Roof Repair for Irvington homes and buildings
Irvington's three-family houses often have flat or very low-slope roofs, and its two-families commonly combine a steep front gable with a flat rear section. That means a large share of roof repairs here are on flat roofs, even on residential buildings. Leaks start at seams, at the parapet or wall flashing, at drains and scuppers and where a flat roof meets a sloped one.
We repair membrane and built-up flat roofs, asphalt shingle roofs and the flashing at chimneys, walls and parapets, for houses, apartment buildings and commercial properties. For multi-unit buildings, we trace the leak from the affected unit back to the roof and photograph the source so owners can act with confidence.
On mixed-use buildings along Springfield Avenue, roof leaks affect both stores and apartments. We inspect parapets, coping, scuppers, drains and rooftop equipment and give owners a written scope that separates urgent repairs from planned work.
Irvington housing
Irvington's housing is dense and mostly early 20th century. Frame two- and three-family houses, many with a front gable and flat or low-slope rear sections, line most residential streets on narrow lots. Brick apartment buildings and mixed-use buildings along Springfield Avenue and other corridors have flat roofs with parapets. Many houses were built with brick chimneys for coal heat, and three-family houses often have flat or nearly flat roofs.
Weather & exposure
Irvington is largely flat to gently rolling, so wind exposure is moderate, but houses stand close together and many are three stories, which puts their roofs and chimneys above the neighbors and into the wind. Close spacing means runoff and ice from one roof affect the next. Flat roofs on three-families and apartment buildings pond during heavy downpours, and freeze-thaw cycles work steadily on old masonry.
Repair or replace? What we tell Irvington homeowners
On a multi-unit building, act on leaks quickly. Water moves between floors and through wall cavities, and damage to occupied units adds up. A targeted repair of the seam, flashing or drain that is actually failing is usually far less expensive than the interior damage it prevents.
If a flat roof has been patched in many places, ponds across large areas or has cracks and blisters throughout, planning a replacement is the better use of money. After a storm, photograph visible damage and call us; we document storm damage for insurance claims.
