Apex Roofing of the Lowcountry is a residential roofer for homes in Beaufort, SC, including the older houses in and around the City’s National Historic Landmark district. On a historic house there, the roof material is not only your call. The City of Beaufort reviews it, and Apex coordinates the roofing-material approval with that review. Whether your house went up before the Civil War or in the early 1900s, start with a roofing contractor who plans for the City’s step. Phone (843) 757-2739 to set up a free estimate.
Old House or New, What Will a Beaufort Roofing Contractor Take On?
Apex brings eight roofing services to Beaufort homes, from The Point to Mossy Oaks:
Why Do Beaufort Roofs Sit on Some of the State’s Oldest Houses?
Beaufort’s roofs sit on some of the oldest houses in the state. Chartered in 1711, Beaufort is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, and it sits amid a marshy estuary, mostly on Port Royal Island. The 1893 hurricane and a 1907 fire caused extensive destruction in the city. Today, 304 acres of Beaufort form a National Historic Landmark district known for its antebellum architecture, while Pigeon Point is mostly one-story homes from the early 20th century. A roof job in Beaufort can mean either kind of house, and each brings its own questions.
How Does a Beaufort Roofer Handle Historic Review, Metal and Terne?
Owners of older Beaufort homes ask which City review a roof needs, whether metal is allowed and whether an old roof can be saved.
Does a roof replacement in Beaufort’s Historic District need review board approval?
It depends on the house and the work. A new roof material on a contributing building in the Historic District goes to the City’s Historic Review Board. The City’s current form lists an in-kind reroof, with the same material put back, as staff-level review instead. Staff can still send any of those to the Board.
City code calls for a Certificate of Appropriateness for construction work in any historic district. The City’s historic sites survey lists show whether your house is contributing. A reroof also goes through the City’s building code review, which is a separate step. Apex coordinates the roofing-material approval with the City’s historic review, so the review is part of the plan before a date is set.
Can a historic Beaufort home get a metal roof?
Often it can, but the type of metal roof matters. The City’s Metal Roofing Guidelines say mechanical-lock standing seam may be right for a contributing house that is replacing a non-historic roof, such as asphalt shingle or 5V metal. Snap-lock standing seam is not, because its seams cannot be folded by hand at the hips and ridges.
On a contributing house, the change of material goes to the Historic Review Board. On a non-contributing house, City staff review it case by case. Apex installs standing seam metal roofs [LINK → /metal-roofing/ · reader wants Apex’s metal-roofing service page]. Ask at your free estimate which seam type your house needs under the Guidelines.
Can the old terne metal roof on my Beaufort house be saved?
It may be, and the City of Beaufort would rather keep it. The City’s staff policy is to preserve as many historic terne metal roofs as possible. Before one comes off, staff ask for photos to judge the damage. If the roof can be kept, they recommend recoating it. If not, they recommend a suitable metal roof, not asphalt shingles.
Terne needs regular recoating, and neglected spots rust until the roof stops keeping water out. So you need a straight answer about your roof’s condition. Ralph and Pierce Brehany, the father and son who founded Apex in 2015, are the ones on the roof, and the photos of the work come to you. One homeowner wrote in 2019 that Ralph took pictures and explained in detail what could be done to repair the roof.
Which Beaufort Neighborhoods, From The Point to Cottage Farms, Are Covered?
Apex’s service area takes in these Beaufort neighborhoods, from the five in the Historic District to those along Battery Creek:
- Downtown
- The Point
- The Bluff
- The Old Commons
- Northwest Quadrant
- Pigeon Point
- Higginsonville
- West End
- Spanish Point
- Mossy Oaks
- Royal Oaks
- Cottage Farms
Which Festivals and Waterfront Spots Bring People to Beaufort?
Beaufort’s things to do run from the waterfront and a rail trail to two festivals a year.
- Henry Chambers Waterfront Park — the city’s park on the water.
- Spanish Moss Trail — a rail trail, opened in 2012.
- Beaufort Shrimp Festival — held the first weekend of October.
- Beaufort International Film Festival — held in mid-February.
Which Beaufort Landmarks Tell the City’s Story Since 1712?
Four of Beaufort’s top sites carry the city’s history from 1712 on.
- Parish Church of St. Helena — founded in 1712.
- John Mark Verdier House — at 901 Bay Street.
- Robert Smalls House — at 511 Prince Street, a private home seen from the street.
- Beaufort National Cemetery — at 1601 Boundary Street, set up in 1863.
Port Royal, Lady’s Island and Beyond: Which Other Towns Near Beaufort Does Apex Serve?
Port Royal and Lady’s Island, Beaufort’s next-door neighbors, head the list of 11 more towns Apex serves.
Apex Roofing of the Lowcountry · 6 Sutton Ct, Bluffton, SC 29910 · (843) 757-2739 Historic or newer, any Beaufort home can get a free estimate, Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM.