Mount Vernon began in the 1850s as a project of the New York Industrial Home Association No. 1, a home-building cooperative. It is now one of Westchester's densest cities, with about 73,900 people in roughly 4.4 square miles on the Bronx border, the eighth-largest city in New York State and its largest African-American-majority city. St. Paul's Church, tied to the events of the Zenger trial, is a National Historic Site.
The city lies between the Bronx River on the west and the Hutchinson River on the east. North Side neighborhoods are shaded by mature trees, while the South Side is denser, with buildings close together. Both take Westchester's nor'easters and winter storms, and on houses this old, a storm is usually what reveals a roof that has been quietly failing.
Planned North Side streets and a denser South Side
The North Side holds the single-family neighborhoods: Chester Hill, Estate Manor and Aubyn Estates, Fleetwood, Huntswood and Oakwood Heights. Chester Hill was laid out in the late 19th century as a planned residential park. Fleetwood also has apartment and co-op buildings near its Metro-North station. The South Side, including Parkside and Vernon Park, is mostly multi-family homes and apartment buildings.
County planning figures from the 2013–2017 American Community Survey count about 27,400 occupied housing units, nearly 13,000 of them built in 1939 or earlier. The median year built is 1942.
What to plan for on a Mount Vernon roof
Century-old roofs on the North Side
On a house that has stood for 100 years, the current shingles are rarely the first roof. Tear-offs in Chester Hill, Fleetwood and Oakwood Heights often turn up two or three old layers, sometimes over original slate or wood, along with board decking that needs repair. Code doesn't allow a new layer over two or more existing ones, so Jersey Roofing's crew strips to the deck, fixes what's there and starts clean.
Flat roofs and parapets on the South Side
Multi-family and mixed-use buildings on the South Side usually have flat or low-slope roofs behind parapet walls. Those need a membrane system, flashing carried up the parapet and under the coping, and drains or scuppers clear enough to keep water from ponding. Shingles are only an option where the pitch is at least 2:12.
Working close to the neighbors
With narrow lots and closely spaced buildings, a tear-off happens a few feet from someone else's windows and car. Jersey Roofing's crew plans the dumpster spot, covers neighboring walls and plantings, catches debris instead of letting it fall, and sweeps for nails on both sides of the property line at the end of each day.
Roof permits in Mount Vernon
- Office
- City of Mount Vernon Department of Buildings
- Phone
- (914) 665-2483
The department is at 1 Roosevelt Square; a full roof replacement generally needs a city permit, and Jersey Roofing files it.
The roof systems installed in Mount Vernon
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 Mount Vernon
- Fleetwood
- Chester Hill
- Estate Manor
- Aubyn Estates
- Huntswood
- Oakwood Heights
- Parkside
- South Side
- Vernon Park