Choosing a roofing contractor in Robinson Township, PA is a different job than it is in a city neighborhood of 1920s brick homes. Most of the township was built or rebuilt between the early 1990s and the 2010s, the lots sit on open hilltops west of the Parkway, and the wind that crosses those ridges treats a roof very differently than the sheltered streets of Crafton or Carnegie a few miles east. The roofs out here are a known type with known weak points, and a good roofer should be able to tell you what those are before climbing a ladder.
We are Malick Brothers Exteriors, a family owned roofing company based in West View that serves Robinson Township and the west and south suburbs. This guide explains what we see on Robinson roofs, when a problem is still a repair, when it has become a replacement, and how to check any contractor before you sign. If you already have a leak or missing shingles after a storm, our crew handles roof repair in Pittsburgh and the western suburbs year round, including winter.
What Robinson Township Roofs Have in Common
Robinson Township grew fast once the Parkway West and the Route 60 corridor opened the hilltops to development. The housing that resulted falls into three groups, and each one ages in its own way.
- Plan built homes from the 1990s to the 2010s. Two story colonials and split entries with steep front gables, a hip or two, and valleys where a garage roof meets the main house. These were roofed with three tab or early architectural shingles by production crews, and many are now on their second roof or overdue for it.
- Older farmhouses and ranches. Along the older roads you still find 1950s and 1960s ranches with low pitched roofs and long rakes, plus a few farmhouses that predate the subdivisions. Low pitch and long overhangs mean ice damming and wind lift are the main enemies.
- Newer builds from the 2010s onward. Larger footprints, more complex rooflines, more penetrations for bathroom fans and skylights. More flashing means more places to leak if the first install was rushed.
Almost every one of these homes has an asphalt shingle roof. We also install standing seam metal on homes where the owner wants a longer service life or a cleaner look, and we repair slate on the rare older house that still has it. You can compare systems on our roof materials page.
Why Wind and Weather Hit Robinson Harder
Much of the township sits on ridges above Montour Run and Chartiers Creek with little to break the wind from the west. On an exposed cul de sac the gusts that come with a summer thunderstorm or a winter front arrive at full strength, and the roof edges facing them take the beating. The failures we are called out for in Robinson follow the exposure:
- Lifted and creased shingles on the windward slope. Once the sealant strip breaks, each gust works the tab a little further until it tears or blows off.
- Ridge cap loss. Caps on a high ridge are the first thing to go in a straight line wind event.
- Ice dams on north facing eaves. Pittsburgh winters swing above and below freezing for weeks at a time. Meltwater runs down a warm roof, refreezes over a cold overhang, and backs up under the shingles.
- Valley wear. Water from two slopes meets in the valley and moves fast. Valleys on 1990s homes often have no metal, only woven shingles that are now bare.
- Flashing leaks at chimneys, skylights and walls. The shingles may be fine while the step flashing or counter flashing behind a chimney has rusted through or pulled away.
This is why we install a complete system rather than shingles alone. On an Atlas roof that means ice and water shield at eaves and valleys, synthetic underlayment over the rest of the deck, metal valleys and drip edge, and shingles rated for high wind that are nailed to the manufacturer pattern. The warranty on a complete Atlas system runs 50 years because every layer was designed to work with the others. Atlas publishes the system details on its manufacturer site.
Roof Repair in Robinson Township: When a Fix Is Enough
Not every problem calls for a new roof. A repair makes sense when the roof is under about 15 years old, the damage is confined to one area, and the shingles elsewhere are still flexible and holding granules. Common repairs we do in Robinson:
- Replacing a run of blown off or creased shingles after a storm, matched as closely as the current product line allows.
- Resetting or replacing ridge cap.
- Rebuilding chimney flashing, including copper where the home deserves it.
- Replacing cracked pipe boots and rusted vent collars, the most common leak source on a roof that otherwise looks fine.
- Sealing and reflashing skylights.
- Adding ice and water shield and proper ventilation to an eave that dams every winter.
We will tell you plainly when a repair is throwing money at a roof that is finished. If the shingles are brittle, if granules are piling in the gutters, or if there is already a second layer, patching one slope while the rest keeps failing is not a good use of your money.
Roof Replacement in Robinson Township: What Drives the Decision
A 1990s subdivision roof is usually ready for replacement somewhere between 20 and 25 years in, sooner on an exposed lot. Signs that a Robinson home has reached that point:
- Shingles curling at the edges or cupping in the middle.
- Bald patches where the granules have washed off, visible as dark streaks from the street.
- More than one leak in a year, in different places.
- Daylight or water stains on the underside of the roof deck in the attic.
- Sagging along the ridge or between rafters, which means the sheathing is wet and soft.
- A roof that has already been overlaid once. Pennsylvania adopts the International Residential Code, which allows a maximum of two layers of asphalt shingles, so a second overlay is not an option.
What a replacement includes
Our residential roof replacement process is the same on every house. We tear off to the wood deck, replace any sheathing that is rotted or delaminated, install ice and water shield at all eaves, valleys and penetrations, cover the rest with synthetic underlayment, install new drip edge, flashing and pipe boots, then lay the shingles and ridge cap. We check the attic ventilation on every job because a new roof over a sealed attic will not last. Most Robinson homes are finished in one day, larger or more complex roofs in two. We photograph the job from tear off to clean up so you can see what was under your old roof.
Shingle or Metal for a Robinson Home?
Architectural asphalt shingles remain the right answer for most of the township. They match the neighborhood, carry strong wind ratings, and a complete Atlas system comes with a 50 year warranty. Standing seam metal is worth a conversation if you plan to stay in the house for decades, if the roof is simple enough that panel runs stay clean, or if you want the look on a farmhouse or a modern build. Metal sheds snow, resists wind lift better than any shingle, and does not lose granules. It costs more up front and the installation takes longer. We install both and will show you examples of each. Details are on our metal roofing page.
What Affects the Cost of a Roof in Robinson Township
Every roof is priced from a measured estimate, not a square foot guess, so we do not publish prices. The factors that move the number on a Robinson home are:
- Size and pitch. A steep two story colonial takes more material and more time than a ranch of the same floor area.
- Complexity. Valleys, hips, dormers, skylights and chimneys each add flashing work.
- Layers to remove. A roof with two layers costs more to tear off and haul away.
- Deck condition. Rotted sheathing is replaced per sheet and is not known until tear off, so we tell you the per sheet rate up front.
- Material and system. Three tab, architectural, designer shingle or metal.
- Ventilation and gutters. Adding ridge vent, soffit intake or new seamless gutters at the same time saves a second mobilization.
We provide a free written estimate that lists each of these items so you can compare it line by line against any other bid. Financing is available through our financing page.
How to Check Any Roofing Company in Robinson Township
Storm chasers follow every big wind event down the Parkway. Before you sign with anyone, including us, check the following:
- PA Home Improvement Contractor registration. Every contractor doing more than a small amount of residential work in Pennsylvania must be registered with the Attorney General. Look up the number on the PA Attorney General HIC search. Ours is PA174918.
- Insurance. Ask for a current certificate of liability and workers compensation coverage naming you as the certificate holder.
- Manufacturer certification. A contractor certified by the shingle maker can offer the extended system warranty. We are an AtlasPro+ Platinum Select contractor.
- Local address and reviews. A shop you can drive to, and reviews that go back more than one storm season. We are BBB accredited with an A+ rating and our shop is at 500 Perry Highway in West View.
- A written scope. The estimate should name the shingle line, underlayment, flashing, ventilation and what happens with bad decking.
We install our own roofs with our own crews, and the people who give you the estimate are the people who answer the phone afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a roof last in Robinson Township, PA?
A standard architectural shingle roof installed as a complete system should serve 25 to 30 years in our climate, less on a lot that takes direct west wind, more if the attic is well ventilated. A three tab roof from the 1990s is usually finished by year 20. Standing seam metal commonly outlasts the owner of the house.
What is the 25 percent rule for roofing?
Some states require that if more than 25 percent of a roof is damaged, the entire roof surface must be replaced rather than patched. Pennsylvania does not have a statewide 25 percent rule, but insurance adjusters and local inspectors still use the idea as a guideline. When a Robinson storm takes out a large section of one slope, we will tell you honestly whether a matched repair is still practical.
How long does a roof replacement take?
Most single family roofs in Robinson Township are torn off and reshingled in one working day. Large homes, roofs with many dormers or skylights, and jobs with a lot of deck replacement can run into a second day. We schedule around the weather and do not leave a roof open overnight.
Do you handle insurance claims for storm damage?
Yes. We document wind and hail damage with photos, meet the adjuster on site, and provide the itemized estimate the carrier needs. We do not inflate claims and we do not promise to waive deductibles, which is illegal in Pennsylvania.
Can you replace a roof in winter?
Yes. We work through the winter in the Pittsburgh area. Shingles seal more slowly in the cold, so we hand seal where needed and pick days when the deck is dry. A leaking roof should never wait for spring.
Do you also do gutters and siding in Robinson Township?
We install 5 and 6 inch seamless gutters, replace soffit and fascia, and install James Hardie and Mastic siding. Doing gutters at the same time as the roof is the most efficient way to fix a drainage problem, and details are on our gutter services page.
Talk to a Local Roofer About Your Robinson Township Home
If your roof is 20 years old, lost shingles in the last storm, or has a stain spreading on a bedroom ceiling, we will come out, inspect it, photograph what we find, and give you a free written estimate for repair or replacement. Contact Malick Brothers Exteriors or call (412) 616-0191 to schedule a visit in Robinson Township.
