Low-slope in Skaneateles
Low slope roofing in Skaneateles: a porch or flat roof that will not stay dry
Low slope roofing in Skaneateles is a slope question before it is a repair question. If a porch, ell or flat roof has been patched and still leaks, tell us where it sits and book a visit to measure its pitch.
Asking where the water gets in commits you to nothing.
What we do
We help you find where the water really gets in and book a diagnostic visit with an independent roofer, who puts the fix in a written proposal.
Our word before the ladder goes up
- You owe nothing for asking, and you can walk away.
- The visit looks for the way in before any roof talk.
- You see the repair proposal in writing before work starts.
- The $100 credit follows the rules on our Terms page.
The roofer you hire answers for their own work and contract.
Signed Roofing Pros Syracuse, (315) 640-3590
What this word covers
Questions
Questions about low-slope roofing, for Skaneateles
My Skaneateles porch roof is shingled. Is that allowed?
Shingles are allowed only at 2:12 or more, with double underlayment until 4:12. Lower than that, the product has to change. Ask the roofer to measure the pitch.
Do mobile homes follow different slope rules?
The state residential code lists the same slope numbers by roofing product. Ask the roofer which product your roof carries and what slope it has.
What should I have on hand for the visit?
Pictures of that roof taken from the ground, the room under it, the dates of earlier patches and any roofer's notes from before. If the patch was done by a neighbor or yourself, say so.
Will a different product cost more than a patch?
The roofer sets the price from the size, edges, deck condition and drainage. A patch that keeps failing costs again each time. Ask for the proposal to list each piece.
Low slope roofing in Skaneateles: porches on older village houses
Skaneateles village housing is old: half of it stood by 1938. Older houses may have picked up porches, enclosed entries or kitchen ells over the decades, so ask what has been added. Each got its own roof, lower than the main one.
Some were shingled to match the main roof. If the porch roof falls less than 2:12, the shingles are on a slope the state code does not allow. You do not need to know the number. Ask the roofer to measure and write it down.
Also ask what the roof is made of today. Some old low roofs carry roll roofing, and the code says mineral-surfaced roll roofing cannot go below a 1:12 slope. A roof that is below that line needs a different product, not a patch.
Signs
Marks that point to low-slope roofing in Skaneateles
Shingles on a roof that is nearly level
If a porch roof barely rises, the roofer must measure it. Please look from the ground.
A stain at the back of the house after every rain
Back-of-house rooms can sit under add-on roofs. Say which room.
A patch with a patch beside it
A growing row of patches says the roof, not the patch, is the issue.
A low roof that never seems to dry
Damp for days after rain means water is not leaving. Take a photo.
Mobile homes and low roofs outside the Skaneateles core
In the Town of Skaneateles 3.3 percent of units are mobile homes. That figure is for the town, not the village. Some manufactured homes have a low-pitched roof; yours may or may not.
If yours is low, the same state numbers apply. Single-ply membrane roofing is designed to fall at least a quarter inch for every foot, so water leaves. Ask the roofer which product is on your roof now, what slope it has and whether the proposal changes either.
A roof like this is not a smaller version of a pitched roof. It sheds water differently, and its repair is a different job. Ask for the proposal to name the membrane type, how the seams are made, and how the roof edge and any wall joint are finished. If your stain also shows after cold nights, read the attic page for Skaneateles before deciding.
Patch or new product on a low roof: three questions
Ask three questions. First, what is the measured pitch? Second, what product is on the roof, and what does the code allow at that pitch? Third, where does the water leave, and is there a drain at each low point?
If the pitch is above 2:12 and the surface is intact, a repair may be right. If it is below, a patch repeats the leak. The roofer sets the price and writes it on the proposal, and you can decide on that. Read our article on why porch roofs keep leaking for the full ladder.
Other ways in
When low-slope roofing is not where Skaneateles should begin
Roof Leak Diagnosis
Trace the stain to its source first.
Roof Flashing Repair
Name the joint nearest the drip.
Gutters and Drainage
Follow the water from edge to ground.
Attic Ventilation
Seal the ceiling before adding any vents.
Nearby
More low-slope roofing pages around Skaneateles
Tell us which low roof leaks and book it in.