Farina Roofing has been working in the Greater Boston and New England areas for years. Throughout our years of work here, we’ve noticed that New England houses and properties struggle with similar problems. 

This is likely because many homes in this area are older & historic, which opens them up to similar issues based on how they were built, the older materials, their structure, similar environments, and more.

Let’s look over a few common problems a standard New England house could have, so you can keep your eye out and the phone ready to call in the experts.

Winter Problems

Even if you’ve just moved here, you’ve definitely heard that New England winters are tough. With temperatures hovering in the low- to mid-20s throughout the winter months paired with average annual snowfall ranging from 25 to 100 inches, it isn’t hard to see how this could cause problems for New England houses and properties.

One major roofing issue would be ice dams. Ice dams can cause a number of problems including leaks, broken or damaged gutters, lifted or damaged shingles, and more.

Too much snow on your roof can also lead to leaks (and you know that you need to fix roof leaks ASAP to avoid costly damages and potential health risks) and damage to the roof and foundation of the home.

Besides the roof, dropping temperatures can easily cause pipes to burst or freeze. Winter storms, like the New England specialty the Nor’Easter, can lead to electrical problems, fallen trees, wind damage, hail damage, shingle damage, and more.

Farina Roofing wants homeowners to be informed about the problems they could face.

Learn more about repairs and issues important to your home here.

New England House Pests

New England’s beautiful weather most of the year, unfortunately, brings quite a few pests that could cause problems in the home.

Wood destroying insects (WDIs) are of particular importance because they can cause structural issues in the home that can make it dangerous to inhabit. Common WDIs in New England include:

• Termites
• Carpenter ants
• Carpenter bees
• Wood-boring beetles

Other pests that can invade a New England House include:

• Grey squirrels
• Raccoons
• Mice and rats
• Pigeons
• Ants
• Fleas
• Bed bugs
• Stink bugs
• Ticks
• Centipedes
• Cockroaches

These pests are often unseen, but infestations can occur. These can be dangerous for your health, so it might be best to call an exterminator or pest control service if you feel you could have these pests in your home.

Old Home Issues

Many homes in New England are old or classified as historic homes. These types of old houses can have a number of different issues related to their age.

The first is the use of outdated and harmful materials like asbestos or lead paint. Both of these substances can cause serious health issues. 

While it’s no longer legal to use these things in residential homes anymore, homes built prior to 1978 could still have lead paint, and homes built prior to 1989 could have asbestos.

Another problem with old homes is that oftentimes their electrical wiring and set-up are faulty or less than ideal. Many old homes don’t have grounded outlets, which many modern appliances require.

Older homes could also have outdated wiring like knob and tube wiring, which should probably be replaced with modern options. Old insulators, circuits, and more will likely need to be upgraded with new and modern options as well.

Other issues old homes face include:

• General roofing issues (need for roof installation & replacement is common)
• Low energy efficiency
• More insects and pests than newer homes
• Water & plumbing problems
• More expensive home insurance

Need Someone with New England House Experience?

Farina Roofing is a Boston company with Boston & New England experience. We’ve worked solely with New England house owners for years and we understand the unique issues we face here in beautiful Massachusetts.

Contact us to set up a consultation and to discuss your issues with the local experts.