South Salem is a hamlet of the Town of Lewisboro, which had about 12,300 people in 2020. The town was founded as Salem in 1747 and renamed in 1840 for financier John Lewis, and its odd chevron shape partly comes from the Oblong boundary settlement with Connecticut. Lewisboro is dotted with lakes, among them Waccabuc, Oscaleta, Rippowam, Truesdale, Kitchawan and Timber Lake.
The land is wooded and hilly, on the eastern edge of the county. Most houses sit under tall trees, and many are near water. That means shaded roofs, humid air, and leaves and needles in every gutter. Northern Westchester winters add snow on top, so the roofs here stay wet a lot of the year. Most of what we recommend in Lewisboro is about helping a roof dry out and shed debris.
Lake cottages and homes in the woods
South Salem is mostly single-family homes on wooded lots, including lake communities around Truesdale Lake and Lake Kitchawan, where many lots are smaller and houses sit close to the water. The town also has notable historic estates, among them Hideout Hill, home of Alexander Kerensky in the 1940s, and Henry A. Wallace's Farvue Farm.
Lake-community houses started out in many cases as seasonal cottages, and their roofs and attics often show it.
What to plan for on a South Salem roof
Moss and algae under the canopy
Under the dense trees around Lake Waccabuc and Truesdale Lake, roofs can stay damp from fall through spring. Moss lifts shingle edges and holds water against the deck. We recommend algae-resistant shingles, open valleys that shed needles, and gutter guards. We also mark which overhanging limbs should be cut back before the new roof goes on.
Converting lake cottages
Lake-community cottages near Truesdale Lake and Lake Kitchawan often have low-slope additions and little attic ventilation. Shingles need at least a 2:12 pitch, with double underlayment between 2:12 and 4:12, and membrane below that. We measure each plane, and Jersey Roofing's crew adds intake and ridge venting so a house that was built for summer can handle winter heating.
Tight lots by the water
On smaller lakefront lots, there is less room for dumpsters, ladders and material drops, and neighbors are close. We plan staging during the inspection, and Jersey Roofing's crew protects plantings and shoreline and keeps tear-off debris out of the water. Expect us to walk the lot with you and point out exactly where equipment will go.
Roof permits in South Salem
- Office
- Town of Lewisboro Building Department
- Phone
- (914) 763-3060
- Website
- lewisborony.gov/building/page/file-searches
South Salem, Vista, Waccabuc, Cross River and Goldens Bridge all permit through the Town of Lewisboro; Jersey Roofing files the permit for you.
The roof systems installed in South Salem
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 South Salem
- Truesdale Lake
- Lake Waccabuc
- Lake Kitchawan
- Vista
- Waccabuc
- Cross River
- Goldens Bridge