Carbon County seat · 18229
Roofing contractor in Jim Thorpe, PA
Mauch Chunk's 19th-century row houses and mansions climb from the river to the upper streets, and more than half the borough's homes predate 1940. Their roofs need someone who repairs before replacing.
- 5.0 on Google
- PA HIC #201201
- NJ HIC #13VH14078100
Roofing in Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe’s houses and their roofs.
Until 1954 this was two towns, Mauch Chunk on the west bank of the Lehigh and East Mauch Chunk across the river, which holds more of today's houses. Mauch Chunk began in 1818 as a coal-shipping company town, and the old district was laid out in 1831 by John A. Roebling. Its buildings run through Greek Revival, Second Empire, Queen Anne and Romanesque styles, and many survived intact under aluminum or vinyl siding that owners have since taken off.
The housing is among the oldest in Carbon County. Census estimates put 58 percent of the borough's 2,375 homes before 1940, with a median year built of 1938, and 27 percent are single-family attached, like the Stone Row houses on Race Street. Developed streets rise from 540 feet at the river to about 720 feet, under Mount Pisgah.
We serve Jim Thorpe from our office in Newtown. On a house this old, the first question is what can be repaired, and the free inspection answers it with photos.
Know the house
Roofs you’ll find around Jim Thorpe.
Row houses in the old town
Attached rows share one roofline, with chimneys at the party walls. Leaks usually start at chimney flashing and at the joints where one owner's roof meets the next.
Second Empire and Victorian houses
Mansard sides, dormers and complicated trim make these the hardest roofs in town to keep dry. The steep mansard faces are often fine while the low-slope deck above them, out of sight from the street, is where the water gets in.
Hillside houses above the river
On the upper streets and toward Mount Pisgah, houses stand on slopes with more wind and longer shade. Shaded north faces hold moisture and moss, and exposed ridges lose caps first.
Homes in East Mauch Chunk
The east bank grew later, with a mix of 19th-century and postwar houses. Many are simple gable roofs on their second or third layer, which means checking the decking before anything new goes down.
A deep valley, long shade and summer storms
Downtown sits in a narrow valley between ridges, with January averaging about 26.5 degrees. Roofs that sit in the shadow of the hillside stay frozen longer, so snow melts from the warm upper roof and refreezes at the eaves and in built-in gutters. That is how ice dams form on old houses with little attic insulation.
Summer storms bring down limbs here too: after the severe storm of June 6, 2026, the Times News photographed a broken tree on South Street in East Jim Thorpe. After wind like that, we look at the roof up close.
Services in Jim Thorpe
What we do for Jim Thorpe homes.
Free Roof Inspection in Jim Thorpe
Free and thorough on old houses: attic first, then the roof, every chimney and penetration, with a photo report that separates what can be repaired from what can't.
Roof Repair in Jim Thorpe
Chimney and party-wall flashing, built-in gutters and the low-slope tops of mansard roofs, each repair photographed and covered by a written workmanship warranty.
Roof Replacement in Jim Thorpe
When a shingle roof is finished, a full tear-off, decking repaired where needed, ice and water shield at eaves and valleys, and flashing tied carefully into the neighbor's side on attached rows.
Commercial Roofing in Jim Thorpe
Mixed-use and commercial buildings around the old business district carry flat and low-slope roofs behind their front walls. We take on commercial projects of all sizes.
Also available in Jim Thorpe: Storm Damage & Insurance Claims · Siding
Google reviews · 5.0★
From our Google reviews
“Dave and his team at Mission Roof were wonderful to work with. First, Dave’s insight and knowledge was invaluable (from picking the shingle type, to explaining ice shield and drip edge, to sharing some concerns about our chimneys stability). Although we had a small existing leak already, he gave us a really detailed summary and view of the current condition of the whole roof to help us decide what we wanted to do next. He also outlined all the various ways to improve our current roof configuration (e.g removing an old attic fan that was too small to adequately cool the attic - in exchange for a ridge vent system that is already much better at cooling the space, adding bathroom fan vents where they were missing, replacing old sheeting, and more). His team was respectful, efficient, and diligent. They kept trash contained, used magnets to find dropped nails, and left the place better than they found it. We are so happy with the result - both in appearance and function.”
Jim Thorpe questions
Roofing in Jim Thorpe, answered.
Something else? Call or text (484) 647-7466, or read the full questions & answers.
Do I need special approval to re-roof in the Old Mauch Chunk Historic District?
The district is on the National Register, and that listing alone doesn't restrict a private owner. The borough's own permit page lists building and zoning permit applications, and we pull whatever permits the borough requires for your job. If keeping the 19th-century look matters to you, we will talk through it.
I rent my house out short-term. Can you work around bookings?
Yes. Most replacements are done in one day, and we will schedule the work for a gap between guests. Repairs can usually be fit in the same way. You get progress photos on your phone, so you don't have to be there.
My mansard roof looks fine from the street. Why is it leaking?
On many mansard houses, the steep sides you can see are not the problem. The flat or low-slope section on top, and the built-in gutters at its edge, are where water usually gets in. We photograph that part so you can see it.
Is a house from the 1800s too old for a one-day roof?
The house's age mostly changes the prep work, not the schedule. Half the borough's homes were built by 1938, and many have plank decking under several old layers. Most roofs are still done in one day; when a lot of decking needs replacing it can run longer, and you get a photo of every sheet we change.
Near Jim Thorpe
See every town we serve.
Roofing guides
Hiring a roofer · 3 min read
Hire the right roofer: 4 ways to choose one you can trust
Not all roofing contractors are equal. Choosing the wrong one can mean poor workmanship, surprise costs and problems that show up long after the job is "finished." Here are four ways to protect your home.
Roof inspections · 2 min read
What to expect from an honest roof inspection
Saw a ceiling stain or a few shingles in the yard? Here is what a real inspection looks like and what you should get at the end of one.
Insurance claims · 2 min read
Insurance roof claims without the headache
A roof claim is stressful even when it goes well. Here is what should happen before the adjuster arrives, during the claim and before the job starts, so there is no surprise bill on install day.
Free roof inspection
Let’s take a look at your roof.
Anywhere in Jim Thorpe 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