Old HouseROOFING Free estimate

Chestnut Hill · Mt. Airy · Germantown · Cheltenham · Jenkintown · Merion Station · Narberth

Roof Replacement for Houses Built Before 1940

We replace worn roofs on prewar houses with asphalt shingles, including tired slate roofs, and we handle the plank decking, chimney flashing and permit paperwork that older houses bring with them.

Ask for a free roof inspection How estimates work
  • Asphalt shingle roofs for older houses
  • Free inspection and written estimate
  • Requests by online form, Monday to Friday

What we do, and the questions we answer

One trade, done on one kind of house: roofs on homes that were standing before the Second World War.

  • Roof replacement

    Tear-off, deck repair, underlayment, flashing and asphalt shingles on prewar houses.

  • Slate to asphalt

    When a slate roof is past saving, what switching to asphalt involves and when a review board gets a say.

  • Cost and cost per slate

    Why published slate prices disagree by tens of thousands of dollars, and how to read them.

  • Historic approvals

    Philadelphia, Cheltenham, Lower Merion and Narberth rules, side by side.

  • Fix or replace?

    The 20% rule of thumb, what a slate specialist looks at, and when we are the wrong call.

  • Storm help

    Emergency tarping within 24 hours after a storm, and general claim paperwork help.

Who replaces roofs on pre-1940 houses in Northwest Philadelphia?

Old House Roofing replaces roofs on houses built before 1940 in Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, Germantown, Cheltenham Township, Jenkintown, Merion Station and Narberth. We install asphalt shingles, including on houses coming off slate, and price every job in writing after a free inspection. Requests come in by online form, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.

Older houses are the whole focus. A 1915 twin in Germantown and a 1928 stone colonial in Elkins Park share problems a 1990s house never has: board sheathing instead of plywood, chimneys flashed into soft mortar, built-in gutters, and sometimes a roof that has been covered over more than once.

Old stone house with a slate roof and brick chimneys
Illustrative stock photo.

How many houses here predate 1940

  • 56.8%of housing units in 19119 (Mt. Airy) were built in 1939 or earlier
  • 52.8%in 19066 (Merion Station)
  • 46.7%in 19118 (Chestnut Hill)
  • 32.6%in 19046 (Jenkintown and part of Cheltenham)

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25034. Margins of error and all 11 zip codes are on our pre-1940 homes data page.

Do you work on slate roofs?

Yes, when the slate roof is being replaced with asphalt shingles. We take the slate off, rebuild the deck where needed and install an asphalt roof. We don't fix individual slates or put on new slate roofs; if that is what your roof needs, send the form anyway and we will point you to a slate specialist.

Our fix-or-replace guide explains how to tell which kind of roof you have, using the National Park Service's own rule of thumb.

Weathered gray slate roof tiles in overlapping rows
Illustrative stock photo.

Which areas and zip codes do you serve?

We serve 11 zip codes: 19118, 19119, 19144 and 19138 in Northwest Philadelphia; 19027, 19095, 19038 and 19012 in Cheltenham Township; 19046 for Jenkintown; 19066 for Merion Station; and 19072 for Narberth. Outside that area? Send the form and ask, and we will tell you plainly whether we can help.

Each place has its own page with housing data and permit notes, listed on our areas page.

How an estimate works

  1. Send the formThe street address, the roof's age if you know it, and what it is doing.
  2. We reply in writingBy email during office hours, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, to set a visit.
  3. Free inspectionFrom the ground, the attic and, where it is safe, the roof: decking, flashing, layers, ventilation.
  4. Written estimateLine items for tear-off, deck work, underlayment, flashing and shingles, plus which permit applies.

Coverage, payment and storms

  • Asphalt shingle roof replacements, including slate-to-asphalt conversions, come with a 15-year workmanship warranty.
  • Financing is available, including a 12-month no-interest option. Subject to credit approval. Terms vary; ask for details.
  • Emergency tarping within 24 hours when a storm opens up a roof.
  • Office hours Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Requests come in by form only.

Quick answers

Why does a pre-1940 house need a different roofer?
It doesn't need a different trade, but it needs someone who expects board decking, old chimney flashing, built-in gutters and previous roof layers. Those items are where estimates on older houses go wrong, so we look for them at the inspection and price them before work starts.
Do you sell gutters and siding too?
Yes, as secondary services. We replace gutters, mostly alongside a roof job, and install fiber cement and vinyl siding. Roofing is the core of the business. Siding and gutter work is not part of the roof replacement coverage.

Tell us about the roof

Tell us where the house is, how old the roof is and what it is doing. If you have photos, say so and we will ask for them by email. Outside our core area? Send the form and ask.

We answer form requests Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. There is no phone line, so the whole conversation stays in writing.

By sending this form you agree to be contacted about your project by email or at the number you give us. Our privacy policy explains how your details are used.

Get a free estimate