If you own a home with a steep, gambrel style roof, you know how beautiful and unique this architectural style can be. The double pitch, with a shallow upper slope and a nearly vertical lower slope, gives a house that classic barn silhouette and a full second floor of living space under the roof. However, when it comes time to replace your roof, you may be wondering how to approach the project. A steep roof is more challenging to work on, but with the right planning and expertise it can be done safely and done well. In this post we cover what you need to know when it comes to replacing a roof on a steep, gambrel style roof in the Pittsburgh area.
Steep and cut up roofs are a regular part of our roof replacement work in Pittsburgh. Gambrels show up all over the North Hills, the South Hills and the older river towns, on Dutch Colonial homes from the 1920s and 1930s, on converted barns and carriage houses, and on garages and additions built to match. Each one has the same set of quirks, and we plan for them before the first shingle comes off.
Why a Gambrel Roof Is Different
A gambrel has two slopes on each side. The upper slope is usually gentle, often somewhere around a 4 in 12 or 5 in 12 pitch, which is easy to walk. The lower slope is the problem. It is commonly 16 in 12 or steeper, which means it is closer to a wall than a roof. Nobody walks on it. Every bundle, every tool and every worker on that lower section has to be supported by something other than the roof surface itself.
The break line where the two slopes meet is the second challenge. Water runs off the shallow upper slope and hits the steep lower slope at a sharp change in angle. If the shingles and underlayment are not lapped correctly across that break, the joint becomes a leak point. Older Pittsburgh gambrels often add dormers and a flared eave on the steep face, and each one adds flashing work.
Finally, the steep lower slope takes the brunt of wind driven rain and winter weather. Snow does not pile up on it the way it does on a low slope roof, but freezing rain and ice coat it, and wind pushes water up under any shingle that is not sealed down. Pittsburgh gets all of that between November and March, so the installation on that face has to be tight.
Step One: Hire a Contractor Who Works on Steep Roofs
The first step in replacing a roof on a steep, gambrel style roof is to hire a roofing contractor who does this kind of work regularly. A steep roof is dangerous to work on, and you want to make sure the company you hire has the experience, the equipment and the insurance to get the job done safely. Ask how they plan to stage the lower slope, ask for references from similar homes, and ask for proof of liability and workers compensation coverage. A contractor who is vague about any of those three things is not the right one for a gambrel.
We are a family owned company founded in 2022 by Ryan Malick, with our shop at 500 Perry Highway in West View. We are BBB A+ accredited, registered as a Pennsylvania home improvement contractor under PA174918, and we install our own roofs with our own crews rather than dropping a subcontractor off at your house. Steep roofs are something we schedule for, staff for and equip for.
Step Two: Choose the Right Materials
Next, you will need to consider the materials you want to use for your new roof. On a gambrel the choice matters more than usual, because the steep lower slope is highly visible from the street and because it needs a product that seals down hard against wind.
Asphalt shingles
Asphalt shingles are the most common choice and the one we install most often. They come in a wide range of colors and profiles, they handle the two different pitches of a gambrel without any special product change, and a quality architectural shingle has a strong self sealing strip that bonds in the sun and holds on a near vertical face. We are an AtlasPro+ Platinum Select contractor, and a complete Atlas system installed by us qualifies for the Atlas 50 year warranty. You can read more on our asphalt shingles page.
Metal roofing
If you want a more durable option, you may want to consider metal roofing. Metal costs more than asphalt up front, but it can last 50 years or more and resists damage from weather, fire and pests. Standing seam metal looks sharp on a gambrel and sheds ice cleanly. We have installed metal roofing since 2023. See our metal roofing page for the systems we work with.
Slate
Some older gambrels in the Pittsburgh area still carry their original slate. We do slate repair, and if your slate is sound in most places, repairing it may make more sense than replacing the whole roof. We will tell you honestly which makes sense for your house.
Step Three: The Installation Itself
When it comes to the actual installation, the crew needs to take extra precautions on the steep lower slope. On a gambrel we typically set roof brackets and planks across the lower face so the crew has a platform to stand on, and every worker on that section is tied off with a harness and rope anchored to the structure.
The tear off goes from the top down so debris falls away from the house instead of over the workers. Once the deck is exposed we check every sheet of plywood or every board for rot and soft spots, which is common at the break line and along the eaves of older homes, and we replace what needs replacing before anything new goes on.
The underlayment is where a gambrel is won or lost. We run ice and water shield along the eaves, in any valleys and around every dormer and chimney, and we lap the synthetic underlayment and the shingles correctly across the break between the two slopes so water always runs over a seam and never into one. On the steep face every shingle is nailed in the manufacturer nail line, and the sealant strips are checked, because a shingle that lifts on a 16 in 12 pitch will be pushed up by the first strong wind that hits it. Ridge vent and eave intake finish the job and keep the living space under the roof comfortable.
What Drives the Cost of a Gambrel Roof Replacement
A gambrel costs more to replace than a simple gable of the same footprint, and it helps to understand why. The steep lower slope takes more labor hours because of the staging and fall protection. The break line, dormers and flares take more flashing and more time. Older homes often need deck repair. Material choice, the number of layers coming off and site access move the number too. We do not quote from the sidewalk. We measure, inspect and provide a free written estimate so you know exactly what is included before any work starts, and we offer financing options if that helps with timing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you walk on a gambrel roof?
The upper slope, usually. The lower slope, no. Anything steeper than about 8 in 12 needs brackets, planks and a harness, and the lower face of most gambrels is well past that.
How long does a gambrel roof replacement take?
How long a gambrel takes depends on its size, how much deck repair it needs and the weather, and your written estimate will include the schedule. A plain gable of the same size is often a one day job, so plan for the extra time.
Do gambrel roofs leak more than other roofs?
Not when they are installed correctly. The break between the two slopes and the dormers are the usual leak points, and they only leak when the underlayment and flashing were lapped the wrong way or have failed with age.
What is the best time of year to replace a gambrel roof in Pittsburgh?
Late spring through early fall gives the shingle sealant strips the warm sun they need to bond, which matters on a steep face. We work in cooler months too, and we hand seal where needed when the temperature is low.
Should I replace or repair?
If the problem is one bad dormer flashing or a few lifted shingles on an otherwise sound roof, repair is the right answer. If the shingles are curling, losing granules across the whole face or the roof is at the end of its life, replacement is the better investment. A roof inspection will tell you which one you need.
Ready to Replace Your Gambrel Roof?
Replacing a roof on a steep, gambrel style roof is a big project, but with a crew that stages it properly and details the break line and dormers correctly, the result is a roof that looks right and lasts. If your gambrel is due, contact us for a free written estimate. We will come out, look at the whole roof and walk you through your options with no pressure.
