We find where the water actually gets in, tell you plainly whether the roof can be repaired, and price every line of the work in writing.
Scranton Quality Roofing has spent more than 20 years repairing and replacing roofs in Scranton, PA, covering leak repair, roof inspections, full replacements, slate and metal work, flat roofs and gutters. We work on the houses this city is actually made of: steep-pitched frame homes, double-blocks that share one roof, and slate roofs that have outlasted three owners.
Every job starts the same way. We trace a leak from inside the attic as well as on the shingles, and we tell you plainly whether the roof can be repaired before replacement is ever mentioned. When a new roof is the right call, the written scope breaks out each part of the work as its own line.
The sections below cover the questions Scranton homeowners ask us most: finding leaks, permits and tear-offs, choosing materials, and dealing with storms, insurance and contracts. Each answer reflects the state rules and local conditions that shape a roofing job in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
What we do
Roof repair and replacement for Scranton, PA homes and businesses
Shingle, flashing, slate and flat roof repairs that fix where the water actually enters, with an honest repair-or-replace answer first.
A roof inspection that covers the attic as well as the shingles, with photos and a plain answer on what needs fixing now and what can wait.
Full tear-off roof replacement with new flashing, ice barrier and ventilation, and a written scope that prices every part of the job separately.
Roof leak repair that traces water from the stain to its real entry point, then replaces the flashing, boot or shingles that failed.
Seamless aluminum gutters and downspouts sized to the roof and pitched to drain, installed with the drip edge so water ends up in the gutter.
Standing seam metal roofs and metal accents for porches, bays and low slopes, with transitions flashed so metal and shingles meet watertight.
Flat and low-slope commercial roof repair and replacement in modified bitumen, EPDM and TPO, scheduled around the people and work inside.
Temporary covers that stop water coming in after storms, fallen limbs and ice dams, followed by a permanent repair once the roof is safe.
Repairs for low-slope roofs on additions, porches and garages, fixing the seams, wall joints and ponding spots where flat roofs leak.
Wind, hail and fallen-limb roof damage inspected, photographed and written up for your claim, then repaired with matching materials.
Chimney leaks stopped with new step and counter flashing set into the mortar, and a cricket behind wide chimneys to split the water.
Broken and slipped slates replaced one by one with copper nails and slate hooks, plus flashing and valley repairs on older slate roofs.
For over two decades we have worked on roofs across the Scranton area, from North Scranton and the Hill Section to South Side and West Side. That time has taught us how older Lackawanna Valley houses were framed, how their roofs were layered over the years, and where they usually leak. It is experience a homeowner benefits from on the first visit.
Every leak call includes a trip into the attic as well as onto the roof, so the stain on your ceiling is followed back to where the water really enters before any repair is priced, rather than patching the nearest shingle and hoping the drip stops.
No replacement is proposed until we have told you whether the roof can be repaired, so a sound roof with one failed pipe boot or a loose piece of flashing gets fixed for a fraction of the cost instead of being sold off as a full tear-off.
Scranton requires a permit for all construction work, while neighboring boroughs and townships each write their own re-roof rules. We confirm the rule for your house’s own municipality before pricing, so the permit cost is in the estimate instead of becoming a doubled fee charged to you afterward.
With half of Scranton’s homes built before 1940, many still carry original slate. We repair it one slate at a time with copper nails and slate hooks, so a roof with decades left keeps its slate rather than being torn off by a crew that only installs asphalt.
Tear-off, decking, underlayment, flashing, ventilation and gutters each appear as a separate line on our written scope, so you can compare two estimates item by item rather than guessing what a single lump-sum price leaves out.
Not every wet ceiling is a roof leak. A drip that shows up on dry days often points to a plumbing line or a bathroom fan venting into the attic, while frost on the underside of the decking in winter is condensation from poor ventilation. We check the attic for the water’s path, its timing and the moisture pattern, so you pay to fix the actual source.
A brown ring that grows after storms means water is getting past the roof covering and soaking through the insulation and drywall. We follow the stain upward to the decking and then out to the roof surface, because water often travels along a rafter before it drips. Repairing the true entry point protects the ceiling you repaint afterward.
Penetrations are where most roofs fail first. Cracked rubber pipe boots, rusted chimney flashing and skylight curbs that were never properly stepped all let water slide under the shingles. We replace worn pipe boots with new rubber or lead flashing boots and rebuild chimney flashing with step and counter flashing, which stops the leak rather than smearing roof cement over it.
High winds lift shingles whose sealant strips have aged or never bonded, and the exposed nail line lets water in quickly. We replace missing shingles, reseal lifted tabs and check the surrounding courses for creased shingles that will fail next. Where many shingles have let go, we look at whether the roof needs a wind-rated replacement instead of repeated patches.
When heat from the house melts snow on the upper roof, the water refreezes at the cold eaves and backs up under the shingles. Scranton averages about 45 inches of snow a year, so this happens often on older homes with thin attic insulation. We clear the immediate leak, then address the ice barrier, ventilation and insulation that caused it.
Water that runs behind a gutter rots the fascia board and the roof decking along the eave. The usual causes are missing drip edge, a gutter hung too low, or shingles cut short of the edge. We install drip edge at the eaves and rakes and rehang or replace the gutter so runoff lands inside it rather than behind it.
A roof with one or two isolated leaks and shingles that still have life left should be repaired. Repeated leaks in different spots, widespread granule loss, curling shingles and soft decking all point toward replacement. We give you our honest assessment with photos, and if repair is enough, that is what we recommend.
This is a common worry, and the protection is in who you hire. OSHA requires fall protection for residential roofers working six feet or more above a lower level, and a contractor’s own insurance should cover injuries to its crew. Scranton requires contractors it licenses to show proof of liability insurance, so ask for certificates before any work begins.
Yes. The City of Scranton states that all construction projects in the city require a permit and that no work may start without one, and work done without a permit has its fee doubled. Permit fees run $50 for the first $1,000 of work plus $15 for each additional thousand, plus a $4.50 state fee. We handle the application as part of the job.
Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code leaves room for each municipality to set its own approach, and they do differ. Some boroughs and townships want a permit for any re-roof, others only for structural work, and some publish no roofing rule at all. We check the current rule with your own municipality’s code office before pricing, rather than assuming one town’s answer applies next door.
The job starts with a dumpster placed where it will not damage the driveway and tarps laid over landscaping. The crew strips the old roof to the decking, replaces damaged sheathing, then installs drip edge, ice barrier, synthetic underlayment, flashing, shingles and ridge vent. At the end of each day the yard and gutters are cleaned and a magnet sweep picks up loose nails.
The International Residential Code limits a roof to two layers, and many older Scranton homes already carry two. Even where a second layer is allowed, laying over hides damaged decking, adds weight and shortens the new shingles’ life. We recommend a full tear-off in most cases, because it lets us inspect and repair the decking underneath.
Shingle color affects a house more than most owners expect. Warm brick usually pairs well with browns and weathered woods, while gray or white siding suits charcoal and slate-toned blends. We bring full-size samples so you can see each color against your house in daylight rather than choosing from a small chip indoors.
A roof needs balanced airflow: cool air entering at the soffits and warm, moist air leaving at the ridge. Without it, attic heat bakes shingles in summer and moisture condenses on the decking in winter. We calculate the net free area needed and pair a ridge vent with enough soffit intake, rather than adding exhaust the attic cannot feed.
Scranton has many double-blocks, two homes under one continuous roof with separate owners on each side. Replacing only one half means tying new shingles into the neighbor’s older roof at the center line. We plan the joint carefully and, when both owners agree, can quote both halves together so the roof is replaced and warranted as a whole.
Whether a townhouse owner or the association is responsible for the roof depends on the community’s declaration. Pennsylvania’s Uniform Planned Community Act and Uniform Condominium Act govern how those documents assign ownership and maintenance. We ask owners to check their declaration first, so the right party approves and pays for the work.
Pennsylvania’s seller property disclosure statement asks sellers about the roof, including leaks and repairs they know about. The buyer’s home inspector will also look at it closely. We can inspect the roof before a listing and make needed repairs, so a roof problem does not surprise you in the middle of negotiations.
Three-tab shingles are flat, single-layer and now uncommon on new roofs. Architectural shingles are laminated for a thicker, dimensional look and better wind resistance, and designer shingles imitate slate or shake. Impact-rated shingles carry a UL 2218 Class 4 rating, and wind ratings such as ASTM D3161 Class F or D7158 Class H tell you how much uplift a shingle is tested to resist.
Slate can last far longer than asphalt when it is maintained properly. Most slate leaks come from a few broken slates or failed flashing, not from the whole roof wearing out. We replace damaged slates individually using copper nails and slate hooks, and we only recommend replacement when the slate itself is soft, flaking or failing across the roof.
Standing seam metal panels interlock with raised seams that keep fasteners out of the weather, so the roof sheds snow and rain well and lasts a long time. Metal also works well on low porch roofs and bay windows where shingles struggle with the shallow pitch. We flash every transition between metal and the main roof so the two materials meet watertight.
Torch-down SBS and APP modified bitumen are multi-layer asphalt membranes that hold up well to foot traffic. EPDM rubber is a durable single sheet with few seams, while TPO and PVC single-ply membranes are heat-welded and reflect sunlight. We recommend the membrane that suits the building’s drainage, traffic and budget rather than pushing one product for every roof.
Many Scranton homes have a low-slope roof on a rear kitchen addition, an enclosed porch or a detached garage. These roofs often leak where they meet the main house wall or where water ponds. We correct the slope where possible, flash the wall joint properly and install a membrane rated for low-slope use instead of shingles that were never meant for it.
We install seamless aluminum gutters and downspouts sized to the roof area and pitched toward each outlet. Undersized gutters overflow in heavy rain and send water against the foundation. Where trees overhang the house, we can add gutter guards, and we place downspouts so the water moves away from the foundation and walkways.
Older Scranton houses were framed long before modern span tables, and some have undersized rafters or sagging ridges. Heavy, wet snow adds real weight, especially where drifts collect behind chimneys and dormers. During a tear-off we look for signs of sagging or cracked rafters and tell you about any structural concern before covering it with a new roof.
The International Residential Code, under section R905.1.2, calls for an ice barrier at the eaves in areas with a history of ice forming there. Shingle manufacturers also recommend it as part of their installation instructions. We install a self-adhering membrane meeting ASTM D1970, sized to your home’s overhang so it extends well inside the exterior wall.
Photograph the damage from the ground and inside the house before anything is moved, and keep every receipt for emergency work. Protect the interior with a tarp if it is safe to do so, or call us for a temporary repair. We document the damage with photos and a written report for your own claim, and we can meet the insurance adjuster on site when you ask.
Pennsylvania’s unfair claims settlement rules, in 31 Pa. Code 146, require insurers to acknowledge a claim within 10 working days and to decide it within 15 working days after receiving proof of loss. The investigation itself is expected to be completed within 30 days. Knowing those timelines helps you follow up if a claim stalls.
In Pennsylvania, only a licensed public adjuster may negotiate an insurance claim on a homeowner’s behalf for a fee, under the Public Adjuster Licensing Law, 63 P.S. 1601. A roofing contractor cannot act as one. We document the damage and explain the repair, but the claim itself stays between you, your insurer and anyone you choose to represent you.
It depends on your policy, not the roof’s age alone. Some policies pay replacement cost, while others pay actual cash value, which deducts for depreciation on an older roof. Storm damage on an old roof can still be covered, so read your declarations page and ask your agent how the roof is valued before you file.
Under Pennsylvania’s sales tax rules for construction contractors, 61 Pa. Code 31.11 and 31.12, the roofer pays the tax when buying materials. The homeowner is not charged a separate sales tax line on the contract. If an estimate adds sales tax as its own line, ask the contractor to explain why.
The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires a written contract with the contractor’s registration number, the work to be done, the total price and the start and completion dates. You have three business days to cancel after signing. On contracts over $5,000, the deposit is limited to one-third of the price plus the cost of special-order materials.
Pennsylvania has no state roofing license. Contractors register with the Attorney General under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, which is a registration and not a test of skill. The City of Scranton separately requires a Home Improvement Contractor License for residential work, with insurance documentation, so check both numbers before you hire anyone.
Searches about re-roofing often turn up a rule that a roof with more than 25 percent damage must be fully replaced. That rule comes from the Florida Building Code, not from Pennsylvania law. Here, the decision between repair and replacement depends on the roof’s condition, your insurance policy and the local permit rule, not a fixed percentage.
Scranton Quality Roofing provides roofing throughout the greater Scranton area, with the same crews and the same standards on every job.
Good to know
The price depends on the size and pitch of the roof, how many layers come off, how much decking is damaged and which shingle or metal system goes on. Rather than quote a figure over the phone, we inspect the roof and give a written scope with tear-off, decking, underlayment, flashing, ventilation and gutters priced as separate lines.
Most single-family tear-offs take one to three working days once the permit is in hand and the weather allows. Steep pitches, slate details, extra layers or large amounts of rotted decking can add time. We never leave a roof opened overnight without it being dried in against rain.
Pennsylvania has no state roofing license. Contractors doing home improvement work register with the Attorney General under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, and the registration number belongs on the contract. The City of Scranton adds its own Home Improvement Contractor License for residential work, with proof of insurance.
We install architectural shingles from the major manufacturers, including GAF Timberline HDZ, Owens Corning Duration and CertainTeed Landmark. The right line depends on the color you want, the wind rating, whether an impact-rated shingle makes sense for your insurance, and the warranty terms each manufacturer offers.
Yes, with limits. Leak repairs, flashing work and emergency tarping happen year round. Full shingle replacements can run on cold days, but self-sealing strips bond slowly in low temperatures, so we watch the forecast closely and plan tear-offs around snow, ice and freezing rain rather than pushing through them.
We provide free estimates for repair and replacement work. During the visit we check the roof surface, the flashing and the attic, then explain what we found with photos. If the roof only needs a small repair, we tell you that rather than steering the conversation toward a new roof.
There are usually two warranties. The shingle manufacturer covers the material against defects under the terms of its own warranty, and the contractor covers the workmanship. Ask any roofer to put the workmanship warranty in writing, including how long it lasts and what it covers, before you sign.
You do not have to be, but most owners like to be reachable on the first day. That is when the old roof comes off and we can show you any damaged decking before it is replaced. Keep children, pets and cars clear of the drip line while the crew is working overhead.
Widespread granule loss, curling or cracked shingles, soft decking and repeated leaks in different places point toward replacement. A single leak at a chimney, a pipe boot or a few blown-off shingles usually does not. We look from the attic as well as the roof surface before giving you an answer.
Yes. We repair and replace low-slope roofs on commercial buildings, rear additions, porches and garages, using torch-down modified bitumen, EPDM rubber and TPO membranes. The right membrane depends on the building, the drainage and how much foot traffic the roof sees from rooftop equipment.
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