Lehigh Valley · Lehigh County
Roof repair and replacement in Allentown, PA
Rowhouses with slate mansards, terra cotta tile in West Park, flat rear roofs and a city guideline for each. About four in ten Allentown homes predate 1940, and their roofs show it.
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- PA HIC #201201
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Roofing in Allentown
Allentown’s houses and their roofs.
Old Allentown's blocks were built out mostly from the 1850s to the 1910s, and the city's own historic-district guidelines describe what went on top: natural slate, sheet metal and terra cotta clay tile. Slate quarrying was a key Pennsylvania industry in the 19th century, which the guidelines say made it cheaper here than in most cities. Gray-blue-purple and red slate are both common, and Second Empire rowhouses wear it on their mansard fronts.
The numbers are just as plain. Census estimates count about 49,500 homes in the city, 38 percent built before 1940, and single-family attached houses are the largest group at 36 percent, ahead of detached homes. That is a lot of shared party walls, side-gable rows and low-slope rear roofs.
Our office is in Newtown in Bucks County, roughly 40 miles away, and Allentown is on the list of places we serve. Inspections here are free, the same as anywhere, and you get the photo report before anyone talks price.
Know the house
Roofs you’ll find around Allentown.
Slate rowhouses in Old Allentown and the Old Fairgrounds
The city's guidelines note that slate usually fails at the nails and hangers, or from poor installation, not because the stone wore out. We don't repair or install slate, but our free inspection tells you whether yours is sound before anyone talks about a tear-off.
West Park houses with clay tile
Terra cotta tile is called a character-defining feature of the West Park district, and broken tiles can be replaced one at a time. We inspect and photograph it; we don't recommend tearing off a sound tile roof.
Flat and low-slope rear roofs
Where a rowhouse has a flat roof over the back rooms, ponding water and failed seams at the parapet are the usual leaks, and the attic or ceiling below tells us how long it has been going on.
Postwar and East Side homes
About 30,000 of the city's homes were built after 1940, including the larger detached houses of neighborhoods like Midway Manor. Postwar roofs are typically asphalt shingle, and a full tear-off is the standard replacement.
Valley winters and an August tornado
The January 2016 blizzard dropped a record 31.9 inches at Lehigh Valley International Airport. Snow loads like that sit on old rowhouse roofs for days, and when it melts, valleys and box gutters back up. That is when ice dams find the gap in old flashing.
Summer storms count too. On a Monday night in August 2023, an EF-1 tornado with winds up to 100 mph touched down near East Pennsylvania Street and did extensive damage in Midway Manor. After wind like that, a ground-level look misses lifted shingles; an inspection on the roof catches them.
Services in Allentown
What we do for Allentown homes.
Roof Repair in Allentown
Failed flashing, leaking flat rear roofs and storm-lifted shingles, each repair photographed and covered by a written warranty on the area.
Free Roof Inspection in Allentown
Free and thorough: attic, roof surface, chimneys and every penetration. In a historic district we note what the guidelines would ask of a repair.
Roof Replacement in Allentown
Asphalt shingle replacements with a full tear-off and new flashing. In the three historic districts, we check what needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before the job is scheduled.
Storm Damage & Insurance Claims in Allentown
After hail or high wind, we document the damage, attend your adjuster meeting at no charge and submit supplements for hidden damage.
Also available in Allentown: Siding · Commercial Roofing
Google reviews · 5.0★
From our Google reviews
“Dave and his team were excellent. my roof was damaged by a hail storm in April 2023 After another contractor walked away from the job, Dave stepped in and worked with the insurance adjuster and was able to get my roof replaced.They did great work and delivered everything on time and as promised. I would definitely recommend Mission Roofing.”
Allentown questions
Roofing in Allentown, answered.
Something else? Call or text (484) 647-7466, or read the full questions & answers.
Do I need HARB approval to re-roof in an Allentown historic district?
In Old Allentown, Old Fairgrounds and West Park, exterior changes visible from a public right-of-way need a Certificate of Appropriateness. The city's review chart treats repair or exact in-kind replacement of slate, tile or metal differently from replacing it with another material, so check the guidelines, or ask us to, before you plan.
Can I replace my slate with shingles?
In the districts, the guidelines prefer in-kind replacement and ask that any alternate material resemble the original as closely as possible. We install shingle and flat roofs, not slate; if your slate is still sound, the report will say so.
Does my flat rear roof need city review?
The guidelines say repairs or replacement of flat roofs not visible from the public right-of-way don't require staff approval or HARB review. You still need any building permit the city requires.
You're in Newtown. Will you really come to Allentown?
Yes. Allentown is on the service list on our own site. It is a drive, so we schedule it, but the inspection is free and the report is the same one we write closer to home.
Near Allentown
See every town we serve.
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Free roof inspection
Let’s take a look at your roof.
Anywhere in Allentown and the towns around it. Pick a time online, call, or send us the basics here and we’ll get back to you to set it up. No pressure, and the quote is good for 30 days.
(484) 647-7466That’s (484) MISSION · team@mission-roof.org
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 8 am – 4 pm
- Office
- 41 University Dr, Suite 400
Newtown, PA 18940