Made in AmericaThe Roofing Field Guide
Roofing advice from the crew that does the work.
Real Philadelphia roof projects, practical repair guidance, and straight answers about flat roofs, shingles, leaks, and storm damage.
BeforeArticles
Straight answers.
Flat RoofingFlat Roof Repair or Replacement? What Philadelphia Homeowners Should Look For
One leak does not always mean a new roof. Here are the signs that point toward a simple repair, and the ones that mean replacement deserves a serious look.4 min read
Flat RoofingHow a Philadelphia Rowhome Flat Roof Is Replaced: Tear-Off to White Granulated Cap
What actually happens during a rowhome flat roof replacement, from tearing off to the deck to the white granulated cap, new drip edge and copper drain boxes.4 min read
Leaks & StormsMissing Shingles After a Storm? What to Check From the Ground
After a storm, you can learn a lot about your roof without ever climbing a ladder. Here is what to look for from the ground and inside, and when to call.3 min read
MaintenanceWhy Flat Roofs Pond Water and What Drainage Has to Do With Leaks
Flat roofs are built with a small slope for a reason. Here is what causes water to sit on a flat roof, how long is too long, and why it leads to leaks.4 min read
MaintenanceWhat Homeowners Should Ask Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor in Philadelphia
The right questions make hiring a roofer much easier. Here is what to ask about insurance, state registration, written scope, materials, flashing, drains, permits and warranty before you sign.4 min read
Real ProjectsInside a Flat Roof Replacement: Old Drain Box Out, Copper In
A real job from January 2026, step by step: the worn roof, the failing drain box, the copper box that replaced it, and the white granulated roof that went on top.2 min readMore on this topic soon. Have a question about it? Text Joe at (267) 993-3571.
Roof question of the week
Should I patch a flat roof or replace it?
It depends on what is causing the leak. A patch can be a reasonable fix when the problem is in one spot, the rest of the roof surface looks solid, the deck feels firm, and water drains off after rain. Replacement deserves a look when leaks keep coming back, the roof is covered in old patches, the deck is soft, or water sits for days. NRCA treats water still standing 48 hours after rain as ponding.
The honest limit: nobody can make this call for certain from a description or a single photo. Water often travels before it shows up inside, and soft decking can only be found on the roof. Please do not walk on the roof to check. Send photos from a window or the ground, and have a roofer inspect it in person. More in our repair or replace guide.
Why Philly roofs are different
Rowhomes, weather & water.
Most Philadelphia rowhomes and twins have low-slope roofs, the kind people call flat. Water doesn't run off them fast, so everything depends on the slope toward the drain, the drain box itself, and the seams where the roof meets a parapet or the house next door.
Philly weather works those weak spots from every side. Winter brings freeze and thaw: water that gets into a crack freezes, expands and opens the crack a little wider. Summer sun bakes a dark roof. Summer storms dump a lot of rain in a short time, which is exactly when a clogged or worn drain shows itself.
Many older roofs also have layer on layer from past repairs, which can hide soft decking underneath. That's why Joe's crew tears flat roofs down to the deck before putting a new one on.
Where Joe works: Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware County and South Jersey