Roof Repair for Ho-Ho-Kus homes and buildings
Many Ho-Ho-Kus homes are older houses with roofs that were built to be steep and intricate: cross gables, eyebrow and gable dormers, porches, bay roofs and large masonry chimneys. Each of those features is a flashing detail, and on houses this age many of those details have been patched more than once. A leak inside is often the result of one tired detail rather than a failing roof.
Older homes here also tend to have built-in or box gutters on some elevations, and low-slope porch and bay roofs tucked under the main roof. These hidden low-slope areas are some of the most common sources of leaks, because they collect water from the steep slopes above and are easy to overlook until ceilings stain.
On hillside lots, runoff and shade add wear. We trace leaks upslope to the actual entry point and photograph what we find before recommending any work.
Ho-Ho-Kus housing
Ho-Ho-Kus is predominantly single-family homes. A good share are older houses from the late 1800s through the 1930s, including colonials, Tudors and Victorian-era homes with steep roofs, multiple gables and large chimneys, mixed with post-war colonials and split-levels and some newer custom homes. Small commercial buildings with flat roofs make up the downtown near the station.
Weather & exposure
The borough is hilly and wooded, so many homes sit on slopes under tall trees, with shaded roofs and gutters that fill every fall. Low ground along Ho-Ho-Kus Brook can see high water in heavy storms, and homes nearby deal with damp soil and humid basements. Older masonry chimneys and stone foundations take years of freeze-thaw.
Repair or replace? What we tell Ho-Ho-Kus homeowners
On an older Ho-Ho-Kus house, repairing the failed detail is usually the right first step. Valleys, built-in gutters and porch roofs can be rebuilt without replacing the whole roof, and that is good value on a large, complex house. When the main roof shingles are brittle everywhere, we will tell you replacement is due.
If your home has slate, cedar or metal, we can assess and advise and will be clear about when a specialist in that material is the better choice. Estimates are free.
