Trusted Roofing Contractor
in Hillcrest, NY

Hillcrest got its name honestly. It sits on the hills between Flushing and Jamaica, from 73rd Avenue down to the Grand Central Parkway, between Utopia Parkway and Parsons Boulevard. Most of it was built out in the late 1930s and after the war: brick Colonials, Tudors and Cape Cods, detached and semi-detached, on tight grids with small front yards. Developments like Hillcrest Gardens along Utopia Parkway went up as hundreds of houses at once, so whole blocks are aging together. I'm Stavros Latos, I own REVMA Roofing, and I'm the one who comes to your house and prices the roof.

Hillcrest Streets We Serve Every Week

We work both sides of Union Turnpike, the blocks along Utopia Parkway and Parsons Boulevard, the streets around St. John's University and Hillcrest High School, and the University Manor blocks between 170th Street and Utopia Parkway. Hillcrest is ZIP code 11366 north of Union Turnpike, and 11432 and 11439 to the south. We drive over from Bayside.

On a lot of these blocks the houses are close together, and the semi-detached ones share a roof line with the neighbor. Parking near Union Turnpike and the campus can be tough during the school year, so we line up the container and the material delivery before the job, not the morning of.

What Actually Damages Hillcrest Roofs

Being on a hill means wind. The houses on the high ground catch more of a nor'easter than the ones down in the flats, and wind goes after the edges first. If the starter course and drip edge weren't installed right, the bottom of the roof lifts, and once a few tabs go, the rain finds the deck.

The other thing is the brick. Brick Colonials and Tudors have chimneys and parapet walls, and where the roof meets the masonry, the flashing has to be cut into the mortar joint, not just smeared with tar. A lot of the leaks we see here are old flashing that someone sealed over instead of replacing. On a replacement, that flashing gets redone the right way.

Insurance Claims in Hillcrest: How We Approach Them

If wind takes shingles off or a tree comes down on the roof, here's what we do: we document the damage with photos, we meet the adjuster at the house, and we repair what's covered. We're the roofing contractor, so we don't negotiate your claim or speak for you with the carrier. Under New York Insurance Law §2101(g)(2), that's for you or a licensed public adjuster.

We file for storm damage, not wear. If your roof has just reached the end of its life, I'll tell you that and give you one price to replace it.

Utopia Parkway, Union Turnpike and University Manor: A Few Specifics

Along Utopia Parkway, many of the houses came from the same builder at the same time, so when one roof on the block goes, the neighbors usually aren't far behind. Near Union Turnpike, there are more semi-detached and two-family houses, which means we coordinate with the neighbor and flash the shared line properly. In University Manor, one of the late-1930s developments off Union Turnpike, it's mostly detached houses with chimneys, and the chimney flashing is where we spend the time.

Hillcrest Roofing FAQ

Who should I call for a roof replacement in Hillcrest?
Call someone who comes out himself and puts the whole scope in writing. At REVMA that's me, the owner. I look at the roof, the attic and the chimney before I give you a number.

What does a new roof cost on a Hillcrest brick Colonial?
The size, the pitch and the chimney and wall flashing all move the price. I don't do it over the phone. You get one written price after I see the roof. Our Queens roof cost guide has the background.

Do I need a permit for a roof replacement in Hillcrest?
Under 1 RCNY §101-14, new coverings and insulation above the deck don't need a DOB permit unless the Energy Code requires added insulation. Replacing deck or sheathing does, and we file it with DOB when it's needed.

My chimney leaks every time it rains hard. Is that the roof?
Usually it's the flashing where the roof meets the brick. When we replace the roof, we put in new step flashing and counter flashing cut into the mortar.

Can you do the job during the school year near St. John's?
Yes. We plan parking and the container ahead of time, and most shingle roofs are done in a day.

Brick Colonial and Tudor Roofs in Hillcrest

Most Hillcrest roofs are architectural shingle over a brick house, and the brick is what makes it different. We strip to the deck, replace bad plywood, put ice and water shield at the eaves and valleys, and redo every piece of flashing where the roof touches masonry. On a Tudor, the steep front gables get the same care. If you want a slate look without the weight, composite slate is worth seeing. See shingle roofing and slate roofing for more.

Why Hillcrest Homeowners Choose REVMA

I'm the owner and I'm the one you deal with. No salesman, no three-tier pricing, no price that drops if you sign tonight. One written price for the work we agree on. Because I'm not paying for a big office and a sales team, we usually come in 25 to 35% under the big companies, and we'll match a written quote from a competitor for the same roofing system. Our crews have 15 to 20 years on roofs, we're GAF certified, three to five sheets of plywood are in the price, and the work is covered by our workmanship warranty.

For the whole process, see roof replacement, or our Queens page for the rest of the borough.

Ready for a free estimate? Call (646) 889-4529 or fill out the form above. Hillcrest estimates usually happen within a couple of days.