Victorians are the most demanding roofs in our service area — and the most rewarding when done right.
Why Victorians are different
Steep pitches (often 12/12 or steeper), multiple dormers, complex valleys, turrets, ornamental ridge cresting, and original decking that may be plank rather than plywood. Every Evanston Victorian we open up tells us something new about how it was built.
Material choices that read correctly
Designer-laminate asphalt in the Camelot II or Grand Manor family reads as slate from the street and respects the original aesthetic at one-quarter the cost of real slate. Synthetic slate (DaVinci, Brava) is the next step up. Real slate is still the right answer on the most prominent Lakeshore properties.
Why pitch matters for the bid
A 12/12 pitch requires roof jacks, harness anchors, and slower install pace. A 6/12 pitch does not. Bidders who do not account for pitch end up cutting corners (fewer fasteners, faster install, no hand-sealing). Pitch is the single biggest reason for bid variance on Evanston Victorians.
Ornamental details that get left off bad bids
Copper valley liners. Snow guards above entry doors. Painted aluminum or copper ridge cresting. Decorative metal finials. Replacement gutter scupper boxes. All of these are part of the original aesthetic. We line-item them in every Victorian bid so you can decide what to keep.
What we have learned from 50+ projects
Plan for 30% more deck replacement than the visual inspection suggests. The original plank decking is often soft at the eaves, around chimneys, and under any historical leak point. Budget the allowance, get it in writing, and you will not be surprised.
Set neighbor expectations early. Victorians have big footprints and big dumpsters. A neighbor card on every adjacent door before the dumpster arrives buys a lot of goodwill.
Two-stage flashing on chimneys is non-negotiable. Cap flashing alone fails within 5–7 years on a tall masonry stack. Counter-flashing cut into the mortar joint is what makes the difference.