Baltimore roof repair

Rowhouse flat roofs, shared-wall flashing, chimneys, and slate across Baltimore City.

I'm often up on a roof, so a text usually reaches me fastest, but call anytime.

Where in Baltimore City do you repair roofs?

I repair roofs all over Baltimore City. A lot of our city work is on rowhouses in Fells Point, Canton, Hampden, Federal Hill, and Charles Village. Those roofs are mostly flat, they share walls with the neighbors, and the flashing and chimneys on those walls take a beating. Flat roof seams open up after a long wet stretch, and that's when the calls come in.

Further north, in Roland Park, Homeland, and Guilford, we work on slate and copper on older homes. In Govans we replaced a worn-out flat roof with new EPDM rubber. Wherever it is, we find the leak first and fix that.

What roof problems are common in Baltimore City?

Flat roof seams, flashing along shared walls, old chimneys, and worn slate are the problems I see most in the city.

Why does my flat roof leak where it meets the wall?

On a rowhouse, the joint where the flat roof meets a wall is one of the most common leak spots, and one of the first places I check. That wall might be the back wall of the house, a parapet, or the side of the house next door. The roofing turns up the wall and is covered by metal flashing. When that flashing pulls loose, the mortar behind it cracks, or the cap on the parapet fails, water gets in behind it and runs down inside the wall.

That's why the stain can show up partway down a wall, or even a room away, instead of right under the roof. Tar or a coating smeared over the joint usually stops it for a season at most, because the water is getting in above it.

What we do: we repair the flashing at the base of the wall and the metal that covers it, fix the mortar and brick it's tied into, and then coat the roof when it needs it. You get pictures and a price before any work starts.

For the brick side of it, see Baltimore masonry repair. For coatings, see how often a flat roof needs a silver coat.

What roof repairs do you do in Baltimore City?

I repair flat roofs, trace and fix leaks, redo flashing, and replace broken slate.

Baltimore City roof repair questions

Why do rowhouse roofs in Baltimore leak?

Most rowhouse roofs are flat, so water sits longer. It gets in at open seams, clogged drains and scuppers, and the flashing along the shared walls and parapets. Those are the spots we check first.

Why does my flat roof leak where it meets the wall?

The roofing turns up the wall and is covered by metal flashing. When that flashing pulls loose, the mortar behind it cracks, or the cap on the parapet fails, water runs down inside the wall and can show up a room away. We repair the flashing and the masonry it's tied into, then coat the roof if it needs it.

Can you fix my roof without touching my neighbor's?

Usually, yes. We repair your section and tie it in at the line between the houses. When the problem is right at the shared wall, I explain what we need to do and can talk with your neighbor if it helps.

Do you repair slate roofs in Baltimore City?

Yes. We replace broken and slipped slates and redo worn flashing on older homes in Roland Park, Homeland, Guilford and nearby, and we repair copper valleys and flashing too. Before you replace a slate roof, read whether slate should be repaired or replaced.

How soon can you come out?

It depends on the weather and the week. When you call or text, we'll tell you honestly when we can get there.

What does a roof repair in Baltimore City cost?

It depends on the roof, the problem, and access, since a three-story rowhouse with no alley access takes more setup. We look first, and I give you a price before any work starts.

What customers say

More for Baltimore City homeowners

Roof trouble in Baltimore City?

Text your address and a few pictures of what you're seeing. We'll come take a look and tell you straight whether it needs fixing now or can wait.

Call or text 443-900-4815. You can also text your address and a few pictures to the same number.