Oakmont Roofing Company: Honest Roof Work Along the Allegheny
- A+ Better Business Bureau Accredited
- Flexible Financing Options
- Lifetime Product and Workmanship Warranties
Oakmont is one of the Allegheny River’s most historic little boroughs, a walkable downtown near the water with older homes climbing the slope toward the famous country club. A lot of these houses have real character, steep pitches, dormers, and decades of Pittsburgh weather behind them. That charm is also why so many Oakmont roofs need a careful, experienced eye. If yours is aging or you’ve spotted a leak, you want an Oakmont roofing company that knows older homes, not a storm-chasing crew from out of town. Whalen Exteriors has been on Western Pennsylvania roofs since 1982, and we’re just up the same river in Arnold. We’ll explain your options like a neighbor would, not like a salesman.
Why Oakmont roofs take a beating
Oakmont gets all four seasons, and each one works on your roof. Winter brings snow and the freeze-thaw cycle. Water melts during the day, slips under a shingle, then refreezes overnight. Do that a few dozen times and fasteners loosen, asphalt shingles crack, and ice dams build along the eaves where heat escapes.
Summer isn’t much gentler, with heavy thunderstorms, high wind, and the humidity that hangs along the river. On Oakmont’s older homes, there’s an added factor: age. Flashing installed decades ago wears thin, decking can soften, and steep, cut-up roofs with dormers and valleys have more seams where water can sneak in. None of that means your roof is failing, but it does mean a careful look pays off.
The good news? Most of this is fixable, and you don’t always need a whole new roof.
Repair or replace? The honest answer
A lot of the roofs we look at need a repair, not a replacement. If your roof is under 15 years old and the damage is in one area, a repair usually makes more sense, and we’ll tell you that straight, even though a replacement would be the bigger job for us.
So when is it actually time to replace? Watch for these signs:
- Shingles curling, cracking, or balding across the whole roof, not just one slope
- Granules washing into the gutters after every rain
- Active leaks or water stains on ceilings and walls
- Sagging areas or a spongy feel underfoot
- A roof that’s 20 years old or more
Asphalt shingle roofs in the Pittsburgh area typically last 20 to 30 years, though that depends on the material, the install, and how well your attic breathes. On an older Oakmont home, a fresh, more reflective roof can also run cooler through summer; the U.S. Department of Energy explains how energy-efficient roofing works if you’re weighing your choices. We handle the full range of residential roofing, from a single repair to a complete system.
Start with a free inspection
Not sure where your roof stands? Start with a look. We offer a free, no-pressure roof inspection for Oakmont homes, including a drone inspection for steep or hard-to-reach areas. That drone is a real help on Oakmont’s tall, cut-up roofs: no scaffolding, no risk to the crew, and a clear set of photos so you can see exactly what we see, right down to the worn flashing you can’t spot from the ground.
You’ll get moisture-meter readings where they matter and a plain-language rundown of your options. If the roof has good years left, we’ll say so. Storm just came through? Call us and we’ll come document any damage. Reach us at (724) 335-8515.
Our Oakmont roofing services
Whalen handles the whole exterior, so one contractor can take care of the entire house.
Residential roofing
We install architectural (high-definition) asphalt shingles from IKO and Owens Corning, chosen for how they hold up to Pittsburgh's freeze-thaw winters, and they look right on Oakmont's older homes. For a house with real historic character, synthetic slate can keep that classic look without the weight, and standing-seam metal sheds snow well and can run 50 years or more. We'll walk you through the trade-offs before you spend a dime.
Commercial roofing
Own a storefront on Allegheny Avenue or a building near the river? Our commercial roofing team handles flat and low-slope systems like EPDM and TPO single-ply membranes, the kind built to shrug off ponding water. We work around your hours to keep your doors open while the job gets done.
Siding
The exterior is more than the roof. We're a certified vinyl siding installer, and our siding installation can refresh how an older home looks while adding another layer of protection against the weather.
Seamless gutters
Gutters do quiet but important work, carrying water off the roof and away from your foundation. On Oakmont's older homes and sloped lots, good rain gutter systems, often paired with gutter guards, keep water moving where it belongs. We install seamless gutters that are far less likely to leak at the joints.
Check out our reviews, then give us a call at 724-335-8515 or learn more about our team.
How we work: our 5-step process
We keep the process clear so you always know what’s happening on your roof.
Inspection
A free, no-pressure look with drone photos and moisture readings.
Proposal
An itemized, plain-language quote laying out scope, materials, and timeline. Nothing buried.
Prep and tear-off
We protect your property, then remove the old roof down to a clean deck.
Installation
We install your new system with IKO or Owens Corning materials chosen for our climate.
Cleanup and walkthrough
We leave the yard spotless and walk the finished roof with you before we close the job.
A new roof is a real investment, so we also offer financing to spread the cost out. And because roofing is dangerous work, our crews follow OSHA fall-protection standards the whole time they’re on your property.
Roof maintenance tips for Oakmont homes
A little upkeep buys your roof years. A few things worth doing:
- Clear leaves and debris from gutters twice a year, especially on tree-lined streets near the river.
- After a big storm, glance up for missing or lifted shingles and check ceilings for fresh stains.
- Keep an eye on flashing around chimneys, dormers, and valleys, the usual spots for leaks on older homes.
- Make sure your attic is ventilated, which helps prevent the ice dams that form in a Pittsburgh winter.
- Schedule a free inspection every few years so small problems get caught while they’re still small.
Why Oakmont chooses Whalen
We’ve been doing this since 1982, which adds up to more than 40 years of Western PA roofs. That track record shows up in our 4.9-star average across 318 Google reviews, where customers name the crew, Shawn, Chuck, Kenny, and Mike, and say they “worked on our home as if it was their own.” You can read those customer reviews for yourself.
We’re an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor and an IKO RoofPro Select contractor, with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor license PA-034738. You can confirm any contractor’s standing through the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s registration system, and the FTC has solid advice on choosing a reliable roofing contractor. Want the longer story? Here’s more about our team and accreditations.
Our work is backed by lifetime manufacturer warranties, a lifetime workmanship warranty on full roof systems, and a 10-year workmanship warranty on every other service. And because we’re a local family company, not a storm chaser passing through, we’ll still be here if you ever need us again.
Serving Oakmont and the Allegheny River communities
We work throughout Oakmont, from the homes along Hulton Road up toward the country club to the streets near Allegheny River Boulevard and Riverside Park. We also serve neighboring Plum, Verona, and Penn Hills. Being based just up the Allegheny in Arnold, we get to this stretch of the river easily, and we know the older homes that give Oakmont its character. Take a look at our full service area to check whether we cover your street. Being local means we know the codes, the weather, and the kinds of roofs out here.
Oakmont roofing FAQs
Most asphalt shingle roofs in the Pittsburgh area last 20 to 30 years. The exact number depends on the shingle quality, how well the roof was installed, and how well your attic is ventilated. Freeze-thaw winters and summer storms can shorten that range, so regular inspections help you stay ahead of problems.
If your roof is under 15 years old and the damage is limited to one area, a repair is often enough. A full replacement makes sense when shingles are failing across the whole roof, you have leaks in several spots, or the roof is past 20 years. A free inspection is the surest way to know which one you need.
It can. Older homes sometimes have worn flashing, aging decking, or a past roof-over that needs attention, and steep, cut-up rooflines take more care. That’s normal, it just means a thorough inspection matters. We’ll tell you honestly what your roof needs and what can wait.
Yes. We’ll document the damage with photos and moisture readings so you have a clear record for your claim, and we’ll walk you through your options. We can’t promise what an insurer will cover, but a solid, well-documented inspection gives you the best footing. For more roofing tips and local guidance, take a look at our blog.
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Ready to get started?
Your roof protects everything under it, and you deserve straight answers about its condition. Whether you need a quick repair or you’re planning a full replacement, we’ll take a close look, explain everything clearly, and help you make the best decision for your home. No pressure, no scare tactics.
Contact Whalen Exteriors for a free roof inspection today, or call (724) 335-8515. We’ll be glad to come take an honest look at your Oakmont roof.
