Mowing along the side of the house, you notice the bottom row of siding has swollen and the corner board pulls away at the foot. Hempfield's typical home dates to 1971, and that much weather finds the low edges first. We pull back the siding, cut out everything soft down to the sill, and send the water somewhere better.
Hempfield Repairs
Two homes in three here went up before 1980, more of them in the seventies than any other decade. With lots on rolling hills and close to 43 inches of yearly rain, the repairs owners ask about start low on the wall and work out to the yard.
On a house built around 1971, the lowest siding courses and the corner boards sit closest to splashback and mulch. Owners see swelling, paint that won't stay on, and a spongy feel when they push near the foundation.
Hempfield needs no permit for siding, so we can open the wall right away. Wet sheathing and any rotted sill come out, the wrap is lapped over new flashing, and the new siding ends at least 8 inches off the dirt.
Siding repairPlenty of owners would like the back deck shaded and dry, and some decks already carry a tired roof with leaning posts. Both questions lead to the same place: whether the framing below can hold a roof at all.
We check the ledger, beam and footings first, rebuilding what's weak before anything goes overhead. Any porch or deck that gets a roof needs the township's permit, so we apply early and build its review time into the schedule.
Beams, posts and headersWater from a big roof has to go somewhere, and on a sloped lot it often ends up against the foundation or running toward the house downhill. Owners call about rotted trim at the corners and a neighbor asking about the wet yard.
Township rules ask for roof water to soak into a planted area wherever that works, and never to be piped onto a neighbor's lower ground. We repair the rot, then extend downspouts to a spot that can take the water.
Hempfield stormwater rulesRoughly 32% of the township lies over confirmed coal mining, much of it out west by Wendel and Grapeville and some up by Carbon. In those areas, a sloping floor makes owners wonder what's going on below.
Downstairs, we inspect the beam, columns and joists and record how far the floor is out of level. Tired framing gets doubled or new posts and footings, and any cracks that suggest ground movement are photographed for an insurance call.
Sagging floors and joistsOwners past 65 head four in ten township households, and many plan to stay put. What gets in the way is outside: a stoop that has sunk, a riser taller than the others, a railing that ends a step too soon.
The new steps sit on fresh footings, every riser even and none over 7-3/4 inches, then run a handrail the full length wherever there are four risers or more. Treads get a texture that grips when it's wet.
Porch and stair structureAt rebuild time, owners often hope to make it deeper. Township zoning keeps any attached porch out of the required yards, so the lot decides how much room there is.
We find your setback before sketching, then frame the new porch inside it on fresh footings. If the porch already sits at the line, we make the most of the depth it has with wider steps or a landing that stays within the rules.
Hempfield zoningHomes: Census ACS 2020–2024, Hempfield Township only. Rain: NOAA normals, New Stanton. Permits, zoning and stormwater: township FAQ and Code Chapters 72 and 87.
The rest of the job
How it runs, what it costs and who builds it are on our main exterior restoration & structural repairs page.
Repairs in Hempfield
A Hempfield repair runs past the township's own inspectors when the structure changes, may sit over mined ground on the west or north side, and has to send roof water where the township's rules allow.
No permitFor new siding or windows
Hempfield asks for no permit on new siding or windows, and like-for-like repairs are ordinary work. A porch or deck roof, or any other structural change, is reviewed and inspected by Hempfield's own staff, which can take 30 business days. Where to apply is covered on the township's kitchen page.
Hempfield permitsAbout 32%Of the township over confirmed mining
State maps place old workings under 32% of the township: the west side near Wendel, Grapeville and the Jeannette line, and the north near Carbon and Hannastown. Home policies don't cover subsidence, so a cracked wall there is worth an address lookup.
Coal under Hempfield42.7 inNormal yearly rain, New Stanton
Chapter 72 of the township code wants roof drains to empty onto lawn or planting where feasible, away from the sanitary lines and never channeled onto a neighbor's land. With 42.7 inches falling each year, that's where many exterior repairs begin.
Hempfield Code §72-10 (opens in a new tab)Repair Questions
These come from Hempfield owners while we pry back a corner board. Our repair service page lays out the work step by step.
Ask a QuestionWe set the price after opening the soft wood and finding sound framing on every side. A few siding courses and a corner board are small; a deck rebuilt to carry a roof, or a basement beam with new posts, is the large end. It's in writing before we start.
Repair price rangesHempfield allows contractor work from sunup to sundown in every season, so short winter days mean shorter shifts. On an open wall, we plan so the house is wrapped and closed every evening, whatever the weather is doing.
Hempfield work hoursNo. Township code bars roof drains from the sanitary sewer outright. If an old downspout runs into a pipe that leads there, we reroute it onto the lawn or into a planted area, which is what the stormwater chapter prefers anyway.
Hempfield stormwater rulesOnly if it stays out of the minimum yard. Attached porches can't extend into the township's required setbacks, although a cornice or similar detail may overhang up to 24 inches. We measure from your lot line and show you the room you have.
Hempfield zoningNot by a standard homeowners policy. The state runs a separate subsidence insurance program, and coverage must start before any damage. If you're near Wendel, Grapeville or Carbon and see new cracks, call your agent and keep our photos.
Coal under HempfieldOther Services
Each of our other Hempfield services, from kitchens and baths through attics, basements, additions and new windows, is linked below.
Kitchen RemodelingNew layouts, new cabinets, new counters: framed, built, and installed by the same crew.View Service
Bathroom RemodelingFull gut renovations with proper waterproofing, new framing, and tile set by hand.View Service
Attic FinishingUnused attics framed into bedrooms and offices: subfloor, insulation, drywall, and a proper stair.View Service
Basement FinishingUnfinished basements turned into real rooms: framed, insulated, drywalled, and finished by our crew.View Service
Additions & ADUsAdditions and accessory dwelling units (ADUs), framed from the ground up and tied in clean.View Service
Windows & Exterior DoorsWindows and exterior doors set, flashed, and trimmed so water stays out of the wall.View Service
Decks & Covered PatiosDecks, covered patios and three-season rooms, flashed to the house and built for Westmoreland winters.View ServiceVerified Google Reviews
5.0 out of 5 · 17 reviews
Written by the homeowners we've worked for across Westmoreland County. Every one verified on Google, every one pulled from the real feed.
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529 Forest Ave
Trafford, PA 15085
