Adobe, Wood, And Brick Buildings
Tombstone commercial roofing contractor for older adobe, wood, and brick buildings, where we check the deck and parapets before choosing a new roof.
Tombstone was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and the buildings in its district are mostly one or two stories of adobe, wood, or brick. Many have flat roofs hidden behind tall front parapets.
On buildings this old, the membrane is the easy part. The wood deck, the parapet tops, and the scuppers through thick walls decide what the new roof needs.
Older commercial buildings show their age under the roofing more than on top of it.
These are the changes owners of older buildings notice once the deck, parapets, and roofing are put right.
Small flat roofs behind parapets and visible sloped roofs call for different systems.
EPDM suits small flat roofs behind parapets, with pliable flashing that wraps irregular walls and old penetrations.
EPDM roofing for flat roofs
Metal panels where a sloped roof shows from the street, with the profile and color checked against the historic review before ordering.
Metal roofing for visible sloped roofsLeaks on old roofs travel along the wood deck before they drip. Send us the building details and we will trace the water to its source before pricing any repair.
What To Have Ready
Five steps, with extra care at the start for the deck, the walls, and the review.
We cut a small sample to count the old roofing and probe the boards beneath it. Parapet tops, scuppers, and wall cracks get photographed from the roof and the street.
Tombstone's code sets design standards for its historic district, and exterior changes visible from a street or alley usually need commission approval before the building permit. Roofs hidden behind parapets can face fewer limits, and city staff make that call.
Old layers come off one section at a time so the building is closed up each night. Rotten boards are replaced as they turn up, and the deck is dried in before the next section opens.
Parapet caps go on with a slope toward the roof, and scuppers get lined and sized to clear monsoon rain. Membrane flashing turns up each wall and tucks under the cap.
Photos of the deck, walls, and flashings taken during the work go to you at the final walk. They help with the next maintenance visit and any later review of the building.
Tombstone sits east of the San Pedro River, with these communities a short drive west and north.
Southwest across the river, with flat-roofed offices, clinics, and retail.
West on SR 82 at the SR 90 crossroads, where wind tests roof edges.
North on SR 80, with rail and highway warehouses near I-10.
Yes. Tombstone became a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and the city code sets design standards for its historic district. Exterior changes seen from a street or alley usually go to the historic commission before a building permit is issued.
Expect a review of roof shape, materials, and visible details, elevation drawings showing materials and colors, and extra lead time. Roofs behind parapets can face fewer limits, but the city decides, so we check with staff before choosing materials.
A core cut and a walk with a probe tell us. Soft spots, dark staining on the boards, and fasteners that pull out by hand mark rot. Bad boards are replaced during tear-off, so the new roof goes on a deck that holds fasteners firmly.
Keep water off the top and out of the wall. A metal cap sloped toward the roof sheds rain past both faces, and the roof membrane turns up the inside of the wall under that cap. Cracks in the plaster get noted so a mason can repair them.
Only when the deck is solid and a single existing layer is in place. Many older Tombstone roofs carry several layers or hide rot, and either one means a full tear-off. A core cut settles it before the estimate is final.
EPDM is a common fit. The rubber sheet stays flexible, wraps irregular walls and old penetrations, and patches simply. TPO also works where a white surface helps with summer heat. Either one ties into new flashing under the parapet cap.
Most shops can stay open with planning. Tourism is a mainstay of the Tombstone economy, so material deliveries and debris chutes are placed away from storefront doors and walkways, and noisy tear-off is scheduled before opening wherever the work allows it.
The City of Tombstone building and planning staff. Inside the historic district, commission review comes first for visible changes, and the building permit follows. Outside city limits, Cochise County Building Safety handles commercial roof permits instead.
Call or send the building details. We will check the deck, parapets, and scuppers and explain what the review and permit will need.
Leave a name and number and we'll call about your building's roof. Or call now: (623) 310-0174