Residential roofing in Pittsburgh covers a lot more than nailing down shingles. A roof on a North Hills colonial, a brick row house in Bellevue or a 1920s four square in Squirrel Hill has to shed snow, survive freeze and thaw cycles from November to April, and stand up to summer thunderstorms. The services a homeowner may need over the life of that roof range from a small flashing repair to a full tear off with new decking, plus the gutters, soffit and fascia that keep water away from the house.
This guide walks through each residential roofing service, explains when you need it, and shows you how to compare contractors. We are Malick Brothers Exteriors, a family owned roofing company based at 500 Perry Highway in West View. Most of our work is residential roof replacement in Pittsburgh and the North Hills, but our crews also handle repairs, inspections, low slope roofs, metal, gutters and siding.
What residential roofing services in Pittsburgh include
Most roofing contractors in Pittsburgh offer some mix of the services below. Knowing the difference helps you spot a company that is pushing a replacement when a repair would do, or vice versa.
| Service | When you need it | Typical scope |
|---|---|---|
| Roof inspection | Buying or selling, after a storm, aging roof | Walk the roof, check attic and flashing, written report with photos |
| Roof repair | Active leak, missing shingles, failed flashing | Replace damaged sections, reseal penetrations, fix flashing |
| Roof replacement | End of life, widespread damage, multiple layers, sagging deck | Full tear off, decking repair, underlayment, shingles, ventilation |
| Low slope and flat roofing | Porch roofs, rear additions, row houses, garages | EPDM rubber, 2 ply systems, silicone coatings |
| Metal roofing | Long service life and a distinct look | Standing seam or exposed fastener panels, trim and flashing |
| Slate repair | Older homes with broken or slipped slates | Replace individual slates, repair flashing and valleys |
| Gutters, soffit and fascia | Overflowing gutters, rotted trim, ice dams | Seamless gutters, downspouts, aluminum fascia, vented soffit |
Roof inspection: the service that saves you from the others
A professional roof inspection is the service most homeowners skip. An inspector walks the roof, checks the attic for daylight and moisture, looks at every pipe boot, chimney flashing and valley, and tells you in writing what is fine, what needs attention now and what can wait.
Get an inspection when you are buying a house, after a wind or hail event, when you notice granules in the gutters, or any time a roof passes fifteen years old. In Pittsburgh, the spring thaw is the best time to look, because winter ice has already found any weak spot.
Roof repair: when a fix is the right call
Not every leak means a new roof. A roof with ten or more years of life left, a sound deck and one specific problem is a repair job. Common repairs include:
- Lifted or missing shingles after a wind storm, usually on the side facing open ground or a hillside
- Cracked rubber pipe boots, which are the single most common leak source on roofs under twenty years old
- Failed chimney flashing on older brick chimneys where the mortar has pulled back from the counterflashing
- Valley leaks where two roof planes meet and ice collects
- Nail pops and exposed fasteners that let water in slowly
Our repair division handles shingle, slate, tile and flat roofs plus box gutters, so the first visit is about finding the real cause. If the roof is near the end of its life, we will tell you that too, because a repair on a worn out roof is money spent twice. See our residential roof repair page.
Roof replacement: what a complete job looks like
Residential roof replacement is the biggest service on the list and the one with the widest quality gap between contractors. A proper replacement in Pittsburgh includes every one of these steps:
- Full tear off down to the wood deck. Layering new shingles over old traps moisture, hides rot and voids most manufacturer warranties.
- Deck inspection and replacement of any soft sheathing. On a Morningside job we re sheeted the entire roof because the original boards could not hold a nail.
- Ice and water shield along the eaves, in the valleys and around every penetration.
- Synthetic underlayment over the rest of the deck.
- Starter strip, shingles, hip and ridge cap, and new flashing at every wall and chimney. We never reuse old flashing.
- Ventilation matched to the attic. Intake at the soffit and exhaust at the ridge keeps the deck dry and stops ice dams.
- Magnetic sweep for nails and a final walk through with the homeowner.
We install complete Atlas roof systems, meaning Atlas shingles, underlayment and ventilation together. Because we hold AtlasPro+ Platinum Select status, we can register the Atlas 50 year warranty on those complete systems. Recent examples include Atlas Morning Harvest in Allison Park in May 2026, Black Shadow in Emsworth in March 2026, and Burnt Hickory in Ben Avon in January 2026. Browse shingle lines under asphalt shingles.
Low slope, metal and slate: the specialty services
Pittsburgh housing stock is old and varied, so a roofer who only does shingles will leave parts of your house uncovered.
Low slope and flat sections
Porch roofs, rear additions, row house roofs and detached garages are often too flat for shingles and need a membrane. We are MuleHide certified and install .060 EPDM rubber, MuleHide 2 ply low slope systems and silicone coatings, including silicone over old box gutters on a Bellevue home in May 2026. Details are on our EPDM roofing page.
Metal roofing
Standing seam metal sheds snow, resists wind and lasts decades longer than asphalt. We began installing metal roofing in 2023 and have put standing seam on homes in Wexford, Bellevue and across the North Hills. Our metal roofing page covers panel types and colors.
Slate repair
Many homes in the East End, Mt. Washington and the older river towns still carry original slate. Slate can last a century, but the nails and flashing under it do not. A roofer with slate experience can replace broken pieces and rebuild valleys so the roof keeps going. See slate roof repair.
Gutters, soffit and fascia complete the system
A roof only works if the water it sheds has somewhere to go. Undersized or sagging gutters overflow and rot the fascia behind them, then water wicks into the soffit and wall. On most Pittsburgh homes we install 5 inch seamless K style gutters, and 6 inch on larger roofs or where valleys dump a lot of water into one spot. We wrap fascia in .024 gauge aluminum and install vented soffit so the attic can breathe.
A Ross Township project in November 2025 included a new roof, James Hardie siding, soffit, fascia and gutters in one job, which saves on setup and gives the homeowner a single warranty contact. Our gutter services and soffit and fascia pages explain the options.
How to choose a residential roofing contractor in Pittsburgh
Searches for trusted roofing services in Pittsburgh turn up dozens of companies that look the same online. Here is what separates a good contractor from a risky one.
- Pennsylvania HIC registration. Home improvement contractors in Pennsylvania must register with the Attorney General. Look up the number on the PA Attorney General HIC search. Ours is PA174918.
- Proof of insurance. Ask for a current certificate of liability and workers compensation insurance, sent directly from the insurer.
- Manufacturer certification. Atlas, Owens Corning, GAF and MuleHide all certify installers. Certification is what allows the enhanced system warranty.
- A real local address. Storm chasers follow hail across state lines and are gone before the first leak. A shop you can drive to has to stand behind its work.
- A written estimate that itemizes the system. Decking allowance, underlayment, ice and water shield, ventilation, flashing, disposal and cleanup should each be listed.
- Recent local jobs you can see. Ask for addresses of roofs done in the last year near you, then drive past.
- Who is actually on the roof. Ask whether the crew is the company's own or a subcontractor.
- Reviews with substance. A review that describes the crew, the cleanup and a follow up visit is worth more than a star count.
What drives the cost of residential roofing in Pittsburgh
No two Pittsburgh roofs cost the same. The factors that move the number are:
- Roof size in squares (100 square feet each) and how many layers have to come off
- Pitch and complexity: steep roofs, dormers, valleys and chimneys take longer and need more flashing
- Decking condition, which no one knows for certain until the old roof is off
- Material choice: architectural shingles, designer shingles, standing seam metal and slate each sit at a different level
- Access: a tight city lot with no driveway means more hand carrying
- Add ons such as skylights, gutters, soffit and fascia or ventilation upgrades
The only way to know is a free written estimate from a contractor who has been on your roof. We also offer financing so a roof that fails in February does not have to wait for spring.
Why Pittsburgh homeowners choose a family owned local roofer
A family owned roofing business in Pittsburgh has one advantage no national brand can copy: the owner lives in the same neighborhoods as the customers. Ryan Malick founded our company in 2022, grew up in West View and still lives there. Our shop on Perry Highway is minutes from Ross Township, McCandless, Bellevue and Shaler. We are BBB A+ accredited, registered as PA174918, and we install our own roofs with our own crews.
That matters most after the job. When a homeowner in Ross Township or Allison Park calls a year later, the person who answers knows the house. If you are comparing companies, our list of the best roofers in Pittsburgh gives an honest look at the field.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a roof in Pittsburgh be inspected?
Have a professional look at it every two to three years once it passes ten years old, and any time a storm brings high wind or hail through your area. A quick inspection each spring, after the ice is gone, catches lifted shingles, cracked pipe boots and flashing gaps before summer rain turns them into interior damage.
What is the 25 percent rule for roofing?
The 25 percent rule comes from building codes in some states, most notably Florida, where repairing more than 25 percent of a roof section within a year triggers a full replacement to current code. Pennsylvania does not have a statewide version of that rule. Here the decision rests on the age of the roof, the condition of the deck and how widespread the damage is.
How long does a residential roof replacement take?
Most single family homes in the Pittsburgh area are torn off and re roofed in one to two days. Larger or steeper roofs, decking replacement, or a roof combined with gutters and soffit work can take longer. We document the whole process so you can see each stage, and we schedule around weather so the deck is never left open overnight.
Can a roof be replaced in winter in Pittsburgh?
Yes. We work all winter. Shingles are installed on days above freezing when possible, and we hand seal where needed so the adhesive strips bond properly. Ice and water shield and proper ventilation are even more important on a winter install. A roof that is leaking in January should not wait until April.
Should I repair or replace my roof?
Repair when the roof has ten or more years of life left, the deck is solid and the problem is isolated, such as one leaking pipe boot or a few wind damaged shingles. Replace when shingles are curling or losing granules across the whole roof, there are two or more layers, the deck feels soft, or repairs keep coming back every season.
What warranty should a new roof come with?
Expect two warranties: a manufacturer warranty on the materials and a workmanship warranty from the contractor. Enhanced manufacturer warranties, like the Atlas 50 year coverage we can register as an AtlasPro+ Platinum Select contractor, require a complete system from one maker installed by a certified company. Get both warranties in writing before work starts.
Get a free estimate on your Pittsburgh roof
Whether you need an inspection, a flashing repair or a complete roof replacement, we will look at the roof in person and give you a written, itemized estimate. No pressure and no gimmicks. Contact Malick Brothers Exteriors or call (412) 616-0191 to schedule a visit from our West View shop.
