Roofing & Construction in Columbus, Ohio

A home or storefront in Columbus usually means a roof, siding and gutter call. Windows and gutters usually come up in the same visit. The hub of Central Ohio, Franklin County. The crew is family-owned, led by an owner with 25+ years of roofing experience, and the same care on every completed job.

As the state capital and the largest city in the area, Columbus has everything from early-1900s housing near downtown to newer subdivisions out toward the I-270 outerbelt.

A typical Columbus visit starts with photos and measurements before any number gets written down. A second opinion is always welcome before committing to anything.

A yearly look at chimney flashing is cheap insurance for a Columbus home. It's a habit worth building into a spring and fall routine.

Brothers Roofing and Construction also works nearby in Worthington, Westerville, Gahanna, Hilliard, Dublin.

What the seasons mean for a roof for Columbus homeowners

Central Ohio winters mean a poorly ventilated roof melts snow unevenly, so ventilation matters more than how much snow actually falls.

Spring hail can bruise shingles without an obvious hole, which most homeowners never notice from the ground.

Things worth checking for Columbus homeowners

Columbus has a real mix of older and newer homes and a free inspection is the fastest way to know.

A quick self-check: curling or missing shingles, granules in the gutters, and cracked mortar around the chimney.

Homeowners in Columbus should ask what underlayment and ice-and-water-shield a contractor plans to use before work starts. It's a quick question that's worth asking before any contract gets signed.

Services available in Columbus

Roof repair and full replacement are the most common calls, usually after a hail or wind event.

The estimate is free either way regardless of what the roof actually needs. Call (614) 436-5588 or use the estimate form above and we usually respond the same business day.

Columbus roofs, neighborhood by neighborhood

Columbus is a city of very different houses, and the roof problems follow the age of the neighborhood.

• The older core. German Village, Victorian Village, Italian Village, Olde Towne East and the neighborhoods around them were built from the 1800s into the early 1900s. Expect steep roofs, chimneys on many houses, and sometimes several old layers or original board decking under the shingles. Flashing around brick chimneys is a common source of leaks.
• Early-1900s neighborhoods. Clintonville, the University District and the streets around them are full of bungalows, foursquares and colonials from the 1910s through the 1940s. Many have finished attics with little room for ventilation, which can lead to ice dams in winter.
• Mid-century Columbus. Neighborhoods built after World War II, out toward the edges of the city, are mostly ranches and split-levels with lower-pitched roofs. These often reach replacement age at the same time as their gutters, siding and windows.
• Newer subdivisions. Homes out toward the I-270 outerbelt built from the 1980s on are often on a first or second replacement. Hail and wind damage are common concerns.

What Columbus homeowners ask us about

Columbus homeowners call us about roof replacement and repair, often after a storm or when a home inspection flags an aging roof before a sale. We also handle storm damage from spring hail and summer wind, chimney flashing and gutters. Because we also do siding and windows and doors, one visit can cover the whole outside of the house.

Storm season in Columbus

Much of the hail and wind damage in Columbus arrives between spring and late summer, when hail and strong wind move through Central Ohio. Hail often bruises shingles without leaving a hole you can see from the ground, and wind lifts and creases shingles so they stop sealing. Neither one may leak right away, which is why a roof can look fine from the driveway and still be damaged.

After a storm, a few things are worth doing: look for shingles or pieces of shingle in the yard, dents in gutters and downspouts, and granules collecting at the end of the downspouts. If you see any of those, get the roof looked at before the next storm. If there's an active leak, call (614) 436-5588 and tell us it's leaking. We'll photograph what we find so you have documentation for your insurer. Filing the claim stays between you and your insurance company.

Winter in Columbus

Columbus winters swing above and below freezing again and again. Every thaw lets water into small gaps around flashing and shingles, and every freeze widens them. Ice dams form along the eaves when a warm attic melts snow that refreezes at the cold roof edge, and the water backs up under the shingles. Good attic ventilation and ice and water barrier along the eaves are the fix. On a replacement we install ice and water barrier at the eaves and valleys, and we look at attic ventilation too.

Historic districts

If your home is in one of Columbus's historic districts, exterior work, including a new roof, can need approval from that district's review commission. Some shingles are pre-approved and others need review. It's worth checking with the city's Historic Preservation Office before you choose a material or schedule the work.

Licensed by the City of Columbus

Brothers' credentials are City of Columbus credentials: Home Improvement Contractor License #HIC04072 and General Contractor Registration #G11270, issued to owner William V. Schmidt. Ohio doesn't issue a statewide home improvement license, so the city license is the one to check. We also carry general liability insurance and are a BBB Accredited Business, rated A+. How to verify each one.

What a Columbus roof estimate covers

We measure the roof, photograph its condition, check the flashing, vents, gutters and attic, and then give you a written estimate that spells out the materials, the tear-off and what's included. We don't quote prices over the phone, because the size, pitch, number of layers and the condition of the deck all change the number. If financing would help, Brothers offers it through Hearth, a third-party platform; options depend on your own application and are subject to credit approval.

Questions we get asked

Do you need a permit or approval to replace a roof in Columbus?

It depends on the work and where the house is. Roof work in a Columbus historic district, such as German Village or Victorian Village, can need approval from that district's review commission, and the city may require a permit as well. We'll talk through what applies to your house at the estimate.

Are you licensed in the City of Columbus?

Yes. Brothers holds City of Columbus Home Improvement Contractor License #HIC04072 and General Contractor Registration #G11270. You can look both up on the city's license search; the link is on our licenses and insurance page.

How quickly can you look at a leak?

Call (614) 436-5588. We're available Monday through Saturday, 7AM to 7PM, and we usually get back to you the same business day.

Do you work on older Columbus homes?

Yes. Older homes often have steep roofs, several old layers, chimneys and board decking that need extra care, and we'll explain what we find on yours before any work starts.