West Dearborn's tree-lined streets of 1920s–1950s brick colonials, Capes, and Tudors are some of the most beautiful — and most roof-punishing — housing in the city. Big mature oaks and maples drop limbs and clog gutters, original chimney flashing is now decades past its prime, and freeze-thaw works every mortar joint a little looser each winter. We repair West Dearborn roofs with methods that respect older construction.
Brick colonials and Tudors with steep pitches, complex valleys, and tall masonry chimneys — often with the original flashing still in place. Mature tree canopy covers many blocks, which is gorgeous and rough on roofs in equal measure. Most homes here have architectural or older three-tab shingles over plank or plywood decking, with attics that were insulated as an afterthought.
Chimney flashing failure. Cause: decades of freeze-thaw cycling working step flashing loose from aging mortar. Effect: slow leaks that stain ceilings far from the chimney and rot the surrounding decking.
Tree and limb damage. Cause: mature canopy + Michigan windstorms. Effect: punctured shingles, cracked flashing, and gutter systems packed with debris that backs water up under the eaves.
Valley wear on complex rooflines. Cause: steep intersecting planes funneling water and ice into the same channels for 70+ years. Effect: valley linings give out and leaks appear during heavy rain.
We re-seat counter-flashing into the brick properly — not surface-sealed — so it moves with the masonry instead of fighting it. Tree-damaged sections get woven shingle replacement matched to the existing roof, gutters cleared and checked for proper pitch, and valleys rebuilt with modern ice-and-water shield underneath. Every repair is photographed, quoted in writing, and built for the next thirty winters, not just this one.
We work with 1920s–50s construction, not against it.
Counter-flashing re-seated into brick joints properly.
Limb punctures and debris damage repaired and documented.
Scope and price in writing before any work starts.
Photo-documented inspection. Written quote before work starts. The cheapest repair is the one you make now.
Call (313) 769-7896