Roof, gutters and ventilation in Hatboro, PA

Armstrong Roofing replaced a roughly 25 square roof on a Hatboro home with Owens Corning TruDefinition shingles in Onyx Black, and rebuilt the attic ventilation, trim and gutters at the same time. The job included intake vents at the eaves, a ridge vent, rafter baffles on a rear addition, black aluminum fascia and rake capping, vented soffit, and new 6 inch seamless gutters with metal guards. Inspections and estimates are free: (215) 824-6932.

Roof, gutters and attic all wearing out together

This is a common story on Hatboro's older homes. The roof was due, but so were the gutters and the trim, and the attic wasn't moving enough air. When those parts all reach the end at once, doing them one at a time means paying for ladders, setup and trim work more than once, and hanging new shingles over old gutters that can't keep up.

So this became one job: a new roof, a ventilation rebuild, new trim and new gutters, planned together so each part fits the next.

Insulation was choking the attic airflow

The detail that mattered most was over the rear addition. Insulation there was packed against the underside of the roof deck, which blocks the path air needs to travel from the eaves up to the ridge. We see this a lot on additions.

Why it matters: an attic needs air coming in low at the eaves and leaving high at the ridge. Without that flow, summer heat bakes the shingles from underneath, and in winter warm, damp air from the house condenses on the cold deck and soaks the insulation and plywood. New shingles over a blocked attic won't last the way they should.

One system, roof to gutters

  1. Tear-off and new underlayment. The old roof came off and Owens Corning underlayment went down, as the in-progress photo shows.
  2. Owens Corning TruDefinition shingles in Onyx Black. Underlayment, starter, hip and ridge cap and ventilation all came from the same Owens Corning line.
  3. Intake at the eaves. A VentSure intake edge vent along the eaves to pull fresh air into the attic.
  4. Exhaust at the ridge. An Owens Corning ridge vent at the peak to let hot, damp air out.
  5. Rafter baffles on the addition. Baffles between the rafters hold the insulation back from the deck so air can travel from the eaves to the ridge.
  6. Trim and soffit. Fascia and rakes capped in smooth black aluminum, bent on site to fit, plus a vented black soffit that feeds the intake side.
  7. Gutters, downspouts and guards. 6 inch seamless aluminum gutters in Jet Black on hidden hangers, downspouts upsized from 2x3 to 3x4, and 6 inch XR perforated metal gutter guards.

You can see the custom trim and the new gutters in the photos. More on the gutter side of this job on our gutter installation page.

If your roof is due, look at what else is

Before you get roof estimates, spend ten minutes looking at the rest of the system. You don't need a ladder for most of this:

  • Gutters. Sagging runs, seams that drip, or water pouring over the front in heavy rain mean they may not be worth hanging a new roof over.
  • Downspouts. If they clog every fall or overflow at the top, bigger 3x4 downspouts move a lot more water than standard 2x3.
  • Fascia and soffit. Peeling paint or soft wood behind the gutters is rot. Capping it is cheaper while the roof crew is already there.
  • The attic. On a cold morning, look for frost or damp on the underside of the roof boards. On a hot afternoon, notice if the attic feels like an oven. Both point to poor ventilation.
  • Additions. Look where the addition roof meets the insulation. If insulation is jammed right up against the boards, air cannot get through.

You do not have to do it all at once: If the gutters are in good shape, keep them. But if they're near the end too, replacing them with the roof saves a second setup and you avoid hanging new gutters under old drip edge, or old gutters under a new roof.

Hatboro is next door to our shop in Horsham. See our Hatboro page for what we see on roofs around town, or read how we handle a roof replacement from inspection to cleanup.

What it usually costs

Roof size and pitch set the roof price. Trim capping, ventilation work, gutter size and guards are added as separate lines on the written estimate so you can see what each part costs.

  • Roof Replacement: $6,500 – $18,000
  • Gutter Installation: $1,200 – $7,500
  • Gutter Guard Installation: $1,200 – $5,000
  • Downspout Installation or Replacement: $350 – $1,250

Questions we get asked

Should I replace my gutters when I replace my roof?

If the gutters are near the end of their life, yes, it is usually the right time. The crew is already set up, and you avoid hanging new shingles over old, sagging or undersized gutters. If your gutters are in good shape, we will tell you to keep them.

What are rafter baffles and why did this house need them?

Rafter baffles are channels fitted between the rafters that hold insulation back from the roof deck. On this Hatboro addition, insulation was blocking the air path from the eaves to the ridge. The baffles reopen that path so the ridge vent can actually pull air through the attic.

Why does attic ventilation matter so much?

Without air coming in at the eaves and leaving at the ridge, attics get very hot in summer and damp in winter. Heat ages shingles from below, and moisture soaks insulation and rots the deck. Ventilation is one of the first things we check on a replacement.

What is the difference between 5 inch and 6 inch gutters?

A 6 inch gutter holds and carries noticeably more water than the standard 5 inch size. Paired with 3x4 downspouts instead of 2x3, it is much less likely to overflow in a heavy storm. It makes the most sense on big or steep roof sections that dump a lot of water into one run.

Why use one manufacturer for the whole roof?

Shingles, underlayment, starter, ridge cap and vents from one line are designed to work together, and manufacturers generally prefer it. On this job everything came from Owens Corning. Ask any roofer what accessories they plan to use under the shingles.

How long does a roof replacement take?

Most re-roofs on an average house take a day or two, weather permitting. Adding gutters, trim and ventilation work can add time, and we give you the schedule for your house with the estimate.

Related pages