Gallery

There’s a reason why “having a roof over your head” is synonymous with having your basic shelter needs taken care of. Every homeowner’s most important job is to ensure the health of his or her roof.

If you’re not sure whether yours needs to be replaced, use this checklist to survey your roof for our top 4 warning signs that you need to replace it.

4 Warning Signs You Need a New Roof

1. You Have Leaks: It’s important to be careful here because leaks aren’t always obvious. Check your attic for any streaks, stains, or beams of light. If you don’t have an attic, perform the same test in the highest point of your ceiling. Check over your flashing as well—those are the “seams” of your roof where it meets a weak area like a door or window. Most often, leaks occur in areas like that.
2. Your Roof is More than 20 Years Old: Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, including roofs. Asphalt shingle roofs should be replaced every 20 years. If you have a flat roof, the lifespan shortens to roughly 15 years, if you have a metal roof, it can last up to 75. It’s a good idea to dig up your records or take a cue from your neighbors. It’s likely that the houses in your neighborhood were built around the same time, and thus will need repairs on a similar schedule.
3. There Was a Big Storm in Your Area Recently: Rain, snow, and hail are hard on your roof. It’s never a bad idea to give it some extra love after a big storm.
4. Your Shingles Look Damaged: Surveying your shingles is a good way to get a feel for the health of your roof. Keep a lookout for shingles that:
   • • Are missing granules: If you look at a shingle, you will notice that it has grit stuck all over it that resembles coarse sand. Be wary of unevenness or “bald spots” on your shingles.
     • Don’t lay flat: Buckled, curled, cupped, or cracked shingles indicated damage.
     • Have moss growing on them: Moss is an issue because it holds moisture next to your roof, which is damaging. Even if you scrape the moss off, it’s likely that it will grow back.

Remember, the earlier you fix your roof, the better. If any of these warning signs are present on your home, they could lead to costly damages if not addressed quickly. Make sure you choose a reputable roofing company so the job is done properly the first time.

To learn about the roofing process we use, check out our roofing process page.

Many homes built throughout the Philadelphia suburbs are made of stucco. Unfortunately, stucco is susceptible to water intrusion, which occurs when moisture gets trapped between the stucco and the insulation in your walls. Since moisture can cause mold to grow, your exterior’s main purpose is to prevent this very thing from happening.

Water intrusion is all too common with stucco homes, as well as with homes cladded with brick, stone, wood, and composite siding. The process of correcting this issue is called stucco remediation.

Replacing Stucco with James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding In West Chester, PA

A few weeks ago, we replaced this homeowner’s stucco cladding with James Hardie fiber cement siding. The stucco had fallen victim to water damage and needed to be replaced.

Some common signs that your stucco has failed are: rotting around fixtures in your exterior walls, stucco that is cracked or turning black, missing or aged caulk, or transitions between the stucco and other materials that are not properly sealed.

It’s important to be proactive about issues with your stucco. If you don’t address these problems in time, they may lead to severe, costly damage.

Recently, a homeowner in Marcus Hook called on us to repair their roof. The siding had become detached from the roofing, and some of their shingles had blown off.

Like we do with every project, we started by hanging a system of plywood and tarps over the side of the house. This prevents any debris from damaging the property. After we removed the shingles, we exposed the layer of wood that sits underneath. From there we removed the trouble spots in the wood and replaced them. This is important because eventually, those little soft spots in the wood would have caused big problems.

Before installing the new shingles, we added a material called ACE WeatherShield. This creates a protective layer between the shingles and wood to keep moisture out. Finally, we installed the shingles before thoroughly cleaning up.

To learn more about the methods we use, visit our roofing process page.

Your roof is not a place to cut corners. When it’s time to install a new roof, you want to choose a contractor who does the job right.

We were excited to return to a client’s home in Chester Springs for another project. Back in January, we replaced their roof. Then, a few months ago, they asked us to replace their siding. We think the results turned out very nicely–take a look!

Porter Family Contracting recently completed this renovation of a home’s siding near Valley Forge Park. We started off by removing the existing cladding, before wrapping the house in a protective material.

Lastly, we installed new exterior cladding. Not only is this new cladding more attractive than the old siding, but it is more durable. It will last longer and provide energy-conserving benefits that the old siding did not.

While we were at it, we also installed new windows.

When applied properly, an asphalt shingle roof should last anywhere from 15-30 years. If you’re noticing sagging, dark spots, leaking, or missing shingles, those are good indicators that your roof needs some work.

This homeowner in Springfield had some shingles that were starting to come off of the roof. We were able to replace the roof with fresh shingles in a darker color that better complements their home.

Your roof is not something you want to neglect. It’s your home’s first line of defense against rain, snow, and ice. If you let it go too long, your roof may collapse or start leaking, which can lead to problems that are much more difficult than regular roof maintenance

Roofs have an important job to do. They need to protect your home from snow, wind, and rain. Plus, your roof needs to look good, since it has a major impact on your home’s curb appeal. At Porter Family Contracting, we have more than 40 years of experience maintaining roofs in the area, and in those years, we’ve chosen to partner with GAF Materials Corporation. GAF is the largest roofing manufacturer in North America, and partnering with them gives us access to warranties we can pass onto our customers.

Replacing a Roof in Brookhaven

When a tree damaged this customer’s home earlier this year, the homeowner saw it as an opportunity to replace their old vinyl siding. We stripped off the vinyl and replaced it with James Hardie 8-1/4″ inch cedar mill finish in Iron Grey and added white James Hardie trim.

Replacing Damaged Vinyl Siding

The right exterior cladding will go a long way toward improving the curb appeal of your home, and if you install fiber cement siding, you won’t need to replace it for many years. James Hardie siding is durable enough to withstand extreme cold and extreme heat without fading.

Replacing Aging Vinyl With Fiber Cement

We recently completed a project at this charming home in Malvern, PA. We removed the vinyl siding and replaced it with James Hardie 8-1/4″  Cedarmill finish in khaki brown. We also added some James Hardie shakes in khaki brown and finished it off with white James Hardie trim.

A portico is a small porch that is covered by a column-supported roof. This coverage comes in handy during storms, so you can keep your newspaper dry and unlock your door without getting soaked. It is an extra shield from rain and snow that threatens to sneak in through your doorway. Plus, portico roofs add a focal point to your home that increases curb appeal. The result is a completed look.

In addition to building the portico roof from scratch, we took out the old steps and retaining wall so we could add new ones. For the front of the portico roof, we were able to exactly match the siding on the rest of the home. This helped us to wrap up the roof project, along with fresh shingles and trim.

We enjoyed working on this project and are excited to share the photos below.

Building a Portico Roof for a Norwood Homeowner

We enjoyed seeing this project come together. We built a portico roof for our client, a homeowner in Norwood, PA.