Roofing Help in Providence, RI

Why does a triple-decker roof leak reach so many people?

Because the roof is the one thing all three apartments share. Water that gets in at a seam or a chimney can run along the framing and appear as a stain in the top-floor unit, then work down through a wall into the middle apartment. By the time anyone notices, the leak may be far from where the water first entered.

That is also why these buildings need patient diagnosis. A roofer checks the surface, then the flashing at the chimney and any dormer or rear porch roof, then the underside from the attic or top-floor ceiling if there is access. A bucket under the drip tells you where the water lands, not where it started.

Many triple-deckers combine a pitched roof with a flatter section over a rear stair or porch, and the flatter part needs the membrane and seam work described on the flat and low-slope roof repair page. The dedicated triple-decker and multi-family roofing page covers how a full job on one of these buildings is planned, and the guide to triple-decker roofs in Providence and Fall River goes into more detail.

Who calls, owner or tenant?

In an owner-occupied triple-decker the owner usually lives in one unit and rents the others, and the roof is the owner's responsibility. In a building with an absentee owner, a tenant who sees a stain should tell the landlord in writing and keep copies of the photos. Tenants can phone the line to ask what a roofer would look for, but the roofer will want the owner's go-ahead before any work is arranged.

If you are the owner, think about access before the roofer arrives. Staging on a tight Providence lot may involve a neighbor's driveway or a shared yard, and the roofer will ask about it. Say so when you call so the quote reflects the actual job.

What does being near the water mean for Providence roofs?

The city is built around a hurricane barrier. The Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, constructed from 1960 to 1966, protects the low downtown from storm surge, and the history behind it is a reminder of what Narragansett Bay can do. During Hurricane Bob in 1991, Providence recorded sustained winds of 100 mph with a gust of 125 mph, and the storm brought extensive roof damage and storm surge of 12 to 15 feet in the bay.

A barrier stops water from coming up the river, not wind from hitting a roof. After a major storm the usual findings are lifted shingles, bent flashing and branches on the roof. If damage is in front of you, photograph it from the ground, keep your feet off the roof and read the storm and wind damage repair page before you call about temporary protection.

Is a permit or review more complicated in Providence?

It can be. One cost guide reports that permit costs in Providence run higher than the state average, so ask your roofer what permit applies to your job and confirm it with the city yourself. Providence is large, and a roof in a recognized historic area may involve review that a roof two neighborhoods away does not.

Ask any roofer you meet what they hold with the Rhode Island Contractors' Registration and Licensing Board. A Contractor Registration covers residential roofing, and a Commercial Roofing License applies to buildings with four or more dwelling units. The contractor registration guide explains what to ask to see.