Roofing in Willow Grove, PA

Most Willow Grove roofs are on their second or third set of shingles

A lot of Willow Grove went up in the building boom after the war: Cape Cods, ranchers, split-levels with the garage underneath, and two-story colonials. The original roofs are long gone. Most were replaced around the late '90s or early 2000s, and that second roof is now hitting the age where shingles give out.

That's good news in one way. These are mostly simple roofs: straight gables, a dormer or two, not a lot of valleys. They're quicker to repair and less expensive to replace than the steep, cut-up roofs on older borough houses in Ambler or Jenkintown.

So the question we answer most here is the one in the tool below: is this roof worth another repair, or is it time? If the shingles still lie flat and hold their granules, a repair is usually the smart money.

What usually goes wrong on Willow Grove houses

Big trees over small roofs

The older streets around Park Avenue, Terwood and Fitzwatertown have mature oaks and maples hanging right over the roofline. Every hard storm brings limbs down. Even when nothing comes through, branches scrape shingles and keep shaded slopes damp, which is where moss starts. Trimming back anything touching the roof is the cheapest roof maintenance there is.

Ice dams on Capes and ranchers

Houses from that era weren't built with much attic insulation or soffit venting. Heat leaks into the attic, melts snow on the roof, and it refreezes at the cold edge over the gutter. The ice backs water up under the shingles. If you see icicles hanging heavy off one part of the house every winter, that's your spot. The real fix is ventilation and insulation, plus an ice and water barrier at the eaves when the roof is redone.

Cracked vent boots and caulked-over flashing

On a 20-year-old roof, the rubber collars around plumbing vents crack and leak into the bathroom ceiling below. Around chimneys, we often find flashing that someone covered with roof cement instead of replacing. It holds for a season, then leaks again. Both are fixable without a new roof. See roof repair for what we look for.

Old, undersized gutters

Plenty of houses here still have old aluminum gutters that sag and overflow in a downpour. Water dumping over the edge rots the fascia board and ends up in the basement. If the roof is being replaced, it's the cheapest time to do new seamless gutters too.

After a storm in Willow Grove

When a nor'easter or summer thunderstorm comes through, start from the ground: look for shingles in the yard, lifted edges along the ridge, and dented gutters. Don't go up a ladder in the wind or on wet shingles.

1. Get water stopped first. If it's coming in, call us any time. We tarp it to stop the damage, then come back for the permanent repair.
2. Photograph everything. Outside and inside, before cleanup. Your insurance company will want it.
3. Let us document the roof. We photograph the damage up close, write the scope, and can meet your adjuster at the house. Read more on storm damage repair.

Watch for storm chasers: After big storms, out-of-town crews knock on doors along Easton and York Road. Don't sign anything on the porch that hands over your insurance claim. A local roofer will still be here next year if something needs a second look.

A family roofer a few miles up the road

Armstrong Roofing is a family-owned company out of Horsham. Owner Jim Armstrong personally oversees every job, and the team brings 50+ years of combined roofing experience. We're licensed in Pennsylvania (#PA164826), insured, BBB A+ rated, and we have a 5.0 rating across 172+ reviews on Google.

• Free inspection with photos of what we find
• Written, line-item estimate before any work starts
• Straight answer on repair vs. replace, even when the answer is a small repair
• 24/7 for active leaks and storm damage

What it usually costs

Willow Grove's simpler mid-century roofs usually land in the lower half of the replacement range. Two layers of old shingles, rotted plywood or a big two-story colonial push it up.

• Roof Repair: $350 – $2,500
• Roof Replacement: $6,500 – $18,000
• Emergency Roof Repair: $550 – $3,250
• Gutter Installation: $1,200 – $7,500

Questions we get asked

Do you work in all of Willow Grove?

Yes, the whole 19090 area, including the Upper Moreland and Abington Township sides, from Easton Road and York Road out to Davisville, Fitzwatertown and Moreland Road. We're based in Horsham, a few miles north.

How much does a new roof cost on a Willow Grove house?

Most roof replacements we do run between $6,500 and $18,000. Simple Capes and ranchers sit toward the lower end; two-story colonials, two layers of old shingles or rotted decking push it up. You get a free written estimate after we've seen the roof.

My roof is about 20 years old. Repair or replace?

Look at the shingles. If they still lie flat and hold their granules and the leak is in one spot, repair it. If they're curling, bald or leaking in several places, it's time to plan a replacement. Our rule of thumb is to stop repairing once a fix costs more than about 30% of a new roof.

A tree limb hit my roof. What should I do?

Stay off the roof, get photos from the ground, and call us at (215) 824-6932 if water is getting in. We tarp it to stop the damage and document everything for your insurance company. Sudden storm damage is often covered; your insurer makes the call.

Why do I get ice dams every winter?

Usually because warm air from the house is getting into the attic and melting snow on the roof, which refreezes at the cold eave. Many Willow Grove Capes and ranchers have little attic insulation or venting. Better ventilation and insulation fix the cause; an ice and water barrier at the eaves protects the roof.

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.
• Storm Damage Repair: Wind, hail and fallen limbs. We document the damage with photos and work with your insurance adjuster.
• 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.
• Gutter Installation: Seamless gutters and downspouts sized to move water away from your foundation.
• Roof Inspection: A free, top-to-bottom look at your roof with photos, so you know what you actually need before you spend anything.
• Montgomery County: Where we do most of our work, from Horsham out across the county.
• Horsham: Home base. Our shop is here.
• Hatboro: Borough homes and older twins right next door to Horsham.
• Abington: Stone and brick older homes where details matter.
• Roof Replacement in Hatboro, PA: Full roof replacement in Hatboro.
• Roof Replacement in Warminster, PA: Full roof replacement in Warminster.
• Maple Glen: Established neighborhoods minutes from our shop.
• Dresher: Colonials and split-levels across Upper Dublin.
• Warminster: Our neighbor to the north; lots of 1950s-70s ranchers and splits.
• Fort Washington: Wooded lots where trees and storms are the main roof threat.