Roofing · Westwood

Roofing in Westwood: What the Housing Stock Demands

Most of Westwood was built between the 1920s and 1950s. Before a single shingle goes on, that history matters. These homes were framed and roofed under different standards, with materials and structural details that behave differently than modern construction — and every replacement job has to account for what's actually underneath.

The Deck Comes First

Homes from this era typically use plank sheathing — individual boards nailed across the rafters — rather than plywood or OSB. Over decades of weather cycles, some of those boards will have moved, cupped, or softened at the edges. A proper tear-off exposes exactly what's there. Sound boards stay. Boards that have deteriorated need to be sistered or replaced before anything else goes down. A contractor who skips a real deck inspection is cutting corners on the part of the job that everything else depends on.

Chimney Flashing Is Not a Caulk Job

Brick chimneys are common in Westwood's older homes, and the chimney-to-roof junction is one of the most consistent sources of long-term leaks. The correct approach uses step flashing — individual metal pieces that interleave with each course of shingles along the chimney sides — combined with counter-flashing let into the mortar joints above. Surface-applied caulk or adhesive alternatives are not a permanent solution on a masonry chimney. Ask any contractor specifically how they detail this transition before you sign anything.

Soffit and Fascia Are Part of the System

Original wood soffit and fascia is typical on homes of this age, and the condition of that material directly affects how a new roof performs at its edge. Deteriorated fascia won't hold a drip edge correctly. Compromised soffit disrupts the attic ventilation a new roof depends on to perform and last. A thorough contractor inspects both before pricing the job and tells you exactly what they're replacing versus what they're leaving in place — not as an upsell, but because it's part of understanding the scope.

Ventilation Needs a Plan

Older homes were often built without ridge vents or calculated intake-to-exhaust ratios. Modern shingles perform and last better with adequate airflow, and the ventilation plan for your specific attic should be part of any proposal — not an afterthought. Ask how many linear feet of ridge vent are going in, whether soffit vents are being added or restored, and what the net free area works out to.

Questions Worth Asking Before You Commit

• How many shingle layers are on now, and will you tear to bare deck?
• What does your deck inspection include, and how do you handle damaged boards?
• Walk me through how you'll flash the chimney — step and counter, or something else?
• What's the ventilation plan for this attic specifically?
• What does your soffit and fascia scope include, and what's excluded?

A contractor who answers these in detail — without hedging — is working from the structure out. That's the right direction on a house this age.

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