Levitt home reroofs and gutters in Bowie (20715)

The Belair section homes came in a handful of models: the Cape Cod, the rancher, the colonial and the split-level, each on a predictable roof plan. Most have simple gables with modest pitches, short overhangs and original plank or early plywood decking. After three rounds of shingles, nail holes, rot near the eaves and sagging between rafters show up often.

On tear-off we replace soft decking, add drip edge that many of these houses never had, and run ice and water membrane along the short eaves. Cape Cod models get their dormers reflashed with new steps and kickouts. For a closer look at our process, see roof replacement.

Because so many Belair houses share the same plans, we know where to look before we climb up. On the colonial model, the front porch roof often leaks where it meets the brick or siding. On the split-level, the low wing meets the taller section with a short wall that rarely got proper flashing. Those spots get checked first on every visit.

• Short overhangs that let water run behind gutters
• Original plank decking with gaps and old nail holes
• Dormer side walls missing step flashing on Cape Cod models
• Bathroom fans venting into the attic instead of outside

Levitt houses were built with small gable vents and little soffit intake, and later insulation often packed the eaves full. The result is hot attics in summer and frost on the nails in winter. Shingles age faster than their rated life, and you'll often see rusty nail heads or stained sheathing from inside.

During a reroof, we add intake where the short overhang allows, using edge vents if needed, then open a ridge vent sized to match. Baffles go in to keep insulation clear, and bath fans get vented to the outside. Our page on attic ventilation lays out how we balance it.

Beyond the original Levitt sections, Bowie added large subdivisions from the 1980s through the 2000s, including townhouse communities and single-family neighborhoods near Route 197, Route 50 and the Bowie Town Center area. Many of these have HOA design rules covering shingle color and gutter color.

We get the approved product list, prepare the submission, and wait for approval before scheduling. Townhouse rows share ridges and firewalls, so we plan the tie-in at each party wall so your neighbor's roof stays intact. Building permits generally go through the city of Bowie or the county permit office depending on the address, and we confirm which.

Bowie has plenty of mature trees in the older sections, and the original gutters on many Levitt homes were 4-inch or 5-inch runs that can't keep up with today's heavy rain. Water spills over, rots the fascia, and pools near foundations and slabs.

We replace them with 6-inch seamless gutters and larger downspouts, repair fascia and soffit while we're there, and add guards where leaf load is heavy. After a storm, we tarp quickly and document damage for insurance. Owners closer to the District line may find our Prince George's County roofing page useful for comparison.

Before hurricane season, we can check the ridge caps, rake edges and flashing on a Bowie home and tighten anything loose. A short visit in August costs far less than tarping a roof after a tropical remnant blows through.