Roof work for early-1900s homes in Hough, Vancouver, WA 98660

Many Hough homes were first roofed with cedar shingles on skip sheathing, boards laid with gaps so the wood could dry. Later owners laid composite right over the top, sometimes twice. That stack adds weight, hides rot and makes nailing unreliable. When we strip these roofs, we usually add solid plywood over the old boards so the new shingles have a sound base. Chimneys are another constant. Many are unlined or no longer in use, with crumbling mortar and step flashing patched with tar. Porches and bay windows add low roofs that tie into the main walls at odd angles.

Steep pitches mean more staging and safety gear, and slower work than on a ranch. We set roof jacks, use toe boards and keep the crew harnessed. We also go easy on old plaster ceilings, since heavy pounding on the deck can crack them. Many of these attics are small or finished, which limits how much we can see from inside before the tear-off. We build some room into the plan for the decking and framing repairs that old houses almost always need once the shingles come off.

Mature street trees shade much of Hough, so roofs dry slowly after rain. Moss grows thick on north slopes and around chimneys where debris piles up. Leaves and needles fill the narrow valleys between main roofs and porch roofs. Older gutters, often original half-round or replaced decades ago, overflow into fascia boards that have rotted in places. The long wet season finds every weak spot in an old roof. When an ice storm comes through, heavy limbs from those same street trees can land on roofs and porches, and narrow lots leave little room for them to miss.

We start with the attic and a close look at the chimney and porch tie-ins. On narrow lots, we plan where the dumpster and shingle delivery can go, cover neighbor fences and gardens and keep the sidewalk clear. A full tear-off and new composite roof on a 1,500 square foot Hough bungalow often runs $15,860 to $29,700, with decking and chimney work adding cost. These are typical ranges; your actual price follows an inspection.