
A stain appears on a dining room ceiling and another near an upstairs bedroom wall of a house with steep gables, a dormer and a brick chimney. It only shows in wind-driven rain or during a thaw, and the shingles overhead look fine from the lawn.
What we do
A roofer works along the steep slopes to the places water enters, the step flashing at the chimney, the counterflashing where it meets the brick, the valley and the base of the dormer. Failed or lifted flashing is replaced or resealed in place, and the quote notes if any shingles around it need renewing.
What to expect
The owner sees where the water was entering, gets photographs of each flashing detail, and can watch the ceiling through the next thaw to confirm the stain has stopped growing.
Half a day to a day, weather permitting typical visit
Ice builds at the eaves of a single-story house in Southington after a week of cold and snow
What homeowners notice
After several days in the low 20s with snow on the roof, a ridge of ice grows along the front eave of a single-story house on a wooded lot. Water starts to appear at the top of an exterior wall inside, and the homeowner notices the attic hatch is cold to the touch but the ceiling below it is warm.
What we do
A roofer works from the ground and the roof edge as conditions allow, removes the ice that is backing water up, and avoids salt or chemical melt that can harm shingles and gutters. They then look at the attic for the air leaks and thin insulation behind the problem, such as the hatch, a bath fan and recessed lights.
What to expect
The immediate water is stopped, and the quote lists the attic sealing, insulation and ventilation work that would keep heat from melting the snow in the first place.
Removal in a few hours, attic work scheduled separately typical visit
Shingles lift along a gable edge in Windsor after a summer storm
What homeowners notice
Following a thunderstorm with strong gusts, a Windsor homeowner finds shingle pieces in the yard and a patch along the gable edge where the roof looks bare. There is no leak yet, but rain is forecast for the end of the week.
What we do
A roofer inspects the damaged slope, checks whether the neighboring shingles have lost their seal, and replaces the missing and creased shingles or lays a temporary cover if the weather will not wait. The roofer notes the age of the roof and whether repairs are likely to hold or whether the slope is due for replacement.
What to expect
The homeowner has written photographs of the damage and the repair for their own records, and a plain explanation of whether this roof can be repaired again or is approaching replacement.
An old house in Wethersfield's historic village needs a new roof, and the owner asks about district rules
What homeowners notice
The owner of a house in Old Wethersfield sees curled, worn shingles and daylight in the attic near the chimney. Because the house stands in the historic district, they want to know whether the town has a say in the roof material and the color before anything is ordered.
What we do
A roofer looks at the roof, the framing and the attic, and explains the options. The owner is told to contact the town about district rules and a building permit first, and the quote is written once the materials that are allowed are known.
What to expect
No order is placed until the town's answer is in hand, and the written quote names the material, the flashing and chimney work, and who is responsible for the permit.
A tobacco-era barn roof in South Windsor shows rust and light at the seams
What homeowners notice
A long barn on a former farm in South Windsor has a roof of old panels with rust at the fasteners and daylight showing at some laps. The owner wants to keep using the building for storage and is unsure whether patching will do.
What we do
A roofer looks at the panels, fasteners, laps and flashing at the ridge and eaves, and the condition of the framing under them. The quote sets out a repair option and a replacement option, with the roofer explaining what each does for snow shedding.
What to expect
The owner has two written options to compare, with the reasoning, and can plan the work around the weather and the use of the building.
An inspection, then a quote for repair or replacement typical visit
A 1940s gabled house in East Hartford is due for a full roof replacement
What homeowners notice
A modest gabled house built in the years when defense workers settled in East Hartford has worn shingles, granule loss in the gutters and a stain near a vent pipe. The owner thinks there may be more than one layer already on.
What we do
A roofer checks the number of layers, looks at the sheathing, flashing and vents, and explains that a full replacement needs a building permit from the town. The quote says who pulls the permit and includes tear-off if two layers are on.
What to expect
The owner has a written scope, a permit plan and a clear picture of what happens if rotted wood is found once the old shingles are off.
A visit to quote, then a scheduled job typical visit
Have the same problem?
Call and tell us what you see. We will tell you what it likely is and what it usually costs before anyone drives out.
