Top Emergency Roofing Services in Lehigh, PA,  18035  | Compare & Call

First, confirm the contractor holds a valid Pennsylvania Attorney General Home Improvement Contractor Registration. For the permit, all re-roofing in Lehigh must be filed with the City of Allentown Bureau of Building Standards under the 2018 IRC with state amendments. The 2026 code enforces specific material requirements critical for our climate, including a minimum 24-inch-wide ice and water shield membrane along the eaves and in valleys, and step flashing integrated with the wall siding. A permit ensures an inspector verifies these details, which are non-negotiable for warranty validity and insurance compliance.

Yes, directly. Pennsylvania is experiencing an average annual premium increase of 14.5%, largely driven by storm damage claims. Installing a roof that meets the IBHS FORTIFIED Home standard, which is recognized by the PA Department of Insurance, can qualify you for a significant discount. This standard requires enhanced sealing at the eaves, stronger decking attachment, and impact-resistant shingles. Insurers view this as a major risk reduction, making your home less likely to file a claim, which translates to lower annual premiums.

Storm resilience in Lehigh is defined by two key metrics: wind and impact resistance. The local building code requires roofs to resist winds up to 115 mph. This is achieved through proper shingle sealing, enhanced fastening of the pine plank decking, and correct installation of drip edge and starter strips. For hail, which is a moderate risk here, specifying shingles with a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating is a financial necessity. These shingles resist damage from 1.0 to 1.25 inch hail, common in our May-August storm season, preventing the need for frequent insurance claims.

The decision hinges on your energy goals and roof condition. Traditional architectural shingles are a proven, cost-effective solution for a structure with a plank deck. However, with Lehigh's Tier 1 net metering and the 30% federal investment tax credit still active in 2026, integrating solar is financially compelling. Solar shingles offer a streamlined aesthetic but require a perfectly sound substrate; they are not a repair solution. For many homeowners, the most pragmatic path is installing a high-quality, solar-ready conventional roof with pre-run conduit, preserving the option to add rack-mounted panels later.

A visual inspection often misses sub-surface moisture trapped within the roofing system. For homes in Lehigh with architectural shingles over wood plank decks, we use infrared thermal imaging to identify temperature differentials caused by wet insulation or decking. This technology, combined with satellite roof measurement for historical analysis, can pinpoint failing areas long before they become visible from the ground. Moisture trapped against those 1x6 pine planks leads to rot that compromises the roof's structure, an issue a traditional inspection cannot reliably diagnose.

For a house of that age, the original roof system is almost certainly at end-of-life. Your architectural asphalt shingles are likely installed over a 1x6 tongue-and-groove pine plank deck, a common method in Lehigh's historic neighborhoods. This decking is durable, but over 80+ years of Pennsylvania's freeze-thaw and UV cycles, the shingles' adhesive strips have degraded, and the planks themselves may have developed moisture-related weaknesses. A proactive replacement now, before the underlying wood is compromised, protects the structural integrity of your entire home.

Almost certainly. On an 8/12 pitch gable roof common to Craftsman homes, improper ventilation creates a stagnant, high-humidity attic environment. The 2018 IRC, adopted by Pennsylvania, mandates a balanced system with specific intake (at the soffits) and exhaust (at or near the ridge) ratios. When this balance is off, warm, moist air from the living space condenses on the cold underside of the roof deck in winter, leading to mold growth on the wood planks and sheathing. Correcting this is not just about roof longevity; it's a critical indoor air quality and energy efficiency issue.

For an active leak, the priority is emergency tarping to prevent interior water damage. A contractor dispatched from the Lehigh Parkway area can typically be on site in the West End within 35 to 45 minutes, using I-78 for the most direct route. The immediate goal is to install a reinforced, code-compliant tarp system that seals the breach and channels water off the roof until a permanent repair can be scheduled. This rapid response is critical to mitigating secondary damage to insulation, drywall, and electrical systems.