Roof repair and bungalow reroofing in Concordia, Portland, OR 97211
Concordia's bungalows have carried a lot of Portland winters, and many are on their second or third layer of shingles. We repair leaks, flash chimneys and reroof the low, broad roofs that line the streets between NE Alberta and Killingsworth.
Most Concordia roofs are 1910s to 1930s bungalow roofs with wide eaves, shallow dormers and an old brick chimney. When they leak, the cause is usually tired flashing at the chimney or dormer walls, a cracked pipe boot, or shingles worn thin on the south slope. We fix those spots, and when the deck has gone soft we tear off and reroof.
Concordia sits in Northeast Portland between the Alberta Arts District and the industrial edge near Columbia Boulevard, and its blocks are packed with Craftsman bungalows, a few Old Portland boxes and a growing number of newer infill homes. Most of the original houses were built in the 1910s and 1920s, so the framing has seen a century of wet seasons. The roofs on top have usually been replaced two or three times, and not always with the deck repairs the house needed.
That history is what we deal with on most Concordia calls. We find shingles laid over older shingles, plank decking with gaps wide enough to see daylight, and chimney flashing that was sealed with roof cement instead of being replaced. We repair what can be repaired and tell you plainly when a tear-off is the better spend. Call (503) 917-5484 and we'll set a time to get on the roof and look.
What sits on top of a Concordia bungalow?
The classic Concordia house is a one-and-a-half-story bungalow with a low-pitched gable, exposed rafter tails, deep eaves and a shed or gable dormer facing the street. Under the asphalt shingles you'll often find 1x6 or 1x8 skip sheathing from the original cedar shingle roof. That spacing works for cedar but not for asphalt, so a proper reroof here means new plywood or OSB laid over or in place of the planks before any underlayment goes down.
Around the former Concordia University campus and along the streets off NE 33rd you'll also see 1940s cottages, a few split-levels, and newer narrow houses and ADUs built on divided lots. Those newer roofs tend to be architectural shingles in decent shape. The older homes are where we spend most of our time, especially where big street trees hang over the gutters, which is common near Fernhill Park and along the quieter east blocks.
Which roof problems show up most in Concordia?
Leaks where dormers meet roof
Bungalow dormers rely on step flashing tucked behind siding. When that flashing was skipped or caulked over during an earlier reroof, water runs behind the siding and stains the upstairs ceiling at the knee wall.
Brick chimneys with failed counterflashing
Unlined brick chimneys on these homes shed mortar, and the counterflashing pulls out of the joints. We regrind the reglet, set new counterflashing and add a cricket on wide chimneys so water stops pooling behind them.
Shingles layered over shingles
Many Concordia roofs carry two layers of asphalt. The extra weight sags old rafters, and the top layer never sits flat, so it lifts in wind. A full tear-off to the deck is usually the right fix.
Gutters choked by street trees
Mature maples and lindens along Concordia streets fill gutters by November. Overflow soaks the fascia boards and the exposed rafter tails, which rot from the ends inward if water sits against them through the wet season.
Moss on shaded north slopes
North slopes under neighboring trees stay wet from October through May. Moss lifts shingle edges and holds water against the mat. We soft wash it off and add zinc strips near the ridge to slow regrowth.
Roofing services in Concordia
These are the jobs we're called for most often on Concordia bungalows and the newer infill homes around them.
Roof Repair
Portland roofs rarely fail all at once. A few torn shingles, a cracked ridge cap or a soft valley can be fixed cleanly and matched to what you have...
Roof Leak Repair
A stain on a Portland ceiling is rarely under the hole that caused it. We trace the water back along rafters and decking to the true entry point...
Roof Replacement
When patches stop holding and the shingles are bare, curling or shedding granules, a full reroof is the smarter spend. We replace Portland roofs from...
Chimney Flashing Repair
Portland's old brick chimneys are the single most common leak point we see. Proper chimney flashing uses two layers of metal, one woven into the...
Dry Rot & Roof Deck Repair
A soft spot underfoot on the roof or a sag you can see from the street points to rotted sheathing below the shingles. We open Portland roofs, remove...
Roof Moss Removal
Moss on a Portland roof is almost a given under the firs. We take it off by hand and brush, treat what is left and add zinc so it grows back slower.
Gutter & Downspout Repair
Leaking seams, sagging runs, hangers pulled out of the fascia and downspouts that dump at the foundation. We repair Portland gutters so they carry...
Fascia & Soffit Repair
Soft fascia behind the gutter, peeling soffit paint or birds nesting in the eaves usually means water has been getting past your roof edge. We...
How a roof visit works on a Concordia street
Most Concordia lots are narrow, with a driveway down one side and the neighbor's house close on the other. We set ladders off the driveway, protect plantings with tarps and keep the dumpster or trailer on the street where parking allows. On a reroof we strip one slope at a time and dry it in the same day, because Portland rain doesn't wait. You get a written estimate before any work starts, and we walk you through photos of what we found up top.
Roofing questions from Concordia
Can my Concordia bungalow roof be repaired, or does it need a full reroof?
It depends on the deck and the number of layers. If there's one layer and the leak is at a chimney, dormer or pipe boot, a targeted repair usually works. If there are two layers, soft spots underfoot, or skip sheathing showing between planks, a tear-off and new deck is the better long-term fix for a Concordia bungalow.
Why does my Concordia home leak only during heavy winter rain?
Leaks that show up only in long, heavy rains are usually flashing problems, not holes in the shingles. Water backs up behind a dormer wall or chimney when it rains hard for hours. We check step flashing, counterflashing and the chimney cricket first, since those are the usual sources on older Concordia homes.
How long does a reroof take on a typical Concordia bungalow?
A single-story Concordia bungalow with one dormer usually takes two to three working days, depending on how much decking needs replacing and the weather. We tear off and dry in each section the same day, so the house is never left open overnight. Bigger homes or ones needing new sheathing throughout can take a little longer.
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Roof trouble in Concordia?
Call and describe what you are seeing. We answer 24/7 and send a roofer as soon as one is free.