Hillview, KY

The low-slope sections most people forget about

Hillview grew from a farming community into a Louisville suburb after I-65 arrived in the 1950s, and a lot of its homes date from the subdivisions built in the 1950s and 1960s. Houses that age have often picked up additions over the years: an enclosed back porch, a carport roof, a sunroom, a family room tacked onto the back.

Those add-ons are frequently where the leaks are. Here's why.

A shingle roof needs enough pitch to shed water. Many porch and addition roofs are nearly flat, and shingles laid on a low slope let water sit, back up under the tabs and seep through. Rolled roofing was a common shortcut on these sections, and it doesn't last.

The fix is a membrane made for low slopes. We install TPO, a white single-ply membrane, and EPDM, a durable rubber membrane. Either one handles standing water far better than shingles. Our flat roofs page explains the difference.

The other weak point is the joint where the addition meets the original house. That seam needs proper flashing tied into the wall or the main roof. When it was done quickly, water runs behind the siding and into the ceiling below. We check that joint on every inspection where there's an add-on.

If your main roof is fine but the porch or back room leaks, it may be a simple repair. If both are aging, replacing them together lets us tie the two systems into each other correctly.

Shingles or metal for the main roof

When the main roof is due, most Hillview homeowners choose between asphalt shingles and metal. Both are good choices. They suit different priorities.

Asphalt shingles are the most common choice on homes around Louisville. They come in many colors, fit almost any style of house, and are simple to repair if a storm knocks a few loose. They also usually cost less up front. Our shingle roofs page has more detail.

Metal costs more to install but sheds rain and snow quickly and handles wind well when it's installed correctly. We install two kinds:

• Standing seam, with raised seams and fasteners hidden beneath the panels. It's the cleaner look and the more weathertight of the two.

• Exposed fastener, where the screws go through the face of the panel. It's simpler and common on barns, garages and outbuildings, and some homeowners like it on houses too. The screws' rubber washers need checking over the years.

We'll put both on your estimate if you'd like to compare them, along with what each would mean for any porch or addition roofs that tie in.

Hillview's weather

Hillview is about 15 miles south of downtown Louisville and gets the same humid subtropical weather. Spring storms can bring hail and strong winds. Summers are hot and humid, which is hard on shingles facing south and west. Freezes typically run from early November into early April, and repeated freezing and thawing works water deeper into any gap in the roof.

Low-slope roofs feel all of this more. Leaves and debris collect on them, drains and gutters clog, and standing water freezes in place. A quick check of your porch roof and gutters in late fall goes a long way. Clear the leaves, make sure downspouts are flowing, and look for any dip in the membrane or roll roofing where water sits for days after rain. Those low spots are usually where the next leak starts.

Gutters, fascia and siding while we're there

Water that overflows a clogged or sagging gutter soaks the fascia board behind it. Over time the fascia rots, the gutter pulls loose, and water gets into the roof edge and soffit. We repair and replace gutters, add gutter guards, and replace damaged soffit and fascia. If the siding below has taken a beating, we handle that too. See our gutters page for details.

How a project goes

We start with a free inspection, including the attic when we can reach it. You get photos of what we find and a written estimate that spells out the materials and the scope. If a storm caused the damage, we document it and help you work through the claim with your homeowner's insurance.

On install day, we protect your landscaping, siding and walkways. We offer walk pads on flat roofs so the membrane isn't damaged by foot traffic. When the work is done, we clean up, run a magnet sweep for nails, and walk the roof with you. The work is backed by our workmanship warranty.

Our team has 15 years of experience, and we're open Monday through Saturday, 7 AM to 5 PM.

If the roof is on a rental or a house you're getting ready to sell, tell us at the inspection. It changes which options make sense, and we'll lay out the trade-offs in the estimate so you can decide with the full picture.

Also serving the rest of Bullitt County

Hillview is one of Bullitt County's larger cities, alongside Shepherdsville, the county seat, and Mount Washington. We work in all three. See our Bullitt County page for the full list, or head north to our Okolona page if you're just over the county line.

From a customer

"Roof, gutters and my porch ceiling... they made that look better than expected."

Stephanie F., Google review