Roof Repair & Replacement Pros in Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh Roof Installation

When it comes to roof installation, Pittsburgh homeowners have a variety of options to choose from. Every type of roof has its own unique benefits and drawbacks. The one you pick should not only compliment the look of your house but be durable and well suited to the environmental conditions of the area, as well.

Options for Roof Installation in Pittsburgh
When building a new home or replacing the roof on an old one, you have four basic types of materials to pick from. The most common, by far, is the asphalt shingle. Asphalt is a cost effective and popular choice for roof installation and is the number one type of roofing material in the country. Asphalt shingles are well suited to southwestern Pennsylvania because they provide good insulation from the cold.

The biggest drawback of asphalt as a roofing material is that it doesn't last as long as other materials. There is also an environmental issue; since asphalt must be replaced more frequently than other roofs, landfills receive massive amounts of shingles every year. An asphalt roof will generally perform very well for 20 or 25 years, but then its quality begins to degrade and repairs or partial replacement are often necessary.

Metal roofing, though not nearly as common, is a pretty good choice for Pittsburgh area roofs. It will cost more than asphalt (sometimes as much as 2 or 3 times as much), but it can easily last for over 50 years. Metal roofing is extremely durable and will require few repairs over its lifetime, but it is not without its drawbacks. Aside from the price, metal roofing provides very little insulation from the cold. This problem is often solved by installing a metal roof directly over an existing asphalt roof, thereby retaining the insulate qualities of the other material, but creating a new surface that will last a long time (and weather the elements quite well).

Stone roofing such as slate or tile is incredibly durable, and can last over 100 years. It looks great, provides excellent insulation and performs extremely well in a moisture rich and sometimes freezing climate. In Pittsburgh, some houses are lucky enough to already have a slate or tile roof. Unfortunately, both are very brittle and can easily crack under moderate weight, making them difficult and expensive to work on. They are also quite expensive to install.

Roof Installation Prices
For asphalt roof installation, Pittsburgh prices start at around $2,000 for very small jobs, but are usually $5,000 or more. Slate and tile roofing installation are usually in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. Metal roofing and cedar roofing vary in price, but generally cost somewhere between asphalt and stone.

Pittsburgh Roof Repair

The roof of a home, most would agree, is one of its most important features. In Pittsburgh, a roof provides shade from the sun in the summer, protection from snow in the winter, and keeps pigeons, squirrels and bugs (not to mention rain) out of the house all year round. Yes, its fair to say that Three River residents depend a lot on their roofs which is why, in Pittsburgh, roof repair is not just important, but necessary to keep your home functional and comfortable.

The Importance of Roof Repair
Few repairs are as important as those performed on your roof, especially in a city like Pittsburgh. Roof repair is one of those tasks that can affect the rest of the home very quickly. A small leak in your roof might go unnoticed for months (or even years) if you live in a place where it rarely rains and where wet materials can dry quickly and thoroughly. In Pittsburgh, however, the likelihood of more serious damage resulting from that small leak is high due to the large amount of precipitation (both liquid and frozen). Think about it: Your roof protects everything underneath it from the elements, and when that protection is inadequate, more than the roof is bound to suffer. From wood roof decking to insulation to personal belongings stored in the attic, the water damage resulting from a small leak can snowball into huge repair costs in other areas if left unchecked.

Roof Repair by Material
The fact that the majority of roof repairs in the country deal with asphalt shingles stems from their popularity. It's estimated that more than 80% of American homes are topped with asphalt. Good insulation and inexpensive installation are the two main reasons for asphalt's popularity. The problem is that the quality of asphalt shingles varies dramatically, so their life expectancy can be anywhere from 20 to 35 years. The upside of asphalt shingles is that they are relatively easy to work on. Since they are so common and inexpensive, most contractors know exactly how to work on them. Repairs are generally quite fast and not too hard on the wallet, either.

While quite common in other areas of the country, metal roofing in Pennsylvania is much more likely to show up on a barn in Lancaster than on a two story in Pittsburgh. It is not, however, completely nonexistent (and is a good quality material that may soon become more popular). Roof repair for metal-topped homes is not extremely common. This is because metal roofing tends to last a very long time (often 50+ years), and then it needs to be replaced rather than repaired. One exception to this occurs when a metal roof is subjected to abnormally large hail. Hail damage rarely has a significant effect on function, so repairs are basically done for cosmetic purposes. For metal roof repair, Pittsburgh residents might have a more difficult time finding a contractor with a lot of experience, so make sure to ask around before you make up your mind.

Roof Repair Pricing
For asphalt shingles in Pittsburgh, roof repair is almost always well below $1,000 and is often $500 or less. Iron City residents looking to repair a slate roof, however, can expect a bill between $1,500 and $2,000. If metal roofing is your thing, repairs are in the same price range as slate. If you want metal roofing to be your new thing, installation runs around $6,000 (far less than a slate roof, which averages well over $10,000 to install, but will be more than asphalt shingles.)

Roof Cleaning
For some homeowners in Pittsburgh, roof cleaning is viewed as either unimportant or only an aesthetic choice. The fact is: roof cleaning is sometimes able to extend the life of your roofing materials! Since gunk, moss, and debris can, overtime, take a strong hold on your roof, it's easy to understand the visual benefits of roof cleaning. Pittsburgh roofs, however, are exposed to enough moisture every year that the gunk, moss, and debris can actually age your roofing materials prematurely by holding onto moisture and loosening shingles. Therefore, by performing regular roof cleaning, Pittsburgh homeowners are not only boosting their curb appeal, they are also making a small investment that has the potential to save money on repairs and premature replacement down the road!