Roofing Services in Kensington & Frankford: What Philadelphia Row Home Owners Should Know

If you own a row home in Kensington or Frankford, you already know your roof isn’t like the roofs you see in the suburbs. Attached row homes, shared party walls, tight alley access, and a housing stock that’s often 80-100+ years old all change what “roof maintenance” actually means in these neighborhoods. At NEF General Contracting, we’ve worked on enough Kensington and Frankford roofs to know the difference between a textbook roofing job and a real one — and in these two neighborhoods, it’s rarely textbook.

Here’s what homeowners in both areas should know before they call a contractor.

Kensington Row Homes: Flat Roofs, Old Bones, Real Considerations

Kensington’s housing stock is a mix of classic Philadelphia rowhouse construction — many built in the early-to-mid 1900s — with flat or low-slope roofs that were never designed for a 2026 lifespan without maintenance. If your home was built before the 1980s, there’s a good chance your roof has been patched more than once already, sometimes with materials that don’t match or properly bond to what’s underneath.

Common issues we see in Kensington

• Aging tar and gravel roofs that were never fully replaced, just recoated — this buys a few years but eventually fails at the seams
• Ponding water on flat roofs with poor drainage slope, which accelerates membrane breakdown
• Party wall flashing failures — because row homes share walls, water intrusion at one property can trace back to flashing damage between two homes, which complicates both diagnosis and repair
• Deferred maintenance from absentee or investor-owned properties, which is common in parts of Kensington and often means small leaks go unnoticed until they become structural

What we recommend

For most Kensington row homes, we install TPO or EPDM flat roofing systems — both are built for exactly this kind of low-slope application and hold up significantly better than older tar-based systems. For homes where the existing structure allows it, a proper tear-off and Torch Down application gives the most durable, long-term seal. We always start with an inspection, not a sales pitch — a flat roof that’s five years past due for replacement is a very different job than one that just needs a membrane repair.

Frankford Row Homes: Similar Bones, Different Pressures

Frankford sits just northeast of Kensington and shares a lot of the same building-era characteristics — dense rows of attached homes, many with flat or slightly sloped roofs, and a mix of owner-occupied and rental properties. Where Frankford differs is in the volume of older commercial-to-residential conversions and mixed-use buildings along the main corridors, which tend to have larger, more complex flat roof systems than a standard single rowhouse.

Common issues we see in Frankford

• Larger flat roof spans on converted or mixed-use buildings, which need more attention to drainage design than a typical rowhouse roof
• Storm damage from wind-driven rain, which tends to find every weak seam on an aging flat roof rather than causing the kind of dramatic, obvious damage a pitched roof shows after a storm
• Insurance claim complications when storm damage isn’t caught early — flat roof leaks often show up as ceiling stains weeks after the actual damage occurred, which can create issues with claim timelines
• Gutter and downspout neglect, which backs water up against flat roof edges and accelerates membrane failure at the perimeter

What we recommend

Frankford’s larger and more varied roof types mean an inspection matters even more before recommending a fix. For most residential row homes, TPO or EPDM systems are still the right call. For larger mixed-use or commercial buildings, we evaluate drainage design as part of the scope, not as an afterthought — a beautiful new membrane on a roof that still ponds water is a short-term fix, not a real solution.

What’s the Same Across Both Neighborhoods

Regardless of which side of Kensington Avenue you’re on, a few things hold true for row home roofing in this part of Philadelphia:

1. Flat and low-slope roofing dominates. Pitched shingle roofs are the exception here, not the rule — so make sure any contractor you’re talking to actually specializes in flat roofing, not just asphalt shingles.
2. Party walls complicate everything. Attached homes mean water damage doesn’t always stay contained to one property, and coordinating with a neighbor is sometimes part of the job.
3. Storm damage isn’t always obvious. Flat roofs hide leaks well. A slow drip today can be a soaked deck in six months if it’s not caught during a proper inspection.
4. Insurance claims move faster with documentation. If you suspect storm damage, get an inspection and photo documentation as soon as possible — this matters for your claim timeline as much as for the repair itself.

Why Homeowners in Kensington and Frankford Choose NEF

NEF General Contracting has been serving Philadelphia and South Jersey since 2014, with the owner bringing 20+ years of hands-on roofing experience to every project. We specialize in exactly the kind of flat and low-slope roofing systems that dominate Kensington and Frankford row homes — TPO, EPDM, and Torch Down applications — along with siding, gutters, and storm damage insurance claim assistance. We’re not a national franchise quoting from a template; we’re a local, family-run business that understands what a Philadelphia row home roof actually needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Kensington and Frankford row homes always have flat roofs? Most do, especially homes built before the 1980s, but not universally. Some row homes have a slight pitch, and some newer construction or renovated properties use different roofing systems. An inspection will confirm what you’re working with.

How long does a TPO or EPDM roof last on a row home? With proper installation and maintenance, both systems typically last 20-30 years, significantly longer than older tar and gravel systems that were common on these homes decades ago.

My neighbor’s roof work caused a leak on my side — what do I do? Party wall and shared roofline issues are common in Kensington and Frankford. Document the damage, get an independent inspection, and loop in your insurance provider early. We’re happy to inspect and provide an objective assessment of where the water is actually coming from.

Does NEF handle insurance claims for storm damage? Yes. We assist homeowners throughout the documentation and claims process for storm-related roof damage, which is especially important on flat roofs where damage isn’t always visually obvious.

Do you work on mixed-use or commercial buildings in Frankford, not just row homes? Yes — we handle both residential row home roofing and larger commercial flat roof systems, including the mixed-use buildings common along Frankford’s main corridors.

How do I know if I need a repair or a full replacement? It depends on the age of the roof, the extent of damage, and how many previous patches or repairs have already been done. We provide honest assessments — if a repair will genuinely hold, we’ll say so rather than upselling a replacement you don’t need yet.

Get a Free Inspection

If you’re a homeowner or property manager in Kensington, Frankford, or anywhere else in Philadelphia or South Jersey and you’re not sure what condition your roof is in, don’t wait for a small leak to become a big problem. Call NEF General Contracting at 267-704-4132 for a free inspection.