Roof repair for Five Corners houses, duplexes and townhomes, Vancouver, WA 98682

Townhome rows and duplexes in Five Corners often share one long roof divided by party walls. When one unit's section wears out, the neighbor's usually is not far behind, and patching one half leaves a seam that leaks at the property line. We prefer to plan the whole building at once where the owners agree. Rentals bring a different pattern. Small leaks go unreported for months, so by the time we see them the drywall is stained, the insulation is wet and the decking around a vent boot has gone soft.

Single-family homes here are mostly modest two-stories and ranches with simple gable roofs. They are straightforward to reroof, which keeps costs reasonable. Carports and covered parking are common on the multi-unit lots, and many have low-slope roofs that pond after every storm. Those surfaces need a membrane, not shingles, and the drains or scuppers have to stay clear. We also see older apartment buildings with flat sections behind parapet walls, where the flashing at the wall cap is usually the first thing to fail.

On closely spaced lots, wind does odd things. It funnels between buildings and lifts shingles at the rakes and ridges that face the gaps. East wind out of the Gorge reaches this part of the Vancouver area each fall and winter, and older shingles that have lost their seal let go first. Rain then runs under the lifted tabs. Trees planted along property lines drop needles into valleys between connected roofs, where nobody owns the job of cleaning them. That shared debris, sitting in a valley nobody checks, is behind a good share of the leaks we trace here.

We give each building its own scope and price, with photos, so owners, boards and managers can compare. A tear-off on a two-unit duplex roof commonly runs $16,240 to $28,750, and a roof inspection with a written report usually costs $215 to $395. These are typical ranges only. We confirm the real number once we have been on the roof. On rentals, we coordinate access with tenants and protect parked cars.