Roofing services in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County runs up the Lackawanna Valley, from Scranton, the county seat known as the Electric City, through the boroughs along the Lackawanna River toward Carbondale. Roofs here take hard winters, and a lot of the housing is well over a century old. Whatever your roof needs, we handle it.
Roof repair
A leak rarely starts where the stain shows up. Our roof repair crew traces it back to the source, usually flashing at a chimney or wall, a cracked pipe boot, a valley, or shingles lifted by wind. Then we fix it properly. We'll also tell you honestly how much life the rest of the roof has.
Roof replacement
When the roof is past saving, our roof replacement includes a full tear-off to the deck, deck repairs, and a complete architectural shingle system: ice barrier, underlayment, drip edge, new flashing, shingles and balanced roof ventilation. A new roof tightens up the house, and it's one of the upgrades buyers notice first.
Storm damage repair
Wind, falling limbs, hail and heavy snow all take their toll. Our storm damage roof repair starts with an inspection and photo documentation, and we can meet your adjuster on site. The claim itself stays between you and your insurance company.
Maintenance and inspections
Even a roof with no problems benefits from a regular look. Our roof maintenance visits catch loose shingles, failing sealant, moss growth and clogged gutters before they turn into leaks. That's how you get the most years out of the roof you already paid for.
Flat roofs, gutters, siding and skylights
We install EPDM flat roofing on low-slope porches and additions. We also install gutters and gutter guards, and handle siding and skylights. For a quick starting number, use our Instant Roof Quote.
Towns we serve in Lackawanna County
These towns have their own pages with local detail and FAQs:
- Scranton: the county seat and the biggest city we serve in Pennsylvania, with Green Ridge, the Hill Section, North Scranton, the West Side, the South Side, Minooka and more.
- Dunmore: right next to Scranton, with hillside streets climbing toward the Moosic Mountains.
We also work in Dickson City, Throop, Old Forge, Taylor, Moosic, Jessup, Clarks Summit and the Abingtons, and Carbondale. South of the county line, our crew covers Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston and the rest of Luzerne County, where our Plymouth office is.
Why Lackawanna County roofs wear out
Winter in the valley
The Lackawanna Valley has real winters. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, which serves both counties, averages about 45 inches of snow a year (1991–2020 normals). Towns on higher ground, and neighborhoods up the valley walls like Scranton's West Mountain and East Mountain, often hold snow longer. Freeze-thaw cycling breaks down sealant strips and flashing, and ice dams form at the eaves of warm attics, pushing meltwater under the shingles.
Shade and moisture
Tight streets, mature trees and hillside lots keep a lot of roofs in the shade. Damp, shaded slopes grow algae and moss, which cause the dark streaks you see on roofs all over the county. Moss holds water against the shingles and lifts their edges over time.
River-valley moisture
The Lackawanna River runs the length of the county, and the valley it carved holds moisture. Foggy mornings and damp air mean roof slopes that don't get much sun stay wet for hours after a rain. That moisture feeds algae and moss, and over the years it works into any gap in the flashing or a cracked pipe boot. A roof that dries out quickly lasts longer, which is one more reason attic ventilation and clean gutters matter here.
Older homes
Lackawanna County built its towns on anthracite coal, and much of the housing dates from that boom. Double-blocks share one roof between two households. Two-and-a-half-story frame homes have steep roofs and dormers. Brick chimneys have outlasted several roofs, and back additions have low-slope roofs. It's common to find two or three layers of old shingles and board sheathing under them. We plan for that in the estimate, so tear-off doesn't bring surprises.
Chimneys and low-slope additions
Two spots cause a large share of the leaks on older Lackawanna County homes. The first is chimney flashing. Tar smeared over the joint cracks after a winter or two, and water follows the brick into the attic. We replace it with proper step flashing and counter-flashing set into the mortar. The second is the low-slope roof over a back kitchen or porch, often covered in patched roll roofing. We replace those with EPDM flat roofing and new flashing where they meet the house.
Signs your roof needs a closer look
- Granules collecting at the bottom of the downspouts.
- Curled, cracked or missing shingles.
- Stains on upstairs ceilings, especially near chimneys and dormers.
- Icicles hanging in the same place every winter.
- Moss or dark streaks spreading on the shaded side of the roof.
Permits and code in Lackawanna County
Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code (UCC) is administered municipality by municipality. There's no single county permit office for residential roofing. In municipalities that have opted out of local enforcement, certified third-party agencies hired by the owner or contractor enforce the residential UCC. A couple of examples:
- Scranton: the city's permit page states that all construction projects in the city require a permit, and it expects the work to be done by an insured, licensed contractor. Applications go through the city's code enforcement office.
- Dunmore: the Borough of Dunmore's Code and Zoning Department, with most permit and application forms handled through Northeast Inspection Consultants (NEIC).
The UCC exempts some residential repair work statewide, so local rules decide what a re-roof needs. We confirm the requirement for your address, and when a permit is required, we pull it and schedule the inspection.
How a roof replacement works with us
- Free inspection of the roof, flashing, gutters and attic, with photos.
- Written estimate that spells out the scope clearly. Financing is available.
- Permit filed with your municipality when required.
- Tear-off to the deck, with damaged boards replaced and your home protected.
- Installation of the ice barrier, underlayment, drip edge, flashing, architectural shingles and ridge vent.
- Cleanup with a dumpster on site.
- Final walkthrough and warranty paperwork.
What to expect on install day
The dumpster usually shows up first. On narrow Scranton-area streets and steep driveways, we plan its placement ahead of time. We protect your plantings, siding and windows, strip the roof in sections so the house isn't left open, and replace any bad decking as we go. Most homes are done in one to a few days, depending on size, layers and weather. We don't open up a roof with rain in the forecast. The site gets cleaned up every day, and we and a walkthrough with you.
Why Lackawanna County homeowners choose Allabaugh
- PA Home Improvement Contractor #PA162561.
- GAF-certified.
- Lifetime manufacturer's warranty and a 10-year workmanship warranty.
- Financing available.
- 5.0 stars from 233 Google reviews.
- 20+ years of experience under owner Jared Allabaugh.
- A Pennsylvania office in Plymouth, a short drive down the valley.
Call (814) 330-4897 for a free estimate anywhere in Lackawanna County, or start with the Instant Roof Quote.
