Hartsdale grew around its station after Eleazar Hart gave land for the railroad in 1865, and it developed quickly between 1880 and 1940. Its history runs deeper than that: the 1732 Odell House served as Rochambeau's headquarters, and a Revolutionary War skirmish was fought near today's station in 1776. Hartsdale also has America's first pet cemetery, opened in 1896, and the first Carvel ice cream store opened here in 1934.
Hartsdale is an unincorporated hamlet, so roofing permits go to the Town of Greenburgh Building Department on Hillside Avenue rather than a village office. It sits on the Bronx River at about 184 feet, and large wooded parks are close by: Ridge Road Park covers 170 acres and Rumbrook Park 86. Homes near those parks see more leaf fall and shade than the denser blocks around the station.
Railroad-era homes with roofs that have been redone before
Because Hartsdale filled in over sixty years, roughly 1880 to 1940, the housing is dense and much of it is old enough to have been re-roofed several times. That history often shows up as extra layers, older board decking and flashing that has been patched over rather than replaced.
We confirm what is on your house during the inspection rather than assume a style or material from the address.
What to plan for on a Hartsdale roof
Old decking under old layers
Houses from 1880 to 1940 were typically sheathed with boards, and after decades of roofs, some of those boards are cracked, rotted at the eaves or too thin to hold modern nails. We count the layers and check the deck from the attic, and on tear-off Jersey Roofing's crew replaces boards that fail. New York code does not allow a new roof over two or more existing layers.
Leaves from the big parks
Homes near Ridge Road Park and Rumbrook Park get heavy leaf fall and long shade on north slopes. Leaves pack valleys and gutters, wet debris holds water against the shingles, and damp slopes grow moss. We recommend algae-resistant shingles there, open metal valleys where debris is heavy, and gutters cleared and checked during the replacement.
Chimneys and ice dams
Older Hartsdale houses often have masonry chimneys with flashing that has been tarred over several times. Jersey Roofing's crew cuts that out and installs new step and counter flashing. These houses also tend to be less insulated, so heat escaping into the attic melts snow that refreezes at the eaves. Ice-barrier membrane at the eaves, required in Westchester, and better ventilation address that.
Historic districts and design review
The Hartsdale Railroad Station and the Evangeline Booth House were both listed on the National Register in 2011, and the Odell House dates from 1732. If you own one of these properties, check with the Town of Greenburgh about any review that may apply before changing the roof's material or appearance.
Roof permits in Hartsdale
- Office
- Town of Greenburgh Building Department
- Phone
- (914) 989-1561
- Website
- greenburghny.com
Hartsdale is unincorporated, so the Town of Greenburgh issues roofing permits from 177 Hillside Avenue; Jersey Roofing files it for you.
The roof systems installed in Hartsdale
Jersey Roofing installs complete GAF and Owens Corning systems: ice and water barrier at the eaves and valleys, synthetic underlayment, starter strips, architectural or designer shingles, matched ridge cap and balanced ventilation. On a qualifying GAF system it can register the Golden Pledge® warranty, and on an Owens Corning system, Platinum Protection. Both include lifetime workmanship coverage. Compare the warranties.
Neighborhoods we serve in and around Hartsdale
- Hartsdale station area
- Central Avenue corridor