Roofing in Huntingdon Valley, PA

Mostly single homes, mostly under trees

Huntingdon Valley stayed rural longer than the towns closer to the city. The old village grew up around mills on the Pennypack Creek, and much of the land around it was farms and estates until the second half of the 20th century. Then came the houses: 1950s and 1960s split-levels and ranchers on generous lots, then larger colonials and contemporaries, and later custom homes, mostly in Lower Moreland Township.

Two things stand out for roofs. The houses are almost all single homes, so there are no party walls to worry about. And the lots are wooded, with the Pennypack Preserve, Lorimer Park and the creek valleys keeping a lot of mature hardwoods close to the houses.

That means a Huntingdon Valley roof usually doesn't fail in the middle. It fails at the edges and in the valleys, where leaves collect and water backs up.

Leaves, gutters and the damage you don't see from the lawn

Overflowing gutters rot the roof edge

A gutter packed with leaves holds water right against the fascia board and the bottom edge of the roof deck. Over a few years the wood behind the gutter softens and the gutter starts pulling away. By the time you notice a sag, the edge of the deck may need replacing too. On a re-roof, that's $80 per 1/2" sheet or $120 per 3/4" sheet.

Leaf dams in the valleys

Split-levels and larger colonials have valleys where two roof slopes meet. Leaves pile up there, hold moisture against the shingles, and in a heavy rain the water runs sideways under them. A clogged valley above a lower roof is a common source of leaks into the family room of a split-level.

Moss on the shaded side

Slopes that never see full sun stay damp. Moss and algae hold that moisture against the shingles and lift their edges. Trimming back branches to let in light and air does more than any spray.

Are gutter guards worth it here?

Under heavy tree cover, usually yes. We install heavy-duty perforated aluminum XR gutter guards. They keep leaves and twigs out while letting water through, which matters most on two-story houses where cleaning the gutters means a tall ladder twice a year. They aren't zero maintenance: pine needles and fine debris can sit on top and need brushing off now and then. See gutter installation if the gutters themselves are undersized or sagging.

Skylights on older split-levels and contemporaries

A lot of houses here from the 1960s through the 1980s got skylights, either when built or in a later remodel. Most are now on their second or third roof. When a skylight leaks, it's usually the flashing around it, not the glass, and a leak there often shows up as a stain on the drywall around the light well.

If your roof is due for replacement and the skylight is the same age as the old roof or older, replace or reflash it at the same time. Doing it later means cutting into a brand-new roof. If you'd rather lose it, it can be removed and the opening framed and shingled over during the re-roof. Read more on skylight repair and replacement.

A fall routine for a wooded lot

1. Wait until most leaves are down. Cleaning gutters in early October and again after the oaks drop in November does more than one early cleaning.
2. Check from the ground in a hard rain. Walk around with an umbrella. Water sheeting over the front of a gutter, or a downspout that stays dry, tells you where the clog is.
3. Look at the valleys from an upstairs window. Piles of leaves sitting in a valley should be cleared before winter. If you cannot reach safely, have it done.
4. Trim branches back from the roof. Anything touching or hanging low over the shingles scrapes them in wind and drops debris year-round. An arborist is the right call for big limbs.
5. Make sure downspouts discharge away from the house. On lots that slope toward the creek valleys, water dumped at the foundation ends up in the basement.

Ladders and two-story gutters: Cleaning gutters from a tall ladder is how a lot of homeowners get hurt. If your gutters are two stories up, have someone foot the ladder, or let a pro do it. Our gutter cleaning comes with a quick look at the roof while we are up there.

A family roofer a short drive away

Armstrong Roofing is a family-owned company based in Horsham. Owner Jim Armstrong personally oversees every job, and the team brings 50+ years of combined roofing experience. We're GAF certified, BBB A+ rated, and have a 5.0 rating from 200+ reviews on Google.

• Free inspection of the roof, valleys, gutters and skylights, with photos
• Written, line-item estimate before any work starts
• PA license #PA164826, general liability and workers' compensation insurance
• 25-year workmanship warranty on asphalt shingle roof replacements

We also work in Jenkintown, Southampton, Feasterville and across Montgomery County.

What it usually costs

Huntingdon Valley houses are mostly larger singles, so replacements often fall in the middle to upper part of the range. Where a gutter guard job lands in its range depends on the size of the house.

• Roof Repair: $350 – $2,500
• Roof Replacement: $6,500 – $18,000
• Gutter Guard Installation: $1,200 – $5,000
• Gutter Installation: $1,200 – $7,500
• Gutter Cleaning: $350 – $550
• Skylight Replacement: $2,200 – $5,500

Questions we get asked

Do you work in all of Huntingdon Valley?

Yes, all of the 19006 area, including Lower Moreland Township and Bethayres, from Huntingdon Pike and Welsh Road out to County Line Road, Red Lion Road and Philmont Avenue. We're based in Horsham, a short drive away.

Are gutter guards worth it under a lot of trees?

Usually, yes. Under heavy tree cover, guards cut down on cleanings and keep gutters from overflowing onto the fascia. We install heavy-duty perforated aluminum XR guards; our typical range is $1,200 to $5,000 depending on the house. They still need an occasional brush-off.

My skylight leaks. Do I need a new one?

Not always. Most skylight leaks are the flashing around it, not the glass. If the skylight is old and the roof is being replaced, it usually makes sense to replace it at the same time so you aren't cutting into a new roof later.

How much does a new roof cost on a Huntingdon Valley house?

Most roof replacements we do run between $6,500 and $18,000. Larger homes, multiple valleys and rotted edge decking from years of overflowing gutters push toward the upper end. You get a free written estimate after we see the roof.

Should I worry about moss on my roof?

Yes, if it's thick. Moss holds moisture against the shingles and lifts their edges. Let more sun and air reach the roof by trimming trees, and don't pressure-wash shingles, which strips their granules.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. PA license #PA164826, with general liability and workers' compensation insurance. We'll show you proof before any work starts.

Related pages

• Gutter Installation: Seamless gutters and downspouts sized to move water away from your foundation.
• Gutter Cleaning: Clogged gutters cleared and downspouts flushed, with a quick look at the roof while we are up there.
• Skylights: Leaking skylight, or want a new one? Most skylight leaks are flashing, not the glass.
• Roof Repair: Leaks, missing shingles, flashing and vents. We fix the problem and tell you honestly how much life the roof has left.
• Roof Replacement: Full tear-off and new roof when repairs stop making sense. Written, line-item estimate before anything starts.
• Storm Damage Repair: Wind, hail and fallen limbs. We document the damage with photos and work with your insurance adjuster.
• Montgomery County: Where we do most of our work, from Horsham out across the county.
• Jenkintown: A small borough of older homes, twins and steep roofs.
• Abington: Stone and brick older homes where details matter.
• Southampton: Upper Southampton neighborhoods next to Warminster.
• Willow Grove: Post-war Capes, ranchers and splits on their second or third roof.
• Hatboro: Borough homes and older twins right next door to Horsham.
• Feasterville: Lower Southampton ranchers, Capes and twins.