Hiring a roofer in Mt. Lebanon, PA is not the same as hiring one in a newer suburb. Most of the borough was built between the 1920s and the 1950s, and the roofs on those brick colonials, tudors and center hall homes were built differently than anything going up today. A contractor who knows the difference between a 1927 slate roof with built in box gutters and a 1955 shingle roof over plank decking will give you a better estimate, a cleaner job and fewer surprises.
Malick Brothers Exteriors is a family owned roofing company based at 500 Perry Highway in West View. We serve Mt. Lebanon and the rest of the South Hills with roof repair, full roof replacement in Pittsburgh, slate repair, box gutter work, seamless gutters, siding and low slope commercial roofing. This guide covers what we see on Mt. Lebanon roofs, what tends to fail, how we handle it and how to check any roofing contractor before you sign.
Mt. Lebanon Housing Stock and the Roofs That Came With It
Virginia Manor, Mission Hills, Beverly Heights and the streets around Washington Road are full of 1920s and 1930s brick and stone homes with steep roofs, multiple dormers, hips and valleys and chimneys that pass through the roof plane. Many were roofed in natural slate with copper or galvanized flashing and built in box gutters tucked behind the cornice.
The post war streets, especially toward Castle Shannon and Scott Township, are mostly 1940s and 1950s brick colonials and cape cods. Those roofs are simpler, with asphalt shingles over plank decking and hanging gutters. Many carry a second layer of shingles over the first.
A few things follow from that mix:
- Slate roofs here can be 80 to 100 years old. Good slate outlasts the nails and flashing holding it on, so the roof fails at the metal first.
- Box gutters are part of the roof, not an accessory. When the liner rusts or the seams open, water runs into the cornice and the wall below it.
- Plank decking has gaps that modern sheet decking does not. When a 1950s roof is replaced, the decking needs to be checked board by board.
- Steep pitches, dormers and multiple valleys mean more flashing, more cut shingles and more places for a careless crew to leave a leak.
What Mt. Lebanon Weather Does to a Roof
Pittsburgh is one of the cloudiest and wettest metro areas in the eastern United States, and the South Hills sit on the ridges that catch the weather first. The roof problems we see in Mt. Lebanon come from a few repeating patterns:
- Freeze and thaw cycles. Winter here swings above and below freezing dozens of times. Water gets into a cracked slate, an open shingle seam or a box gutter joint, freezes, expands and opens the gap wider. By March the small leak is a big one.
- Ice dams. Heavy snow on a poorly ventilated attic melts from the bottom, runs to the cold eave and refreezes. On a slate roof with box gutters the ice backs up under the slates and into the cornice. On a shingle roof it backs up under the first courses.
- Wind. Spring and summer storms lift shingles that were nailed high or installed in cold weather without sealing. Older three tab shingles let go first.
- Trees. Mature oaks and maples drop debris that clogs gutters and valleys and keeps the north slope damp enough to grow moss.
Roof Repair in Mt. Lebanon: What Usually Fails First
Most calls we get from Mt. Lebanon are repairs, not replacements, and most of them trace back to the same places. Before you assume you need a new roof, have someone look at these:
Flashing at chimneys, walls and dormers
Old homes have a lot of chimneys and a lot of dormers. The step flashing and counter flashing around them was often galvanized steel that has rusted through, or it was tarred over by a previous handyman and the tar has split. Rebuilding chimney flashing in copper or aluminum fixes a leak that no amount of new shingles will.
Slipped and broken slates
A slate roof with a few slipped or cracked pieces does not need replacing. Our repair division replaces individual slates with matching stone on a slate hook or copper nail. The warning sign is when slates slide out regularly across the whole roof, which means the nails have rusted off and the roof is at the end of its life.
Box gutters and built in gutters
The liner in a box gutter is the single most common source of water damage on a 1920s Mt. Lebanon house. We reline box gutters and seal them, and on roofs that are otherwise sound we apply a MuleHide silicone coating that bridges small seams and stops the rust from spreading.
If a leak shows up, our residential roof repair team finds the source, and a proper roof inspection includes the attic, because the ceiling stain is rarely under the hole.
Roof Replacement in Mt. Lebanon: Shingle, Slate or Metal
When a roof is past repair, Mt. Lebanon homeowners usually have three realistic paths. The right one depends on the house, the neighborhood and how long you plan to stay.
| Option | Best fit | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural asphalt shingles | 1940s and 1950s colonials and capes, and older homes where slate was already removed | The most common choice. We install complete Atlas roof systems (shingles, underlayment and ventilation) which qualify for the Atlas 50 year warranty through our AtlasPro+ Platinum Select status. Scotchgard protected shingles resist the black algae streaks that show up on shaded north slopes. |
| Slate repair and restoration | Original slate roofs in Virginia Manor, Mission Hills and Beverly Heights that still have sound stone | Often the better value on a roof where the slate is good and only the flashing, nails and box gutters have failed. Keeps the house in character with the street. |
| Standing seam metal | Homeowners who want the longest service life, and low slope porch or addition roofs | Sheds snow, handles freeze and thaw well and lasts decades. Works on full roofs or just the sections that take the most abuse. |
| Rubber (EPDM) or two ply low slope | Flat porch roofs, rear additions and garage roofs | We are MuleHide certified for .060 EPDM and two ply low slope systems. Shingles do not belong on a roof pitch under 2 in 12. |
You can read more about each material on our roof materials page, including slate and metal.
What drives the cost of a Mt. Lebanon roof replacement
We do not publish prices because no two of these roofs are alike. What moves the number on a written estimate:
- Pitch and complexity. A steep roof with four dormers and three valleys takes far more labor than a simple gable.
- Tear off. Two layers of old shingles, or slate, costs more to remove and dispose of than one layer.
- Decking. Plank decking on 1920s and 1950s homes often needs boards replaced or a full re sheet with new plywood before shingles can be nailed properly.
- Flashing. Chimneys, sidewalls and skylights each need new flashing. Copper costs more than aluminum but lasts longer against brick.
- Ventilation. Many older attics have no real intake or exhaust. Adding ridge vent and soffit intake is part of a complete system and part of the warranty.
- Gutters. Replacing failed box gutters with 5 inch or 6 inch seamless gutters is often done at the same time.
We provide a free written estimate that itemizes all of this. If you want to spread the cost out, see our financing page.
How We Handle a Mt. Lebanon Roof
Our process is the same whether the house is in Mt. Lebanon or two blocks from our shop in West View:
- Inspection first. We walk the roof and the attic, photograph the problem areas and show you what we found. If it is a repair, we say so. We do not sell replacements to people who need a flashing fix.
- Written estimate. Itemized, with the materials named, the warranty terms stated and the scope spelled out.
- Permit. Mt. Lebanon, like most boroughs around Pittsburgh, requires a building permit for a full roof replacement. We pull it as part of the job. Our PA Home Improvement Contractor registration is PA174918 and you can check it on the Pennsylvania Attorney General HIC search.
- Deck repair and dry in. Every board gets checked. Ice and water shield goes at eaves, valleys and around every penetration, then synthetic underlayment over the field.
- Install and clean up. Our own crews install the roof. We document the job as it goes so you see what happened under the shingles. Magnets sweep the yard for nails before we leave.
Commercial Roofing in Mt. Lebanon
The storefronts along Washington Road and Beverly Road, the medical offices near St. Clair Hospital and the apartment buildings along Cochran Road are mostly flat or low slope roofs. Those are a different trade from slate and shingles. We install MuleHide .060 EPDM rubber roofs, two ply low slope systems and silicone restoration coatings over existing roofs that are sound but leaking at the seams. A coating can add years to a roof without a tear off. Details are on our commercial roofing page.
How to Check Any Roofing Contractor in Mt. Lebanon
Whoever you hire, run through this list before you sign.
- PA HIC registration. Pennsylvania requires it for any home improvement contractor. Look the number up yourself on the Attorney General site rather than taking a logo on a truck as proof.
- Insurance certificate. Ask for general liability and workers compensation certificates sent directly from the insurer.
- Manufacturer certification. Extended warranties like the Atlas 50 year system warranty are only available through certified installers. Ask who will back the warranty and for how long.
- Slate and box gutter experience. If your house is pre war, ask specifically. Many shingle crews have never set a slate or lined a box gutter.
- Written scope. Decking replacement, flashing material, underlayment, ventilation and disposal should all be in writing with the warranty terms.
- Reviews and BBB. Read recent reviews, not just the star count. Malick Brothers is BBB accredited with an A+ rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Mt. Lebanon, PA?
Yes. Mt. Lebanon treats a full roof replacement as permitted work, so expect a building permit. The contractor should pull it, not the homeowner, and confirm the current rules with the borough code office. Minor repairs such as replacing a few slates or a pipe boot generally do not require one.
Should I replace my Mt. Lebanon slate roof with shingles?
Not automatically. If the slate is sound and the problems are flashing, nails or box gutters, restoring the slate roof is often the better long term decision and keeps the house in character with the neighborhood. If slates are sliding off across the whole roof and the stone is delaminating, replacement makes sense. We will tell you which one you have after an inspection.
How long does a shingle roof last in Pittsburgh weather?
Architectural shingles installed as a complete system with proper ventilation commonly last 25 to 30 years or more in our climate. Older three tab shingles and roofs installed without attic ventilation wear out sooner, and the south facing slope usually goes first. Manufacturer warranties like the Atlas 50 year system warranty cover the materials for far longer than that when installed by a certified contractor.
Is it worth repairing an old roof or should I replace it?
A common rule is that if repairs would touch more than about a quarter of the roof, replacement is usually the better value. Isolated flashing, valley, pipe boot or single slate problems are worth repairing. Widespread granule loss, curling or soft decking point to replacement.
Can you replace a roof in Mt. Lebanon during winter?
Yes. We work all winter. Shingles are installed with hand sealing in cold weather and we watch the forecast to avoid opening a roof ahead of snow or rain. Winter is also when most leaks appear, so do not wait until spring for a repair.
Talk to a Roofer Who Knows Mt. Lebanon Houses
If your Mt. Lebanon roof is leaking, shedding slates or simply at the end of its life, we will come out, inspect it and give you a straight answer and a free written estimate. Call Malick Brothers Exteriors at (412) 616-0191 or request an estimate online.
