Ditmas Park and the surrounding Victorian Flatbush neighborhoods, Prospect Park South, Beverley Squares, Fiske Terrace and Midwood Park, are full of large freestanding houses from around 1900 to the 1910s. Streets like Argyle, Rugby, Marlborough and Westminster are lined with them.
Their roofs are nothing like a Brooklyn row house. Multiple slopes meet in valleys, dormers and turrets break up the roof, and there are chimneys, porches and wraparound roofs below the main one. Every one of those intersections is a place water can get in, and most leaks in these houses start at a valley, a dormer side wall or a chimney rather than in the open roof.
Many of these houses also have built in box gutters, troughs set into the roof edge and lined with metal. They look good and they are very easy to neglect. When the lining fails, water goes straight into the cornice and the wall, which can be expensive to fix.
Parts of this area are designated historic districts, where visible roof changes can need approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. We tell you at the estimate if your house is affected and what that means for materials.
What we see on Ditmas Park roofs: leaks at valleys and dormer side walls, failed box gutter linings rotting the cornice, slate with broken and slipped pieces, porch roofs pulling away from the house, and chimney flashing that has been tarred over instead of replaced.
📞 Serving Ditmas Park and all surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods. Call (516) 713-9199 or (917) 570-7311 for a free estimate.
Q: Do you work on Victorian houses in Ditmas Park?
A: Yes. MLM Construction Group repairs and replaces roofs on the freestanding Victorians of Ditmas Park, Prospect Park South, Beverley Squares, Fiske Terrace and Midwood Park, from our shop at 1717 Avenue P. Call (516) 713-9199.
Q: Where do leaks usually start on a Victorian roof?
A: At the intersections rather than the open roof: valleys where two slopes meet, the side walls of dormers, around chimneys and where porch roofs meet the house. Those details need proper metal flashing, not sealant.
Q: What is a box gutter and why does it matter?
A: A box gutter is a gutter built into the roof edge and lined with metal. When the lining cracks or rusts through, water runs into the cornice and wall instead of the downspout. Relining a box gutter early prevents rot that is far costlier to repair.
Q: Do I need landmarks approval for roof work in Ditmas Park?
A: If your house is in a designated historic district, visible changes to the roof can require approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. We check at the estimate and explain what applies to your house.
Q: Can you repair slate rather than replace the whole roof?
A: Often yes. Slate itself can last a very long time. Broken or slipped pieces can be replaced and flashing renewed, which preserves the roof and costs much less than a full replacement.
MLM Construction Group works out of 1717 Avenue P in Brooklyn, NY 11229. Ditmas Park is inside our regular service area, so estimates and emergency calls there are handled by our own crew, not subcontracted out.
Unlike competitors who specialize in only one trade, MLM Construction Group handles roofing, stucco, EIFS, and gutters. One contractor for your entire exterior.
Background checked by Google. You are protected on every job. Satisfaction guaranteed or Google refunds you.
The highest possible BBB rating. Verified track record of quality and customer satisfaction across Brooklyn.
Factory certified GAF installer held to proper installation standards, with a manufacturer backed materials warranty on every roof.
Certified installer #69597. Firestone commercial systems backed by manufacturer warranty.
Active leak in Ditmas Park? We respond fast, nights, weekends and holidays. Call (516) 713-9199.
Every major installation backed by our 20-year workmanship warranty plus manufacturer materials warranty.
Call Meir Levy directly or fill out the form on our homepage. We respond within 24 hours.
📞 (516) 713-9199 📞 (917) 570-7311 📋 Free Estimate Form