Roof Repair for Somerville homes and buildings
Roof repair in Somerville divides between the older homes and the downtown commercial blocks. On a Victorian or foursquare that is a century old, the leak is almost never in the open field of the roof; it is at a dormer sidewall, in a valley whose metal has rusted through, around a chimney whose flashing was caulked instead of replaced, or at a porch roof that meets the house wall without proper flashing. Built-in gutters on some houses add another common entry point.
Downtown, the two- and three-story buildings along Main Street have flat membrane or built-up roofs with parapets, internal drains and scuppers, and rooftop equipment. Asset Roofing & Chimney repairs seams, drains, scuppers, parapet caps and flashing on these roofs, and can work with building owners, property managers and commercial tenants on scheduling.
Somerville housing
Somerville's housing is predominantly Victorian and early-1900s single-family construction: Queen Annes, foursquares, colonials and gable-front houses with steep roofs, dormers, front porches and brick chimneys, many of which have been converted to two-family use. Mid-century capes and ranches fill in around the edges, and newer apartment and condominium buildings have been added near downtown. Main Street carries an extended run of flat-roofed commercial buildings.
Weather & exposure
Somerville's mature street trees drop heavy leaf and branch loads onto roofs and into the gutters and built-in gutters of its older homes. Winters are colder than Bergen County with ice dams on homes with original attic insulation. The Raritan River lowlands at the edge of town add humidity and are known for flooding during major storms. Summer thunderstorms bring heavy rain that tests downtown flat-roof drainage.
Repair or replace? What we tell Somerville homeowners
We trace leaks on older Somerville homes from inside where attic access exists, then inspect each flashing detail above the stain. Repairs mean new step and counter-flashing, new valley metal, proper porch-roof flashing and matching shingles. If the roof has been patched many times we tell you how much sound life remains so you can decide between repairing now and planning a replacement.
On downtown commercial buildings we start with the drains and scuppers, then walk the seams and parapets. Many leaks in older downtown buildings trace back to a blocked drain or a failed parapet cap rather than the membrane itself. We provide a written report and scope for the owner or manager.
