Why do Oak Hills roofs leak at the patio and den additions?
Many homes here were expanded over the decades with a covered patio, enclosed porch or family room on a lower pitch than the house. Often the addition was sealed with a strip of metal or a bead of roofing cement where it meets the original roof. Cement dries and cracks in a few summers, and then rain runs down the main slope and straight into the joint.
We open the joint, look at how the two roofs actually meet, and rebuild it with proper step or counter flashing tied under the upper shingles. When a patio cover is too flat for shingles at all, we switch it to a membrane. Our patio cover roofing work covers the options for those attached structures.
Which flat roof material holds up over a 1970s den or carport?
Older low-slope sections here are often gravel built-up or rolled roofing that's been patched several times. Those layers trap water between them and hide rotted decking. When the section is due, we strip it down to the deck, replace soft boards, and install a membrane suited to the slope and how much foot traffic the roof gets.
Modified bitumen is forgiving around odd shapes and older framing, and it's a common choice on small residential sections. A white TPO membrane reflects more summer sun, which helps a den that bakes all afternoon. Our guide to flat roofs on older homes compares them, and we'll recommend one once we've seen how your section drains.
How do big live oaks change roof upkeep in Oak Hills?
The shade is welcome, but a mature canopy drops leaves, catkins and acorns that collect on flat sections and in the valleys. On a low-slope roof that debris clogs the scupper or drain, and water ponds where it should run off. Ponding speeds up membrane wear and finds any weak seam within a season.
We suggest clearing flat sections and gutters at least twice a year, after the spring oak drop and again in late fall. A scheduled twice-yearly roof tune-up catches cracked sealant and rub marks before they turn into ceiling stains. Limbs touching the roof should be cut back by an arborist. If a stain is already spreading, phone us at (210) 750-1898.
What should you check before buying an older home near the Medical Center?
Oak Hills draws buyers who work at the hospitals and want a quiet street close to the job. If you're under contract here, ask how old each roof section is, since the shingle roof and the flat den roof often have different ages. Sellers sometimes replace the main roof and leave an aging flat section in place.
A pre-closing inspection with photos of each section gives you something concrete to negotiate with. Our roof certification for home sales documents the condition and the remaining life we expect, so you and your lender both know what you're buying.
