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Roofers in Melrose, MA
Victorian or two-family that needs a new roof, or a leak on the top floor? Call (978) 577-5300 or send the form for a free estimate on Melrose roof repair or replacement. We'll review your request and help you with the next step.
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- Melrose Highlands to the East Side
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Roofing services in Melrose
Need roofing work in Melrose?
Whether you've found a leak, noticed worn or missing shingles, or think it's time for a new roof, start with the service that matches your situation.
Roof Replacement
Tear-off, deck repair, ice and water barrier and a new roof, done to code.
Roof Repair & Leaks
Flashing, vent boots, missing shingles and leak tracing, plus inspections.
Flat & Rubber Roofs
EPDM, TPO and modified bitumen on low-slope roofs, porches and additions.
Ice Dams
Safe removal, plus the insulation and ventilation fixes that stop them.
Storm Damage
Tarping and repairs after wind, falling limbs, hail and heavy snow.
Melrose roofs, neighborhood by neighborhood
What's on the roofs in Melrose
Melrose sits on the Fells Upland and grew up as a railroad and streetcar suburb: the Boston and Maine came through in the 1840s, and streetcar lines later reached Melrose Center from Malden and Wakefield. Its population went from about 3,400 in 1870 to nearly 17,000 by 1915 and peaked above 33,000 around 1970. The city's housing plan says more than half its homes were built before World War II. About 55% are single-family houses, 11% are two-families and about 63% are owner-occupied. On roughly 4.8 square miles, that adds up to a dense mix of Victorians, two-families and mid-century homes.
Melrose Highlands
Northwest of the center, around the Highlands depot, entire blocks of ambitious suburban houses went up in the 1890s and early 1900s.
Wyoming
Another neighborhood that grew around a suburban railroad depot on the city's west side.
Downtown and Main Street
Before World War II, most building was close to downtown and the rail line. Part of Main Street is a local historic district.
East Side
Historically a modest residential area along Upham Street, the eastern part of the city saw more building in mid-century ranch and cape styles.
Lebanon Street
Two-family houses and three-deckers went up along Lebanon Street through the mid-1900s.
Melrose houses
Roofing Melrose's Victorians, two-families and capes
Victorian homes. Second Empire, Stick, Queen Anne, Shingle Style, Colonial Revival and Craftsman houses fill the older neighborhoods. Mansards, towers and many valleys mean the flashing work matters most. Where slate survives, it's often worth repairing.
Two-families and three-deckers. Along Lebanon Street and elsewhere, these often have low-slope main roofs and stacked porch roofs that need a membrane. See flat and rubber roofs.
Mid-century ranches and capes. On the East Side, these are on their second or third roof. Capes are prone to ice dams without good insulation and ventilation.
Bungalows. A few suburban bungalows went up in the neighborhoods north and west of the center, with porch roofs and dormers tied into the main roof.
Repair or replace? See roof repair and roof replacement.
Permits and historic review
Roofing permits in Melrose
Building permit. Melrose's Inspection Services issues roofing permits, and all building applications are submitted through the city's online system. Contractors supply their HIC registration and Construction Supervisor License and a workers' comp affidavit. The fee is $15 per $1,000 of total cost, with a $40 minimum plus a $15 administrative fee.
Historic districts. Melrose's Historic District Commission, established in 1979, oversees the Downtown Melrose district along Main Street and the Benjamin Lynde House district at 244 Main Street. Exterior changes visible from a public way need review, and the ordinance doesn't single out roofs either way, so if you own one of these buildings, ask the Commission before a contractor orders materials.
Licensing. We verify the credentials a job requires before we send a contractor any calls.
Roofing Service Pros is a referral service. We don't pull permits or do roofing work. The roofing contractor who does the job handles the permit.
FAQ
Melrose roofing questions
How do roofing permits work in Melrose?
Melrose lists roofing among the permits its Inspection Services issues, and all building applications go through the city's online system, where contractors provide a workers' comp affidavit when setting up an account. Contractors also supply their Home Improvement Contractor registration and Construction Supervisor License. The fee is $15 per $1,000 of total cost, with a $40 minimum plus a $15 administrative fee.
My house is downtown on Main Street. Is it in a historic district?
Possibly. Melrose's Downtown Historic District runs along Main Street from the Foster Streets to the Emerson Streets, including part of Essex Street, and the Benjamin Lynde House at 244 Main Street is its own district. The Historic District Commission reviews exterior changes visible from a public way. Talk to the Commission before changing roofing materials.
Can I pull the permit myself?
Owners of single- and two-family homes can apply for a permit to do the work themselves. The city warns that if you then hire a contractor, the work may not be protected by the state's Home Improvement Guaranty Fund.
We have a 1950s cape on the East Side. What should a new roof include?
The eastern part of Melrose saw mid-century ranches and capes. Capes often have finished upstairs rooms with little insulation behind the knee walls, which leads to ice dams. A full tear-off with ice and water barrier and better ventilation is the right approach.
Is there a charge to use Roofing Service Pros?
No. The call and the referral are free to homeowners. Your estimate and any work are agreed directly between you and the roofing contractor.
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