Roof Repair for Westwood homes and buildings
Roof repair in Westwood splits between downtown and the residential streets. On the older commercial and mixed-use buildings, the problems are flat-roof problems: open seams, drains and scuppers clogged with debris, parapet coping with open joints, failed counterflashing where the roof meets the parapet, and leaks around rooftop HVAC units serving the stores below.
On the Victorians near the center, the problems are steep-roof problems: dormer and turret flashing, worn valleys, and chimney flashing that has been tarred over. On the post-war homes farther out, it is more often worn shingles, pipe boots and chimney flashing. We inspect the whole roof and find the actual entry point.
When a roof leak traces to a parapet or chimney, we repair the masonry as well, since we handle both trades.
Westwood housing
Westwood's downtown has older two- and three-story commercial and mixed-use buildings with flat roofs, parapets and storefront cornices. Around the center are Victorian and early 20th century homes, some with complex rooflines and a few with slate. The rest of the borough is mostly pre-war and post-war colonials, capes, ranches and split-levels, along with garden apartments and newer multifamily near downtown.
Weather & exposure
Westwood is inland and mostly flat to gently rolling. The Pascack Brook, which passes through the borough, can flood low-lying areas in heavy rain, keeping ground and basements damp nearby. Mature street trees drop debris onto roofs and into gutters. On the downtown buildings, flat roofs surrounded by parapets pond if drains clog, and freeze-thaw works on older brick parapets and chimneys.
Repair or replace? What we tell Westwood homeowners
For downtown flat roofs, repair makes sense when the membrane is still pliable and the leak traces to a specific seam, drain, parapet or penetration. Widespread blistering, soft spots or multiple layers point to replacement. For homes, a repair is right when the shingles are still in good condition.
We give you written findings with photographs. Estimates are free.
