Roofing
Questions

It depends on the roof, which is why we don't quote over the phone. Pitch, valley and dormer count, how many layers come off, decking condition, access on the lot and the material you choose move the number far more than square footage does. We inspect on the roof and in the attic, then give you a free written, itemized quote you can compare line by line.

Assume yes, and let us handle it. Municipalities in the Sewickley Valley generally require a permit for roof replacement, and requirements differ between Sewickley Borough, Edgeworth, Glen Osborne and the townships. We confirm the current requirements with your municipality before work starts and pull what's needed as part of the job.

Yes. Big Dog Roofs holds Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration PA225283, which you can verify with the PA Attorney General's office. Proof of insurance is provided on request before work begins. Every job also comes with our written 10-year workmanship warranty.

Architectural asphalt is commonly cited at 20 to 30 years, and roofs in the valley often run toward the short end of that: freeze-thaw cycling, deep shade and heavy tree debris are hard on shingles. Natural slate is commonly cited at 75 years or more, but the copper flashing under it usually needs rebuilding at least once in that span.

Usually, yes. If the structure is sound and the slate isn't broadly delaminating, a slate roof can be restored for a fraction of replacement cost. Most slate leaks trace to failed copper flashing and valleys, not failed stone. Get a real slate assessment before anyone quotes you a tear-off.

Our labor. If something we installed fails because of how we installed it, we come back and make it right for ten years, in writing. Manufacturer material warranties are separate and come from the manufacturer; we'll show you exactly what yours covers before you choose a product.

It can, so verify before you buy materials. Properties in and around the Sewickley Historic District may face review of visible exterior changes, including roofing material and color. We confirm the current process with the borough for your specific address rather than guessing, and we plan the material selection around whatever review applies.

Sometimes — it's the right call when the framing can't carry natural slate, when the original is unmatched or already gone, or when the budget is real. It's the wrong call when your slate is sound and repairable, or when a historic review expects the original material. Weight, warranty and visibility from the street decide it.

Because flashings are where freeze-thaw does the most damage. Water sits in the seam between two materials, freezes and widens the gap a little each cycle. Chimneys, sidewalls, valleys and skylight curbs fail long before the field does — which is why a leak here almost never means you need a whole new roof.

Heat escaping into the attic melts snow that refreezes at a cold eave, and shaded north slopes in the valley never get sun to clear it. The permanent fix is air-sealing the ceiling plane and restoring soffit intake and ridge exhaust so the deck stays cold, plus ice-and-water membrane at the eaves. Heat cable only manages the symptom.

Hand removal plus a low-pressure biocide treatment, never a pressure washer. Pressure strips slate's surface, breaks the stone at its edges and drives water up under the courses. Moss holds moisture against slate and accelerates delamination, so it's worth removing — carefully, and usually with trimming back the limbs that keep the slope wet.

One to two days for a straightforward asphalt tear-off, three to five for a large or steep Sewickley home with multiple porch roofs and dormers. Slate and copper work is measured in weeks, not days, because it's hand work. Weather and hidden decking damage are the two things that extend a schedule.

Yes. We document the damage with photographs, can meet your adjuster on the roof, and walk the same slopes so nothing gets missed. The part that matters most on older Sewickley homes is making sure slate, tile and copper are valued as what they are instead of being scoped as an asphalt repair.

Not at this time. We quote in writing with a clear scope so you can compare honestly, and we're straightforward about what has to be done now versus what can wait a season. If a repair can buy you a year or two before replacement, we'll tell you that instead of selling you the bigger job.

Sewickley is home base, along with Sewickley Heights, Sewickley Hills, Edgeworth, Glen Osborne, Bell Acres, Aleppo, Leetsdale, Leet Township, Haysville, Glenfield and Ohio Township. We also work in Franklin Park, McCandless, Wexford, Moon Township, Coraopolis and Robinson Township, plus Ambridge, Aliquippa and Beaver in Beaver County and Cranberry Township in Butler County.