West View Roofing Contractor: Honest Roof Work for the North Hills' Older Homes
- A+ Better Business Bureau Accredited
- Flexible Financing Options
- Lifetime Product and Workmanship Warranties
West View is a small, close-knit North Hills borough, barely a square mile, with older homes packed onto tight lots along Perry Highway. A lot of these houses have been standing since the early or mid-1900s, back when West View Park was still drawing crowds. That history gives the borough its charm, but it also means many roofs up here are well past their prime. If yours is aging or you’ve spotted a leak, you want a West View roofing contractor who understands older homes, not a crew that only knows new builds. Whalen Exteriors has been on Western Pennsylvania roofs since 1982, and we’ve spent those decades getting to know North Hills homes just like yours. We’ll explain your options like a neighbor would, not like a salesman.
Why West View roofs wear out
Pittsburgh weather is hard on any roof, and the North Hills gets the full menu. Snow piles up in winter, then the freeze-thaw cycle goes to work. Water melts during the day, slips under a shingle, and refreezes at night. Do that a few dozen times and fasteners loosen, asphalt shingles crack, and ice dams form along the eaves where heat escapes.
Summer isn’t much gentler, with heavy thunderstorms, high wind, and humidity all taking a turn. On West View’s older homes, there’s an extra factor: age. Flashing installed decades ago wears thin, decking can soften, and shingles that were fine at 15 years start failing at 25. On tight borough lots, a small leak or some missing shingles can turn into a bigger problem before you notice, especially where an addition or a porch roof meets the main roofline.
The good news? Most of this is fixable, and you don’t always need a whole new roof.
Repair or replace? Here's 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? A few clear 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 in more than one room
- 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 West View 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 for West View homeowners, from a single repair to a complete system.
The easiest first step: a free inspection
Not sure where your roof stands? Start with a look. We offer a free, no-pressure roof inspection for West View homes, including a drone inspection for steep or hard-to-reach areas. 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. Want to talk it through first? Call us at (724) 335-8515.
Our West View 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. They're a natural fit for West View's older homes. If you want something that lasts even longer, 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.
Metal roofing
Metal is a durable, low-maintenance option that handles high wind and reflects summer heat, which can ease cooling bills on an older, less-insulated home. It costs more up front than asphalt, so we'll help you decide whether it's worth it for your house.
Commercial roofing
Own a shop or building along Perry Highway? Our commercial roofing team handles flat and low-slope systems like EPDM and TPO, with an eye on keeping your doors open while the work 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 West View's tight, hilly 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.
What to expect, and what it's worth
Whalen follows a clear five-step process: inspection, proposal, prep and tear-off, installation, then cleanup and a final walkthrough with you. You’ll get an itemized proposal that spells out scope, materials, and timeline. Customers tell us our proposals are the most professional they’ve seen, and that’s because nothing is buried in the fine print.
We protect your property during the work and leave the yard spotless when we’re done, which matters even more when your neighbor’s home is just a few feet away. On bigger jobs, you’ll get daily progress photos. A new roof is a real investment, so we also offer financing to spread the cost out over time. We won’t quote an exact price here, because every roof is different. That’s exactly why the free inspection comes first. Roofing is dangerous work, too, so our crews follow OSHA fall-protection standards the whole time they’re on your property.
Why West View homeowners choose 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.
reviews & rating
Serving West View and the North Hills
We work throughout West View and the surrounding North Hills, from the homes along Perry Highway to the streets tucked into the hills above Girty’s Run. We also serve neighboring Ross Township, Bellevue, and the rest of the North Hills School District area. 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 older homes that give this borough its character, the ones the West View Park crowds once drove past on their way to the rides.
West View 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.
It can. Older homes sometimes have worn flashing, aging decking, or layers from a past roof-over that need attention. None of that is a problem, it just means a careful inspection matters. We’ll tell you honestly what your roof needs and what can wait.
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.
Yes. Every inspection is free and no-pressure, and it includes drone photos of hard-to-reach areas plus moisture readings. You’ll get a clear report and honest recommendations, whether that’s a repair, a replacement, or simply keeping an eye on things. For more roofing tips and local guidance, take a look at our blog.
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 West View roof.
