Roofing in North Wales, PA

A small borough with a big mix of roofs

The borough itself is only a few blocks across, centered on Main Street and Walnut Street by the train station. Most of the houses in it date from the early 1900s to the middle of the century: stone and stucco singles, brick twins and frame houses, many on their third or fourth roof. Step outside the borough line into Upper Gwynedd and it's a different picture: subdivisions and townhouse communities from the 1990s and 2000s off Sumneytown Pike and North Wales Road.

So a North Wales roofer needs to be comfortable with three kinds of job: careful flashing and decking work on old houses, straightforward re-roofs on newer ones, and flat roofs on the commercial buildings in town. Here's what each one usually comes down to.

Flat roofs out back, shingles out front

A lot of the buildings on and around Main Street have a pitched shingle roof facing the street and a flat or nearly flat roof over a rear addition or the back of the shop. The two meet at a joint that has to be flashed properly, and that joint is where many of these buildings leak.

• Water standing on the flat section two days after a rain
• Bubbles or blisters in the rubber membrane, or seams lifting at the edges
• Leaves and grit packed around the drain or scupper
• Stains on the ceiling of the back room, under the flat section

Flat roofs here are usually EPDM rubber or modified bitumen. A single seam or blister can often be repaired. If water ponds across the whole surface or the membrane has failed in several spots, it's time to replace that section, and we can do the flat roof and the shingles in the same visit. Owners of rental or mixed-use buildings can read more on commercial roofing.

Two minutes that save a flat roof: Twice a year, in spring and after the leaves drop, clear the drain or scupper on any flat roof you can safely reach from a window or a short ladder. Most flat-roof leaks we see start with standing water that had nowhere to go.

Older borough houses and newer Upper Gwynedd homes

In the borough: flashing and what is under the shingles

Older houses near the station often have plank boards under the shingles rather than plywood, sometimes with gaps between them. When we re-roof, those boards may need a layer of plywood over them so the new shingles have a solid surface to nail to. Stone and stucco chimneys are the other weak spot: the flashing where the roof meets the masonry should be tucked into the mortar, not caulked to the face of it.

In the developments: the first roof is wearing out

Many homes built in the late '90s and 2000s still have the builder's original shingles. Twenty-plus years in, the south-facing slopes are usually losing granules and curling first, and the rubber boots around the plumbing vents are cracking. Some of these just need a repair to buy a few years; others are ready for replacement. Our rule of thumb: once a repair costs more than about 30% of a new roof, put the money toward the new roof.

A family roofer from Horsham

Armstrong Roofing is family-owned and based in Horsham, east of North Wales. Owner Jim Armstrong personally oversees every job, and the team brings 50+ years of combined roofing experience. We're licensed in Pennsylvania (#PA164826), carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance, are BBB A+ rated, and have a 5.0 rating across 172+ reviews on Google.

• Shingle, flat and metal roofs, so mixed buildings need only one roofer
• Free inspection with photos of what we find
• Written, line-item estimate before any work starts
• 24/7 for active leaks: tarped to stop the water, then a permanent repair

What it usually costs

A newer development house with a simple roof and good plywood sits low in the replacement range. Old plank decking, steep multi-slope roofs, or a flat section to redo as well push it up.

• Roof Repair: $350 – $2,500
• Flat Roof Repair: $350 – $1,800
• Flat Roof Installation: $4,000 – $15,000
• Roof Replacement: $6,500 – $18,000
• Commercial Roofing: $5,000 – $40,000

Questions we get asked

Do you work in North Wales borough and Upper Gwynedd?

Yes. We cover the borough, from Main Street and Walnut Street out, plus the Upper Gwynedd neighborhoods off Sumneytown Pike and North Wales Road. We also work in Lansdale, Montgomeryville and nearby.

Do you repair flat roofs on Main Street buildings?

Yes. We repair and replace EPDM rubber and modified bitumen flat roofs, and we can do the shingle roof on the same building at the same time. That matters on buildings where the two meet, because that joint is a common leak.

Why is water pooling on my flat roof?

Usually a clogged drain or scupper, or a low spot in the deck. Clear the drain first if you can reach it safely. If water still sits there two days after rain, the roof needs a closer look, because standing water shortens a membrane's life.

My development house still has the original roof. Should I replace it?

If it's past 20 years and the shingles are curling or bald on the sunny side, start planning. If it's one leak at a vent pipe and the rest still lies flat, a repair can buy a few more years. A free inspection tells you which.

How much does a new roof cost in North Wales?

Most roof replacements we do run between $6,500 and $18,000. Newer houses with simple roofs land toward the lower end; older borough houses with plank decking, dormers and chimneys run higher. Flat roof installations typically run $4,000 to $15,000.

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

• 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.
• Flat Roofing: Low-slope roofs over porches, additions and row homes, where ponding water is the enemy.
• Commercial Roofing: Roof repair and replacement for small commercial buildings, offices and multi-unit properties.
• Roof Inspection: A free, top-to-bottom look at your roof with photos, so you know what you actually need before you spend anything.
• Emergency Roof Repair: Active leak or storm damage? Call any time, day or night. We tarp it to stop the water, then make the permanent fix.
• Lansdale: Twins, singles and older borough homes.
• Blue Bell: Larger homes with complex rooflines and lots of valleys.
• Montgomery County: Where we do most of our work, from Horsham out across the county.
• Roof Replacement in Hatfield, PA: Full tear-off and new architectural shingle roof.
• Ambler: Older borough homes with steep roofs and plenty of flashing.
• Horsham: Home base. Our shop is here.
• Maple Glen: Established neighborhoods minutes from our shop.
• Chalfont: Borough and surrounding townships in central Bucks.