Roofing contractor for historic Oakland, Oregon.

Local Knowledge

Old-town roofs need more than new shingles.

Oakland grew up along Calapooya Creek in the 1800s, and its brick downtown — rebuilt in the 1890s and preserved as a historic district — sets the tone for the whole town. Many Oakland homes have been standing for a century or more, and their roofs tell that story: original decking under several generations of shingles, brick chimneys with flashing that's been redone half a dozen ways, and steep pitches framed long before modern code.

Working on roofs like these is different. Tear-off has to be an inspection, not a demolition. Douglas County's full tear-off requirement (no overlays) actually serves Oakland well — it forces the decking into daylight where problems can be found and fixed properly. Here's how county permits work.

• Century-old decking — assessed board by board during tear-off, repaired where needed, documented with photos
• Brick chimney flashing — the most common leak source on older Oakland homes; done right with step and counter flashing
• Character-appropriate materials — shingle profiles and colors chosen to suit an older home, not fight it
• Moss on shaded planes — mature trees and north slopes keep moss pressure high all winter