A careful architectural shingle re-roof on a 1928 Willow Glen bungalow — aesthetic matching to the block's historic character, skip-sheathing substrate addressed during tear-off, and 50-year manufacturer warranty delivered in 4 on-site days.
The Willow Glen home was a 1928 Craftsman-influenced bungalow on one of Willow Glen's older residential streets — a neighborhood defined by dense historic architecture from the 1910s-30s. The existing architectural shingle roof was 22 years old (installed in 2003 as the home's second composition-era replacement, following an original cedar shake that had been converted in the 1970s). Classic end-of-service-life signals were throughout: heavy granule loss, curling shingles on the south slopes, and a persistent leak around the original brick chimney that had been patched three times in the past five years.
Willow Glen's specific roofing context adds complexity: many homes in this neighborhood have skip-sheathed decks from the original cedar shake era. Skip sheathing (1x6 boards spaced with gaps, designed to allow cedar shake to breathe) doesn't support modern composition shingles — which require a continuous substrate. Previous shingle installations often did inadequate job of addressing this, and the result is shingles prematurely failing over the gaps in the decking.
Our assessment of this 1928 bungalow identified three priority items: (1) aesthetic compatibility — Willow Glen homes form visually-coherent blocks and the new roof color needed to complement the home's original character, (2) skip-sheathing substrate — we expected to find skip-sheathed decking during tear-off and planned for the solid sheathing overlay that would be needed, and (3) chimney flashing renewal — the recurring leak was almost certainly a flashing issue that three previous patches hadn't resolved.
Material specification: CertainTeed Landmark Pro architectural shingles in a weathered-wood profile chosen to approximate the original cedar shake aesthetic while meeting modern Class A fire rating. Premium synthetic underlayment. New copper chimney counter-flashing replacing the failed galvanized original. Ridge ventilation upgrade. And solid sheathing overlay over the skip-sheathed portions of the deck — the investment that lets the new roof actually hit its full warranty life.
We walked the block with the homeowner before specifying materials, identifying aesthetic touchstones from surrounding homes. Confirmed the property was not within a designated historic preservation overlay (some Willow Glen sections are — we check every address specifically).
Standard residential re-roof permit. 3-business-day issuance. Willow Glen's historic context didn't affect permit scope for this address.
Complete removal of 2003-era shingle layer. As expected, portions of the deck were skip-sheathed from the original cedar shake era. We documented the condition with photos and installed new 7/16" OSB solid sheathing overlay over the skip-sheathed sections. Additional 8 sq ft of actual deck rot was found and repaired at the chimney base.
Full chimney flashing rebuild with new copper counter-flashing, fresh mortar joints where needed, and proper step flashing at the intersection. This addressed the recurring leak that had been patched three times previously.
CertainTeed DiamondDeck synthetic underlayment with proper overlap. Ice-and-water shield at all valleys and the chimney base. CertainTeed Landmark Pro shingles installed in the selected color with matching hip-and-ridge. Ridge ventilation system installed to upgrade the inadequate original box vents.
San Jose inspector sign-off, 50-year SureStart PLUS warranty registration, our 10-year workmanship warranty, complete project photo archive including before/after documentation of the chimney flashing and skip-sheathing remediation work.
Premium architectural shingle in a weathered-wood color selected to complement the home's 1928 Craftsman character. StreakFighter algae resistance (important for Willow Glen's tree canopy exposure). 50-year SureStart PLUS manufacturer warranty.
Installed as overlay over the original skip-sheathed portions of the deck. Provides the continuous substrate that modern composition shingles require for proper performance and full warranty coverage.
Modern synthetic underlayment replacing the 2003-era felt. Better tear resistance and 30-year warranty.
Upgraded from the failed galvanized original. Copper delivers 50+ year service life and develops a natural patina that complements historic homes. Counter-flashing properly cut into mortar joints for long-term integrity.
Continuous ridge vent system upgraded from the home's original inadequate box vents. Proper ventilation extends shingle warranty life and reduces attic moisture — especially important in Willow Glen's humid winter months.
Homeowner received a fully-documented new roof with proper substrate remediation, resolved chimney leak, ventilation upgrade, and aesthetic compatibility with the block's historic character. 50-year SureStart PLUS warranty plus our 10-year workmanship warranty. Complete photo documentation including before/after views of the skip-sheathing overlay work — important for future reference and resale. Another satisfied Willow Glen homeowner, and another referral source in the neighborhood.
Willow Glen is one of San Jose's most architecturally distinctive neighborhoods — a dense concentration of historic residential architecture primarily from the 1910s through the 1930s. Craftsman bungalows along Lincoln Avenue, Spanish Revivals around Bird Avenue, and Tudor-influenced homes scattered throughout form a visually-coherent historic fabric that residents take seriously and buyers pay premiums for.
What's specific to roofing work in Willow Glen: most homes are 85-115 years old and on their third, fourth, or even fifth roof cycle. Many original cedar shake roofs were converted to composition shingle in the 1970s-80s, and many of those 1970s conversions did an inadequate job of addressing the underlying skip-sheathing — which means many Willow Glen composition roofs are still running on substrate that wasn't properly prepared for composition materials. Proper deck preparation (overlay with solid sheathing) is often the highest-impact investment you can make during a Willow Glen re-roof.
Aesthetic considerations matter significantly in Willow Glen. The neighborhood's historic character is part of property value, and material and color choices affect both individual home curb appeal and block-level character. We walk the block with homeowners, bring physical samples to the property, and recommend material choices that work both technically and aesthetically. For Craftsman bungalows specifically, shake-look architectural shingle profiles (CertainTeed Presidential Shake, GAF Grand Sequoia) can approximate the original cedar aesthetic while meeting modern fire code — the right compromise for historic character.
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